Full Sail University Grads Demonstrate Animation Opportunities Across Many Industries

Opportunities in the animation field have grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years, thanks especially to the growth of digital media. According to Research.com, the top US industries known for employing animators are technology, media, hospitality, Fortune 500 companies, and startups.

Several grads from Full Sail University’s animation-related areas of study have demonstrated how wide-ranging roles in animation and design can be across numerous fields. One example is Adam Cipoletti. He got his career start with Apple, focusing on training, designing collateral, and creating presentations. He later did freelance work on the side for several brands. After 15 years in the design industry, he realized that he needed to pursue his undergraduate studies to advance. Full Sail’s graphic design area of study was a clear choice for him.

“I knew there were [more efficient] ways of doing things, so I wanted to finally get my degree… I needed something that was online [and Full Sail] just had a very structured curriculum that made sense to me... And [studying graphic design] was a great refresher, but also really got me back into being more efficient, because I learned new tools that I wouldn't have understood or looked for if I hadn't gone back to school. Which really was my goal, was to make sure that I was up to date, I was competitive,” he says.

While still at Full Sail, he built town hall presentations and investor decks for companies like Gilead, Hershey, and Mondelez. He then ascended to become the Associate Creative Director of Keynote Creative at Salesforce, landing the job right before graduation. In this role, he leads the teams and agencies responsible for Salesforce events. 

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“My favorite part of my job is brainstorming new ideas and trying to push the brand into new places. I’m privileged that I get to work with world-class marketers and communicators across the world as we continue to elevate the Salesforce story and brand,” he says.

At Dreamforce 2022, one of the world’s largest tech conferences, Adam demonstrated the innovations of presentation design.

“I had the opportunity to support our introduction of Genie the Rabbit, an adorable new addition to our Salesforce characters. Genie represents our Salesforce Data Cloud and its ability to harmonize thousands of customer data points into one unified profile,” Adam says. “Working with multiple teams and agencies, we were able to animate Genie flying around the room from screen to screen. We even used a video overlay to get Genie to pop up onto the stage next to one of our co-CEOs. It was a really cool moment to bring to life.”

And what is his advice for someone looking to work in presentation design?

“I would recommend learning PowerPoint, learning Keynote, learning Google Slides, because people will always need to sell their ideas, and presentations will always have a place at any company. It’s a niche design role that I think doesn't get highlighted enough, and it pays well too,” he says.

Another Full Sail grad, Gregg Farrington,  serves as a Marketing Design Manager for ION Television. In this position, he oversees conceptualizing and developing digital content for original programming. Gregg first studied digital arts and design at Full Sail, graduating in 2010. A decade later, he returned to pursue a Media Design MFA.

“While working remotely, I was bored as ever,” Gregg confides. “So yes, I did have work to do, but just like everyone else during the pandemic, we just didn't know what was going on. I just took it upon myself to go back to school.”

He interned with the ad agency DiMassimo Goldstein in New York City before returning to Florida to pursue several senior-level roles in ad agencies covering a variety of industries. Gregg later landed a role at ION Television. He started as a Multimedia Designer and was promoted to Marketing Design Manager around the same time he completed his graduate program. He says Full Sail prepared him for the fast-paced nature of television.

“Full Sail is a great school,” he says. “It allows you to think on your toes really fast."

In his day-to-day duties, he uses Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and PowerPoint. He also designs graphics for paid media, leads teams to design graphics for upcoming shows, and collaborates with art directors. He has worked on **Someone They Knew with Tamron Hall** for Court TV, and **Act Your Age** and **Johnson** on Bounce TV.

Gregg encourages aspiring designers to take chances when looking for the perfect job – as long as they keep evolving throughout the process.

Phil Ellering, a Full Sail grad who studied computer animation has immersed himself in the worlds of podcasting and publishing. After being encouraged to attend a presentation about Full Sail at his junior college, he knew the university would serve him well in the future. He says his undergraduate courses gave him the confidence and technical skills to pursue career paths he had never considered. 

“School was huge for me,” he says. “I don't think I would've had the belief in myself in [future roles]. [It is] paramount in setting you up for the intensity, the clip that you're going to be working at, and just staying nimble. It really did prepare me for what I do now.”

He is now an editor, designer, and podcast producer for Reality Capture Network. Phil started out as a laser scanning technician for its parent company, Nexus 3D, which uses tools like laser scanners and drones to create 3D maps of architectural sites and complete land surveys. He then transitioned into a position focusing on the podcast about 3D laser scanners. He creates visual animation fly-throughs, motion designs, promotional animations, social content, intros and outros, and hype videos for the show. The podcast has become a popular educational resource for the 3D technology industry.

“I think life all the way up to this point was setting me up and preparing me for this position, which is [to] wear as many hats as you possibly can and work as hard as you possibly can and use as many of your creative skills as you possibly can,” he says.

In addition to his day job, he writes and illustrates a series of children’s books based on a character named Stuffy. His daughter came across a sketch of the roly-poly character he had created while taking a 2D animation class at Full Sail years earlier.

“I ended up making Stuffy, who was round and soft and friendly and simple.”

Phil also creates behind-the-scenes trailers to help promote each book.