Ian Kennedy is President and Executive Producer at mDots Design, a visual creative services company. If you’ve watched a major awards show over the past 16 years, you’ve seen Ian’s work. He has produced motion graphics and video content for the Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, and Tony Awards. That’s a motion graphics EGOT! mDots is a go-to company for the Recording Academy, producing visual content for Grammy Tributes to Prince, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, Motown, and more. They have also produced screen content for major touring acts such as Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Keith Urban, the list goes on. If it’s a big awards show or live television event, like a Presidential Inauguration for instance, Ian Kennedy and mDots probably have a hand in it.
A Washington native, Ian spent the first decade of his career at North by Northwest Productions in Spokane, WA. He started out producing commercials, but quickly rose through the ranks to become Managing Director for their production slate, including feature films. In 2006 Ian left the Northwest to move to Los Angeles, where he began his current trajectory with mDots, and continued his work in feature films at Cinetel Films.
Ian loved his time at WSU and the Murrow College of Communication. His degree in Broadcast Production along with his work at Cable 8 and Northwest Public Television gave him the building blocks needed to succeed in a career in film and television. As a bonus, he also managed to make lifelong friends and meet his wife Kate, a fellow Murrow grad. This is what they call the full college experience.
Ian currently lives in Northridge, CA with Kate and their daughter, where his technical expertise spills over into their home. When it’s time to watch the Apple Cup, Ian’s house — with his half dozen screens, fancy projector, and 15-channel surround sound — is the place to be. His BBQ skills are also a main attraction. His house is like a Cougar Embassy, a year-round hub of activity for Southern California Cougs (and that one wayward Husky).
Ian is proof that a degree from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication is a gateway to a rewarding career. As a member of the Murrow Board, he hopes to keep the pipeline of talented graduates flowing from Pullman, Washington to the rest of the world. Go Cougs!