We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Obremski. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.

Hannah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I’ve been working full-time in a creative role since 2020. My journey began in 2018 when I interned at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) as a 3D modeler and animator. That experience opened doors for future collaborations with NASA, eventually leading to a full-time job offer at NASA GRC in the summer of 2020.
After about a year and a half there, I was offered an exciting opportunity to join NASA Headquarters, which I couldn’t pass up. I’ve now been working at NASA HQ for three years.

I would say the major milestones in my journey so far have been the internship at NASA, the full-time role at NASA Glenn, and then transitioning to NASA HQ. While the process took some time due to challenges like the pandemic slowing down hiring after I graduated in 2019, I feel it unfolded as quickly as it could under those circumstances.

Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an animator and illustrator, currently working as a Junior Creative Lead for NASA Headquarters through a government contractor called Teltrium Inc. I’m from Cleveland Ohio, where I attended The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), graduating in 2019 with a BFA in Animation with an emphasis on game design.

In my professional work, I manage a wide range of creative tasks, including graphic design, UI/UX design, video editing, document and presentation design, and public outreach. At NASA HQ, much of our focus is on creating presentation and training materials that are easy for general audiences to understand, as well as designing infographics that communicate complex ideas more clearly than text alone.

On the public outreach side, my projects vary in purpose. Some aim to educate the public about NASA’s current missions, while others are created for school outreach or to engage audiences on a more emotional level. One project I’m particularly proud of is the outreach material I’ve been working on for about a year now for cancer patients—especially children and young adults—who are undergoing treatment. By drawing parallels between the challenges astronauts face and the journey of cancer treatment, we aim to make the process feel less intimidating and isolating. Collaborating with The Fred Hutch Cancer Center on this initiative has been incredibly rewarding, especially during beta testing when we hear from patients how our materials have helped ease their anxiety.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

In my career with NASA, my goal is to help foster an environment of curiosity, both for the public and employees. Personally, I’ve found that a sense of wonder is crucial to my own growth. Maintaining an inquisitive mindset helps keep an open mind and encourages continual personal evolution. If I can use my work to spark that same drive for discovery in others, then I feel like I’m making a real impact. Whether through public outreach or internal projects, motivating people to explore, question, and learn is what drives me creatively.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

To make art my full-time career, I definitely had to pivot my expectations for myself and my path—at least for the time being. My degree is in animation and game design, and my initial goal was to focus on storytelling and creating immersive experiences for people to enjoy. However, I quickly realized that breaking into that field full-time right out of college would be challenging.

So, I adjusted my expectations and embraced opportunities as they came, rather than holding out for my “ideal” role. This led me to my current position with NASA, where I get to do meaningful work, especially in public outreach, which I love. However, I know that staying in a corporate creative space isn’t something I want to do forever.

For now, I see this role as a stepping stone. It allows me to continue honing my skills, building my portfolio, and creating a sense of security for myself and my partner. While I’ve had to pivot, I also recognize that every experience contributes to my long-term goals and helps me grow personally, professionally, and artistically.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hkobremski.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannah_k.o/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-obremski-757b94154/
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user49339522

Image Credits

All images are owned by Hannah Obremski or NASA