Meet: Nicole Baroudi
- Written byGiada Maestra
- Published date 21 August 2025
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Today we hear from CSM Graphic Communication Design graduate and production designer Nicole Baroudi. Based between Los Angeles and London, she primarily works on independent movies and has designed more than 15 short films to date. In addition, she brings extensive experience as a graphic designer for film, having contributed to over twenty projects, including five feature films.
Hi Nicole! Tell us about your experience studying at CSM!
My time on the UAL course was truly eye-opening and laid a strong foundation for my career in the arts. What I valued most about the CSM Graphic Communication Design programme, was its openness - it encouraged experimentation and exploration across the full spectrum of the field. We had the opportunity to work with an incredible range of media, techniques, and disciplines from illustration, film, and animation to branding and computing. It was an environment that fostered curiosity, creativity, and passion, and gave us the freedom to pursue whatever inspired us most. This is when I started blending my two loves of film and design, researching further into the prospects of combining my two passions and what that would mean for a career path.
What are your most fond memories of your time at college?
I thoroughly enjoyed making use of the facilities - from the printing workshops to the labs and learning within such an international community. It was incredibly inspiring to be exposed to a wide range of hands-on techniques through the ideation-centred curriculum we followed, as well as being surrounded by diverse cultures, beliefs, and values. Located in Central London, the university’s bustle was always so energising and really motivated me to create.
What did you do after graduation?
While at CSM, I had already mapped out my next steps. After graduating - and once COVID restrictions had mostly cleared - I relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an MFA in Production Design at the American Film Institute. Over the course of an intensive two-year programme, I immersed myself in all aspects of filmmaking, combining theoretical and technical studies with extensive hands-on production experience. It was an incredibly rewarding time of training and studying such a dynamic field, fostering wonderful connections within a community and propelling my career forward.
Have you always been interested in the film industry? Do you remember how it all started?
I sometimes feel like a bit of an outlier because, unlike many people, I don’t have a single defining moment or mentor who inspired me to pursue filmmaking. What I do have is a lifelong love of both movies and art and design. As a child, I could rewatch a favourite film fifty times and still notice new details or appreciate different aspects with each viewing.
At university, I found myself retreating into film again, watching countless movies and experiencing a renewed love for the medium. During this time, I realised how exciting it could be to work on films and began exploring how my design skills could be applied to the industry. That curiosity led me to discover the role of the production designer, and I knew I had found my calling. I reached out to industry professionals for advice, researched the top programmes for mastering the craft, and mapped out my next steps toward a career in production design.
Where are you based now, and what are you currently working on?
I am currently based between Los Angeles and Europe, with a strong interest in continuing to work across both the US and the UK, where there is such a vibrant and renowned film industry. I work primarily as a production designer for independent films, having designed more than 15 short films to date, and hoping to soon start designing features. My MFA thesis film, YOU & ME (& CHAZ & RODNEY) is currently on its festival circuit, including selection at the Oscar-qualifying San Jose International Film Festival.
In addition to production design, I have extensive experience as a graphic designer for film, having contributed to more than twenty films, including five feature films. I recently joined the Art Directors Guild in Los Angeles as a graphic designer, which now allows me to work on major studio productions. My next step is to connect with those studios and continue expanding my work into larger-scale projects.
Is there anything you’d like to say to future graduates interested in the same field?
Say yes to every project that comes your way. You never know which project will do wonders for your career and your growth. Embrace as many experiences as possible while maintaining a healthy balance and caring for your well-being. Treat every project - no matter the scale - as an opportunity to learn. Above all, be a good person. Film is an inherently collaborative medium. It is as much about the people as it is about the craft. Build genuine relationships - people will want to work with you (and continue working with you) if you are someone they enjoy being around. Kindness and friendliness will carry you so far in this industry.
