Today we’d like to introduce you to Fatima Sultan.
Hi Fatima , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
One of my friends once told me I embody the phrase, “small town girl, big city dreams.” I’ve always held onto that, it feels like the perfect way to describe where I started and where I’m going.
My name is Fatima Sultan, and I grew up on the tiny island of Bahrain before moving to the United States for university. From a young age, I felt drawn to the idea of studying abroad. I was always inspired by the stories my older brothers and cousins told about their experiences in the USA and UK. Those stories stuck with me, they made the world feel so much bigger. I had all these ambitions, and little me wanted to see if I could actually do it, live alone and study far from home. I thought, “If I can make it on my own in another country, then I can do anything.”
In my final year of high school, I began preparing my documents for art schools abroad. Eventually, I landed in another small town—Savannah—where I decided to pursue my studies at SCAD.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My first year came with its challenges. Adapting to a new culture and environment was difficult, but things started to shift once I became more involved in the student community. I joined a professional motion design student organization and spent three years as part of its team, helping organize the largest student-led motion design conference in the world, CoMotion. It was through this experience that I gained practical skills in leadership, public speaking, time management, and teamwork—skills that I know I’ll carry with me beyond college.
My junior year was probably my busiest. I was involved in two clubs—the advertising and motion design clubs—and also worked as a writing tutor. Balancing classes, extracurricular activities, and spending time with friends was a challenge. But that year taught me patience and self-discipline. It was tough, but I wouldn’t change it.
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?
Though I’ve shared a lot about my time outside of class, I’m deeply passionate about my field of study. I recently graduated with a BFA in Motion Design—something I didn’t even know existed before college! Motion Design is the art of bringing static visuals to life through movement. It combines graphic design, animation, and elements of film production. I’ve always gravitated toward the pre-production process—concept development, research, and visual design—but one of the things I love most about this field is how it lets you touch every part of a project, from start to finish. That freedom helped me discover what I truly enjoy.
When I first started, I had no background in design and had never animated anything before. So it was a huge personal milestone when one of my projects was recently nominated for the CoMotion student showcase in the title sequence category. I’m proud of how far I’ve come!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is sitting in the backseat of the car while my dad blew bubbles with his chewing gum. I remember trying so hard to do the same, but I kept running out of breath. At one point, he told me I wouldn’t be able to do it until I was older—that it was impossible for a kid to do it. I didn’t believe him, and I wanted to prove him wrong. I spent the whole day practicing until I finally figured it out. I still remember running up to him with the biggest grin on my face, proud to show him I had done it.. It was a small win, but looking back, it reminds me that I’ve always had a stubborn kind of determination—once I decide I’m going to do something, I won’t give up that easily.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fatimartspace.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatimartspace/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatima-sultann/
