“There is no better way to inspire students than to provide them with professional engagements with the creative leaders of our industry,” said Ed Cheetham, Department Head of Motion Design. “Leveraging Ringling’s professional reputation and the exceptional quality of our students, we attract leading studios who are eager to engage with the next wave of emerging talent. The FutureProof conference underscores Ringling’s commitment to providing students with unique opportunities to connect directly with industry leaders right from our campus.”  

We are excited to announce this year’s keynote speakers: Mitch Monson from Sibling Rivalry, Alexis Copeland from Microsoft, Noah Wilde and Austin Bauwens from Ravie, and Justin Harder from CLAUS. There will also be studio presentations from Disney Live Entertainment, Black Math, Hornet, Ravie, and DASH. Our always-popular Alumni Panel will feature Maddy Hodgetts ’18, Motion Design, and Creative Director of The Infatuation, and recent grad Sol Bourdeau Garcia ’23, Motion Design, who is a Freelance Designer/Animator.

This year, FutureProof will present a host of hands-on technical workshops by Luis Cataldi from Unreal Engine, Ian Robinson from Maxon, the maker of ZBrush, Roy Yang from Foundry, the maker of Nuke and other visual effects software, and Nicholas Sharma from Adobe, maker of Substance 3D. All of these software packages are used extensively throughout the Motion Design curriculum.

The event is created for Motion Design students and alumni—but all ������Ƶ students are welcome to attend. Representatives from Career Services will also be available throughout the event to provide students with workshops on topics such as resume building, networking, and interviewing skills.

“These workshops are just one of the many ways we help prepare them for their careers,” said Alejandra Lance-Henterly, the Director of Career Services at ������Ƶ. “We provide a multitude of opportunities for students to perfect their professionalism skills, whether it’s through the classroom, our career counseling, or events like this.”

The week-long conference wraps up with the senior DEMO DUEL. This is a March Madness type of bracketed head-to-head competition of Motion Design senior demo reels. The audience votes in real time for the winners to move on to the next rounds. It’s a fun and exciting way to highlight all the amazing student work in front of recruiters and industry professionals. 

We would like to give a big shout-out to our FutureProof ’25 sponsors for their generous support of our students: Unreal Engine, Foundry, Maxon, Adobe, and our media sponsor, Stash.

For more information, visit RinglingFutureProof.com. If you would like to know how to participate in future events, please email motiondesign@c.ringling.edu.

������Ƶ’s Department of Motion Design has been ranked #1 in the World for Best Motion Graphics Schools by The Rookies for two years in a row. The Department has received numerous national and international awards, including National Gold ADDY Awards, D&AD Pencil Awards, Art Directors Club Awards, Motionographer’s Motion Awards, and Communication Arts Awards, and our alumni have won numerous EMMY Awards.

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Contact:

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Each summer Pixar chooses 10 students to attend their 12-week Animation Internship at its headquarters in Emeryville, California. ������Ƶ animators have been awarded half of the internships offered this year.

Serenko was also offered a full-time job as an animator at Psyop after her internship with the company in her sophomore year. Yuster received multiple Rookie awards for his student work Cheeky, and his Character Animation Reel; Merwin received multiple Rookies for the animation, Bent Out of Shape; and Schwarzschild received two Rookies. Rookie of the Year 2023 Lagrange previously interned at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Duolingo.

Pixar is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and is responsible for some of the most successful animations of all time, from the Toy Story series of movies and Monsters Inc. to Coco and Soul. Interns work alongside Pixar employees and contribute as members of the team. They are also invited to attend lectures and screenings that take place on the Pixar campus over their time there.

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FutureProof offers workshops, presentations, demonstrations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and nightly keynote speakers from motion design industry leaders, as well as Motion Design alumni and representatives from the ������Ƶ Center for Career Services. In addition to information and inspiration, the conference provides a unique opportunity for students to connect face-to-face with industry leaders, right on campus. FutureProof is presented by the Department of Motion Design, but all ������Ƶ students are welcome to attend. This conference serves as a direct indicator of the close industry relationships held by ������Ƶ. 

Conference events take place primarily in the Diane Roskamp Exhibition Hall in the Ulla Searing Student Center and in the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center. Morning and afternoon workshops and presentations will feature representatives from CNN, Maxon, The Garden Creative, Imaginary Forces, Toastmasters, and DASH.

Evening keynote presentations begin every night at 7 pm, starting Monday with the visual media production team from Disney Live Entertainment; Tuesday’s keynote speaker is Jonathan Winbush, owner of Winbush Immersive; on Wednesday, it will be Maxon manager of events Mathias Omotola and author of The Five Most Important Things You Don’t Learn in School; Thursday’s keynote features a Ringling Motion Design alumni panel. The conference concludes Friday at 8:30 pm with a closing mixer on Soundstage A at the ������Ƶ Studio Labs. 

The FutureProof 2024 sponsors include Maxon, Foundry, SideFX, and Stash. 

������Ƶ was ranked No. 1 in The Rookies list of the 2023 Best Schools in the World for motion graphics. In October 2023, a team of five ������Ƶ Motion Design seniors won the 21st annual 24-Hours Animation Contest, creating a 30-second animated short from prompt to final product in just 24 hours.

