Brianna Grant stand in-front of an Elio movie poster

Emerging from uncertainty, Brianna has forged a groundbreaking career shaping the visual identity of major entertainment and cultural brands.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — When Brianna Grant transferred to Florida A&M University in 2019, her future was anything but certain. A proud Orlando native and recent Valencia College graduate, she initially planned to pursue a career in health care administration — until a quiet moment during a work-study shift changed everything.

“I was just sketching LeBron James when someone told me, ‘You don’t belong here — you should be an artist,’” Grant recalled. “That moment stuck with me.”

It sparked a bold pivot. She switched her major to graphic design and enrolled in FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, graduating in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was robbed of my last homecoming,” she said with a smile. “But the challenges brought me closer to my classmates. Zoom classrooms taught me how to adapt, and in a strange way, it pushed me forward.”

FAMU wasn’t her first choice — she had been accepted to UF, UCF and FSU — but none of those schools felt like home. At orientation, something felt off.

“There weren’t many people who looked like me in my program,” she said. “I didn’t feel as comfortable as I thought I would.”

Then she visited FAMU.

“It was nice seeing people who looked like me in my major,” she said. “I felt welcomed. I felt seen. With my mom, brother and aunts all being alumni, I knew this was where I belonged. So, I made it official.”

That sense of belonging set the foundation for a journey that would take her from health care administration to graphic design — and ultimately, to Hollywood.

Brianna receives special recognition at the game.

Big cheers for Brianna as she’s recognized during the game! (Photo courtesy of Brianna Grant)

From Classroom to Creative Giant

After earning her associate degree from Valencia College, Grant’s decision to pursue graphic design at FAMU was the first step on a path few could have predicted.

Her postgraduate breakthrough came when she was accepted into the prestigious HBCU in LA internship program, which led to an opportunity with Pixar Animation Studios. She joined the early development team for Pixar’s original film “Elio,” released in summer 2025.

Brianna Grant creation for the alien languageBrianna Grant’s concept comes to life as the official alien language featured in Pixar’s upcoming film Elio. (Photo courtesy of Brianna Grant)

“At Pixar, I helped create the alien language used in ‘Elio,’” Grant explained. “It was one of the most challenging projects I’ve ever worked on. I had to think about color waves, light and visual abstraction to make something otherworldly but believable.”

Seeing her name in the credits and watching her work come alive on the big screen was overwhelming.

“To see my name on that film and know I helped bring it to life — it was surreal,” she said. “I grew up watching Pixar movies. Being part of an original Pixar film made all the doubts and detours worth it.”

The film’s themes struck a personal chord.

The alien language created by Brianna GrantFrom sketches to the big screen. Brianna Grant’s concept was brought to life as the alien language in Pixar’s Elio. (Photo courtesy of Brianna Grant)

“’Elio’ is about a boy navigating grief, feeling misunderstood and finding belonging,” she said. “It’s about community, family and overcoming hard times with the support of loved ones. That message really resonated with me.”

While working on Elio was a dream come true, Grant said it also tested her in new ways.

“Learning to accept constructive feedback and simplify my process was tough but necessary,” she said. “Everyone’s goal was the same — to make the best project possible. It taught me a lot about collaboration and resilience.”

Expanding Her Creative Footprint

Grant’s creativity extends beyond animation. She was selected for the Beats Black Creators Program, where she designed custom Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones inspired by HBCU culture and her own memories at FAMU. Although the headphones were distributed exclusively to Apple Podcasts creators, the designs earned more than 94,000 views online.

Brianna Grant poses with the finish product.Brianna Grant brings her vision to life in partnership with Beats—proving that bold ideas can make big impact. (Photo courtesy of Brianna Grant)

She also designed campaign artwork for the NBA G League’s Greensboro Swarm HBCU Night.

“That project was special,” she said. “I got to bring my mom and watch it all unfold live. It was a proud moment.”

Currently, Grant balances teaching Adobe software and illustration at Valencia College with freelance projects blending fashion, sports and culture — all while staying connected to her roots.

Picture of headphone design done by Brainna GrantFAMU Made!  Alumna Brianna Grant shows off her exclusive Beats design, blending culture, art, and sound.(Photo courtesy of Brianna Grant)

Roots, Mentors and Advice

Grant credits her success to the foundation she built at FAMU and the mentorship of Associate Professor like Anosh Gill and Instructor Alicia E. Hope.

“Professor Hope taught us the fundamentals of program software and graphic design — and how to ‘secure the bag,’” she said. “Professor Gill pushed us with tight turnarounds. I used to feel overwhelmed, but now I see it was real-world preparation.”

Hat design by Brianna GrantRooted in culture, crafted with vision — this hat was designed through the creative lens of Brianna Grant. (Photo courtesy of Brianna Grant)

For students chasing creative dreams, Grant offers this advice:

“Post your content. You never know who’s watching. Every room you walk into, you belong there. Don’t wait for perfect — create it first. Make it exist, then make it beautiful.”

Grant’s journey shows that sometimes, a detour is the true path. From Orlando to FAMU, from doodles to Pixar, her story is just beginning — and it’s already making waves.

Brianna Grant design on the big screen at a gameHat designed by Brianna Grant, FAMU alumna, Class of 2021. (Photo courtesy of Brianna Grant)

Media Contact:

Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist 
ashley1.flete@famu.edu 

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