Media Arts & Animation Alumnus Returns to Help Students with Their Portfolios

Not every student who graduates from The Art Institute of California – Orange County dreams of coming back to teach, but many alumni are open to stopping by occasionally to share a few words of wisdom with current students.

During summer quarter, Felix Urquiza, who graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Media Arts & Animation in 2007, hosted a lighting workshop for current Media Arts & Animation and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics students.

Felix works as a 3D visual effects artist at Hydraulx, the visual effects studio that has worked on such films as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Wolverine and the soon to be released 2012.

After showing the students a demo of the studio’s work, Felix spent a few hours walking the students through several rendering and lighting techniques. He also took the time to look over individual student work and offer pointers.

Workshops like these offer alumni a chance to give back to the school, and current students get to see what they can accomplish after graduation. Alumni interested in contributing to a workshop are encouraged to get in touch with their academic program director.

Alumni Success: Ryan DePaola

Associate of Science – Graphic Design
Spring 2009
Art Director – Focustribe Studios

“Give me a venue for creativity and I will knock your socks off.”

It’s this type of confidence that helped Graphic Design alumnus Ryan DePaola land the title of art director at Focustribe Studios.

“My work set me apart from my classmates but so did my networking, “ Ryan said. “I told everyone I met that I was a ‘creative designer’ and not an ‘in the box’ designer.”

Ryan met Focustribe Studios at the Portfolio Show and his interview went so well that they hired him on the spot.

“The Graphic Design program gave me the tools I needed to be successful,” Ryan said. “It helped me understand the difference between strong and weak design.”

On any given day, Ryan could be designing work for a children’s hospital or for a mixed martial arts company. The variety helps him keep his edge as a designer.

“From the moment I get in the office until I leave, my plate is full of design,” Ryan said. His advice to students: “Don’t be lazy. If you give everything you’ve got, you’ll come out on top.”

Alumni Success: Lauren Mohns

Bachelor of Science – Interior Design
September 2007
Interior Designer – Westgroup Designs

What was once Lauren Mohn’s least favorite subject is now her specialty. Lauren works as an interior designer at Westgroup Designs where she is considered the expert at space planning.

“Space planning is like working on a puzzle,” Lauren said. “It is challenging at times but so rewarding when you can make it work in an efficient yet creatively designed matter.”

Lauren felt that the Interior Design program at The Art Institute of California – Orange County has helped her be successful by giving her a solid foundation on which to continue to build her skill set.

“There is no way that school can prepare you 100% for the real world but my program gave me a little taste of everything I might encounter in my career,” Lauren said. “So far I haven’t had to do anything that I hadn’t at least heard about, but I am still learning from the experts I work with everyday.”

Even though Lauren is still learning all she can, Westgroup recognized her talent when she presented at the graduate portfolio show.

“My portfolio gave a strong sense of my design style and it happened to match theirs,” Lauren said. “It’s hard for an employer to look at your projects individually to determine if you are a right fit for them but they can get a feel for your sense of style by the overall presentation.”

Aside from developing technical skills, Lauren also learned the importance of completing internships while still in school. She said her internship helped her appreciate the skills she was learning in class because it became clear how they applied to the real world.

“My internship helped me realize what direction I wanted to take with my design career,” Lauren said. “I enjoyed residential design but realized that commercial design experience makes it easier to move from one firm to another.”

Alumni Success: Damon Martinez

Bachelor of Science – Media Arts & Animation
Winter 2008
Dimensionalist – In-Three

Media Arts & Animation alumnus Damon Martinez was meeting with his Career Services advisor when a lead came through with In-Three, a company that specializes in transforming 2-D films into 3-D. After he interviewed, In-Three offered Damon a job on a trial basis and eventually a full-time job.

“The Media Arts & Animation program taught me how film works but my demo reel showed them what I could do with images,” Damon said. “One of my scenes showed several images that had to be cut, color corrected and manipulated in a way that still blended together. It’s very similar to the type of work I do now.”

