Marshall Kennedy - BSc (Hons) Digital Media

A 21-year-old from Aberdeen with a passion for all things animation has graduates from Robert Gordon University with first class honours in Digital Media.

Marshall Kennedy crossed the stage at P&J Live (TECA) in Aberdeen to accept his BSc (Hons) Digital Media in front of family, friends, and fellow graduates.

The former Hazlehead Academy pupil is already finding success as a freelance 3D artist following the completion of his honours project which was an animated short film heavily inspired by Spider-Man.

Marshall said: “When I joined the course, I quickly realised I would get to do the things I wanted like 3D modelling and animation alongside other useful skill sets in design that could let me experiment and see if there were other career options, I’d like to explore like game development or app design.

“I’m proud of what I achieved at RGU, even in modules where my interests or knowledge didn’t particularly align I still did very well and really enjoyed my time in modules like 3D character animation, 3D modelling, and dynamic media development as I felt there was a lot of creative freedom and wish there were more modules like these.”

Marshall is embarking on a career as a freelance 3D artist and has undertaken some work with an American social media star. He is the second member of his family to graduate from RGU and follows in the footsteps of his mother who completed a nursing degree.

He found the Degree Show in May 2024 a positive experience as he got to meet people and discuss his project with them in person.

Marshall added: “I found the honours project and everything encompassing it to be enjoyable and challenging in a good way, I felt like I was really thinking in a professional mindset throughout the project that is really helping to set me up for when I go into the industry. The degree show was also very entertaining, I loved just getting to talk and explain my project to people, I was happy to see so many people interested in it.

“I am currently working as a freelance 3D artist, one of my current clients is US-based YouTuber ‘GodzillaMendoza’ who I have done 3D renders and character rigging for and am now doing 3D models, storyboarding and animation for an upcoming project.”