Michelle Blomberg

Render

Case study · AI Tools & Strategy · Learning Design

A worked example: everything one student built across a semester, exported as a dashboard they keep.

Digital Media Arts, Motion Design & Video · Alex’s exported dashboard, one piece of the take-away package they keep after the course. The full package (tracker, documents, and every agent and skill) is listed at the end.

Your take-away download

At the end of the course Alex downloads one zip and owns it. Alex is a fictional student; Render stores no real names, emails, or addresses. Inside the download:

dashboard.htmlA self-contained career dashboard, previewed below, that opens in any browser with no login.
job-tracker.xlsxA spreadsheet of every job applied to, with status, to keep updating.
documents/Each tailored resume and cover letter as an editable file plus a ready-to-send PDF.
agents/The career counselor, job-search agent, hiring committee, and interview panel as prompt files.
skills/Each skill (resume tailoring, cover letter, elevator pitch, and more) as a prompt file.
README.txtHow to paste each agent and skill into your own Gemini, Claude, or ChatGPT.

Goals & Identity

Dream jobMotion graphics designer at an entertainment studio or creative agency in LA or remote. I want to work on title sequences, brand videos, and social content for entertainment brands.
Goals statementBuild a professional portfolio that demonstrates my range in motion design and video editing. Land an entry-level position or first freelance clients within 90 days of graduation. Develop expertise in 3D motion graphics to differentiate myself.
Creative identityI’m a visual storyteller who blends graphic design and motion to create energetic, rhythm-driven content. My work leans bold, high contrast, dynamic typography, and sound-synced animation.
Target marketMid-size creative agencies, entertainment brands, music labels, sports media companies, and tech startups with strong visual identities.
3-year visionSenior motion designer at a studio I believe in, or running a small freelance practice with 5 regular clients and a recognizable visual style.

Job Search Agent

Alex’s own agent, built in Render from their goals and resume, and exported to run in their own Gemini. It searches on these terms, verifies each role is still live on the company’s own site, and returns a feed. Search strings are kept as a simple fallback.

TargetsJunior or entry-level motion designer, motion graphics artist, video editor, or social content, in LA or remote.
Keywordsmotion graphics, motion designer, After Effects, Cinema 4D, brand video, social content
VerifyOnly lists roles confirmed still open on the employer’s own careers page, never an aggregator repost.
Fallback strings“motion graphics” OR “motion designer” (Los Angeles OR remote); “junior motion designer” AND (“After Effects” OR “Cinema 4D”)

Links Hub

Render stores no contact details, no email, no address, no phone. Alex keeps only their public professional links here, and adds an email to the resume file they actually send, never inside the tool.

Portfolioalexrivera.design
LinkedInin/alexriveramogfx
Behancebehance.net/alexrivera

Job Search Log

6 saved jobs · 3 applied

Junior Motion Designer
Superfly Creative Agency
Status: applied
Resume edits for this job:
  • Lead with After Effects and Cinema 4D experience, this posting mentions both in the first paragraph.
  • Add your title sequence project from AVC 248, it directly matches their “brand storytelling” requirement.
  • Remove the retail experience section, replace with freelance project summaries.
Motion Graphics Artist
ESPN Creative Works
Status: applied
Video Editor / Motion Designer
Cactus Creative (Phoenix)
Status: interview
Freelance Motion Designer
Spotify, Contract
Status: saved
Social Content Creator
Nike Digital Studio (Remote)
Status: applied
Jr. Motion Graphics Designer
Wieden+Kennedy (Portland, OR)
Status: saved

Active Resume

Draft 3 · Your current working resume

[Name and contact details go only on the copy sent to an employer. The draft stored in Render carries none.]

Motion Designer & Video Editor

Summary

Creative motion designer with a strong foundation in After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Premiere Pro. Skilled in typography-driven motion, brand storytelling, and sound-synced animation. Looking to bring bold visual energy to an agency or entertainment brand.

