Domestika Diary: Caroline Kjellberg

2D animator and motion designer Caroline Kjellberg talks us through her creative routine and life as a freelancer based in Bali

Being far away from home during a global pandemic is a complicated situation to find oneself in. Danish animator and motion designer Caroline Kjellberg had to lengthen her stay in Bali as a result of lockdown measures, and she’s been working from there ever since.

The multifaceted artist welcomes us into her house in Bali to talk us through her day-to-day routine working as a freelancer during unprecedented times. She also speaks about the advantages and disadvantages of working as a freelance creative, and shares advice for preventing professional exhaustion, which can set in if we don’t stick to a good routine. Discover more below:

As a freelancer, Caroline Kjellberg is used to working in solitude from different parts of the world, collaborating with international brands such as Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, Carlsberg, and Uniqlo. While she currently has to stay put in Bali, what she loves about her job is the freedom she has when it comes to approaching her work. Given that she carries out most of her animation, motion design, and illustration projects on her iPad using programs like Procreate and RoughAnimator, her life–both personal and professional–is very flexible: she can work at her desk or from her sofa, from the beach, a field, a mountain, or a coffee shop in the city.

However, being freelance also has its disadvantages. If we don’t establish a strict routine, Kjellberg explains that it’s easy to end up working into the night. The motion designer confesses that at times it has been difficult to maintain order in her professional life, and this has provoked her to experience “burnout”, as well as suffering from creative and professional exhaustion. She recommends to both freelancers and those working from home that they take care not to let their creative projects become a negative experience.

Another way to avoid a creative block, says Kjellberg, is to go out and work in the company of others, even if they aren’t working on the same project as you. Sharing a space with other creative professionals will create a nurturing environment for developing your own projects. However, if you’ve hit a wall and are struggling to clear your head, Kjellberg’s solution is to get on a scooter and ride through the colorful streets of Bali. Sometimes, to work better and fully immerse yourself in your projects, it’s important to rest.

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