Katelyn is sophomore at RIT. She’s a talented artist and game designer—maybe you’ve heard of her team’s cat-simulator dating game? With Oliver, the cat who is “educated, yet mysterious” looking for the purrrrrr-fect match? Katelyn designed art and animation within the game, as well as all of the music and sound effects.

Urban Arts showed Katelyn what a future in creative tech could look like. “College advising classes with Urban Arts opened my eyes to adult-world decisions.” We also matched her with a strong mentor from Take-Two Interactive, who shared real-world work advice and direction. “Growing up, the adults warned me about the dangers of becoming a starving artist. It made me think my passion would never lead to a career. I’ve always been drawn to technology. I’m fascinated by time-based media like game design, film, animation, and music. I realized that the intersection of art and technology defined what it means for me to be creative. Just this year I discovered how linear algebra can help create computerized animations on screen!”

Her mentorship with Dreamworks Animation Television was another great fit for this animation major. “It was a great opportunity to get an inside look into how animated ideas are pitched. It was also great to connect with someone who not only could help me in terms of professional advice but also be someone who supports me through my growth as a young artist. Showing me the value of a network and building relationships was critical.”