When VHL wanted to create a new grammar tutorial series they reached out to me for the art and animation. This 32 video series teaches grammar in a cool and fun way. Together, Alesha and I came up with a character named Zippy. A happy-go-lucky squirrel, Zippy makes learning fun. Zippy takes you through grammar basics while Zipping around the screen and sometimes acing out what’s being learned. Zippy keep the viewer engaged in the learning process.

We designed the series to be easy to view, with vibrant colors and abstract backgrounds, which is great for the creative side Zippy shows off when doing examples.

Below is a reel comprised of snippets from the 32 video series.

Mars Cats Voyage has partnered with Nifty Island, a fast growing Web3 gaming experience like no other. This integration was just in time for the Open Beta which is currently in Wave 1 of its Play-to-Airdrop campaign. Mars Cats holders can earn $Island token by playing the game, a perk of being partnered.

Mars Cats Ventures commissioned an artist to make a base 3D model. The original Model had the Blueberry fur type. After some back and forth with the artist, we approved the model. Then I took the model and made 23 additional versions, changing the fur colors to match the collection. This is what’s called Texture Painting. I used a mix of Blender and Photoshop for this. All the the fur traits were sourced from the original NFT art, but then re-dawn and expanded upon for the full-body 3D model.

Once the models were ready and integrated into Nifty Island, I created promos So holders (and non-holders) knew what was available.

Texture Painting Samples: Acid Tiger and Black Tattoo

Promo: Showing of all 24 fur traits

Video Promo: First look at the 3D models

The team at Black Rocket wanted to make some new promos to let people know about new classes being added to their extensive list of programs. I was tasked with making these promos clear and exciting, so that on first glance you know what the class is about and are intrigued to learn more.

True Elements has been working with AI since before it became a buzz word. But thier use of it is for something that could help change the world. Introducing the True Elements Water Quality Index Forecaster. An AI Engine, powered most by free data, that can help predict water quality.

A creation like that needs a promo that can help get people excited and want to know more. That’s where I came in. Tasked with taking a complex idea and displaying it in an easy to understand way, I worked closely with the team to get all the info I could, then molded it into a promo video that takes this complex (but amazing) concept and makes it easy to understand.

// All art on this page has been up-scaled with AI for better viewing. Minor degradation has occurred but it’s better than a pixelated upscale //

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Pea3, a Co-Founder of MystiC, is a gaming legend in his own right. And as such it only made sense that he have is own branding. Pea3 gave me a lot of leeway and I mocked up several options for him to choose from. We landed on a lion as mascot, and kept the neon pink and blue to help tie it to MystiC.

His mascot wears a neon blue suit with pink shirt, giving off a Miami vibe, with shades that look as cool as he does. We gave P3 his own set of Twitch assets and social banners. And I even put together a video reel for him, digging through hours of footage to clip the best parts together. He wanted a long-form video to start with (seen below), then quicker shorter videos after for social posts.

// All art on this page has been up-scaled with AI for better viewing. Minor degradation has occurred but it’s better than a pixelated upscale //

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When Wesley (yes the clients name is Wesley too!) reached out about starting an ESports team, he asked me to do the whole branding. Starting with the M (for MystiC) logo, we slowly built out a look and feel he was happy to dawn and push to the world. Taking on a unicorn as a mascot, we incorporated it into the logo, but gave it the logo icon tattoo and glowing pinkish/red eyes to match it’s mane and horn. We added in the blood spatter to give it a more violent feel, matching the feel of the games that they would be playing.

The dark tones with neon highlights gave it a bit of a retro-futuristic look. The full-body mascot wears a leather outfit with the neon pink/blue shirt for a pop of color. And those colors are used across all Twitch and social assets to keep them all in the same family.

Lastly, I put together a promotional video for the announcement of the team/launch of Mystic. I sourced the audio, edited the source video, then animated it and exported it for release. It was received with great success.

Black Rocket continues to refine and expand their offerings for kids looking to learn. In 2022 I made 4 new promos highlighting new programs for kids to choose from. From Music and Gaming to Coding, Black rocket offers a wealth of programs for things I would have loved to learn as a kid! It’s one of the reasons I’m so happy to help promote them.

With each promo I try to capture the vibe of the course. With Beats & Jams, I wanted to highlight the music. Not just that you can learn music, but also how music feels. The larger than life aspect of it. The pulse of rhythm. And of course the joy of it all. With Smash Brawler, I wanted to highlight the action of it. The Characters are fun and playful, the kids are excited and the game shots are in motion.

This type of design I feel helps the viewer to connect with the image/idea more then just an information design. And if they are more connected/interested to it, they are more likely to click the promo to learn more, which is the main goal!

I had the honor of designing a window display for Gotham Market, when they opened up The Ashland in Brooklyn. We started with several concepts followed by rough mocks. As you can see some windows were already “claimed” so we worked around them.

Once a concept was chosen I went to work on the art. We landed on a very clean, upscale look. Outlined food items, utensils and drinks that matched the style of the logo. All placed low on the windows so people could see in and out. We added the slogan on one side an the food court types along the top, leaving the center area clear for the logo and people gazing.

The initial response was overwhelming! Patrons and area residents all commented positively on the design. It was a really great project and one I’m very proud of.

// This display was up for about 1.5-2 years before it was replaced //

These are some of the first course promos I did for Black Rocket. After working on some other stuff for them, they asked if I would be interested in designing some course promos. I was happy to help, and I dove right in.

The courses Black Rocket creates are fun learning experiences for kids. Each course is unique which makes its it easier to design for. Once given a description of what the course is, and how the kids interact with it/respond to it, I work up a few mocks that I think fit. From there we’ll narrow down what we like and think works, and then I’ll work up the final design.

The promos are designed to be used in multiple digital template sizes and even work for print. The idea to create one very versatile design was the plan from the start and it has worked out well.

The good folks over a Nickelodeon brought me on-board to help design some promos for the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. We made 2 design types: Logo/Text only and another set which includes the turtles. Once we nailed down a main design, I set it up so only the copy needed to change from Premiere to the weekly Air Day/Time (these samples how the Air Day/Time versions). Then I populated a number of promo sizes for various TV and social services.

Because the sizing changes are so drastic, the designs change slightly, but all feel like the fit within the same family. This helps ensure no matter where you view the promo, you get the same info (and feeling) as anyone else viewing it on another service. It’s always a pleasure working with Nick properties, and TMNT is one of my favorites to work on.