Anna Steenson’s journey in visual storytelling began in high school at Central Campus in Des Moines, where Film & Broadcasting and Graphic Design classes introduced her to how visuals can spark curiosity, inspire action, and bring ideas to life. Her early work earned local and national recognition and set her on a path to explore visual storytelling in college.

While pursuing her BAJMC in Digital Media Production and BA in Music at Drake University, Anna gained hands-on experience through internships at local video production companies and work in Drake’s communications department. She also produced and filmed multiple documentaries and short films focused on community storytelling and activism that premiered at film festivals across the Midwest. For her undergraduate thesis, Anna combined her two degrees to create an animated short film, compose an original score, and perform the music live—bringing the story to life through the interplay of sound and visuals.

After graduation, Anna joined Studio Iowa in Urbandale as a video editor and motion designer, where she expanded her expertise in animation, motion graphics, video production, and graphic design. She later earned her MA in Communication Leadership from Drake University in 2023. Today, as a marketing and communications specialist for the City of Urbandale, Anna works on a cross-departmental team, creating design, video, web, and storytelling content that is shaped by the creativity, curiosity, and passion for community storytelling she discovered early on.