We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ana Carolina Estarita Guerrero . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ana Carolina below.
Alright, Ana Carolina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I come from an analog background in experimental animation. Think techniques like light painting, sand animation, and creating directly under the camera. That’s where my passion for playing with light started. As I transitioned to digital, I took that same experimental mindset with me. It was a process of thinking, “Let’s combine these ideas or materials, see the outcome, and then maybe introduce something new.” Essentially, experimentation was my go-to approach.
I took some technical courses in grad school to understand the basics of various software applications and supplemented this with weekend workshops. But if I’m being honest, the real learning came from doing actual projects and teaming up with some amazing people. They’d push me in directions I hadn’t considered, and that was a game changer.
Given my hands-on learning style, I believe my process was as efficient as it could have been for someone like me. I’ve always been an advocate of ‘learning by doing’. Watching tutorials without a clear objective tends to be ineffective for me. So, plunging into a project, knowing what I am looking for but uncertain about the execution, is my preferred learning strategy.
Continuing with that sentiment, I genuinely believe the key in our field is the willingness to keep learning. With every project, it feels like a fresh start, and often, I find myself learning all over again. The main hurdle, in my experience, is thinking that if something’s new or unfamiliar, it’s out of reach. But the reality? If you’re determined, you can acquire any skill. That’s been my guiding principle.
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 Ana Estarita-Guerrero. At heart, I’m an Immersive Media Designer and Creative director who’s always been curious about blending art with other domains. I’m intrigued by the way we as humans interact with technology to expand and understand the world that surrounds us through VR, AR, Projection Mapping and the creation of Natural User Interfaces. I bring these same questions to both my personal and my commercial work.
Back in the day, I fell in love with art installations and public space interventions. Projection mapping was my jam, especially with its ties to analog under-the-camera animation. Fast forward to my LA chapter in 2016 – thanks to a generous Fellowship from USC. It was there that I stumbled upon the magic of immersive technologies like Virtual Reality and Wearable AR. Suddenly, my world expanded, merging the digital with the tangible in ways I’d never imagined.
Throughout this journey, I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some truly awesome folks, from big names like Nike and Discovery to cherished moments in spaces like the LACMA Museum and Animafest Zagreb.
But here’s the thing: for me it’s not just about making cool stuff. It’s about sharing the joy, the process, and the tools. I love crafting tutorials, designing tools, and basically, opening up the world of immersive arts for everyone to play. And when I’m not in my creative zone, you can find me sharing my passion with students at Loyola Marymount University and USC.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’ll never forget the challenge and the profound shift brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. While it disrupted many of the physical interactive experiences I was used to creating, it also ushered in an unexpected revelation: the dynamic world of Augmented Reality (AR).
Before the pandemic, my focus was largely on tangible, on-site creations. But as the world shifted online, I found myself drawn to Social AR, discovering its potential not just as a tool for creativity, but as a groundbreaking way to foster connections. It’s a medium that’s profoundly interactive, and the results can be staggering. To give you an idea: my first artist effect on Snapchat exploded with 1 million views in just the first 48 hours!
This isn’t an isolated case. The engagement levels in Social AR are truly off the charts. With reports suggesting users spend 20.7% more time on an app when they can interact with products via AR, and a staggering 71% claiming they’d shop more with AR experiences, the implications are clear. The virtual realm offers a new way of connecting with audiences that’s not just about viewing, but interacting and connecting. Whether it’s brands or music artists, there’s an incredible opportunity to engage with users in meaningful ways, giving them the power to shape and resonate with the narratives they believe in.
Some of my most memorable collaborations, including those with Nike and Discovery, emerged in this new paradigm. It’s been a journey of adaptability, innovation, and discovery, reminding me that sometimes, the most unexpected detours can lead to the most enriching destinations.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
At the core of my creative journey is a profound desire to forge meaningful connections. I’m passionate about creating spaces where the ties between individuals and their environment, as well as between different individuals, become pivotal. My work isn’t just about technology or aesthetics; it’s about capturing the essence of presence, promoting mindfulness, and celebrating the intricate web of interconnections that bind us all.
Natural User Interfaces, for instance, aren’t just tools in my toolkit; they’re a deliberate choice to ground us back into our bodies, to make the digital feel tactile, tangible, and real. My content isn’t just visual or auditory; it’s an invitation to reconnect with oneself, to feel anchored in the present, and to experience the world with renewed wonder.
In tandem with this, my mission also extends to teaching and sharing knowledge. I believe in the transformative power of education and its capacity to amplify the impact of these connections, bridging gaps and fostering deeper understanding. So, in essence, my goal is not just to create but to connect, enlighten, and inspire.
Contact Info:
- Website: aestarita.com
- Instagram: @a.estarita
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-estarita/
Image Credits
Xiabo “Daniel” Ma, Mike Patterson, Los Angeles Performance Practice