Based in Singapore, Alex Safavinia has transformed his passion for creative multimedia into a thriving career as the CEO and Creative Director of Kasra Design®. Known for their innovative approach, Alex has built Kasra Design® into a globally recognized animation company, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies and pushing the boundaries of animation. Guided by a philosophy of maintaining smaller teams for better collaboration and higher quality results, Alex ensures Kasra Design® delivers exceptional work. By integrating AI for concept development and 3D production, Alex continues to lead the industry toward greater efficiency and creativity.
Company: Kasra Design®
It’s a pleasure to have you with us for this exclusive ValiantCEO interview! To begin, could you introduce yourself and share a bit about your company, Kasra Design®?
My name is Alex Safavinia, and I’m the CEO and Creative Director at Kasra Design®. My journey into animation started in 2009, after completing my studies in creative media. At that time, there was a significant increase in demand for animated videos because of the rise of YouTube, Vimeo, and explainer videos in general. So, I saw the need for high-quality animation services and founded Kasra Design® to cater to these companies. Over the years, we’ve expanded our reach by partnering with Fortune 500 companies and opening a second office in Singapore.
What were the initial challenges you faced while building Kasra Design®, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges in the animated video production sector is finding the right talent. It’s like searching for a rare gem in a sea of rocks. The animation industry constantly needs skilled artists who can bring creativity and technical knowledge to the table. Unfortunately, not everyone possesses the combination of talent and skill that is needed for our kind of business. To address this, we had to invest a significant amount of time and resources into training and mentoring fresh graduates, and it has been a constant challenge since the start.
Kasra Design® is now a globally recognized brand. What do you consider the key milestones in this journey?
There were several milestones, I believe. Starting partnerships with Fortune 500 companies was a significant achievement, followed by showcasing our capability to deliver high-quality animation services to these organizations. Then, we expanded our operations to Singapore, which allowed us to tap into new markets and improve our reputation both online and offline.
The animation industry is evolving rapidly. How do you see technology, particularly AI, reshaping this landscape?
There is no doubt that AI is going to revolutionize the animation industry by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing efficiency. Tools like Sora enable users to generate videos by simply describing a scene in text, which simplifies the content creation pipeline. However, while AI can handle certain aspects of production, the unique perspectives and creative input of human animators remain paramount. I think the future of AI depends on whether it will form a harmonious collaboration between human creativity and AI capabilities. At its current form, it is very experimental and time-consuming to get consistent results.
With tools like Sora, MidJourney, and Stable Diffusion making waves, how has Kasra Design® integrated AI into its workflows?
We currently use AI generation tools in our pipeline, especially in the pre-production phase. Tools such as MidJourney and Stable Diffusion play a pivotal role in developing concepts and mood boards for our clients, which improve the approval process significantly. The tasks that used to take 1-2 weeks can now be accomplished in a matter of days, if not hours. Moreover, these AI tools have improved the overall quality of our mood boards.
What impact has AI had on client demands and expectations for animated content?
So far, we haven’t seen any extra demand due to the presence of AI. Our clients are generally looking for custom, flawless animated videos that require full human involvement. When it comes to tasks like pre-production, subtitling, and video editing for social media, we can see the use of AI helps us meet client deadlines sooner than before. It also helps us lower costs for our clients, which is a win-win for both parties.
What do you believe sets Kasra Design® apart in a competitive and dynamic market?
Our commitment to blending high-quality creativity with technological innovation is our key advantage. We put extra effort into creating premium final products that go beyond our clients’ expectations. Besides that, we make the process smooth and ensure we are offering top-notch service from start to finish. This strategy has resulted in nearly a 70% returning client ratio for the company. Our goal is to form long-term relationships, even if it requires us to go the extra mile.
As a leader in the animation industry, how do you balance creativity with AI technology efficiency?
I try to create a balance between creativity and efficiency. We use AI to automate repetitive tasks, allowing our team to focus on the creative aspects of projects. This balanced collaboration between the human mind and AI technology definitely helps us produce innovative and high-quality content faster and better. It is never a good idea to replace the creative workforce with AI completely. At the end of the day, AI is a tool to help, not a source of creativity. It creates things that have been fed to it. To have an edge as a creative team, we need to think beyond AI capabilities.
Copyright and ethical concerns about AI-generated content are growing. How do you address these challenges at Kasra Design®?
Our use of AI is quite limited at the moment, and as mentioned earlier, it is only used for repetitive tasks and pre-production. No AI-generated content is used without human enhancement and alteration. Our internal quality control ensures that everything our team creates is original. To avoid any copyright and ethical concerns, we keep our clients in the loop and make sure they are involved in every step of the process until the final animated video is ready.
What leadership principles have guided you in scaling Kasra Design®, and what advice would you offer to others building creative agencies?
Embracing innovation, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and maintaining a client-centric approach have been key leadership principles. For those building creative agencies, I advise staying adaptable and investing in talent development. Also, leverage current and upcoming technologies to improve, not replace, human creativity.
Many animators fear AI might replace traditional jobs. What advice would you give to aspiring animators to stay relevant?
It’s too early to see AI as a threat at this point. I suggest learning about AI and embracing every opportunity to explore any AI platforms you can get your hands on. While AI may automate aspects of animation tasks, remember that it still relies on an artist’s creative vision to create masterpieces. Therefore, I’d suggest staying curious, adapting to emerging technologies, and continuously honing your abilities. It will certainly benefit you in the long term.
Storytelling has always been central to animation. How do you ensure that it remains authentic in an AI-driven environment?
While AI can help in the technical aspects of animation, the roots of storytelling come from human experience and creativity. We ensure authenticity by having our creative team lead the narrative development, using AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement. This approach helps us maintain the integrity and emotional depth of our stories.
