If you are looking for my experience and education timeline.

Find the classic about me page here.

If you are looking for my experience and education timeline.

Find the classic about me page here.

in this page, you find a detailed outline of my journey, which is not the classic career path.

so. here is

The Tea

🇪🇨 Early days

Since I was young I was drawn to arts and anything creative. In 2009 I got a BFA degree in graphic design in Ecuador. During my last year I started learning motion graphics and wrote my graduation thesis about it. Once I graduated, I started looking into motion design graduate programs abroad to further my education. I found SCAD, visited the Savannah campus, fell in love with the program, the town, and immediately applied.

1987 - 2009

1987 - 2009

2024

2024

🇺🇸 SCAD | Grad School

I moved to the US after being accepted at SCAD (Savannah College of Arts and Design) for the Motion Media Design Master of Arts program. To be honest, even though I knew it would be the best experience ever, besides being excited, I was also nervous, as I had never lived outside my parents' house before, so my first time living alone was in a country where I had no family… But soon I was hooked, the community, the driven culture, and the fast-paced learning environment, got me on a roll. It was supposed to be a 1 year program, but I decided to spread out the classes, and take some extra ones I was not able to skip! That made it a 2 year program.

🇺🇸 SCAD | Grad School

I moved to the US after being accepted at SCAD (Savannah College of Arts and Design) for the Motion Media Design Master of Arts program. To be honest, even though I knew it would be the best experience ever, besides being excited, I was also nervous, as I had never lived outside my parents' house before, so my first time living alone was in a country where I had no family… But soon I was hooked, the community, the driven culture, and the fast-paced learning environment, got me on a roll. It was supposed to be a 1 year program, but I decided to spread out the classes, and take some extra ones I was not able to skip! That made it a 2 year program.

🇺🇸 SCAD | Grad School

I moved to the US after being accepted at SCAD (Savannah College of Arts and Design) for the Motion Media Design Master of Arts program. To be honest, even though I knew it would be the best experience ever, besides being excited, I was also nervous, as I had never lived outside my parents' house before, so my first time living alone was in a country where I had no family… But soon I was hooked, the community, the driven culture, and the fast-paced learning environment, got me on a roll. It was supposed to be a 1 year program, but I decided to spread out the classes, and take some extra ones I was not able to skip! That made it a 2 year program.

🇺🇸 SCAD | Grad School

I moved to the US after being accepted to the Motion Media Design Master of Arts program at SCAD (awarded some scholarships).Even though, I knew it would be the best experience ever, I was a bit nervous, as I had never lived outside my parents' house before, so my first time living alone was in a country where I had no family… But soon I was on a roll, loved the culture, the fast-paced learning environment, the professors were incredible, networking opportunities as well, and most importantly I made friends I hold dear to this day. It was supposed to be a 1 year program, but I decided to spread out the classes and take some extra ones I was not able to skip! That made it a 2 year program.

🇺🇸 SCAD | Grad School

I moved to the US after being accepted to the Motion Media Design Master of Arts program at SCAD (awarded some scholarships).Even though, I knew it would be the best experience ever, I was a bit nervous, as I had never lived outside my parents' house before, so my first time living alone was in a country where I had no family… But soon I was on a roll, loved the culture, the fast-paced learning environment, the professors were incredible, networking opportunities as well, and most importantly I made friends I hold dear to this day. It was supposed to be a 1 year program, but I decided to spread out the classes and take some extra ones I was not able to skip! That made it a 2 year program.

🇺🇸 SCAD | Grad School

I moved to the US after being accepted to the Motion Media Design Master of Arts program at SCAD (awarded some scholarships).Even though, I knew it would be the best experience ever, I was a bit nervous, as I had never lived outside my parents' house before, so my first time living alone was in a country where I had no family… But soon I was on a roll, loved the culture, the fast-paced learning environment, the professors were incredible, networking opportunities as well, and most importantly I made friends I hold dear to this day. It was supposed to be a 1 year program, but I decided to spread out the classes and take some extra ones I was not able to skip! That made it a 2 year program.

