Nicole Anderson’s journey into animation was anything but linear — leaving school early, working a decade in pubs, and then pivoting back to her creative roots through 3D modelling and animation. She co-founded her own studio, learned business skills the hard way, and discovered her strength in production and team leadership.
In this episode of CreatED, Nicole and Rob explore:
The realities of running an animation studio and balancing creativity with business
Why communication, resilience, and sociability are as critical as technical skills
How AI and real-time rendering are reshaping animation pipelines
Barriers facing young people entering the industry — and how to break them
The importance of confidence, critique, and building community in creative careers
Nicole’s story is one of persistence, adaptability, and belief in the value of creativity as serious work. A must-listen for anyone navigating non-linear paths into Creative Tech.