Hello! I'm Karol Michalik, a multidisciplinary senior motion designer specializing in 2D/3D animation, automotive visualization and real-time 3D environments. Over the past decade I’ve crafted high-impact visual experiences for Fortune 500 brands like Nissan, Smart, and Siemens, and led creative operations at Quantum Forge Studio with a 10-person team. I’m passionate about pushing the boundaries of production pipelines, from After Effects and Blender to Unreal Engine 5, and I’m actively exploring AI-assisted workflows to accelerate concept-to-delivery without sacrificing quality. Beyond the studio, I share knowledge through YouTube tutorials and mentor teams to build robust, scalable visual systems. I love collaborating across disciplines to ship compelling visuals that resonate with audiences and clients alike.

Karol Michalik

Hello! I'm Karol Michalik, a multidisciplinary senior motion designer specializing in 2D/3D animation, automotive visualization and real-time 3D environments. Over the past decade I’ve crafted high-impact visual experiences for Fortune 500 brands like Nissan, Smart, and Siemens, and led creative operations at Quantum Forge Studio with a 10-person team. I’m passionate about pushing the boundaries of production pipelines, from After Effects and Blender to Unreal Engine 5, and I’m actively exploring AI-assisted workflows to accelerate concept-to-delivery without sacrificing quality. Beyond the studio, I share knowledge through YouTube tutorials and mentor teams to build robust, scalable visual systems. I love collaborating across disciplines to ship compelling visuals that resonate with audiences and clients alike.

Available to hire

Hello! I’m Karol Michalik, a multidisciplinary senior motion designer specializing in 2D/3D animation, automotive visualization and real-time 3D environments. Over the past decade I’ve crafted high-impact visual experiences for Fortune 500 brands like Nissan, Smart, and Siemens, and led creative operations at Quantum Forge Studio with a 10-person team. I’m passionate about pushing the boundaries of production pipelines, from After Effects and Blender to Unreal Engine 5, and I’m actively exploring AI-assisted workflows to accelerate concept-to-delivery without sacrificing quality.

Beyond the studio, I share knowledge through YouTube tutorials and mentor teams to build robust, scalable visual systems. I love collaborating across disciplines to ship compelling visuals that resonate with audiences and clients alike.

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Language

English
Advanced
Polish
Fluent

Work Experience

Head of Design / Art Director at Quantum Forge Studio
November 1, 2023 - Present
Lead creative vision and operations for a studio developing two game titles (2D tower defense, procedural 3D RPG/hack-and-slash), managing all visual aspects from concept through delivery while building and directing a 10-person creative team.
3D Generalist & Motion Designer at Katana Studio LTD.
June 1, 2023 - June 1, 2025
Art-directed and delivered high-end automotive visualization campaigns for Smart and Nissan brands, managing complete creative process from pitch through final delivery while handling client relationships for Fortune 500 accounts.
Creative Director & Content Creator at Self Employment
June 1, 2021 - Present
Operating independent creative practice combining client campaign direction with educational content creation and innovation in AI-augmented creative workflows.
Senior Motion Designer & VFX Lead at NOX Studio Mufu - Creative Studio
March 1, 2019 - June 1, 2021
Led motion design and VFX for corporate campaigns, collaborating with creative directors and managing projects from concept through delivery for high-profile Polish and international brands. Produced broadcast-quality motion graphics, mentored junior designers, and contributed to establishing production pipelines and large-format event graphics.
Motion Designer, 3D Generalist & Educator at Self Employment
June 1, 2021 - Present
Independent practice combining commercial client work with educational content creation, specializing in automotive visualization and real-time workflows in Unreal Engine. Produced motion design and animation for stadium shows, conferences, and corporate clients; created broadcast graphics and title sequences; developed product marketing videos and explainer content with full production cycles; runs a YouTube channel with tutorials and instructional content; actively exploring AI-assisted production pipelines.
Motion Designer / 3D Generalist at NOX Studio Mufu - Creative Studio
March 1, 2019 - June 1, 2021
Created 2D/3D animations and visual effects for corporate productions, delivering broadcast-quality content and coordinating with clients. Produced 3D visualizations, banners, and event graphics; taught Adobe Photoshop and After Effects workshops; contributed to IKEA campaigns with design work across banners, flags, and retouching.

Education

Master’s Degree in Psychology at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, Warsaw
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2012
Master’s Degree in Psychology at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, Warsaw
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2012

Qualifications

Adobe Certified - Photoshop
January 1, 2013 - April 11, 2026
After Effects Advanced Module (IT Media)
January 1, 2019 - April 11, 2026
Unreal Engine 5 Specialized Training
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Midjourney Pro (concept visualization)
January 11, 2030 - April 11, 2026
Adobe Certified - Photoshop
January 1, 2013 - May 29, 2026
After Effects Advanced Module
January 1, 2019 - May 29, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Gaming, Software & Internet, Professional Services, Retail, Education, Manufacturing