We recently connected with Lupita Djody and have shared our conversation below.

Lupita, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I’ve been able to build a full-time career through my creative work, and it’s been a gradual but rewarding process. I’ve always been interested in motion design and animation, so I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Motion Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

At SCAD, I focused on learning the core principles of motion design and spent a lot of time developing my skills and building a portfolio that reflected my growth. I also took part in extracurricular activities to broaden my experience, including co-founding a Motion Designers Club at the college. It was a great way to collaborate with others, stay inspired, and learn from all the other creative students.

After 2.5 years of study, practice, and a few internships, I was fortunate to be offered a full-time role in New York City at Datadog. I worked there for five years, gaining hands-on experience, collaborating with a talented team.

If I could go back, I’d probably start creating and sharing my work earlier instead of waiting to feel “ready.” Having a degree is great—it gave me structure, skills, and access to resources I wouldn’t have had otherwise—but in the end, it’s the portfolio that speaks the loudest. More than any degree, resume, or title, it’s about showing what you can actually do. The only way to build that is by creating, experimenting, and constantly pushing yourself to improve.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Lupita Djody, a freelance motion designer based in Luxembourg. After becoming a mom, I shifted to freelancing to have more flexibility. I studied Motion Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where I built a strong foundation in the craft.

I work on a range of projects—things like marketing videos, branding, social media content, reels, and ads. My background is mostly focusing on 2D animation. I really enjoy creating animations that convey mood and emotion, helping bring a unique atmosphere to each design.

What matters most to me is understanding what my clients want to say and helping them communicate that clearly through motion. I’m dedicated and passionate about what I do, and I always want to make sure the work truly connects.

The creative process itself is what keeps me excited—I love bringing ideas to life through animation, and every project is a chance to learn and improve.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Reflecting on my journey, I believe building a social presence earlier and being consistent in sharing work could have been very beneficial. Regularly posting on platforms like Instagram or Behance helps connect with other creatives and potential clients, even though it can feel intimidating initially.

Equally important is developing a thick skin to share your work—the good and the bad. Presenting your work publicly means encountering a variety of feedback, and learning to navigate that is essential for growth and improvement.

I’m still learning this myself, but these are valuable lessons I think anyone starting out should consider.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A significant moment of resilience in my journey was transitioning from working in New York to relocating to Luxembourg, where the motion design market is smaller and comes with unique challenges, including adapting to a different language and culture. Alongside this, I also took a pause in my career to focus on motherhood, which brought its own set of priorities and required a new approach to balancing work and life.

I’m still navigating this transition—continuously refining my skills and actively seeking new opportunities. Staying consistent with creating work and maintaining client connections helps me move forward despite these challenges.

This ongoing experience has reinforced that resilience means adapting to change, embracing learning curves, and remaining persistent through evolving circumstances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lupitailuna.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lupita-djody-819910134/

Image Credits

lupita djody