Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernando Morales.
Hi Fernando, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Mexico City and lived there for most of my life. I have been blessed with the bright colors and warm culture from home, and I truly don’t know who I would be without it.
In my junior year of high school, I went to a small boarding school in upstate New York, in the middle of the mountains. It was meant to be a one-year abroad experience, but it became so much more than that. The school had an incredible art program, and I came in knowing I wanted to take actual art courses for the first time, since art was not really a valued department in my high school back home.
I remember talking to the Visual Arts Chair the second week I got there. His name is John Carruthers, but everyone just called him Mr. C. I was telling him that I was very interested in potentially majoring in anything related to the visual arts in the future. I would tell him, “I know it is in me, the art. I just have never had the chance to dive into it, and it might be too late because I cannot even draw an apple.” He stared at me for a little bit with his funny smile and long hair and just told me, “Well, all I know is you need a good portfolio if you want to get into any art school, so why not start now? Try drawing the best apple you can and send it to me tonight—we’ll take it from there.”
After that conversation, I ended up working with Mr. C almost every single day. Fortunately, I ended up drawing so much more than just an apple, and by the winter of my senior year, I had a portfolio ready and applications sent. After hearing back from all of the art schools I applied to, I decided the Savannah College of Art and Design would be a good fit for me—and so did Mr. C. That’s how I ended up in Savannah.
Today, I am a motion designer and international student majoring in Motion Design at SCAD. I specialize in visualizing brands, ideas, and processes through design and motion, and it has been such an incredible journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, but I would say that is what has made my journey so enriching. I initially came into SCAD as a 3D Animation major, and I stayed in that major for my whole freshman year. In the summer, however, when I had more time to just think and do nothing, I realized I was deeply uncomfortable. I didn’t know exactly what it was, but I just felt so much discomfort in my chest—a feeling I kept ignoring and covering up with schoolwork so I didn’t have to look at it. But over the summer, with no deadlines to meet and no assignments due, I had no idea what to do with myself, and so I was forced to look into this discomfort.
I was uncomfortable because I didn’t like what I was doing—there is no other way to put it. I knew I had all the potential and the work I was doing was good, but I didn’t like the direction I was taking. So when I got back in the fall, I had a big decision to make. I had to ask myself: What would you regret more? Trying something new, starting from zero again, but potentially finding it fulfilling? Or staying with something you’re already familiar with that you are not enjoying anymore, just because it feels less scary?
I chose to be scared; and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made here.
I ended up switching majors in the fall of my sophomore year, and I am now super lucky to be part of the Motion Design department, which is filled with the kindest and most talented people I have ever met—and this is me talking about the professors as well.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Like I mentioned earlier, I am a Motion Designer. It’s a weird term that sometimes I don’t even know how to explain to people, but basically, I make design that moves. Think of the animation that happens when you open your Uber or Netflix app, or the graphics and text that move when you watch a reel or an advertisement—that is motion graphics, and it is absolutely everywhere.
My work tends to be very conceptual, and I take a non-traditional approach when it comes to the narrative in each project; meaning there’s no traditional story behind the piece, yet there are many layers of meaning underneath the visuals that are meant to portray a message or meaning. I love exploring how design can spark curiosity, inviting the audience to look closer and engage on a deeper level with the content. For me, that is what great design is. It’s not something that gets scrolled through and forgotten after 30 seconds—it’s memorable and doesn’t let the viewer go. It is intriguing, which is how I like to see my body of work so far, and I could not be more proud of how much I’ve been able to do with it.
You should definitely take a look at it. I can’t guarantee you’ll like it, but I can guarantee you’ll be intrigued, which, I would argue, is a million times better.
Thank you for your time!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Not really. Thank you for your time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fmmor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fermor_art/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmmorales19/
