For UTS Animation graduate, Emily Cheung, a typical day at work is full of variety. “It really depends on the kind of task we have,” she says, “but we usually start off with brainstorming ideas. And there are meetings with producers we’re working with. Once we have an idea, we usually do some variations and let them choose. From there we create whatever graphics are needed and put it all together.”
Emily is a junior motion graphics designer at Warner Brothers Discovery. She says, “I’m working in TV broadcast, doing motion graphics, mainly video to promote our TV channel. I’ve always liked to look at advertising. I think it’s amazing to see how things are presented in a way that gets you interested, and I like how people think when it comes through a design approach.” Although design thinking fascinated her, Emily was initially unsure what direction she would take. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was thinking about fashion or maybe graphic design,” she says. After completing high school in Hong Kong, she decided to study design at UTS. She says, “I did some research online, and UTS looked like it had a good design focus – it looked more suited to my needs.”
Pathway to UTS
Emily began her studies with a diploma from UTS College, the pathway to UTS. She says, “I think going to the College isn’t just about getting the skills or getting into the degree. It’s about the mindset too. Even the essays – they helped me with design thinking.”
It was also while she was studying at UTS College that Emily decided to focus on animation. “During my diploma, a teacher from the UTS animation degree came and gave us a presentation,” she says. “He showed us what we can do during the course – what we could achieve – and I got really interested.”
A window into the industry
She says the emphasis on drawing throughout her journey from UTS College to her degree was extremely valuable. “We did a lot of sketching,” she says. “We would sketch outdoors and do life drawing. I still draw a lot and I think it can bring a new perspective to my work. We also learnt important software and skills that I still use now. And in second year we saw how an actual animation studio works. What’s the workflow? How does it progress? We got to see how the industry really looks.”
Sense of achievement
Graduating from UTS was an important milestone for Emily. She says, “Looking back, you see how much you’ve achieved through those years and how much you’ve grown. It’s such a good feeling.” She began looking for work after handing in her last assignment. “I was pretty chill for the first month,” she says, “and after the second month I started sweating. The industry can be pretty hard to get into at the start. But after about three months I started getting freelance jobs. And I juggled contract work for a while before I got a full-time job.”
Emily’s happy with where she is now. “I think I’m going to stay in the animation world. But I’m thinking about improving my 3D skills. I’d like to do more of that and I’m hoping, if there’s a chance, I’d kind of like to work in gaming one day. But for now, I’m happy to go with the flow,” she says.
Stepping forward and making connections
Despite being contented with her progress, Emily says there are a few things, looking back, that she may have done differently. She says, “Back when I started at UTS College, I wasn’t confident with my English. If I had been more open to connect with people, I think it would have been better for me. I was so shy. I think it’s common with international students, but you need to step forward and try to make connections. That’s what I try to do now. And I think you need to be proactive. You have all the resources, and the tutors are there whenever you have any kind of question. So just go straight ahead and ask because there are always people to help you.”
Ideas are everywhere
For animation students, Emily’s number one tip is to always make time to draw. “Organise your time to make sure you can draw every day, or at least once or twice a week. And try to go to the art galleries, to museums, and look at things. You can find inspiration everywhere. It’s about mindfulness and being aware of what you can take from the things you see. Maybe carry a little notebook to put your ideas down. Don’t let them get away.”
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