Meet Juan Pablo Silhy | Motion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Juan Pablo Silhy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juan Pablo, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to pursue a career in the arts because I have always found myself curious and passionate about digital art forms. When I was 10 years old my parents gifted me a digital toy camera and that is how I discovered photography. I loved taking pictures of my family and other things I encountered throughout my day. When I reached Middle School I started to get involved more in the world of photography by joining my school’s photography club. I participated in photography competitions and I started to edit pictures in Photoshop. It was when I reached High School that my interest shifted from photography to videography. I also got involved with my school’s video club and learned everything about video editing, filmmaking, and special effects. This was the moment that I realized that I wanted to tell stories through cinematography and make this my career. I just remember the feeling of being fully focused while editing videos, I couldn’t feel the passing of time because I enjoyed it so much. Right before graduating High School and making a decision about what would I study in the future, I took some digital design classes that changed my focus from filmmaking to digital animations. I started to experiment more with Illustrator and After Effects creating my own designs and animations. In general, I have always been passionate about the creative fields, especially the most technological ones. Even though my interest keeps changing from field to field as I discover new things, I am certain that a creative field is what I am most passionate about. I am really thankful to have found early on in my life something that I enjoy doing and something that is entertaining for me without even realizing it is work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The type of work I do is creating motion graphics content for immersive spaces by using projection mapping and other technologies. The most recent project I made is called Aqualumina and it was my capstone project that I worked on during my senior year at SCAD. I created different bioluminescent particles and marine animals using After Effects and then projected those digital animations in Forsyth Park, the most iconic park in Savannah, Georgia. When the projections of the different assets were mapped to the trees, sidewalk, and fountain in the park I filmed and edited it to create a compelling story. I completed this project with the help of my friend Nolan Acosta who helped me set up the projections at the park on 5 different nights. This project got nominated for a university-wide student showcase and I was proud to see my work on the big screen while experiencing the reaction from the live audience.

It took me a while to get to where I am today. At first, I had no clue about what to study in college and did not know that the motion graphics industry existed. I have always loved editing videos, so I knew it was the right path, but my first years in college studying motion design made me doubt everything. I started to question if this was my calling, if I would ever get good at this, and if I enjoyed making pixels on the screen move. I was almost considering switching majors at one point because I did not see any improvement in my work. When I started to take higher-level classes for my degree, I noticed that I was applying the things I learned from working on my previous projects, as I practiced more with After Effects my work started to get better. Once I reached the point that I was comfortable with the software, I discovered projection mapping through a class, that made me more motivated to push the boundaries of what’s possible. I learned that patience is key in anything you set out to do, it takes time to get to the top of the mountain you are climbing, and if you give up early you might never see the view at the top worth all your hard work. Even though you might feel frustrated that you are not advancing, trust yourself that you are making progress because every experience counts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friend would come and visit Savannah I would take them on a walking tour through the city. Savannah is so historical and walkable that taking a stroll through the squares and seeing the historic architecture is one of the best ways to experience the city. We would start by visiting Forsyth Park, the biggest and most popular park in Savannah. One stop that we for sure would do is SCAD Story, it is an immersive 4D show that tells you the story of how SCAD was founded in Savannah in an innovative way. This is the place where I worked on campus so I have many memories in this building and it is a popular tourist spot. A good place where we could get some lunch would be Collin’s Quarter, one of my favorite restaurants, and after lunch, we could cool off with some ice cream at Doki Doki which is conveniently right next to the restaurant. I would then take my friend to River Street to walk around, see the cargo ships sailing away, eat some pralines, and watch the sunset. We would end the night at the JW Marriot Plant Riverside District which was a historic electric power plant but was restored with a luxury hotel, restaurants, and live entertainment options.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my success to my whole family, especially my parents who have supported me along the way. They have seen me work on all my creative projects since a young age and have encouraged my curiosity for the arts. I also want to thank my Middle School and High School teachers who introduced me to the digital arts and taught me everything that I needed to know to advance my career. They were my mentors that first introduced me to the arts and I wouldn’t have discovered my passion without them. I also want to give a shoutout to my SCAD professors and friends who have provided me with a warm and friendly environment. My SCAD professors have pushed me to be ambitious with my projects and try new ways of doing things. My friends have encouraged me and collaborated with me on projects, it is really helpful to work and be living in a place surrounded by creative students. I also want to thank my MOMELove community in SCAD, without them, my SCAD experience wouldn’t be the same. Whenever I was stuck or needed help with something, I always had a second pair of eyes and a whole community that is kind enough to help you out.

Website: https://juanpablosilhy.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanpablosilhy/