Rona Innes

Where You Live:Brighton
Company: Moshi Machine
Job Title: Illustration / 2D Animation & Interactive Design

Describe your job/role?
My role includes creating storyboards, illustrations and 2D animations. I work on content for e-learning, viral campaigns for organisations such as Greenpeace and one-off commissions for museums and shop windows. I am often sub-contracted by larger companies, both locally and internationally and either work on-site or from my studio. As a sole trader my day can be quite varied and includes liaising with clients, pitching for work, project management as well as creating the work.

What is the best thing about your job?
To be able to do work that I really enjoy which combines all the skills I have acquired over the years.

What attracted you to it?
My background and passion is art and I feel completely at home in a studio creating things whether on the computer or with traditional media. Also, my job challenges me creatively and I enjoy having to constantly research and develop new ideas and solve problems.

What schools did you go to and what subjects did you take?
I went to school in Aberdeen where I took general subjects such as English and Art. I studied eight O-levels and three Scottish highers.

What was your favourite subject and why?
Definitely Art and Design, I also really enjoyed English and science.

Did you go to University / College and if so what did you study?
In Scotland, the school system is different, you can finish school earlier and still have the equivalent A levels to get into Uni. When I was 16, I studied Graphic Design at the London College of Printing but I later transferred to a BTEC National Diploma in General Art and Design.

Following this I completed a degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College in 1990 then later did a Masters in Computers in Design at Middlesex University, which was quite a pioneering course just before the Internet boom.

What was your first job?
My first job was working as a chamber maid in a hotel located in an18th century castle. It was a highland version of Faulty Towers with an eccentric cigar smoking boss, stags heads on the walls, tartan carpets and the staff wore kilts.

What does your career path look like?
My first job in the media industry was straight after completing my Masters degree at Middlesex University. I was working as a special effects artist on Hollywood feature films at Cinesite in Soho where I worked as a 2D compositor, combining live action with 3D animation and doing re-touching.

After that I started freelance working and then later formed Moshi Machine. I also do occasional part-time lecturing as I have a great interest in education and developing learning materials.

Which women have inspired and influenced your career?
On the illustration side, women like Junko Mizuno and Fafi produce interesting work and manage to make a living out of doing what they love. I also admire fashion designers such as Mary Quant and Vivienne Westwood. I admire Vivienne Westwood's ability to consistently produce influential and quirky collections but still believe in the importance of traditional tailoring and pattern cutting.

What would you say is your strongest attribute/s?
Being passionate about what I do, with meticulous attention to detail - there is no excuse for badly executed sloppy work in any trade. If you work hard, learn as much as you can and have a genuine enthusiasm for what you do you can move forward creatively.

What do you think is the most exciting/interesting thing about working in the digital media industry?
The rapid development of technology is exciting. I'm particularly interested in the way things are developing with alternative interfaces. The use of webcams, sensors and tangible objects to interface with games and software seems much more free and inclusive than having to use keyboards, mice and handsets. Now people can interact with programs using gestures and movement, removing the obvious mental and physical connections to the computer hardware.

What advice would you give to people who consider entering the digital media industry?
Most freelance work comes through recommendations therefore it is imperative to network.

If you are a student, take an active role in group units and presentations. These are designed to give you project management skills, critical skills and confidence in presenting work which makes it much easier to discuss your work at interviews or liaise with clients in future jobs.

Most tutors are required to have industry links and will only refer students who act in a professional manner at college and submit good quality work that accurately reflects the brief and meets the deadline.