Interview with Madiha Jamil
Madiha Jamil is a 3D animator/ Modeler from Pakistan currently working as an Lecturer in University of Sharjah.
Designer Interview
20 April 2016
I am a 90s kid and I grow up watching Disney movies. They always fascinated me just like any girl. I remember the first drawing I ever made was for my art class in grade 3 which was of Mickey Mouse and Donald duck. From that day on I started illustrating all the characters I loved or I found unique. So there was an artist in me from the beginning. After high school when I had to decide what I want to do in life I went from graphics design and later I found my way in 3D animation and modeling.
Mem Jeem is my personal Studio developed in 2013.
To me it's creating distinct and clear visual. Good design is easily understood, visually appealing and making a relationship to the target audience.
I enjoy doing character designing and most of the time when I am free I am illustrating characters and later on model them in 3D software.
I love Glean Keane’s work. He work on all most all classic Disney animated movies including Beauty and the beast, Mermaid, Tarzan and many more and he is still producing amazing work.
The first thing I ever designed for a company was the packaging for a pesticide company right after my graduation. It was a very small advertising agency in Multan, Pakistan, first place I ever worked.
3D animation and modeling of course. It’s been almost 8 years now since I first started learning 3D and I still love this medium.
Honestly for me there is no time when I specifically feel creative. I can be creative anytime anywhere it comes naturally to me.
Since I work on character designing more I focus mainly on exaggeration and appeal. For me these two elements make a good character design.
Creative and criticizing both.
It is always exciting.
As far as it communicates and delivers the message creatively and effectively its successful design for me.
The concept / idea behind the design and how creatively it has been accomplished.
Designers’ plays important roles in bringing a social change in a society and environment. Designers can contribute to society by choosing the important issues society is facing and provide with creative solutions.
The design field is evolving rapidly. Everything you see in your daily life is designed from your pen to gigantic buildings to mobile apps and games. And I am sure we are going to experience some real astonishing designs in future.
My last exhibition was in Lahore International Children film festival, Lahore, Pakistan 2015. Next exhibition is not planned yet.
Events, issues or even a small chat with someone from everyday life, inspire me. Once I have an idea, I do a lot of research, visual research, past works on similar ideas for inspiration and to avoid cliché’.
I am a 3D Film maker and a character designer and focus majorly on Exaggeration and appealing. I believe if there is no personality appeal in characters, they can never be successful.
I live in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah but I am a Pakistani. I spent almost 12 year in Pakistan during study and job and Pakistan is so rich in culture. I am from Punjab and it is famous for its food, culture, moral values and most of all Architecture and it is always reflected in my work. But if I am not living in Pakistan and working on a local design than its hard because you are not with the same people or in same environment, so it affects your research for design.
Freelancing mostly.
For companies I would suggest to be very clear in providing the right and full information about the project to your designer. Incomplete information always end up redoing same designing again and again without the expected outcome and it could be nerve wrecking. Select a designer based on his creativity, efficient working and presentation skills and he have to be smart.
Starting from the basic idea which for me can come from anywhere anytime, I start doing visual research and try to write down ever thing which cross my mind during this process. It is very important to write down or draw the idea instantly you never know when it will help you out. I do a lot of sketching and storyboarding. Once I have a clear idea I move to the production phase.
Well I like my kitchen I think it’s very well designed, One of my lamp, a tapestry, a wall which I designed myself.
My day starts with the early Morning Prayer. Than get ready for work, have a breakfast with some music. Leave for work and come back home depending on the class schedule I have. Take some rest, watch or read and since I am doing an online animation course I had to do the assignments. And I go to bed early to make sure I wake up fresh for the new day.
Love what you are doing. Try to keep your mind open for creativity and criticism. Take out time for yourself, it’s very important. Do as much research as possible, the more exposure you gain, more creative you get.
Being a designer means you are a problem solver which is positive. But being an artist or a designer means you get more sensitive as compare to normal people which effects your work.
I don’t have any specific golden rule to be honest.
Good observation, Research skills, open to criticism, flexibility to work in different situations.
I am a digital 3D designer. I use Autodesk Maya for 3D modeling and animation and Adobe Suite mostly for illustrations, video and sound editing.
Time management is tough. The best practice is to schedule yourself.
Depends on the project mostly. If it’s a short film project it can end in a year but if it’s a full length film you are planning it might take years to from start to end.
How do I do 3D?
When I did internship in Post Amazers Animation house in Karachi during my graduation. That experience played a huge role in what I am today.
Animation houses and Advertising agencies
I enjoy doing 3D work, I think that’s the only thing which never bore me.
To work on a full length feature film.
I develop my own designs.
Right now I am continuing my work on project La'Hore to make it into a Short Animated film.
madiha.jamil1@gmail.com