Challenge
The film was a love letter to Detroit, making authenticity essential to every creative decision. The challenge was to design typography and motion that enhanced the storytelling without competing with it, capturing the city's energy while remaining true to the film's handcrafted aesthetic.
Insight
The strongest creative work comes from people who have lived the story they're telling. Rather than treating typography as an overlay, the motion graphics became an extension of Detroit's visual language, reinforcing the film's emotion, culture, and identity.
Solution
Explored numerous typographic directions before refining the final system around a bold retro sans-serif with graffiti-inspired details. Subtle motion, stop-motion techniques, and close collaboration with the director, editor, and sound designer brought the title and end card to life while preserving the film's raw, cinematic rhythm.
Imapct
The finished film resonated with Detroit's creative community and was later featured by Kodak Shoot Film, earning more than 8,000 likes. More importantly, it became a celebration of the city that shaped my creative perspective, making it one of the most meaningful projects in my portfolio.
