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

Seulgi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’ve always been driven by curiosity and a desire to complete projects. I learned motion design by diving into online tutorials, getting feedback from peers, and taking on challenging projects. My passion kept me pushing forward, especially so I could tell my own stories through motion.

One important lesson I’ve learned is to avoid complacency, because thinking I know enough can stop growth. To speed up my learning, I could’ve focused more on structured courses and building a solid foundation early on. The key skills for me have been adaptability, storytelling, and staying open to experimentation, with self-doubt being the biggest obstacle I’ve faced.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Seulgi Kim, a motion designer based in New York. I came to New York in 2014 to attend the School of Visual Arts, where I majored in graphic design. Going to art school in New York really opened my eyes to a whole new world, where I gained experience not only from classes but also from museums, cool exhibits, and sometimes just the city itself. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for motion graphics, and I decided to pursue a career as a motion designer.

Learning animation techniques alongside design principles was such an enjoyable journey. I found motion design to be fun, delicate, and full of creative potential. One of the works I’m most proud of from my school days is my senior project, which I directed, designed, and told my own story through. Looking at it now, it’s still a bit rough around the edges, but it holds a special place for me because of the freshness and energy I felt during those school years. It’s still my favorite work, and I was even honored to receive a Silver Award at the 2019 Young Ones ADC for it.

After graduating from SVA, I had the opportunity to work at Nick Jr, where I was involved in a wide range of projects, including billboard campaigns, TV graphics, social post design, and promotional videos. Working at Nick Jr. greatly expanded my perspective and pushed my limits as a motion designer. I grew the most by learning from my colleagues and taking on challenging projects. One of the projects I’m most proud of at Nick Jr. was the AAPI Heritage Month campaign in 2021. What made this project so special was the energy and passion from everyone involved. It wasn’t just a promotional piece—it was a celebration of culture. I was particularly honored to design original characters for the campaign, as it was rare for us to use original characters rather than the usual Nick Jr. ones. I felt incredibly excited and motivated throughout the entire process.

Throughout my career, I’ve also learned 3D design, step by step, thanks to the support of my amazing design and animation team, who helped me grow and improve my skills in this area as well. Working on various projects and learning from my teammates allowed me to gradually develop into a more versatile designer.

In addition to my professional work, I am passionate about storytelling and constantly exploring new techniques to bring creative concepts to life. I strive to combine my love for design with the power of animation, and I’m always looking for new ways to push boundaries in my work. Whether working on a client project or a personal piece, I always bring my enthusiasm and dedication to every project I take on, and I hope to continue evolving as a motion designer while sharing stories that resonate with people.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the ability to bring ideas to life and connect with others through storytelling. Whether it’s through motion design, animation, or other creative mediums, seeing a concept evolve from a simple idea to something engaging and impactful is incredibly fulfilling. It’s also rewarding when my work resonates with people, sparking emotions, thoughts, or conversations. The process of experimenting, learning, and growing along the way makes each project exciting, and knowing that my creations can make a positive impact or offer a new perspective is what keeps me motivated.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My ultimate goal is to create work that makes a positive impact on the world. I believe creativity has the power to do more than fuel campaigns like environmental movements or iconic projects such as “I Love New York.” These initiatives can shift the way people think and inspire change through the power of visual storytelling. Whether through a simple design or a complex animation, I see storytelling as a bridge that connects people and ideas in meaningful ways. I am passionate about pushing boundaries and constantly evolving as a creative to craft work that resonates with others and sparks positive change.

Image Credits

1.Nick.Jr. 2.Persoanl work 3.Personal work 4.Nick Jr.