As a student at The Modern, Nathan Smith had a clear goal. He wanted to build a career doing work he was passionate about. When one of his instructors mentioned a motion design studio called We Ride at Dawn, Nathan did not wait. He looked them up, connected with them on social media, and introduced himself.

At the same time, The Modern had connected with We Ride at Dawn at the CSCA Creative Best awards about hosting an extern. Before our team could place students, they asked for Nathan by name. His message had already made an impression.

Nathan went on to work on multiple projects during his externship and quickly proved himself a valuable team member. After the externship ended, the studio invited him to stay on and continue contributing. Today, Nathan works full-time with We Ride at Dawn, creating the kind of motion design work he had dreamed of.

Nathan’s story is a reminder of what can happen when you take initiative, show your passion, and connect with the right people at the right time.

Want to turn your creativity into a career like Nathan did? Explore our Motion Graphics & Video Design program and start building your future.