I'm Alexia, an Animator, Illustrator, and Art Director with 17 years of experience creating dynamic visuals and compelling storytelling from my base in Athens. I’ve worked across both in-house teams and as a freelancer, bringing a unique mix of adaptability, creativity, and technical precision to my projects. _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ My background spans a wide range of industries and formats, with a particular focus on advertising and explainer videos. I’m experienced in managing all aspects of production—from concept to final animation—for independent projects, corporate work, and documentaries. My expertise covers art direction, animation, and illustration, which allows me to provide a seamless creative process that aligns well with each client’s vision. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with respected clients such as Investigate Europe, Reporters United, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, iMΕdD, ActionAid, Carbon Market Watch, Vice Greece, EasyJet, Cyclades Preservation Fund, Cosmote, Eurobank, and Heineken. Each project has deepened my understanding of how to communicate complex ideas through captivating visuals. Feel free to explore my portfolio at alexiabarakou.com to see a selection of my work. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my creative experience to new, exciting projects.

AlexiaB

5.0 (1 review)

I'm Alexia, an Animator, Illustrator, and Art Director with 17 years of experience creating dynamic visuals and compelling storytelling from my base in Athens. I’ve worked across both in-house teams and as a freelancer, bringing a unique mix of adaptability, creativity, and technical precision to my projects. _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ My background spans a wide range of industries and formats, with a particular focus on advertising and explainer videos. I’m experienced in managing all aspects of production—from concept to final animation—for independent projects, corporate work, and documentaries. My expertise covers art direction, animation, and illustration, which allows me to provide a seamless creative process that aligns well with each client’s vision. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with respected clients such as Investigate Europe, Reporters United, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, iMΕdD, ActionAid, Carbon Market Watch, Vice Greece, EasyJet, Cyclades Preservation Fund, Cosmote, Eurobank, and Heineken. Each project has deepened my understanding of how to communicate complex ideas through captivating visuals. Feel free to explore my portfolio at alexiabarakou.com to see a selection of my work. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my creative experience to new, exciting projects.

Available to hire

I’m Alexia, an Animator, Illustrator, and Art Director with 17 years of experience creating dynamic visuals and compelling storytelling from my base in Athens. I’ve worked across both in-house teams and as a freelancer, bringing a unique mix of adaptability, creativity, and technical precision to my projects.

Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup

My background spans a wide range of industries and formats, with a particular focus on advertising and explainer videos. I’m experienced in managing all aspects of production—from concept to final animation—for independent projects, corporate work, and documentaries. My expertise covers art direction, animation, and illustration, which allows me to provide a seamless creative process that aligns well with each client’s vision.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with respected clients such as Investigate Europe, Reporters United, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, iMΕdD, ActionAid, Carbon Market Watch, Vice Greece, EasyJet, Cyclades Preservation Fund, Cosmote, Eurobank, and Heineken. Each project has deepened my understanding of how to communicate complex ideas through captivating visuals.

Feel free to explore my portfolio at alexiabarakou.com to see a selection of my work. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my creative experience to new, exciting projects.

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Language

English
Advanced
German
Advanced
Greek, Modern
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance Motion Graphic Designer, 3d Artist, Animator at STEFI Productions S.A
June 16, 2009 - June 20, 2021
Freelance Motion Graphic Designer, 3d Artist, Animator at Filmiki Productions
October 17, 2012 - June 11, 2021
Freelance Animator, Illustrator & Art Director at Vice Greece
September 2, 2018 - September 29, 2023
Freelance Animator, Illustrator & Art Director at Freelance
January 9, 2017 - Present
Animator, Illustrator & Art Director

Education

Bachelor's degree, Faculty of History and Archaeology at University of Athens
October 12, 1995 - October 12, 2000
Bachelor's degree 2d & 3d Αnimation at Educational Centre Intergraphics
October 12, 2004 - October 12, 2006
Master in Digital Arts at Athens School of Fine Arts
October 12, 2006 - October 12, 2008

