STARCRAFT II - CASE STUDY

Project Overview: As an independent Creative Director, I led the visual identity and physical presence for major StarCraft II live tournaments across the United States and Canada. Operating in studio and on ground at the live events, I designed immersive, scalable experiences that brought the iconic StarCraft II universe into diverse physical arenas, bridging stadium design, digital motion and graphic design, and event merchandising.

• Scalable Environmental & Scenic Design: Transformed vast convention centers into highly branded sci-fi esports arenas. I designed modular scenic architecture and large-format hanging prints that could adapt to different venues, establishing iconic focal points like imposing soundproof player booths flanked by Zerg, Terran, and Protoss battle graphics.

• Broadcast Motion Graphics: Directed the complete graphic and motion design pipeline for live StarCraft II touring broadcasts. This included creating scalable on-screen gameplay overlays, dynamic bracket visuals, and cinematic transitions that maintained strict visual continuity with the physical arena branding regardless of the location.

• Touring Live Operations: Traveled regularly throughout the USA and Canada to lead on-site live operations. I collaborated directly with local staging crews, venue staff, and broadcast directors at each stop to troubleshoot layouts and ensure all physical prints, stage lighting, and digital broadcast assets translated flawlessly to the live event.

Project Overview As a Creative Director for premier StarCraft II esports broadcasts, I designed custom user interfaces and cinematic motion graphics to elevate the spectator experience. The primary challenge was seamlessly integrating complex live player data and league branding into the broadcast feed without obstructing critical, fast-paced gameplay.

• Integrated Broadcast Overlays: To establish a premium viewing experience for the North American Star League (NASL), I designed in-game overlays that embedded league branding directly into the gameplay screen. This included streamlined top-bar score trackers and centralized identification tags—such as the "BiasedCaster" nameplate—keeping viewers informed without cluttering the action.

• Custom UI Consoles & Live Stats: I created bespoke graphical wrappers that completely reskinned the default StarCraft II lower command console to match the broadcast's sleek, dark sci-fi aesthetic. This modular UI also featured dedicated player camera frames and statistical overlays, dynamically displaying critical live data such as the competitor's name, team affiliation (e.g., Team Liquid), and current WCS Rank.

• Cinematic Motion Graphics: To punctuate the live entertainment experience, I developed high-impact, full-screen motion graphics for player introductions and post-match results. Utilizing dynamic blue lighting, aggressive diagonal framing, and bold typography, these transition screens celebrated the competitors—prominently displaying the player's name (e.g., DeMusliM), team (Evil Geniuses), national flag, and a massive "VICTORY" title to maximize the emotional impact of a win.

Project Overview Operating as an independent Creative Director within the StarCraft II esports ecosystem, I delivered turn-key visual solutions bridging high-level event marketing with granular, bespoke illustration. This hybrid approach ensured that major live tournaments possessed a cohesive, premium identity from the initial promotional push down to custom artistic assets.

• Localized Event Branding: I designed the promotional visual identity for the StarCraft II World Championship Series (WCS) Season 2 held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. To give the global tournament a distinct local aesthetic, I developed a custom crest logo featuring the iconic CN Tower, integrating it alongside partner branding.

• Print & Digital Ticket Design: This localized branding was translated directly into the attendee experience through custom event ticket designs. The WCS Premier League tickets prominently featured the Toronto skyline and CN Tower crest, organizing the event dates and ticketing URLs into a clean, highly legible, and collectible format.

• High-Fidelity Pixel Illustration: As part of the broader creative pipeline, I executed hands-on, bespoke pixel art illustrations of iconic franchise units, specifically the Zerg Hydralisk and Terran Ghost. These assets were meticulously developed from small-scale sprites into large, highly detailed character models—capturing intricate, granular details like the Hydralisk's biomechanical carapace and the Terran Ghost's tactical sniper gear and glowing visors.

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