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New Mexico is a small state, with a small population, and very seldom the top item on most people's radar. Nevertheless, it's home to two of the most dynamic women you could ever hope to be awed by. I thought you'd like to get to know them.
Elaine Montoya and Becky Padilla are both the inspiration and the perspiration behind Best in the SW : : Flash Animation and Motion Graphics Conference. This three day conference, held in Albuquerque, NM, grows in stature and attendance each year. It is attended by Hollywood animators, motion graphics designers, VFX artists, and broadcast designers as well as graphic designers and in-house artists.
These two women are electrified with creativity. They put ordinary multi-taskers to shame, and frequently use the word "passion" to describe their work.
The two envisioned the Best in the SW conference as an outgrowth of the NM Adobe Users Groups. It began as a Flash animation and motion graphics contest with Adobe software as prizes, and has ballooned like the hot air balloons that fill the Albuquerque skies at the same time as the Best in the SW took place in 2007. Hotel rooms are hard to find during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, but Elaine and Becky made sure they had plenty for the conference particpants.
As leaders of the NM Adobe User Groups, Elaine and Becky serve as Adobe community liaisons. Their tasks range from creating a community for designers, web-developers, animators and motion graphic artists to providing educational opportunities. They also arrange various types of outreach, such as integrating expert seminars and presentations from the AdobeQuerque Community Experts into the University of NM Continuing Education offerings.
(Disclosure: Yep, that's my funny face. I'm one of the AdobeQuerque Community Experts.)
Elaine and Becky are the principals of Zocoloco Studios, a design firm specializing in motion graphics, web development, and print design. To celebrate Elaine's fifth year as a breast cancer survivor, they are putting together yet another event, Code for the Cure.
We conducted an interview by email, starting with a list of questions.
Question: This year's Best in the SW was a big success. What were some of the high points for you?
Elaine: We were very pleased with so many aspects of this year's event. It far exceeded our expectations. I think one of the things that excited me the most was being able to provide amazing, high-caliber talent to present at Best in the SW. Our lineup included artists who design screen graphics, title design, and visual effects for major motion pictures; create broadcast design for all the major networks including ABC, NBC, FOX, A&E; and work as animators for Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network.
Almost every attendee told us they were planning to come back in 2008—and that they plan to bring co-workers with them. A common thread in the post-conference survey we conducted was that they loved the intimate size of the conference. They felt that everyone was accessible—from the speakers, to the producers, to the software gurus at Adobe—everyone was approachable and available. This was something we were aiming for with Best in the SW. We wanted people to come and feel like it was not just a conference, but an experience. We think we succeeded!
Question: How did you divide up the chores in organizing such a big conference? How long did it take you to do it?
Becky: In 2006 we produced the first Best in the SW. It consisted of a one day statewide mini-conference, and a Flash animation and awards competition. The competition was open to artists throughout the southwest quadrant of the United States, including New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, Nevada, and southern California, When we were making the decision to expand the conference to an international level, bringing in some of the top talent in the industry, we had no idea it was going to take as much work as it did. The workload was exponential compared to the previous year.
Fortunately, our talents and skills are quite similar, so both of us were able to pitch in and work on any and all aspects of the conference—from designing the graphics, to developing the website, from getting sponsors, to working with post-secondary schools and negotiating contracts with vendors—we both took an active role. From the day we decided to put on the conference
