Margaret To is a designer, animator and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. She’s the co-founder of Studio SAKA, design and video production studio dedicated to social impact and environmental education. She works with educators, nonprofits, and ethical businesses on creative storytelling, inspiring us to take action on equity and environmental issues. Her work has been featured at the Getty Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Moody Performance Hall, and Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb.
As the Chapter Co-Lead for Climate Designers, she hosts local meetups and curates climate resources, jobs, and volunteer opportunities for the Los Angeles community.
When she is not doodling in her sketchbook, you will find her working on her vegetable garden or exploring new bike trails 🚲. She is passionate about climate solutions, gender equality, and mental health awareness.
Press:
Shoutout LA: Entrepreneurs tell us about starting their businesses, Interview, 2021
Communication Arts: The Exclusive on Inclusive, Interview, 2020
Animation Collective Punanimation's London show opens this week, 2018
Animafest Zagreb: Animation Goes MSU!, Artist Feature, 2017
Dallas Chamber Symphony: Sight of Sound Finalist Films, 2017
AIGA OC Design Award: Winner Lookback, 2016
USC School of Cinematic Arts: "Bloom" Live Visual Music, 2016
CLIENTS
AWARDS
ETHOS Annual
My project, “Small Steps to Sustainability”, was selected for Spotlight Award for ETHOS Annual (November 2018)
Muse Creative Awards
Gold recognition: Video, Mobile App, and Social Responsibility (May 2016)
AIGA Orange County Design Awards
Best Brand Identity, Best Mobile UI Design & Best Website (November 2015)
Awwwards.com Best Website
Company website nominated by Awwward jury for Best Website (June 2014)
Adobe Design Achievement Awards
Animation Category Semifinalist for my short film, “Mei” (August 2013)
FILM FESTIVALS & shows
Getty Unshuttered
Getty Center, Los Angeles, USA | June 2019
Getty Center transformed into an eye-popping immersive exhibit at night with animation projections, music and interactive experiences, featuring photography of young local artists advocating for social justice. I worked on 2 visual music pieces as part of the showcase of 2D animation projections.
12x12 Gallery Show
Gallery@WorkWell, Irvine, USA | April 2019
My sustainability illustration series was shown at the 12x12 group exhibit at Gallery WorkWell.
Panimation Pocko Gallery
Pocko Gallery, London, UK | September 2018
The show featured work from Panimation members from 33 different cities across the globe.
Animafest Zagreb
Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb , Zagreb, Croatia | June 2017
Animafest Zagreb is a film festival dedicated to animated film held annually in Zagreb, Croatia established since 1972. My film “Bloom” was displayed on Zagreb's Museum of Contemporary Art three-panel media façade.
Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, USA | December 2016
LA Children’s Film Fest presents 100+ short films from around the world—animation, live action, and documentary films—organized for different age groups.
Sight of Sound Film & Music Festival
Moody Performance Hall, Dallas, USA | March 2016
Sight of Sound is an annual festival that challenges filmmakers to create short films inspired by classical music, much like Disney’s Fantasia. My film, “Bloom” was screened in concert, with the Dallas Chamber Symphony performing the soundtrack live-to-film.
CIAFF X Design Twin-Cities
Shenzhen, China | October 2018
China’s first non-profit independent animation forum, curating animated films all over the world to encourage openness, diversity and imagination.
Film i Skoven (Film in the Forest)
Aarhus, Denmark | May 2018
Film in the forest is a unique film and culture festival for children aged 3-10 and their families, in the forest of Aarhus.
MUMIA (Mostra Udigrudi Mundial de Animação)
Belo Horizonte, Brazil | December 2018
MUMIA (Underground World Animation Festival) is focused in promoting recent animation short films, incentivizing innovation and creativity.
International Women's Film Festival "KIN"
Yerevan, Armenia | November 2017
“KIN” promotes women’s creativity, establish a network between women filmmakers from different parts of the world.
Athens ANIMFEST
Athens, Greece | March 2015
The festival brings the younger generation closer to the secrets and fascination of the art of animation and their diverse applications on the small and big screen, the multimedia, the Internet and education.
Adobe First Frame
Los Angeles, USA | October 2014
First Frame is the John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts' annual celebration and showcase of the latest achievements by its students and recent alumni.
CAAMFest (Center for Asian American Media)
San Francisco, USA | October 2014
The world’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian film, food, and music programs, annually presenting over 100 works in San Francisco and Oakland.
Boston Asian American Film Festival
Boston, USA | October 2013
As New England's Largest Asian American Film Festival, BAAFF empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community.