Student Spotlight: Cindy Cabrera

Cindy Cabrera recently completed her first large-scale motion graphics project, an impressive video display that projected 20-foot-tall images on the side of the El Camino College Student Services building. The massive two-story masterpiece was unveiled at College Night, El Camino’s annual fall event organized by the Office of Outreach and School Relations to welcome prospective students and their families to campus to learn more about ECC. Cabrera meticulously planned every step of the project, but seeing the finished work live and in action was a big surprise.

“Seeing it in person was a surreal experience,” said Cabrera, a studio arts major with a focus on visual communications.

“It was the first time I’d ever seen my work projected on that scale at an event of that size, which made me feel incredibly proud. The projector did an amazing job capturing the color and motion, and the visual quality exceeded my expectations. I also got to witness the engagement it generated firsthand; people were stopping, pointing, and interacting with it as they walked by, which really confirmed the success of the installation.”

The project was part of her independent study program at El Camino, guided by motion graphics professor Eric Holman, who helped guide her through the technical aspects. Cabrera used this opportunity to demonstrate the skills she learned in the classroom and apply them through a cross-campus collab with several different departments. The process started with brainstorming ideas and experimenting with different visual styles and motion techniques. Cabrera went through several design iterations, focusing on movement, timing, and storytelling to produce a display that fit the overall tone of the event.

“Collaboration and flexibility were important throughout the process, since I worked with Outreach and needed to make sure the project met both creative expectations and specific event needs,” she said. “My goal was to create work that could support and elevate campus events – in addition, I gained real-world experience and was able to see how my designs function in a live setting.”

The project reinforced her interest in motion graphics as a professional path and demonstrated how design can be used as a powerful tool for communication and engagement.

“Seeing my work displayed in a public setting confirmed that my artistic skills can be applied meaningfully beyond the classroom and strengthened my confidence in pursuing a career in design,” she said.

Cabrera found additional opportunities at El Camino as well. One of her favorites was an invitation to the El Segundo Creative Economy Event at the Mattel Global Headquarters, where she explored potential career paths within the creative field. 

After graduating this spring, Cabrera plans to transfer to Otis College of Art and Design to continue her studies in graphic design and motion graphics, with a career goal to match. She said at El Camino College she was able to try new things, take initiative, and forge a personalized path to her future.

"What I value most about El Camino isn’t just the physical resources, but the people. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside talented peers and instructors who genuinely care about helping each other grow. Being part of that creative community has given me a network of sharp, thoughtful minds I can rely on not just for feedback, but to help me think bigger and push my ideas further. Knowing I have talented people around me who believe in what I’m making has made a huge difference."