Pictured: Motion Design Department Head, Ed Cheetham (center) with seniors, Steven Dvornik and Jessica Buck. Photo taken by Barbie Heit.

Two college seniors are off to a bright and promising future thanks in large part to their four-year experience majoring in motion design at Ringling College of Art and Design. The program, which has been called one of the best motion design programs in the world, allows students to work with animation, design, sound, stop-motion, and so much more.

In addition to the coursework offered through the program, the college hosts an annual event called FutureProof, designed to prepare students for a seamless transition from the classroom into their future careers. The week-long event is hosted by the Department of Motion Design, for motion design students and alumni, and is open to all Ringling students. Packed with industry presentations, workshops, and activities, FutureProof has helped countless students, including Jessica Buck and Steven Dvornik, secure meaningful internships and jobs after graduation.

Jessica Buck is excited to begin her summer internship at Dash, an animation and motion design studio in Raleigh, NC. FutureProof gave her the opportunity to interview for the internship with the potential for a full-time job. Buck will start off working remotely from her family home in Tampa and then spend the second half of the summer at the Dash studio. While she is excited to graduate, she is a bit sad about saying goodbye. “Our class has become like a family to me so graduation will be bittersweet,” she says. “I’ve made so many connections and I’m really going to miss seeing everyone every day.”

Steven Dvornik, a motion design major from North Port is moving to California where he has accepted a full-time position with FutureDeluxe, a global creative studio with offices in London, Los Angeles, New York and Sydney. “Moving to California is a bit out of my comfort zone, but I’m really excited for the opportunity,” he says. Dvornik also credits FutureProof where he met and spoke with his future employer two years in a row.

Ed Cheetham, head of the Motion Design program is thrilled for his students, but not at all surprised that they’ve landed such impressive positions. “The biggest qualities to determine success as a motion designer are creativity and the ability to come up with new things all the time,” he says. “Here at Ringling, we don’t take one technique and get good at it, we give students a variety of image-making techniques so that they have options and a big umbrella view of possible solutions.”

On Saturday, April 29th, the school will host a motion design senior show from 7 pm-9 pm at Soundstage A on the Ringling campus,  at 1370 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Sarasota. Cheetham is inviting and encouraging local businesses to attend to meet the students and take a look at their incredible portfolios.

Pictured: Motion Design Department Head, Ed Cheetham (center) with seniors, Steven Dvornik and Jessica Buck. Photo taken by Barbie Heit.

To learn more about the motion design department at Ringling College of Art and Design, click here.