Google Gemini: The Afterparty

Directed by: Nick & Charles @ Mssngpeces

Google wanted a fresh, engaging way to celebrate the launch of the Pixel 9 and its AI powerhouse, Gemini. So… we threw the ultimate afterparty.

Right after the Made by Google keynote, we created a 30-min live to tape show featuring a VIP lineup of celebrities and influencers all getting hands on with the newest Google tech inside our custom-built Google party space.

Think high-end nightclub meets tech playground: neon lights, a DJ spinning, a glowing minibar, a VIP lounge, and a massive mirrorball G hovering overhead. The vibe? Electric. The goal? Let viewers in on the party and the future.

Chili’s: Fast Food Financing

Director: Mike Woods @ Mssngpeces

To serve up a spicy take on rising fast food prices, we turned an empty Union Square storefront into a fully decked out payday loan shop neon signs, balloons, digital boards, and yes, sign spinners.

Inside, guests met our “branch manager,” filled out cheeky loan apps, and got “approved” for Chili’s gift cards. The space had it all: loan counters, cardboard cutouts, classic infomercials on loop, and a carpet covered in dollar bills.

Because if you’re gonna make a statement, make it loud and weirdly official.

Squid Games: The Trails

Director: Sermad Buni @ Superfly

I had the pleasure of designing the look, feel, and flow for Netflix’s Squid Game: The Trials a massive 30,000 sq. ft. live experience that drops players into the dark, high-stakes world of the show.

If you’ve seen Squid Game, you know it’s more than just layered it’s a psychological maze wrapped in tension, color, and dread. A designer’s dream. I got to dive deep into night markets, bars, retail spaces, and yes… plenty of eerie, deathy stuff.

We built multi-layered environments rich with texture and storytelling graphics stacked on graphics, shifting surfaces, and lighting that plays tricks on your brain. It’s the kind of place where you feel thrilled... and like you might get eliminated at any moment.

For me, it was about crafting a fully immersive journey bending space, emotion, and design to keep players locked in and just slightly on edge.

John Wich 3 & 4

Directos: Mike Woods @ Mssngpeces

To serve up a spicy take on the rising cost of fast food, we transformed an empty storefront in NYC’s bustling Union Square into a full-blown payday loan shop, complete with neon signs, bunting, balloons, and funky digital light boards. And if that didn’t get your attention, our talented sign spinners did.

Inside, guests were greeted by our friendly “branch manager,” clipboard in hand. After filling out a cheeky loan application, each guest was “approved” for financing… in the form of a Chili’s gift card. When it came to the interior, we thought of everything, from classic loan financing counters, step-and-repeats with a cardboard cutout, TVs playing those unmistakable financing commercials, to an unforgettable dollar-bill-covered carpet.

Charmin: CES Labs

Design Lead: Ron Beach @ Unit9

I worked with the Charmin GoLab and Unit 9 to create three prototype products and debuted them at CES 2020: RollBot, a first-of its-kind Bluetooth-enabled robot that will bring you a fresh roll of Charmin with the press of a smartphone button; SmellSense, an electronic sensor monitoring system that checks the stench of a bathroom and alerts you when it’s safe (or not safe) to enter; and V.I.Pee, a unique viewing experience that uses Oculus Rift S VR technology to make sure you don’t miss a minute of a concert when you have to use the bathroom.

All three futuristic products are meant to be humorous, but they’re still based on very real consumer needs and insights. There’s no denying that they solve common bathroom annoyances and make life easier.

State Farm: Giant James Harden Head

Creative Lead: Ron Beach Jr @ B&A

State Farm went big for NBA All-Star Weekend like 15 foot tall James Harden head big.

I had the chance to bring it to life: a giant 3D replica of Harden’s head, installed right on the Santa Monica Pier. Fans stepped inside (yep, inside his head) to play an interactive game by Joshua Davis, helping clear out all the distractions so his agent, Cole Perez (played by Oscar Nuñez), could get him mentally ready for the big game.

Part surreal art, part immersive experience, all part of State Farm and Translation’s "Get an Agent That Gets You" campaign. Weird, unforgettable, and absolutely a career highlight.

Squid Games: The Trails

Director: Sermad Buni @ Superfly

I had the pleasure of designing the look, feel, and flow for Netflix’s new Squid Game: The Trials a massive, 30,000 sq ft live experience that drops players into the dark, thrilling world of the show.

If you’ve seen Squid Game, you know it’s not just layered it's a psychological maze wrapped in tension, color, and dread. Which made this a designer’s dream. I got to dive into a world packed with night markets, bars, retail spaces, and yes… plenty of scary death stuff.

We built multi layered environments rich with texture and storytelling graphics stacked on graphics, surfaces that shift moods, light that plays with paranoia. The kind of place where you feel both excited and like you might get eliminated at any second.

For me, it was all about building an immersive journey: bending space, emotion, and design to keep players fully in the moment and slightly on edge.