Two weeks before the start of the Spring 2026 semester, I had the opportunity to begin my internship at Coen Projects as a motion designer. Coen Projects is a private creative studio based in New York City, with Nadia Coen and Sarah Shabaka as my supervisors. The studio focuses on creative direction, communication design, and environmental/experiential graphic design, particularly within museum and exhibition spaces. One of their recent projects is the opening of the Calabar Sports and History Museum in Kingston, Jamaica, demonstrating how their design work extends internationally. Also, since my family is from Kingston, Jamaica, it gives me another reason or passion to work for them. Since my family is from Kingston, Jamaica, this project gives me an even deeper personal connection and additional motivation to contribute meaningfully to the work being done at the studio.
As a studio, Coen Projects blends spatial design with branding, publications, and multimedia storytelling. Their work extends beyond traditional graphic design and into physical environments, where design becomes part of how people experience history, culture, and art.
Working as a motion designer over the past couple of weeks has already been a strong learning experience for me as a developing designer. We began with an online meeting where everyone introduced themselves and explained the overall project goals. They clearly outlined what they wanted from me, motion design content, while also showing interest in how I would approach and execute the tasks.
One of the best aspects of this internship is its flexibility and remote structure. I am able to work on my own time, while staying connected through a group chat where I can ask questions at any time. That balance between independence and guidance makes the experience feel professional but also supportive.
The work itself has pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Initially, they wanted me to use After Effects, even though I am still learning it. While I’ve been using CapCut to execute some of the motion design tasks, I’ve also been teaching myself After Effects in my free time so I can grow into the role more confidently. I appreciate that they allowed me to use the first one to two weeks as a trial period before moving into more serious project work. That transition made me feel like I earned my place rather than being thrown into something unprepared.