2024

2024

2024

2024

Welcomed as a junior

I clearly felt welcomed in the industry, even when I was still a junior and knew very little. From internships in South Carolina to New York. My US journey marked me deeply. So deeply that I still hold most of those relationships, and I've stayed connected to the country more than 10 years after I left.

Welcomed as a junior

I clearly felt welcomed in the industry, even when I was still a junior and knew very little. From internships in South Carolina to New York. My US journey marked me deeply. So deeply that I still hold most of those relationships, and I've stayed connected to the country more than 10 years after I left.

Welcomed as a junior

I clearly felt welcomed in the industry, even when I was still a junior and knew very little. From internships in South Carolina to New York. My US journey marked me deeply. So deeply that I still hold most of those relationships, and I've stayed connected to the country more than 10 years after I left.

New York

After graduating I moved to New York City for a summer internship at 1st Ave Machine. Of course I fell in love with the city too! Soon after I started freelancing around some really cool studios. I was lucky! I got to work at The Mill, often back at 1st Ave, as well as at other studios. My NYC journey was cut short tho, I was not planning to leave. I still wanted at least 2 or 3 more years there, maybe even to test California after that…

New York

After graduating I moved to New York City for a summer internship at 1st Ave Machine. Of course I fell in love with the city too! Soon after I started freelancing around some really cool studios. I was lucky! I got to work at The Mill, often back at 1st Ave, as well as at other studios. My NYC journey was cut short tho, I was not planning to leave. I still wanted at least 2 or 3 more years there, maybe even to test California after that…

New York

After graduating I moved to New York City for a summer internship at 1st Ave Machine. Of course I fell in love with the city too! Soon after I started freelancing around some really cool studios. I was lucky! I got to work at The Mill, often back at 1st Ave, as well as at other studios. My NYC journey was cut short tho, I was not planning to leave. I still wanted at least 2 or 3 more years there, maybe even to test California after that…

2025

2025

2026

2026

The offer from Germany

But 7 months in and a company in Germany reached out and I decided to interview just for the sake of fun (I always liked to practice my interviewing skills). Then the offer was very appealing, for a smooth transition. I was puzzled, I had lived near Berlin for my exchange year when I was 18 and always dreamed of coming back one day. At that time I had an Ecuadorian passport, so even visiting as a tourist meant a tedious visa process. This job was offering me a visa sponsor and moving expenses covered, with my cat Adonis. I adopted him a year before moving to NYC, and they knew we were a package deal. Even though it made no full sense to move from NYC when it was all going so well, this was a gut decision.

The offer from Germany

But 7 months in and a company in Germany reached out and I decided to interview just for the sake of fun (I always liked to practice my interviewing skills). Then the offer was very appealing, for a smooth transition. I was puzzled, I had lived near Berlin for my exchange year when I was 18 and always dreamed of coming back one day. At that time I had an Ecuadorian passport, so even visiting as a tourist meant a tedious visa process. This job was offering me a visa sponsor and moving expenses covered, with my cat Adonis. I adopted him a year before moving to NYC, and they knew we were a package deal. Even though it made no full sense to move from NYC when it was all going so well, this was a gut decision.

The offer from Germany

But 7 months in and a company in Germany reached out and I decided to interview just for the sake of fun (I always liked to practice my interviewing skills). Then the offer was very appealing, for a smooth transition. I was puzzled, I had lived near Berlin for my exchange year when I was 18 and always dreamed of coming back one day. At that time I had an Ecuadorian passport, so even visiting as a tourist meant a tedious visa process. This job was offering me a visa sponsor and moving expenses covered, with my cat Adonis. I adopted him a year before moving to NYC, and they knew we were a package deal. Even though it made no full sense to move from NYC when it was all going so well, this was a gut decision.

