Nicole Arocha

3D Animation +
Graphic Design + Interactive Media
Class of 2011
Hometown: Nederland, CO

What has been your favorite class so far and why?

My favorite class so far is one that I'm currently [Spring '09] taking, the 3D Animation Concepts class. This one is my favorite because I'm learning how to create individual and unique animations that do exactly what I want them to do. I'm not making generic animations—it's all coming from my own creativity and I get to work with my classmates to help each other create these animations.

Which Liberal Studies or Foundation Studies classes did you find the most surprising or useful?

A lot of my inspiration [actually] comes from my Liberal Studies classes. In class, when I hear about philosophical ideas, world beliefs, literature, and the views of my other classmates on these topics, I find that there is often a lot more that I would like to know, and things that I would like to create that are relevant to it as well.

What did your favorite professor do to earn your respect or admiration?

My favorite professor connects easily with her classes and does everything she can to insure that her students do the best they can. For example, I am currently working on a project that involves using an electric current, and she has offered to spend her own time to help me outside of class and over the winter break between semesters to finish the project. Though she is not a professor in my major, she has influenced me strongly and I have been motivated to move into other genres of art and experiment with many mediums.

Tell us about a favorite project you've worked on.

My favorite project so far has been a project from my Visual Design 2 course. The assignment was to make a comment on or bring attention to a current issue or event with a hand cast. What I decided to talk about with my piece is the mistreatment of mental patients in the past and present, specifically regarding the electric chair. I made a plaster cast of my hand in the shape of a claw which represented the stress and pain that a body is racked with when shocked. I then covered the hand in copper leaf, hoping that it would hold a charge strong enough to create a static shock on touch. I then burnt a box which would serve as the base for the project, the hand was then strapped with leather and bolted to the box. The next part of the project will be to find a way to create a static shock to affect the audience, and although I've encountered many obstacles with this part of my project, I am still passionate enough about it to continue working toward finishing it even after the course has ended.

How has RMCAD prepared you for what you want to do when you graduate?

What I would like to do most when I graduate is work with a large animation company, and then perhaps do some freelancing work. I also hope to be able to work in the graphic design field, perhaps working for a magazine company or designing artwork for t-shirts and such. I want to do a little bit of everything I can—there's not a specific place that I hope to be, and I think that my education at RMCAD will allow me to work in the many different areas that interest me.

How would you describe the students who attend RMCAD? How are they different or similar to students you knew in high school?

The people at RMCAD are generally very nice and accepting—it's easy to make friends, as well as to approach others. There is always some sort of student-driven activity going on where you can meet other students and learn more about the other majors offered in the school. The atmosphere is far more directed and motivational than in high school, and there is a stronger sense of connectivity with the people around you. It's a very relaxed environment where you can be productive and have fun at the same time.

What kinds of things do you do when you're not attending classes?

I enjoy snowboarding in the winter, going out to coffee with friends and wandering antique shops. I go to school events and trips like Estes Park and check out the little art galleries in Golden and Denver. I like to visit the botanical gardens in the summer and go to theme parks. There's things to do all around the year.

Was there a moment when RMCAD changed from "a school" to "my school" for you?

It wasn't long after I started classes that I began to feel comfortable in RMCAD's environment—I quickly made friends and jumped into my class work.

What would you want a prospective student to know about RMCAD?

It's a great school with well-informed instructors and nice people.