Hi, I’m Soile, a freelance 2D Motion Designer and Illustrator. I bring emotion to motion by transforming ideas into visuals that connect on a deeper level and help brands communicate in fresh, memorable ways. With nearly two decades of experience crafting visually engaging designs, including many years designing shoes and accessories for global audiences at H&M, I’ve developed a strong eye for colour, detail, and brand-focused storytelling. I combine thoughtful design with creativity that connects emotionally. Whether it’s an explainer video, a playful character animation, or a full visual story, I help bring ideas to life with clarity, warmth, and personality.…

Soile Aho

Hi, I’m Soile, a freelance 2D Motion Designer and Illustrator. I bring emotion to motion by transforming ideas into visuals that connect on a deeper level and help brands communicate in fresh, memorable ways. With nearly two decades of experience crafting visually engaging designs, including many years designing shoes and accessories for global audiences at H&M, I’ve developed a strong eye for colour, detail, and brand-focused storytelling. I combine thoughtful design with creativity that connects emotionally. Whether it’s an explainer video, a playful character animation, or a full visual story, I help bring ideas to life with clarity, warmth, and personality.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Soile, a freelance 2D Motion Designer and Illustrator.

I bring emotion to motion by transforming ideas into visuals that connect on a deeper level and help brands communicate in fresh, memorable ways.

With nearly two decades of experience crafting visually engaging designs, including many years designing shoes and accessories for global audiences at H&M, I’ve developed a strong eye for colour, detail, and brand-focused storytelling.

I combine thoughtful design with creativity that connects emotionally. Whether it’s an explainer video, a playful character animation, or a full visual story, I help bring ideas to life with clarity, warmth, and personality.

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Language

English
Advanced
Swedish
Advanced
Finnish
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance 2D Motion Designer & Illustrator at Soile Aho Design
September 15, 2025 - Present
Bringing emotion to motion through 2D animation, illustration, and storytelling. I help brands and organizations create visually engaging stories full of warmth, color, and personality. From explainer videos and character design to playful product and print concepts.
Motion Design Intern at Skillground
February 3, 2025 - June 20, 2025
Crafting engaging 2D explainer videos in After Effects with a focus on visual storytelling and character animation. Initiated and delivered the design of kids’ characters based on adult Skillground characters, resulting in a broader range of client material. Contributing to ProCourse educational material, writing scripts, illustrating, editing, adding subtitles for accessibility, and collaborating on a variety of client projects to deliver clear, informative and visually engaging solutions.
Senior Product Designer for Childrens Bags and Accessories at H&M
August 1, 2023 - August 2, 2024
Led the creative vision for kids’ accessories, combining a keen eye for detail with a strong focus on fashion, print (including license print), elevated products and customer needs. Applied brand-driven design principles to ensure consistency and storytelling across collections. Developed coordinated collections including children’s bags, backpacks, headwear, knitted accessories, and gloves, creating key products that complement apparel. Mentored and guided the Design Assistant to support the team’s growth and success.
Senior Product Designer for Kids Sneakers and Function Shoes at H&M
June 3, 2019 - August 31, 2023
Led product creation for kids’ sneakers and functional shoes for customers ranging from babies to early teens, both girls and boys, balancing aesthetic appeal and practicality. Coordinated and secured seasonal key colors, materials, and components with a strong focus on sustainability. Analyzed global trends and sales data to meet customer needs. Led and mentored a junior designer while coordinating global cross-functional teams to ensure smooth collaboration and successful product delivery.
Design Consultant / Design Support at H&M
September 3, 2018 - May 31, 2019
Consulting/Supporting Designer for various types of products; Bags, belts, knit and woven accessories, jackets and trousers for a young, trend-led customer.
Concept Designer for Footwear and Accessories at H&M
September 1, 2014 - December 30, 2016
Responsible for setting the seasonal vision including key colors, materials and components for a young trend-led womenswear consumer in Divided concept. Leading a design and buying team of 20 to deliver a outstanding trend-led collection every season. Developed visual presentations and creative direction that aligned accessories closely with clothing trends and storytelling, ensuring cohesive collections and commercially successful outcomes in line with H&M’s business goals.
Product Designer for Footwear at H&M
June 1, 2011 - September 30, 2014
Created best selling women’s shoe collections for Divided customer. Paying attention to detail, colour, material selection, and consumer trends, which sharpened the ability to understand the emotional connection between products and their audience.
Product Designer for Jewellery and Eyewear at H&M
November 3, 2008 - May 31, 2011
Progressed from Design Assistant in Men’s Accessories to Divided Girls’ Accessories, after that promoted to Product Designer for Girls’ Jewellery and Eyewear.
Product and Print Designer for Accessories and Underwear at Seppälä Oy
September 1, 2006 - October 31, 2008
Finnish fashion retail company that operated from 1930 until its closure in 2017. Designed and delivered commercially successful collections; bags and accessories for women, underwear / bags / accessories for men, swimwear for boys and packaging for jewellery. Produced moodboards, artworks and flat sketches to support production and sampling. Redefined customer profiles and visual boards to better align with brand identity and market shifts. Worked in close collaboration with Visual, Graphics, and Marketing departments, as well as Buyers.

Education

Higher Vocational Education in Motion Creative at Hyper Island, Stockholm
August 5, 2024 - June 13, 2025
Focus on: Motion Design, Animation, Visual storytelling, Team work.
Designer BA at Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design, Finland.
September 3, 2001 - May 31, 2007
First year focused on general design principles, then Fashion Design as a major
Upper Secondary School Diploma / Matriculation Examination at Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts, Finland.
May 4, 1998 - May 31, 2001
Course in Psychology at Stockholm University, Sweden
January 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017
Designer BA at Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design, Finland
September 1, 2001 - May 31, 2007
Design exchange at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University, Australia
February 1, 2004 - November 30, 2004
Upper Secondary School Diploma / Matriculation Examination at Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts, Finland
May 1, 1998 - May 31, 2001
Course in Illustration at Berghs School of Communication, Sweden
February 1, 2019 - June 30, 2019

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Non-Profit Organization, Education, Media & Entertainment, Retail, Consumer Goods, Other