The move

So within weeks, I sold some furniture I had, arranged a container and packed the rest, got an EU microchip for my Adonis, and his papers in order. We moved to this new adventure. We arrived at the end of spring. Adonis liked the change from urban Brooklyn street noise to bird sounds. I met my now husband David on my first outing in Düsseldorf. So to this day, that gut feeling was correct.

2025

2026

Düsseldorf to Berlin

The job itself was a learning experience. But going from New York to Düsseldorf was a lot for me. At the start it was nice to have a slower work pace… But maybe within a few weeks already, I missed that fast pace and the driven environment, and having more going on industry-wise in the city I lived in. So we moved to Berlin the year after, and transitioned back to freelancing in more studios there until 2018.

Starting from zero

My German skills were not great by then. Even though most jobs were in English, freelancing in a place without the language is something else. Figuring out bureaucracy, invoices & taxes... With close to no contacts, this move to Germany felt like starting out from zero in terms of networking. But slowly, I figured it out! The motion design industry has always been a friendly one!

2025

2026

Going vegan

On a personal level, in 2015, right after moving to Berlin, I fell into the rabbit hole of the animal products industry, and decided to stop supporting it and go vegan. Parallel to freelancing in studios around Berlin, in my free time I was attending conferences in the vegan space, and sometimes volunteering on animal advocacy activism.

My first team

Early 2018 I got a few big jobs for animal rights and environmental projects. For these I got my first taste of hiring my own team. And I was hooked, I loved everything about directing, and creating something that would have a positive impact in society. By the fall of that year we registered Vexquisit Studio UG. Cofounded with David, who took care of all the legal and boring bureaucracy. I was in charge of running the business.

2025

2026

The Vexquisit era

The Vexquisit era was extremely challenging, rewarding and fun. Designing the perfect team for each project to overdeliver was my favorite part. Creating a combination of artists based on each project, often the same artists returning, sometimes new ones, and also some interns I mentored. I had been a mentor during my SCAD years as a side job, so seeing them grow was a nice add on. Some would get called back as junior motion designers on another project. Oh and everyone worked remotely (before covid made it cool).

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See the case study

Learning and teaching

As it took off I joined some creative online communities to learn from others. The Future, their business bootcamp. And I joined School of Motion to be a TA for the Advanced Motion Methods online class. Teaching, besides being the best way to learn, allowed me to meet some great talent, and I even got some interns from there.

2025

2026

The perfect chapter

So it really seemed like the perfect chapter, one that would last forever. Perfect teams, mission oriented business, working only for brands that wanted to do something purposeful. Claiming the vegan niche as the only Motion Design studio working for vegan brands was also something I was very proud of. That was the dream.

Ronaldo

Inside the roster of talent I was bringing in, there was one constant person I rehired from project one, even before registering the company. Ronaldo Serrano, from Brazil / 100% remote like everyone else. He actually brought in more talent, and I got to see how he got better through the years, with his constant effort to learn in his free time. In our free time we had VR hangouts. He got me and my husband into VR. He soon became my right hand. Our communication was very aligned. I also believe he made me a better director and boss. Even though I did not really feel like a boss, my team was working with me, not for me, even if I was directing and they were doing most of the magic! Ronaldo and I briefed almost daily, either for work or for laughs. A team member who became my best friend. He saw Vexquisit grow, so I always told him he was part of the seeds. Even though he was not vegan, he sometimes made fun of my veganism (in a respectful and innocent way), which was never a problem to me. So, having all the fun, growing, feeling accomplished, from 2018 until the end of 2021.

2025

2026

The diagnosis

Then he got a terminal diagnosis, with some hope if he had some surgeries. The survival rate was 4%. The normal thing would have been to keep watering the business. I didn't. I dedicated most of my energy outside of projects to two things. First, helping him believe he could be inside this 4%. And second, getting him the economical support he needed, because he didn't have health insurance and the Brazilian health system wasn't going to give him what he needed. He had a few savings, but before this started he was the one supporting his mother and sister. So for this financial support, I started a GoFundMe campaign.

