Inspiration Everywhere: Tatyana Alanis on Design and Animation

In the ever-evolving world of design and animation, Tatyana Alanis has carved out a unique space with her vibrant and imaginative creations. From a childhood filled with cartoons to a professional career that boasts collaborations with some of the biggest brands in the world, Tatyana’s journey is a testament to passion and perseverance. In this interview, she shares the moments that sparked her interest, the highs and lows of being a designer today, and her thoughts on the role of social media in her creative process.

LOREM: What first drew you into the realms of design and animation? Is there any specific moment that you can recall where you said: “I want to pursue this”?

TATYANA: I grew up as an only child so I spent a lot of time watching cartoons and wanting to create my own world. When I got older and learned about art as a career and not as a “hobby” I worked hard to pursue it as my full time job.

L: What would you say are your favorite and least favorite things about being a designer in the current landscape of the industry?  

T: I think working in a creative space currently is crazy, it’s an ever changing environment and you have to be able to grow with it. My favorite thing currently is having the opportunity to meet other people within the industry and share stories, being able to be a part of such a loving community is amazing. I don’t have anything that stands out as something that I just hate about working in the art world, I think every job has its highs and lows and I truly try my best to stay positive and look on the brightside. I’ve learned from previous situations where I acknowledge the bad and it creates a negative space. I’m at a time in my life where I don’t want any negativity so I try to keep my head up.

L: Some of the artists we have interviewed have mentioned that social media and the way you present yourself and your work plays a big part in getting new projects as a designer/animator: would you agree? Do you think that it comes with the territory? What’s your approach when it comes to presenting your work/portfolio? 

T: YES! I have a work instagram and I have a private instagram, I use my work account as a portfolio and my personal as a small space for friends and family. I don’t really intermix the two, it naturally creates a work/ life balance without having to mix the two.

L: Could you break down your creative process to us? Guide us through it. 

T: I pump out the most work when I’m honestly not feeling the best, drawing and creating art helps me through it. I always get inspired by the people around me or by the beauty in the quiet times of the day. I take a ton of photos of everything, from there I sit down and just start drawing.

L: What inspires you?  

T: I honestly think I am inspired by everything around me. I try to see the beauty in everything.

L: When it comes to animation, some animators say that they don’t consume animated content since they work in animation and they get to “peek behind the curtain” and it loses the magic, is this the case for you?  

T: NO! I love animation. I still watch cartoons every day.

L: Name your top three favorite animated movies/shows of all time.   

T: This is hard because I have so many… As a kid I loved Hey Arnold!, Doug, Daria, The Boondocks, The Fairly Odd Parents, Rocket Power, Roccos Modern World, The Wild Thornberrys Now I love Amphibia, Invincible, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spider-Man Into the Spider Verse 1 + 2, Coraline, Despicable Me, Princess Mononoke, Monsters Inc, Luca, Primal.

L: You have worked with brands like Coca-Cola, The New Yorker, Google… any specific brand/company out there that you would love to have as a client?  

T: Nike and Apple! Those are my dream clients!

L: What new/upcoming projects for 2024 would you like people to know about? 

T: I have my first solo show coming up toward the end of the year (October 2024) and an immersive art installation coming in next month (May 2024) 

As Tatyana continues to push the boundaries of design and animation, her upcoming solo show and immersive art installation are highly anticipated projects that promise to captivate audiences. Her dedication to finding inspiration in everything around her and maintaining a positive outlook is truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing how her artistic journey unfolds and the new heights she will undoubtedly reach in 2024 and beyond.