I need to find someone to create Flash animations for my organization based on scripts that we provide. Given that I had no idea where to start looking, I broke out the old Google-fu. All I’m coming up with thus far are web designers who want to sell me splash pages, and marketing consultants who want to redefine my business through the power of graphic art.
I do not want a web page. I do not want my business redefined. All I want is someone who takes something I want animated in Flash and animates it in Flash. Is that too much (or, as the case may be, too little) to ask?
Anyone know how I’d go about acquiring this service? For that matter, do we have any Flash animators out there who are looking for occasional (~one project per month) freelance work? As always, any advice is appreciated.
Ask on Craigslist. Tell them what you want, how much you’ll pay, and ask for links to samples. You’ll get a bunch of crap but also probably a couple who can do what you want.
Finding someone with a specialty in Flash animation and NOT in web design or development will be a fairly rare (and probably expensive) thing. I’d post a job listing on places like Guru or iFreelance or eLance… people will bid on your job and show you previous Flash work they’ve done.
Well, it’s not that I’m averse to having a web designer do the animations if they’re willing and able (and the projects aren’t all that complex). It’s just that it’s a bit outside of their normal scope. Their pages aren’t really geared to sell the service, so the information and samples given don’t allow me to gauge likely candidates. I suppose I could just use the shotgun approach and email every company with “Flash design” in their list of services; it just seems somehow…inelegant.
I’m wary of appealing to RAC, oDesk, Guru, eLance, Craigslist, etc. I’ve used these services and others like them many times in the past for things that weren’t particularly time-sensitive, but these animations are often part of substantial contract projects for my company, and I’d like some assurance (or the illusion, at least) of professionalism and reliability. On these sites, it’s difficult to tell whether you’re getting a graphics studio or a college kid with CS3 calling himself “D-zyn Interactive” on the weekends.