The GoFundMe

I did not only set it up and share it once. I reached out to everyone I knew, and hundreds of people showed up. Especially people from the motion design industry, creatives from other spaces, most of whom had never met him, or people that looked up to him and had lost contact. Before it started, he thought nobody would care and that it would be a waste of my time. I got to prove him wrong, and as I promised him, I shook up the planet to make him feel important and loved by this community that was supporting the GoFundMe. So even if in 2022 we had some successful projects, I was not watering the networking side of the business for Vexquisit. I was full on pushing his campaign, successfully. I got to visit him too. That year was probably the toughest of my life.

2025

2026

Two diagnoses

Early 2023 he entered palliative care. I was devastated. Even if I had my family by my side. And then, on top of all, my cat Adonis got his diagnosis of feline diabetes.

A blessing in disguise

I don't know if it was a great time, because obviously it wasn't, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise. The feline diabetes GIANT learning curve actually got me distracted from the storm. I tried to learn as much as I could online, and luckily I learned, not too late, that the vet who diagnosed him did not know proper diabetes management. So I self taught myself everything for the first 3 months until we found the right vet.

2025

2026

April fools

Ronaldo passed away in April fools. Of course he did.

The pause

I was ashes, I needed time to heal, learn to live with grief, so I put a break on Vexquisit. Renovated my office. Learned more about feline diabetes. I got into sports for the first time in my life! I tried to avoid any grief triggers so I looked into new activities, which is never a bad thing. I learned more about myself.

2025

2026

The sign

Six months forward, a dream brand in the animal advocacy space reached out to me for a quote. So I figured it was time to get back to it, even though it still felt very hard with the loss. Going back to a routine my best friend was not in anymore. As I sent the quote I sensed I was not really excited anymore. But hey, I pitched. And I got a counter offer that felt extremely unfair for the amount of work. I always liked to pay my freelancers fair, that is non-negotiable. As I rejected their unfair counter offer, Adonis's TikTok channel, where I was posting some random glucose test videos, went viral. It felt like a sign. An alternative path.

Closing Vexquisit

So I turned down the project, decided to take some months to think about whether I even wanted Vexquisit back (Ronaldo as a ghost is kind of boring, we had dark humor, this is how I keep him with me). And well so Adonis Sugar Kitty was born. As you probably guessed, later I officially closed the Vexquisit chapter. Looking back, I wouldn't do it any other way.

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See the case study

2025

2026

Building the brand

And Instagram virality followed, then YouTube, then Facebook. I created the brand pillars, the mission and the values, and decided to apply everything I know into this brand. Bringing awareness about feline diabetes without being too serious or boring about it, having as the main character Adonis, who is chatty and sassy. And Anabelita (his sister we adopted in 2015), who behaves as if we owe her all, and acts as an unapologetic queen.

Merch, and what converts

Created merch, learned POD and Shopify. As always, putting challenges in front of me that sound easy as an idea but gave me a big learning curve and long nights. Here I got to be less polished with the video work, of course. But I learned about what converts: that trends can be a quick variety solution, but they can harm a brand, so they are not always worth following. That each brand needs to stick to their persona and find their unique voice, to be remembered.

2025

2026

What is next

With this project I've got to help so many cat parents in the past years who have been in a similar situation to where we were. As time progresses, we deal with other chronic conditions that come with age on these senior baby cats. Most of our audience is of course not dealing with feline diabetes, but they often express that they are grateful for the knowledge and inspiration to not give up on our cats, just because they age and some condition happens with it. I don't know what is next. Adonis Sugar Kitty is a project I am very fond of. However, if I've learned anything from my journey, it is that life happens. And also, my constant pursuit of challenges could show me something unexpected around the corner, any second. For me, keeping life interesting is what a fulfilling fun life is made of!

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