Words: Stéphanie Major, Altitude Sports writer

I discovered my passion for motion design at college in Sherbrooke. 

I've always been a big fan of both cinema and animation, and was hesitating between film studies or graphic design. In the end, the latter won out, and I’ve never regretted it.

After a rather disappointing first year of university, I went to study in Geneva at a college specialising in modern graphic design disciplines - especially motion design. This intensive session only made me love it more. It became a way to combine cinema and animation with graphic design. It's also become my way of expressing myself through movement and sound. 

Motion design consists of all the principles of graphic design in motion. I combine proportions, contrasts, compositions and colours with various elements such as typography, shapes and video, to come up with a dynamic final work. 

I draw my inspiration from everywhere. Cinema, fashion, animated shorts, posters, packaging...I look at what's going on in the world of graphic design, and adapt it to my work. I'm lucky enough to work with international teams, which gives me the freedom to exercise my creativity in many contexts.

Inspiration, however, does not always come naturally. And if there’s one activity that allows me to clear my head and think about projects, it’s running. 

I've been running for a long time, including the 2016 Montreal Half-Marathon, but like many people I rediscovered it in 2020, when the stress of the pandemic pushed me to get back into shape. Running, at that time, was a chance to decompress, listen to podcasts and audiobooks and meditate on plans. 

I used to run with my phone. When I noticed my stats (running time, pace, etc.) were improving, I even bought myself a smart watch. As a consequence, I started to focus too much on performance, awakening a competitive side I didn't know I had. This way of looking at running quickly became a subtle source of performance anxiety, not at all what I was looking for when I returned to sport.

Today, I’ve found a balance. I don't always take my phone with me, but when I do it's for music or podcasts - I rarely look at my pace or all the other stats. Now my runs feel lighter, more focussed on breathing, stride, and the benefits that running offers. 

It's a return to basics, a real newfound respect for running.

Buy shoes that are right for you. Ideally, consult a specialist or someone who knows about running. I even have a pair of custom-made insoles because my arches need more support. 

Be humble. Go at your own pace and take your time, especially at the beginning. Burning yourself out at the start is how you get injured and end up believing (wrongly) that your body isn't made for running. Start with short distances and gradually increase your pace. 

One thing that helps me is imagining that a string is pulling me upwards, through the top of my head. It improves my upper-body posture and helps with a better stride. And remember to keep your arms at a 90 degree angle and your wrists steady.

It's been a while, but I'm most proud of my very first solo mixed media project called Built to Move, for the Ergonofis sit-stand desk company. I learned a lot from this project: it allowed me to work with a lot of people, and achieve an ambitious end product on a very tight budget. It also opened doors in the United States and got me representation outside of Montreal.