Meet Erica kIM | Art Director, Motion designer and illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica kIM and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My experience with work-life balance has evolved significantly during my college years. As a freshman, I was mainly focused on adjusting to college life and enjoying my new environment. However, when I started working as a part-time employee, I found it challenging to balance my work and personal life. My disorganization led to several all-nighters, negatively affecting my health and leaving me feeling drained and depressed. I relied on snacks to keep me going, which further impacted my mood and energy levels. As I grew more self-aware and understood my working style, I was better able to plan my day and accomplish my tasks. Even if it was just a simple bullet-point plan, it allowed me to complete my work efficiently, freeing up my weekends and other days to enjoy my life.

Balancing work and life can be challenging, especially when we are still figuring out our preferences and limitations. We all have our unique working styles, and following others’ schedules may not work for us. It is crucial to know yourself and your working style to achieve a healthy balance. Are you more productive during the day or at night? Do you work better alone or with others? Understanding these preferences and limitations can help you establish your own work and life balance, which is essential for maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My passion for Motion Media Design began with Yeojin Shin’s senior project, ‘The Seed.’ This animated piece with illustrated style sparked a feeling inside me that I couldn’t explain at the time, but now I know it was the emotion of finding my passion. This inspired me to switch my major to Motion Media Design, which was not an easy journey. At first, I struggled to define the field and understand the diverse roles within it. But, I realized that answering these questions helped me discover my identity and passion within the industry. I found that I enjoy researching and storyboarding, as well as design and illustration. ‘Little Forest’ and CoMotion 2023 were two projects that stood out for me. ‘Little Forest’ was my first group project, and it helped me understand the importance of collaboration and how much it can contribute to the final product. CoMotion 2023 was a more significant project where I worked as an animator, challenging myself with new styles and techniques. Working with talented peers who supported and believed in me was an excellent experience that taught me the importance of teamwork and the value of having a great team of friends.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have several favorite spots in Savannah that I frequent. One of them is Forsyth Park, where I love to have picnics with my friends, especially when the weather is nice. Another place that I enjoy going to is Goose Feather for brunch. Their bread pudding is simply the best I have ever had, and I highly recommend pairing it with their fresh whipping cream. Their morning-fresh croissants are also to die for. If you’re in the mood for French cuisine, Cafe Gourmet is a must-visit. Their crepes are simply divine and should not be missed. Finally, PJ Thai is my go-to place for the best Thai food in Savannah. Although the restaurant is small and tends to get crowded in the evenings, the quality of their food is simply outstanding, which is a testament to their culinary expertise.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank my best friends, Tiffany, Abhishek, Claudia, and Yeonha, who always supported me and gave me advice and help. My roommate Muriel, I am thankful to have you as my roommate, friend, and same Motion Design student, sharing our ideas and opinion and being there to help where I am stuck with ideas or projects. Cathy, my last two years at Savannah College of Art and Design would not be the same without you, a friend I always look up to for her excellent work and a fantastic person to work together. Desmond; is a friend and mentor who is always there to help and support others and last to the SCAD MOME department.

Website: https://www.erikim94.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikim94/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericakim-motion/

Image Credits
The image is one of my experiment scenes from my upcoming senior project.