Name: Si Qiao

Course: MSc Digital Media

Si Qiao from China is 25 and completed an MSc in Digital Media. He is now a Project Manager for Avi Studios, a recently formed Audio/Visual production company.

'I always knew my artwork was special but it was during an exhibition I had whilst doing my foundation degree that I realised my pictures needed something else – they needed to move!

My first piece of animation involved over 500 hand drawn pictures. It was a basketball bouncing and it lasted for 47 seconds but took me four months to create. It was my dedication that helped me get a place on the undergraduate course in Computer Animation.

After completing my degree I spent some time working for the prestigious Animotion Studios in Bristol, which was a fantastic experience. Working for a large organisation showed me how much there was to running a studio and I became interested in knowing more.

I had a good grounding in animation but in order to broaden my skills I chose to do the Masters in Digital Media. It’s totally changed my aspirations. I used to want to work for a large studio specialising in 3D animation, now I want to have my own company someday.

Doing the MSc has helped me realise I have talents in areas I hadn’t considered before, such as project management. Managing projects for a studio means seeing clients, organising the budget, timescales and production etc. It’s very much in the real world. I’m putting into practice the theory I learned on the course every day.

I still love creating art and I always will. I get involved in creating the storyboards at the studio because I’m quick and I’m good. Art is my passion but at work now I’m looking at the bigger picture.'