Applying the skills she gained inside the Academy of Art University classroom and on the ART U Volleyball court, Kanoe Irvine is now serving up designs and animations in her summer internship for the NFL Network.
 
After a junior year as the Urban Knights' starting libero and digs leader all while studying in the School of Graphic Design, Irvine finds herself with the unique chance to work down in Culver City, CA where the NFL Network films programs such as Total Access, NFL AM, the most recent Top 100, NFL RedZone, and many others.

"The first day, we walked into the studios and it was absolutely breathtaking," Irvine said. "It just so happens that when we walked on the set for NFL Total Access, the San Francisco 49ers were up on the movie wall! It was a sign! And sitting at my desk the first day were two iMac's and a Windows desktop just for emails. It was a design student's dream."

In preparation for the upcoming NFL season which officially begins this September, Irvine has been working on the designs for the TeamCam Backdrops, backgrounds that millions of viewers will see as players and coaches are interviewed after/before games. She also contributed with putting together the wordmarks, or logo type, for 80's, 90's, and 00's weeks in June's Decades Month.

 

"I was thrilled for Kanoe when she told us about her opportunity to work with the NFL," head coach Ed Jackson said. "Our university does a fantastic job of developing our student's talents in their respective fields. Over the past two seasons, Kanoe has blossomed into a great role model for our young athletes. Her efforts to be humble and seek growth are paying great dividends for her and allowed this amazing opportunity. I am so proud her and grateful she wanted to be a part of our program."In addition to her graphic design work, Irvine has expanded her skillset with responsibilities that entail designing monitor loops and slates in Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D for NFL RedZone as well as an in-house document specifically for the NFL Network graphics department. 

"Even though I self-taught myself through this, I am learning that with each project I face, Academy of Art gave me the foundation I needed for this position," Irvine said. "Being a designer things are always changing in our industry so we need to be adaptable and constantly learning. My teachers have definitely stressed that throughout my years at Academy of Art. Being an artist-athlete, I feel I have an even bigger step up. I am working with all kinds of people such as art directors/producers from different NFL Network shows and getting everything done on the deadline."

Smoothly adapting to the challenges of working in a professional environment, Irvine knows her experience at Academy of Art has prepared her for this crucial stepping stone to a bright career. For those Urban Knights newly embarking on their journey into the industry, she advises to always keep an open mind and save as many opportunities as possible, much like a libero would.

"As a freshman, I never pictured I would be where I am at in this moment," Irvine said. "I started my freshman year thinking I wanted to do something totally different than what I now want to do. In saying that, my advice would be to never sell yourself short. Anything you can get your hands on, with your major, do it! Don't put yourself on a short leash. Starting your first semester at Academy of Art University, don't take it for granted, and don't doubt where you would be in four years. Never doing 3-D animation, I am seriously thinking about going into network graphics as a career, now that I had this experience."