Scott Harris

Scott Harris, class of 2002, chose Miami International University of Art & Design based on the school’s small classroom size, the abundance of equipment, and the opportunity to earn an accredited bachelor’s degree.

With the efforts of our Career Service Department, Scott was able to jump-start his career by landing an internship with Nickelodeon Studios during his final quarter. Nickelodeon then hired him as a freelance artist in the On Air Productions Department, and this led to an offer as a 3D artist in Italy working as a texture and lighting artist in the production of music videos. Scott spent a year and a half traveling in the United States and Europe working on several freelance projects before landing his current full-time position as a 3D artist and animator for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Scott’s advice to current Computer Animation students: “Taking classes is a great start but it doesn’t end there. If you really want to learn 3D and be good enough to get paid for it, you have to be the best. It takes long days and nights of practice and it is something that you have to work on getting better at every day. The students who survive in this field are the ones that stick together for late nights in the labs and commit to working and learning the programs every day.”

Chad Sellers

Chad Sellers graduated from Ai Miami University of Art & Design in March of 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in computer animation. He recently finished working for Blue Sky Studios, an award winning animation studio best known for their films “Ice Age” and “Robots”. Their most recent project “Ice Age 2”, a film Chad has hugely contributed to, is currently in the production stages and expected to be released in March 2006. His main project for the film was the animation of the main and background characters. He is currently working for DNA productions as an animator on the feature length film “The Ant Bully”.

Chad feels he built a solid foundation from the education received at AiMIU and through the support from the faculty who guided him in the different areas of art and design. “I was taught what I needed to know to break into the animation world.” Chad was able to get his skill level up to where the industry standards had been set by intense 3D training and learning the principles of animation though the 2D course.

To his fellow animators Chad advises to persevere and don’t stop learning. “There is always something to learn. The only way to get better is to keep practicing. Get as much feedback on your own work as you can and apply it.” By constantly practicing and updating his reel Chad has been able to break into this tough industry. His motto is that you are only as good as your last piece of work, so make it the best it can be!

Noelia Delgado

Noelia Delgado, a native of Puerto Rico and a graduate of Bayamon Technological University College, decided to pursue her Master’s degree in Computer Animation and chose Ai Miami International University of Art & Design (formerly International Fine Arts College). While attending the Master’s program Noelia forged great relationships with the teaching staff and continued to hone her creative skills. As she graduated from Ai Miami International University of Art & Design in the winter of 2002 little did she know that The Art Institutes would continue to follow her across the United States and back.

Fresh from graduation, Noelia headed west for The Art Institute of Las Vegas. Her bags where packed and sight unseen moved to Las Vegas to pursue a teaching position in the Game Art & Design and Media Arts & Animation departments. She had never been to Las Vegas before and took the position at the school before ever seeing or visiting the city. “It was quite a challenge, especially for someone who had never been in Nevada before, but I shortly learned that I was headed to a wonderful adventure”.

After a year of teaching, the Academic Director at The Art Institute Las Vegas urged Noelia to pursue a new position at another Art Institute. This time she was back in familiar territory in Florida. As a teacher at The Art Institute of Tampa she was persuaded by her peers to apply for a new position, “I was encouraged by the Dean to apply for a new position that would be open soon, The Academic Director for the Media Arts & Animation department. I seized that opportunity and just like other inspired me, I also look forward to inspire others and help them reach their full potential.”

Noelia is currently the Academic Director for the Media Arts & Animation department at The Art Institute of Tampa where she continues to teach three days a week on top of all of her other responsibilities. Her long relationship with The Art Institutes has given Noelia an education, life long mentors, creative inspiration, as well as a career.