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment
    Animated Explainer Video | Ageism Awareness
    This one-minute explainer animation was created to communicate the emotional and social impact of ageism through a balance of clear information and human-centered storytelling. The project was developed collaboratively on both the narrative and script level, shaping a concise visual story that could communicate complex social themes in an accessible and emotionally engaging way. I created all illustrations from scratch in Adobe Illustrator and animated the piece in After Effects, focusing on expressive visual storytelling, pacing, and emotional clarity. In addition to the animation production, I handled the overall creative direction of the project, including music selection, sound supervision, and voice-over direction. The sound design process was developed in collaboration with a sound designer under my direction to ensure that sound, rhythm, and visuals supported the emotional tone of the story. I also sourced and directed the voice-over artist to achieve the intended delivery and atmosphere throughout the film. My role included: • Creative & Art Direction • Script Collaboration & Story Development • Social Impact & Educational Storytelling • Illustration Design (Adobe Illustrator) • 2D Animation (After Effects) • Motion Graphics • Sound Direction & Music Selection • Voice-Over Casting & Direction • Visual Narrative Development
    Motion Graphics Showreel 2026
    Here you can explore a curated selection of my work as a 2D Animator, Illustrator, and Art Director. This showreel highlights my passion for visual storytelling, blending innovative animation, compelling illustrations, and thoughtful art direction. In my showreel, you’ll see a diverse range of 2D animations showcasing everything from character-driven storytelling to dynamic motion graphics. As an illustrator, I take pride in creating unique, detailed, and expressive designs, whether for characters, backgrounds, or conceptual art. My role as an art director has allowed me to craft cohesive visual identities, overseeing projects that balance style with purpose, ensuring each piece communicates the desired narrative.
    Custom isometric illustration & motion graphics
    This project involved the creation of custom isometric illustrations combined with dynamic motion graphics to produce a clear, modern, and visually engaging animation. My responsibilities included: Designing custom isometric environments and visual assets Creating and animating motion graphics in After Effects Developing smooth transitions and structured visual flow Integrating typography and graphic elements Producing and implementing custom sound effects to enhance rhythm and impact Delivering the final polished video for digital platforms The result was a cohesive animation where illustration, motion, and sound design worked together to support clarity and engagement.
    Custom Illustration & Animation for explainer video
    This animated piece was developed as a complete visual storytelling project in close collaboration with the journalists, editorial team, and voice actor, translating research and narrative into a visually engaging animated experience. I created all illustrations from scratch in Adobe Illustrator and animated the project in After Effects, focusing on atmosphere, pacing, and emotional clarity. Alongside the visual production, I handled the overall creative direction, including music selection, sound supervision, and coordination of the voice performance to ensure a cohesive narrative tone throughout the piece. The sound design process was developed in collaboration with a sound designer under my direction, aligning sound, rhythm, voice, and visuals into a unified storytelling experience. My role included: • Art Direction • Visual Storytelling & Editorial Collaboration • Illustration Design (Adobe Illustrator) • 2D Animation (After Effects) • Motion Graphics • Voice & Sound Direction • Music Selection • Creative Supervision Video credits: Art Direction, Animation, Illustration by Alexia Barakou Sound design: Aris Athanasopoulos Narration: Phoebe Fronista Produced by Reporters United (Athens, Greece)
    Motion Graphics Design for TV documentaries
    Motion graphics and animated visual storytelling created for the online documentary productions of VICE Greece. The work included animated intros for documentary series as well as explainer sequences designed to visually communicate complex ideas and information that were difficult to convey through live-action footage alone. I was responsible for the illustration, animation, and overall art direction of the pieces, developing visuals that supported the journalistic narrative while maintaining an engaging and emotionally driven aesthetic. All illustrations were created from scratch and animated in After Effects, combining editorial storytelling with motion graphics to enhance the documentary experience and support the pacing and tone of the films. My role included: • Art Direction • Editorial & Documentary Storytelling • Illustration Design • 2D Animation (After Effects) • Motion Graphics • Visual Development for Documentary Content • Intro Sequences & Documentary Explainers
    2D Environmental Animated Explainer with custom Illustrations for NGO
    This 30-second explainer animation was created to communicate the ecological importance of Posidonia seagrass meadows through a balance of emotional storytelling and clear environmental information. The project was developed collaboratively with the editorial team, contributing not only to the visual direction but also to the script development in order to shape a concise and engaging narrative suitable for short-form educational content. I created all illustrations from scratch in Adobe Illustrator and animated the piece in After Effects, focusing on atmosphere, pacing, and visual clarity. In addition to the animation production, I handled the overall creative direction, including music selection, sound supervision, and voice-over direction. The sound design was developed in collaboration with a sound designer under my direction to ensure that rhythm, sound, and visuals supported the emotional tone of the story. I also sourced and directed the voice-over artist to achieve the intended narrative delivery and mood. My role included: • Creative & Art Direction • Script Collaboration • Environmental & Educational Storytelling • Illustration Design (Adobe Illustrator) • 2D Animation (After Effects) • Motion Graphics • Voice-Over Casting & Direction • Sound Direction & Music Selection • Creative Supervision Client: Cyclades Preservation Fund & easyJet Script & Art Direction: Alexia Barakou Illustration & Animation: Alexia Barakou Voice artist: Rob Milton Sound Design: Ivan Rodríguez López
    Animated Documentary Storytelling | Biblioburro
    This animated documentary piece was created using the original voices of the interviewees alongside narration by the journalist who travelled to Colombia to document the story firsthand. The project combined documentary storytelling with expressive animation to communicate real experiences and emotional nuance through a visually immersive narrative approach. I created all illustrations from scratch using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and animated the piece in After Effects, focusing on atmosphere, pacing, and emotional continuity between voice, sound, and image. Beyond the animation production, I handled the overall creative direction of the project, including music selection, sound supervision, and voice integration. The sound design process was developed in collaboration with a sound designer under my direction to ensure that audio and visuals worked together cohesively to support the documentary narrative. My role also included coordinating and shaping the visual storytelling around authentic interview material and journalistic narration to preserve the emotional integrity of the story while making the information accessible and engaging. My role included: • Creative & Art Direction • Documentary & Editorial Storytelling • Illustration Design (Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop) • 2D Animation (After Effects) • Motion Graphics • Sound Direction & Music Selection • Voice Integration & Audio Supervision • Visual Narrative Development