Education

Associate of Applied Science, Digital Media Arts, a community college. Expected May 2026. Concentration: Motion Design and Video.

Technical skills

  • Motion and animation. After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender
  • Video. Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve
  • Design. Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma
  • Audio. Audition, basic sound design

Projects

  • Title sequence, “Nightfall,” AVC 248 capstone. A 60-second animated title sequence for a fictional thriller series. Cinema 4D environments, After Effects compositing, original sound design.
  • Brand video, Cactus Creative, freelance. A 30-second social promo for a Phoenix restaurant group. Shot, edited, and animated in five days. 12K views on Instagram.
  • Motion reel, portfolio showcase. A two-minute compilation of best motion work from 2024 to 2026. Typography, transitions, logo reveals.

Skills Map

Your stack

After Effects Cinema 4D Premiere Pro Photoshop Illustrator Figma DaVinci Resolve Audition Blender Canva Google Workspace

Skills in progress

Unreal Engine Houdini basics Lottie/web animation Client invoicing Freelance contracts

Learning resources

PD Activity Log

8 activities logged this semester

Mar 12Completed School of Motion “Intro to Animation” module · 3 hrs
Mar 8The Futur: freelance contracts and pricing (free) · 1.5 hrs, Learned about kill fees and scope creep language
Mar 3Ben Marriott tutorial: Text animation techniques · 1 hr
Feb 26Cinema 4D lighting workshop (Greyscalegorilla) · 2 hrs
Feb 19Portfolio review with mentor (Sarah Chen, Superfly) · 0.5 hrs, She said to cut the retail work and add more process shots
Feb 12DaVinci Resolve color grading basics · 1.5 hrs
Feb 5Figma prototyping intro · 2 hrs, Useful for motion storyboarding
Jan 28Career Services résumé workshop · 1 hr

Network

5 contacts

Sarah ChenCreative Director · Superfly Creative Agency · LinkedIn
Marcus WilliamsMotion Designer · ESPN · LinkedIn
Jasmine TorresFreelance Motion Designer · Phoenix · LinkedIn
Kevin ParkRecruiter · The Creative Group · LinkedIn
Career advisorCareer Services

Professional Development Plan

Weeks 1 to 2, launch

  • Update the portfolio with the final capstone project and the two strongest pieces from the semester.
  • Apply to five target jobs from the saved list (Superfly, ESPN, Cactus Creative, Nike, Spotify contract).
  • Send follow-up messages to Sarah Chen and Marcus Williams, mention the capstone and ask if their teams are hiring.
  • Set the job-search agent to run weekly for “motion designer” in Phoenix or remote.

Month 1, foundation

  • Apply to three to five new jobs a week from the agent’s feed.
  • Complete School of Motion “Explainer Camp,” the biggest skill gap for agency work.
  • Ship one freelance project, even discounted, to add a real client piece to the reel.
  • Post twice a week on Instagram and LinkedIn: process videos, before and afters, tips.

Month 2, build momentum

  • Follow up on all outstanding applications, re-engage with Cactus Creative about the interview.
  • Start Unreal Engine basics (Motion Design School), two hours a week.
  • Reach out to three new industry contacts a week on LinkedIn.
  • Build one spec project for a dream brand (Nike, Spotify, or similar).

Month 3, accelerate

  • If freelance is working, formalize a rate sheet and contract template.
  • If targeting full-time, narrow to the top three companies and tailor everything to them.
  • Submit the reel to two motion-design showcases (Motionographer, Art of the Title).
  • Schedule a portfolio review with a working motion designer outside the network.

The most important thing

Apply before you feel ready. The reel is strong enough to get interviews; the “one more project” instinct is procrastination. Send five applications this week. The worst outcome is practice; the best outcome is a job.

