Artist Spotlight w/ Karolin Chen
Feb 8, 2023
First, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello there! My name is Karolin and I’m a freelancing motion designer, illustrator, and art director based in snowy Stockholm, Sweden. I’m also a big yarn and book hoarder.
I love to explore different kinds of crafts and materials that I can incorporate with my style. Lately, my evenings have been spent crocheting, knitting, and/or punch-needling new projects, experimenting with how different mediums can integrate with different styles and with each other.
Being a freelancer can sometimes be lonely… Together with some freelance friends, we created a Slack channel where we share our experiences and thoughts within the industry. This has been a great source to keep ourselves up to date and support each other, especially when times are rough.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to other freelancers, or start your own collective!
Can you tell us about your experience and the role you are primarily filling?
I’ve been dabbing into the freelance world for a while but it wasn’t until last year (2021) I finally took the big step and went full-time. It’s been a longtime goal of mine, with several years of preparation, research, and late nights of doubts on my back. I used to spend my evenings and weekends building up my portfolio and Instagram. By doing different challenges, and exploring new techniques and trends within the motion and illustration industry, I could feel more independent and prove to myself that this is the right path for my needs.
So far my freelance journey, it’s been a great experience. I’ve collaborated with many talented people and created stunning work while at the same time focusing on my personal projects. I’m looking forward to seeing what more projects will unfold in the future!
If you could speak directly to the resourcing gods and powers that be, what would be your ideal project?
To me, what makes or breaks a project are the people around it. My ideal project would be collaborating with kind and resourceful people with a burning passion. Those projects are usually the ones that crack out the biggest smiles and silly memories afterward.
And if there are any animals involved in the production, I’m up for it.
Do you have any dream clients?
A unique design or concept that challenges current trends is very exciting to me. I’d love to work more towards motion-centered agencies as well as some of the big ones such as Apple and Google. One of my dreams is to have my work featured on Apple’s walls!
Lastly, do you have any memorable stories, life lessons, or tall tales you can share from your adventures as a freelancer?
Being a freelancer can sometimes be lonely, especially if you work from home or in a studio. Together with some freelance friends, we created a Slack channel where we share our experiences and thoughts within the industry. It could be everything from nifty AE shortcuts to silly pet pictures. This has been a great source to keep ourselves up to date and support each other, especially when times are rough.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to other freelancers, or start your own collective!
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