Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Parrish.
Hi Chelsea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a professional Motion Designer and Graphic Artist, working full-time as a freelancer in Los Angeles under the name Digital Dreamer Studios. I specialize in collaborating with purpose-driven brands, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses. I believe motion design is a powerful tool for storytelling—able to simplify complex ideas through visual communication—and my mission is to bring those ideas to life through thoughtful animation.
June 2025 marks my 10th year as a motion designer, and I’m proud to say I still feel confident that I’m on the right path. After graduating from Emerson College, I began my career in New York as a stage manager and events coordinator. That stretch of my career taught me how to lead, collaborate, and stay calm under pressure—skills I still draw on today. While I enjoyed the organizational side of that work, I’ve always been a designer at heart. After about three years in theater, I began refocusing my career towards motion design. One of my first roles was as a junior designer at Nickelodeon’s New York office, where I learned how to bring creative ideas to life in a fast-paced, professional setting.
After nearly a decade in New York and a few career shifts, I made a big move to California in the fall of 2020 —an experience that has reignited my creativity and expanded my perspective. I’ve held full-time roles as a designer, but freelancing has ultimately proven to be more sustainable and fulfilling for my everyday life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It never is when you’re an artist. The biggest challenge for me as a freelancer has been the inconsistent income. One month I might be juggling four projects, and the next I’ll have just one—that’s simply the nature of the work. What’s kept me grounded is always having a part-time job that reliably covers the rent, giving me the freedom to do more outreach as I have time.
Over the past few years, I’ve worked as a third-wave barista—a role that keeps me physically active, connects me with interesting people, and reminds me that service is valuable, even if it’s just making someone’s morning coffee. I’ve also worked as an event coordinator and executive assistant, because I genuinely enjoy helping others and I’m naturally organized. Give me a checklist and a deadline, and I’m in my element.
Another ongoing challenge is keeping up with technology and trends. With new software, tools, and innovations constantly emerging, it can feel overwhelming to try to learn everything. But I always remind people that your greatest tool is your imagination. Keep drawing, keep creating your own art—and yes, keep watching YouTube tutorials and experimenting with new effects and plugins along the way. One tool I’ve come to love is Procreate. It strikes the perfect balance between traditional drawing and digital design, and has become a go-to in my creative process.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m primarily a 2D Motion Designer, though creative direction, graphic design, and editing often come with the territory. I like to describe myself as a one-stop shop—you can hire me for every step of the process, from concept development and graphic design to animation, editing, and final delivery. The only elements I typically outsource are voiceover, sound design, and music.
My design style often centers around bold typography and vibrant color palettes. But more than anything, I prioritize the client’s vision. While I bring my own creativity and perspective to each project, my main goal is to help the client communicate their message effectively. That’s why I invest so much time in the concept phase. I always begin with a conversation—just listening. From there, I build mood boards, storyboards, and style frames to help visualize what’s in their head. We go back and forth until I feel that we’ve landed on a direction that feels right. Only then do I jump into After Effects and start bringing it all to life.
I’ve had the chance to work with major brands and networks like Nickelodeon, Netflix, Apple TV+, Marvel, and Amazon. But honestly, I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built with lesser-known clients—especially nonprofits and small businesses. Those projects might come with smaller budgets, but the people behind them are often some of the most passionate, talented, and purpose-driven individuals I’ve worked with.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I offer a free one-hour consultation to anyone interested in discussing a project. Whether it’s over the phone, on a video call, or in person over coffee, I like to start by talking big-picture. Tell me about your business, your goals, your ideas—everything. From there, I’ll help you work backward to find the best way to bring it all to life through motion design and visuals.
You can see my work at www.chelseaparrish.com and you can reach me at [email protected].
If you’d like to support my personal creative work, my latest project is Word Portraits—custom artwork where I take a photo of a person, couple, family, or even a pet, and create a piece that reflects who they are on the inside, not just what they look like on the outside. Each one is made to order, and I’m currently accepting commissions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chelseaparrish.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cparrishinmotion
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseamparrish
Image Credits
The two main headshot photos of me are taken by the amazing Marty Morris.
https://www.instagram.com/mpm_photo
https://www.mpmphotography.com/