Weekly Schedule

Day Time Focus
Monday9:00 to 10:00 AMJob search, save 2 to 3 new roles from the agent’s feed
7:00 to 8:30 PMPortfolio work, current project or a spec piece
Tuesday7:00 to 9:00 PMSkill building, School of Motion or Blender
Wednesday9:00 to 10:00 AMApplications, tailor and submit 1 to 2 saved jobs
7:00 to 8:30 PMPortfolio work, shoot, edit, or animate
Thursday12:00 to 12:30 PMNetworking, 2 LinkedIn messages, comment on 3 posts
7:00 to 8:00 PMSkill building, tutorials or experimental work
Friday9:00 to 10:00 AMJob search, new listings, follow up on applications
10:00 to 10:30 AMContent, post one piece to Instagram or LinkedIn
SaturdayoffRest day
Sunday6:00 to 7:00 PMWeekly review, update the dashboard, plan next week

Rhythm: block these times like class; start each week from the job log’s follow-ups due; if you skip a day, pick up the next block rather than doubling up.

At a Glance

6
Jobs tracked
3
Applied
11
Tools in stack
5
Contacts
8
PD activities
2
Q&As practiced

New with the agents (illustrative)

The sections below preview what a student sees once the Render agents are live. They are examples of the output, shown for the pilot review; the agents are in progress (see the PRD build status). Each committee and interview is built from one specific job the student saved and from that student’s own goals, so no two students get the same one.

Should I Apply? · Hiring Committee

For the Junior Motion Designer role Alex saved, grounded only in that posting.

Interview likelihood: Possible

Requirement rubric

After Effects / motionMet. Reel shows title sequences and sound-synced animation.
1+ year experiencePartly met. Strong student and freelance work, less full-time history.
3D motionNot yet. Listed as a skill in progress, no reel piece yet.
Team collaborationMet. Group projects and client work noted.

The committee’s read

HR Specialist, Talent
The reel and Adobe skills clear the first screen. Add the exact software terms from the posting so keyword filters do not miss you.
Hiring Manager, Creative
The rhythm-driven work is a real strength. I want to see one 3D piece to trust the skill you list.
Motion Designer, Peer
Your style would fit our social content. Show a short breakdown of your process on one piece.
Producer, Department
You mention deadlines, good. Add one line about juggling several deliverables at once.

The call

Apply with tweaks.

Three ways to get stronger

  1. Add one 3D motion piece to the reel, even a short loop, to move “3D” from Not yet to Partly met.
  2. Mirror the posting’s exact tool names (After Effects, Cinema 4D) in the resume skills.
  3. Add a one-line process note to two reel pieces so reviewers see how you think.

Roadmap

Interview Panel

The same four people interview Alex for that job, one question at a time, opening with “tell me about yourself” and closing with “do you have any questions for me,” and coach every answer. Sample from the eight-question set.

Q1 · HR Specialist, Talent
Tell me about yourself.
Coaching: strong open. Lead with “motion designer” in the first sentence, not at the end.
Q2 · Hiring Manager, Creative
Why are you a good fit for this position?
Coaching: tie two of your reel pieces directly to the work in the posting.
Q3 · Producer, Department
Tell me about a project where you had to meet a tight deadline.
Alex: I shot and edited a 30-second social promo in five days, broken into daily milestones, shoot, rough cut, motion graphics, sound and color, then revisions. The client wanted a new opening shot on day four, so I moved the sound work to the morning and re-shot in the afternoon.
Coaching: strong, you showed your process, not just the result. Add the outcome (12K views, client re-hired you) so they hear your system delivered.
Q4 · Motion Designer, Peer
What software do you use, and how do you decide which tool to use?
Alex: After Effects for 2D motion and compositing, Cinema 4D for 3D environments, Premiere for long-form. I pick by the deliverable, Cinema 4D then composite in After Effects for a 3D title sequence, all After Effects for social text animation.
Coaching: clear and practical, you are showing decision-making. Add that you are learning Unreal Engine for real-time rendering to signal you are staying current.
Q8 · Producer, Department
Do you have any questions for me?
Coaching: ask about the team’s pipeline. It signals you think about production, not just design.