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Barking Orders earned Tullo a Silver Student Academy Award in 2021 and won the award for Best Special Effects at the 27th Annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films (SSOF), Florida’s largest student film competition and award show, in 2022. 

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See what current Ringling students have been working on this summer in this ongoing series: Summer Internships

This summer, rising Film seniors at ������Ƶ, Will Mauricette and Beau Agrawal, both attended internships with major film production companies in Los Angeles, achieving huge steps towards landing their dream jobs after graduation.

Beau Agrawal ’24, Film, spent his summer break interning with FotoKem and the Motion Picture Academy through their Academy Gold Rising Program. FotoKem is a post-production company that specializes in services like digital intermediates, dailies, color, audio, visual effects, and the restoration of classic movies. They have worked on a range of series and films—from The Batman (2021) to this year’s Peacock series Poker Face to the comedy/drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). 

“This summer I was selected as one of 93 interns to take part in the Academy’s Gold Rising Program. This included exclusive panels, workshops, and screenings with the Academy. In addition to this, I was partnered with FotoKem for a full-time internship, where I spent time learning about analog film processing/developing and feature film finishing/color grading. I was lucky enough to watch several films go through the post-production process including Oppenheimer, They Cloned Tyrone, and many more. I also got a chance to meet and work with colorists, online editors, and others who contributed to the creation of these films!”

Will Mauricette ’24, Film, spent his summer working with 87th North, a production company whose main focus is on action films. They are responsible for the John Wick films, Hobbs and Shaw, and Bullet Train, from 2022. Next year, they will be releasing The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling. The first month of Mauricette’s internship took place remotely, and in the second month he traveled to Los Angeles, where he worked in their main office.��

“I started my internship doing script coverage, which was extremely fun and a crucially important skill for a filmmaker. Script coverage is the first step a script goes through when it comes to the studio’s desk. The script would come to me first to read and basically give a thorough and in-depth breakdown of it with feedback, before moving on to the producers’ desks. I feel more confident in my writing after reading and studying all those professionally written scripts. Another day-to-day task consisted of researching next year’s films that are slated to come out, alongside their directors and starring cast. Films like Oppenheimer and Barbie that have Oscar buzz were researched daily. I made a lot of connections and feel as if my summer couldn’t have gone any better as a student filmmaker. A major plus was the gym inside the office literally feet away from my desk.” 

The College’s Center for Career Services brings recruiters from top companies around the world, from Disney to Hasbro to Pixar, to give presentations and recruit our students. Over 100 job recruiters visit campus each year, and over 7,500 employers post opportunities

through the Center. Our students land competitive internships and jobs that develop into successful careers. 

Read about Dave Scheele’s internship with the Washington Capitals, Sky Chandler’s internship with Carter’s, Elayna Sisson’s internship at Bath and Body Works, and Aleyah Lyon’s internship with Mattel.  

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See what current Ringling students have been working on this summer in this ongoing series: Summer Internships

Aleyah Lyon ’24, Illustration, spent the summer living out some of her childhood fantasies while interning at Mattel. She gave us a little purview of her time there—designing clothing and sets for Polly Pocket and Trolls, and attending the pink carpet premiere for Barbie The Movie! Read more about her dream summer:

“I spent an incredible 10 weeks at Mattel as a Graphics/Product Design intern on the Dolls Team in El Segundo, CA. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of girls’ brands, including Polly Pocket, Disney Princess, Trolls, and more, including new and unannounced brands. 

On the Graphics Team, we supported product designers by creating fabric art for doll clothes, repeat prints, and chip art (the art printed inside of playsets). It was so surreal to see my artwork printed on fabric samples! I also had the opportunity to do some product design and sketch some ideas for brands still in development.

My day-to-day was mostly creating graphics on Illustrator and Photoshop. I worked as a real member of the team, so everything I created was for actual products that will be on shelves in the next couple of years. The rest of the time, I did a number of things like daily team meetings, discussions with product designers to go over ideas and revisions, participating in group brainstorms for new products, or meeting with other departments to understand each step of the toy creation process at Mattel. I got to see doll hair being rooted, 3D modelers sculpting Hot Wheels, and meet chemists developing slime recipes! 

We also got to participate in intern events like Toy Clash, a competition where we teamed up to create a new product pitch in two days. And, I got to attend the employee pink carpet premiere of Barbie The Movie. I learned more than I ever imagined this summer, and I can’t wait to take my new skills into senior year!”

See what services the College’s Center for Career Services offers, including job and internship searches that give students access to thousands of opportunities, networking support, and interviewing skills. These services are available to both students and graduates—Career Services offers this support to Ringling alumni for the rest of their lives.  

Read about Graphic Design student Dave Scheele’s internship with the Washington Capitals, Illustration major Sky Chandler’s internship with Carter’s, and Elayna Sisson’s internship at Bath and Body Works.  

