Art and design alumni

Digital Artist, Red Square Motion, Toronto
Master of Art and Design
Bachelor of Design in Digital Design

Being paid to work on films and visual effects is a dream come true for AUT digital design alumna Kritteka Gregory.

“I’ve always been fascinated by visual effects, and I love working at the crossroads of creativity and technology,” says Kritteka who is now based in Canada, working for Toronto post-production house Red Square Motion.

“We specialise in post-production, colour correction and editing. I love the problem-solving part of my role – our clients come in with a film that may need some post-production work and I enjoy finding a solution for them.”

Every day is different, Kritteka says, with her work ranging from documentaries and short films to TV and feature films.

“I’ve learnt so much. I didn’t realise all the different things you need to consider when you film something.”

A launchpad for digital design careers
Studying digital design was the perfect preparation for her work now, Kritteka says.

“AUT’s digital design degree was a great way to gain insight into all aspects of digital design – from pre-production through to production and post-production. It makes it easy to figure out what you want to do with your career.”

Having access to industry-standard technology throughout her studies was invaluable, she adds.

“At AUT I had access to state-of-the-art facilities and technologies, including motion capture and a green screen room. I developed skills in Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Premiere and 3D software, which was extremely helpful when I started working.”

Valuable postgraduate study
If you’re planning to work overseas postgraduate study is a must, Kritteka says.

“Many overseas companies ask for four years of study when hiring a digital designer. It’s one of the reasons why I decided to continue into postgraduate study when I finished my Bachelor of Design.

“I’m glad I did – it gives you an extra year of experience and allows you to refine your skills, which is great when you go out into the industry.”

For her research project Kritteka created a short film that explored cultural identity, drawing on her own background as an Indian New Zealander.