USA, EU, UK // Paola Rocchetti is the Co-Founder and Creative Partner at Void N’ Disorder and an AI Director represented by GRAiL. She is an award-winning Creative Director, Art Director, and Motion Designer with extensive experience in branding, video production, motion design, and AI-driven content for music, film, broadcast, and live events in the various forms, such as music videos, promos, social campaigns, and video installations.

Recognized as an industry expert, Paola has served as a jury member for the Clio, D&AD, Collision, and Telly Awards, spoken at major events such as Digital Design Days Milan, and been featured in Motionographer, Forbes, SHOWstudio, and Computer Arts.

She is also part of multiple Creative Partner Programs, collaborating with Runway, Luma, Freepik, Kling, Higgsfield, Pika, BytePlus, and Topaz Labs.

How many years have you been a judge?

5+ years

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

First look at new work.

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

Oh my, that was a long time ago. I was designing characters for a graphic design studio in London as part of their visual identity. I also designed logos. Both experiences taught me how to simplify concepts to make ideas stronger.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

Personal projects, where I’ve been able to express myself freely without the constraints that often come with client work. Clients tend to prefer safer routes, but I find those creatively limiting and, honestly, a bit boring. In personal projects, when you achieve something, it’s truly earned because budgets are small, resources are limited, and you really get to flex your creative muscle.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

That’s an ever-changing challenge. Right now, it’s keeping up with rapidly evolving technology and finding people who truly understand the industry, with the skills and awareness of how video production and the creative process actually work.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

I look for originality, clear storytelling, and strong execution.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I wear many hats, but my strength is creativity. What I love most is turning ideas into something tangible, whether it’s a costume, a visual style, a layout, or a moving image.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

As I dive deeper into integrating AI with traditional workflows, I’m placing even more focus on quality, storytelling, originality, and emotion. It might sound unusual to mention all these elements alongside AI, but I believe that when these tools are in the hands of truly creative people, they can hugely amplify the opportunity for original stories and outcomes.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

Not really, it’s more of a natural mindset. Over the years I’ve realized that some things come to me instinctively, and I tend to gravitate toward certain aesthetics, designs, and cultural references. I also have a natural inclination for curiosity and observation, especially when it comes to details. I like exploring unknown territories and finding unusual uses for ideas, layouts, and designs. So if I had to name a practice, it would be observation and creative analysis.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

Curiosity! My drive to explore and try new things naturally led me to use creative tools to express ideas visually. Over time that curiosity evolved into a career where I balance personal experimentation with commercial projects, always intrigued by what’s new.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

The biggest change right now is the integration of AI across every stage of production. It’s reshaping how ideas are developed, produced, and delivered. My advice is to stay curious and adaptable, but never lose your creative identity. Tools will keep evolving, but your point of view is what gives the work meaning.