NBA Finals

with ESPN

We were privileged to combine our design expertise with our passion for sports, a symbiosis perfectly exemplified in our collaboration with the creative team at ESPN. Our shared endeavour? Crafting a new motion brand package for the NBA Finals.

At the core of our mission was the development of a distinct visual language - one that could resonate with the energy and fervour of the Finals. Introducing ‘Shimmer,’ an evolving golden simulation technique that acted as the backbone of our creative exploration.

Whether morphing into the iconic NBA trophy or seamlessly transforming into individual team logos, 'Shimmer' demonstrated an exceptional blend of versatility and spectacle. The procedural nature of this technique facilitated scalability, ensuring it could accommodate the vast assortment of assets required for the NBA Finals show package.

Simultaneously, we ventured into the domain of environment design, creating a backdrop that would accentuate our 'Shimmer' technique without overshadowing its allure.

Taking inspiration from the unique patterns made by opposing magnets interacting with loose iron filings, we fashioned a series of unique basketball court floorboard configurations. Subtle, yet visually captivating, these designs provided a fitting companion to the liquid gold aesthetic of the 'Shimmer.'

Of paramount importance was the need to ensure our design approach was adaptable. Recognizing the requirement for ESPN to have creative autonomy over constructing broadcast elements, we applied our techniques to a complete typeset.

Furthermore, to future-proof the project, we designed a procedural pipeline that could process new 3D elements, outputting a shimmer animation sequence at the end. This ensures that our design work remains relevant and adaptable, capable of evolving with the NBA Finals in the coming years.