Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day job.

Tell us about yourself and your job.

I’m Michaela, a multidisciplinary designer, illustrator, and creative marketer, and most importantly, dedicated daily matcha-drinker. I work with the Creative Print Marketing team at Walt Disney Studios on the creative, design, finishing, production, and execution of digital and print marketing campaign creative for a multitude of upcoming Disney+ Originals, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Blue Sky Studios, and 20th Century Studios streaming and theatrical release movies/series.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I started out as a graphic design intern at Walt Disney World, moved onto a graphic design associate role with The Walt Disney Company corporate team, then transitioned to my current role with Walt Disney Studios. I love the impact our work makes, and the opportunity to contribute to best-in-class entertainment campaigns for some incredible properties I'm passionate about!

What does a typical morning look like on the job?

Where's the fire hose!? Typical in the industry, my job is very fast-paced! Every project is pretty much urgent and what we call a "fire". As my team works on the majority of Disney titles, we typically have a ton of creative pieces that comes in that we need to review and provide feedback on soon as received. I go through my emails and provide the best feedback and creative direction that I can, then get ready for the incoming back-to-back meetings with our partners over at Pixar, WDAS, Disney+, etc. that pretty much last the rest of the day.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

Meeting with our agencies to chat feedback or launch them on an upcoming project!

What types of projects and meetings are you involved in?

They are very much project-based! Every Disney+ title we work on will get a logo, movie poster, etc. and the heaviest load is the in-service product assets that typically is a batch of 100+ deliverables. Every theatrical title we work on will get a logo, 2-3 movie posters, outdoor campaign, in-theater materials, etc. and they're pretty much due before we even kick the project off – time to go, go, go!

Who do you collaborate with within meetings and projects?

We collaborate enterprise-wide, with promotional partners, filmmakers, talent, Disney+ teams, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, etc! Pretty much across the board! You get to interface with a ton of talented people that all come from diverse backgrounds. It's very exciting!

Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your job?

I would say workload. It can get overwhelming at times, so I'm grateful for the close-knit team I'm a part of that always have each other's backs.

What are some characteristics that can help someone succeed in your role?

Being open to learning, flexible, unafraid to fail, excited to collaborate, being able to manage multiple projects at once, etc.

Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those just starting off?

Definitely showcase your passion to your recruiters and have samples in your portfolio (even if they're passion projects you kicked off on your own!)

What's something that surprised you about your job?

The impact the creative we work on has! It truly touches every part of The Walt Disney Company as a whole and reaches every part of this world. I feel very lucky!

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to do what you do?

Don't give up! Network with current industry professionals, never stop asking questions and showing your eagerness to learn and passion for these types of projects. Take classes (I highly recommend UCLA Extension's Entertainment Design course) and have examples of entertainment campaign materials (movie posters/logos/etc) in your portfolio!

Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?