National Geographic

To build anticipation for National Geographic's David Blaine: Do Not Attempt, I developed a social-first creative system that transformed longform trailer assets into vertical, platform-native storytelling.

The goal was to make entertainment marketing feel more like Vox Media editorial, breaking down how and why Blaine's feats work while still driving curiosity and viewership.

I also designed an Instagram Stories takeover that reimagined how branded content could break through feed fatigue by actively interrupting the user experience.

I created Freeze Frame, a punchy explainer format that isolates key trailer moments and reframes them through the eye of a critic, using voiceover, light motion graphics, and graphic breakdowns to unpack the neuroscience behind the mind-over-matter principles David Blaine is known for mastering.

This let trailer assets function as raw material for editorial storytelling, similar in tone to Vox-style analysis.

I also designed an Instagram Stories takeover that intentionally breaks platform expectations. It begins like a normal Story, then hijacks the feed as a swarm of bees crawls across the screen, pulling viewers into Blaine's world.

The disruption was supported by layered sound design (buzzing audio that mimics environmental immersion), creating a physical, sensory interruption that mirrored the subject matter of the show's stunts.

Both formats were designed to reframe traditional entertainment marketing into interactive, native social storytelling.