As a dimensionalist and occluded surface reconstruction painter, Damon corrects mistakes in the frames and puts back elements that were taken out during the earlier part of the editing process. He relies on the skills he learned in school to get the job done: frame rates, pixilation and image manipulation.

His favorite project is still in the works so he can’t talk about it yet, but he had this advice to share with students, “People may try to talk you out your passion but if you are dedicated to your niche, you can find a way to get paid for it.”

Alumni Success: Hayley Kohler

Bachelor of Science – Media Arts & Animation
December 2008
Storyboard Artist – Omation Studios

The most common advice offered to students is to build relationships with fellow students because they could be helpful in a future job search. For Media Arts & Animation alumna Hayley Kohler, this came true much earlier than expected.

“The lead storyboard artist from Omation Studios walked around the portfolio show asking students who the storyboard artist was and everyone pointed him in my direction,” Hayley said. “After the show, I was called to do a storyboard test and was offered the job.”

Hayley feels her experience at The Art Institute of California – Orange County has helped her be successful in her new career.

“My film, editing and storyboarding classes taught me the language and mechanics used in the industry,” Hayley said. “I learned to work as part of a team in a fast-paced setting through my portfolio and production classes.”

Currently Hayley is working on the animated series, Planet Sheen. Her multitasking skills are being put to the test as she must work on two to three episodes at once.

“As I am working on the thumbnails for an upcoming episode, I am also revising and cleaning a previous episode’s storyboards,” Hayley said. “My favorite episode so far is the one that features a character whose name I pitched to the executive producer.”

One of Hayley’s instructor’s offered the following advice and it is a message that has stuck with her: “You have to prove yourself everyday and learn something everyday.”

Her own advice to students is to never give up on their dreams so they’ll never lose sight of their goals.

Alumni Success: Sandra Chavez

Bachelor of Science – Graphic Design
Summer 2008
Graphic Designer – PartnerPeople

Designing a package for class is one thing; designing a package that will one day be in someone’s home is what Sandra Chavez, The Art Institute of California – Orange County Graphic Design alumna, is working on now.

Before she joined PartnerPeople as a graphic designer, Sandra learned to become a better designer through classroom critiques.

“I know how to take criticism in a positive way and how to effectively communicate my creative process,” Sandra said. “People want to know the story behind your creation.”

In addition to her communication skills, Sandra credits her diverse portfolio with helping her land her job.

“Whether it’s a potential employer or a new client, your portfolio should be entertaining and make the viewer want to see more,” Sandra said. “Your portfolio is also a reflection of you as a person and demonstrates what you care about and how you perceive things.”

Currently, Sandra is working on a new package design for a company that produces digital display and presentation equipment. Her concept was so well-liked by the client that they decided to rebrand based on Sandra’s design. She will soon see her work on store shelves.

Sandra admits that graphic design is a fun field to work in but it still involves hard work. Her advice to students is to take in as much information as possible while in school and to respect fellow classmates.

“Network with students from different programs because one day they may be the ones to decide whether you get a job or not,” Sandra said. “Oh, and don’t forget to backup your files – especially during finals week!”

Alumni Success: Joseph Reynoso

Bachelor of Science – Advertising
Fall 2008
Art Director – Innocean Worldwide

While the rest of the world is busy playing with Facebook applications, Art Institute of California – Orange County Advertising alumnus Joseph Reynoso is developing new ones.

Joseph is an art director at Innocean Worldwide where his projects also include TV and outdoor advertising. He credits a well-rounded education with helping him secure his first job out of school.

“I gained experience in Web design, photography, advertising and some film work through my classes,” Joseph said. “It showed my employer that I could think laterally across all mediums.

His most recent project was developing a Facebook application that allowed users to share their favorite hometown hot spots with people across the country.

“The Rediscover America app features a map of North America where people share the location and photos of their favorite local finds,” said Joseph. “People can share the local secrets of their own city or let everyone know about a place discovered while traveling.”

Although he already has a title many students aspire to obtain, Joseph does not yet consider himself an expert. He feels grateful to the senior level people around him that are willing to share their expertise.

