At ShipperHQ, we believe great design doesn’t just live in the checkout, it lives in the minds of the next generation of creators. That’s why my fellow designer Louis and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the talented animation students at Lake Travis High School for a special creative collaboration!

The Challenge

Their project was to bring the ShipperHQ logo to life through a customized bumper animation. However, this was more than just a school project, but ultimately their chance to work on a real-world design request and gain experience. Additionally, they also had to understand their client, ShipperHQ as a whole, and what we do as a company.

I think the most challenging part of the project was adjusting my animation to fit the client’s goals! I had to figure out how to adjust the animation to specifically show the online checkout experience. It was fun to figure that out!

Evan Mallows, Lake Travis High Student

Each student was challenged to think like a professional: create a design from sketch to final, interpret a brand identity, communicate their creative direction, and collaborate with actual stakeholders (us!) throughout the process.

Let the Creativity Begin!

Finally, once they’ve developed their initial concepts on paper, students reached out to us via email to share their designs through a presentation slideshow. They presented their best animation ideas through storyboards and sketches, showing each frame in progression.

And just like in a real client-designer fashion, we reviewed their work, provided feedback, and engaged in a back-and-forth dialogue to help refine their ideas. The students did a great job developing their communication skills and demonstrating their adaptability to the client’s needs. Such skills are just as important as technical talent in a creative based career. We lovingly call that “building a thick skin!”

I think my favorite but most challenging part of the project was receiving the feedback and implementing it into my animation. It allowed me to think in different ways and allowed me to expand my animation with it inspired by others.

Zachery Martin, Lake Travis High Student

The Final Presentation

As the project wrapped up, there was one final step. Louis and I had the opportunity to visit their classroom in person. While there, we finally were able to meet the person behind the creativity, and we reviewed their final animations as a class.

Afterwards, we interviewed them about their creative process. Each student walked us through the complex design programs they used and we got a deeper look into how detailed and technical these animations truly were. From dynamic transitions, to clever use of motion and brand elements, each project reflected genuine creativity, problem-solving, and a thoughtful approach to storytelling.

I have always used very mechanical and robotic models… I pair this with very stark & contrasting lighting to make color within the scene without making a new texture. I knew that I wanted to make something that had my style.

Adrien Jung, Lake Travis High Student

We wrapped up the visit with a quick presentation on what it’s like working in the creative field as a designer here at ShipperHQ! Afterwards, we rewarded the students with some well-deserved ShipperHQ swag—just a small token of appreciation for the hard work and professionalism these students showed.

Reflection and Gratitude

It was incredibly inspiring to see such drive and talent from a young group of creatives. Collaborating with them gave us a glimpse into the future of design, and it sure looks bright! With endless possibilities, there is much to consider when entering the arts and design career. We hope to see their skills and abilities put to use and out in the wild some day.

I will likely pursue the gaming, movie or graphic design industry with these skills, and I am excited to develop my skills and portfolio with work like this!

Lloyd Baker, Lake Travis High Student

We’re excited to showcase their animations soon on our social channels. So please keep an eye out for the incredible work these students have created! Thank you to the students at Lake Travis High School: Lloyd Baker, Adrien Jung, Evan Mallows, Zachery Martin, Abby Soliday, Austin Stephens and their teacher, Mr. Kenneth Fulton.