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See what current Ringling students are working on this summer in this ongoing series: Summer Internships

Elayna Sisson ’24, Illustration

“I’ve spent this summer at Bath and Body Works’ headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, as an intern for their home design team. The team is responsible for designing the art and packaging for all of the Bath and Body Works soaps and candles. I’ve learned so much about the design process and creating products. Some of my responsibilities as an intern have been expanding designs, creating labels and packaging, and communicating with the printers. I work cross-functionally with the merchandising team and approve colors for the products. I also had the opportunity to create my own mock collection of soaps with a focus on sustainability. Then, I was able to present my work to a group of Bath and Body Works associates from across the company. Working with such an incredible team has helped me grow and has taught me so much about designing for a large company.”

The College’s Center for Career Services offers training and career preparation services such as job search strategies, resume reviewing, interview training, and portfolio building. They give students career assessment advice and services to help students determine what type of career and work environment would work best for them. They also provide job and internship searches that give students access to thousands of opportunities, networking support, and interviewing skills. These services are available to both students and alumni—Career Services offers this support to Ringling alumni for the rest of their lives.  

Read about Graphic Design student Dave Scheele’s internship with the Washington Capitals and Illustration major Sky Chandler’s internship with Carter’s.  

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See what current Ringling students are working on this summer in this ongoing series: Summer Internships

Sky Chandler ’25, Illustration

“This summer I have had the privilege of interning in the art department at Carter’s in their corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. I am on the Baby Print team for Carter’s Exclusive Brands, primarily focusing on creating art for Walmart’s Child of Mine, or COM.

On a typical day, I start my morning off commuting into the office via a walk, a bus, a train,

and then another walk. Navigating public transportation in a big city has been an extremely valuable learning experience for me, and I love using my commute to spend time people-watching and drawing in my sketchbook. I arrive at the office at about eight, and get right to work!

My day-to-day duties vary depending on where we are in our production timeline. I do anything from work on researching trends, prints, and techniques for upcoming prints to spending time concepting and creating art. I spend a lot of time working on my teammates’

prints as well, whether it is recoloring, redrawing assets, or working on revisions after a meeting. It really is a team effort and I love that about Carter’s. I love that I am entrusted with actual products that will be sold in stores — I really feel as though my work and opinions matter, and that I add value to the team.

When I am not working on product to be sold in-store, I spend time working on my personal

intern project — this is a separate mock collection that I am creating on my own and will present to the entire department at the conclusion of my internship. Since the prints that I am working on won’t be out in stores until next year, this is a great opportunity for me to create portfolio pieces and put my newfound print and pattern knowledge to the test!

I also get to spend a lot of time in different meetings absorbing information, and learning more

about Carter’s and how their timeline of creating a product works from start to finish. I have the opportunity to hear from other departments and soak up even more knowledge of the apparel industry.”

Read about Graphic Design student Dave Scheele’s internship with the Washington Capitals here and stay tuned for more notes from the field from Ringling student interns.����

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See what current Ringling students are working on this summer in this ongoing series: Summer Internships

Dave Scheele ’25, Graphic Design

“This summer I have had the opportunity to be the Graphic Design Intern at Monumental Sports and Entertainment. They are a group based in Washington, D.C. that oversees operations of a variety of teams, most notably the professional Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics sports teams.

As a huge hockey fan, especially of the Capitals, this internship was a dream come true. My day to day is always something different and the variety of jobs always surprises me! We work on digital, print, merchandise, in-arena graphics, outdoor graphics, anything—from big to small! My internship is hybrid/remote, so sometimes I work from home and other times I take the train into the office at either the Capital One Arena, or the Medstar Capital Iceplex. 

Though many projects I worked on won’t be pushed to print until the hockey season starts, I have had some great pieces go out during the summer. Most recently, I was able to make an illustration for the NHL draft, celebrating the Capitals’ 8th overall pick, Ryan Leonard.

Overall, each day with Monumental is an exciting one, and one that reminds me I am pursuing the right field and doing what I love.” 

Stay tuned for more notes from the field from Ringling students interning at Bath and Body Works and Carter’s.  

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The theme this year was resilience — something this class has certainly exuded during their four years. In President Larry Thompson’s opening remarks, he reiterated to the graduates, “You have probably heard me say time and time again about how proud I am to be the President of an institution with such dedicated, hard-working, and resilient students. This graduating class, after all, has endured a worldwide pandemic, online learning, campus shutdowns, and hurricane evacuations. But this class, you students, have continued to prove that you are more than capable of weathering any kind of impossible situation put before you. You are a creative force. And, you are resilient!”

“Your passion brought you to Ringling and your chosen fields,” said Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, who gave the keynote address.��

“Your passion brought you to Ringling, and your chosen fields,” he said. “Your presence opened your minds to possibilities you never imagined. And your persistence has kept you going, and it got you through to today. Your passion, presence, and persistence carried you to this moment. Along with your creativity, and the love of those around you, these qualities will serve you for the rest of your lives.”

Many graduating seniors have already set their future careers in motion, with jobs and internships lined up around the world at companies including Blizzard, Disney, Laika, Playstation, and NBC Sports. 

Meet a few members of the Class of 2023:

• Susan Saulnier, Entertainment Design 
• Ale Ortega-Romero, Illustration
• Calvin “CJ” Callins, Film 

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