My journey into motion design did not begin as a career plan. It started as a hobby. I would spend time recreating and experimenting with animations that moved me emotionally or simply felt right. At first, I was not focused on polish or perfection. I was more curious about why certain movements worked and why others did not.
Watching the work of artists like Jorge R. Canedo Estrada and studios like Oddfellows and Giant Ant had a huge impact on me. Their work made me realise that strong storytelling does not always come from complexity. Sometimes, simple shapes, refined movement, and thoughtful staging can communicate emotion more powerfully.
I do not come from a formal design background. My college education prepared me for a career in IT, not for becoming a motion designer. There was no design guidance or internship structure, so I had to figure things out on my own.
That process was difficult, especially because I was trying to leave a corporate job in my late twenties and commit fully to motion design. Coming from Nepal, many opportunities also felt distant and unreachable. But at the same time, that lack of structure gave me freedom. I could explore, make mistakes, and slowly understand what kind of work I truly connected with.
When I saw an internship opening at Rsquare, I decided to apply with the best motion work I could put together, even though I still doubted myself. What drew me toward the studio was a shared sensibility. I already connected with their approach to motion and storytelling, and that alignment gave me confidence to try.
Looking back, the interview itself changed a lot for me. The team was genuinely friendly and curious about my journey and how I think about motion design. That experience slowly helped me feel more confident while reaching out to people and studios later on.
One of the biggest learning curves during the internship was becoming more self-aware as a designer. Early on, I often felt the need to prove myself, which led me to overcomplicate ideas before understanding the purpose of the work itself.
Working in a studio taught me that every motion choice needs intention. Sometimes, simple and clear movement serves the story much better than something visually complicated. Over time, I learned to step back, understand the goal first, and then use my strengths where they actually mattered.
“I stopped asking how to make things move and started asking why they should move.”
The first few months were challenging because I was constantly trying to balance creative exploration with deadlines and real project expectations. Thankfully, the team at Rsquare created an environment where interns had room to experiment while still understanding priorities.
What made the experience even more valuable was the people around me. Fellow interns and mentors were always generous with feedback and guidance. Working alongside designers like Mohmed, Siddhant, Rhitam, and Aronyo taught me a lot, not just technically, but also in how to collaborate, communicate, and stay open during the creative process.
Before internships, I thought motion design was mostly individual work. But being inside a studio completely changed that perspective. I realised how collaborative the process actually is, watching how people communicate, handle feedback, and make decisions taught me more than I expected.
The experience also changed how I approach storytelling today. I learned to slow down and ask why something needs to move, instead of simply focusing on how to animate it. That shift made my work feel more thoughtful and grounded.
Even small habits, like organising files and properly labelling layers, became part of my process. It sounds minor, but it makes a huge difference in real workflows.
My internship at Rsquare was paid, and while the compensation was fair, the learning mattered much more to me at that stage. I genuinely believe paid internships are important because they help young designers feel valued and respected for their time and effort.
At the same time, I also feel that the real value of an internship depends on intent. Are you being taught, supported, and guided? Or are you simply filling a role? That difference matters far more than the paycheck itself.
If I were applying for internships again today, I would approach the process more intentionally. I would look for studios where I genuinely feel I can learn and grow.
I also think students should stop treating applications like transactions. Follow studios whose work genuinely excites you, understand their approach, and build honest connections with people there. Most importantly, show your process in your portfolio. Studios are not only looking at polished work, but they want to understand how you think.