“No matter how well you do in school, don’t let it go to your head,” Joseph said. “Be friendly. You will be working with the same people that you see walking down the halls.”

Alumni Success Story: Gerardo Granados

Bachelor of Science – Culinary Management, Summer 2008
Lead Cook - Casa De Las Campanas

Catering for high profile events like the Grammy’s, Emmy’s and Oscar’s is a dream job for any aspiring chef and Gerardo Granados was lucky enough to have the opportunity to do so a year before he graduated from The Art Institute of California – Orange County.

Before working star-studded events at Wolfgang Puck Catering, Gerardo began his culinary education at a community college but wasn’t sure it was the right career for him until one of his instructors inspired him to further his education.

“At The Art Institute of California – Orange County, I learned that food can be turned into a masterpiece,” Gerardo said. “The Culinary Management program taught me the fundamentals of cooking, how to multitask and how to work with others.”

To put his culinary skills to the test, Gerardo took jobs that would reinforce the techniques he was learning in class. During his first year of school, he worked in a Dana Point retirement home that provided its residents fine dining. Gerardo worked his way up from bus boy to lead cook in a year and a half.

“During my second year of school, I wanted to test my cooking skills so I headed to Hollywood and worked with Wolfgang Puck Catering,” Gerardo said. “Cooking for celebrities was a great experience but I still wanted to push myself more.”

His next challenge took him to a retirement home in San Diego where Gerardo’s goal was to turn around their kitchen. He is currently working with the cooks to teach them unfamiliar techniques and how to combine flavors and put “more love” into what they do.

“This is not my final destination in my career but just one of my culinary cooking stops,” Gerardo said.

A typical day for Gerardo includes checking in with the sous chef to confirm the menu and preparing both kitchens with all necessary ingredients. Before dinner is served, he explains the entrée’s ingredients to the wait staff. The shift ends when the kitchen is as clean as it was before dinner service.

“I don’t consider cooking a job because it is something I love to do,” Gerardo said, “but I always keep my eyes open and try to learn from others.”

Keep an eye out for regular updates on the success of our graduates. If you'd like to be featured on the blog or school Web site, contact Career Services.

Alumni Success: Kiel Anderson

The Art Institute of California - Orange County is always pleased to learn of the success of its graduates. Alumni success stories are often featured in the student magazine, Portfolio, and on the walls in building A. Now, alumni success stories will be a regular feature on the OC Art Tales blog. Keep reading below to learn about one of the school's first culinary graduates or pick up a copy of the Spring issue of Portfolio from the student lounge.

Five years ago, Kiel Anderson was part of the first class of culinary students to graduate from The Art Institute of California – Orange County. After graduation, Kiel landed his first job with Opah, a restaurant located in the Irvine Market Place.

“I started working in the pantry station at Opah and after two weeks I started training on all the stations,” Kiel said. “I worked the line for five months before being promoted to Sous Chef and have now worked at all three Opah locations as a Sous Chef.”

After three years of working at all the restaurants, Kiel was promoted to Executive Sous Chef and given the opportunity to be in charge of his own restaurant. With the new job title there were new responsibilities, and Kiel was ready for the challenge.

“I am responsible for the whole kitchen which includes placing all the orders, making the schedules and managing the employees,” Kiel said. “I am also responsible for coming up with daily specials, running the line every night and taking inventory.”

He worked his way up through the ranks and continued to prove himself time and time again. His continuous hard work, and responsible nature did not go unnoticed. The head chef and owner of Opah, as well as several other restaurants, was in the process of starting a new restaurant and decided to promote Kiel to head chef of this new restaurant.

“Watermarc Grille is scheduled to open in Laguna Beach in mid-April and I will be the Chef de Cuisine,” Kiel said. “I have been working with the Executive Chef/Owner Marc Cohen on developing the menu and the concept as a whole.”

At only 24 years old, Kiel is doing exactly what he loves to do and has a very successful career ahead of him. With a new restaurant on the horizon, Kiel is more than ready to make his mark in the culinary world.