WUSA NEWSROOM
As Creative Director at WUSA, I took the lead on a comprehensive newsroom redesign after a falling out with the project's architect. The mission was to revitalize a "dirty" legacy space that hadn't been touched since 1991, transforming it into a bright, modern environment. I oversaw every detail of the transformation, from the structural layout and furnishings to designing a completely custom carpet pattern that tied the entire aesthetic together.
The heart of the project was a "hive" design concept, centered around a functional nucleus for the newsroom operations. To ensure total accuracy, I spent months producing hundreds of high-fidelity renders in Cinema 4D. It was a massive technical undertaking, but the work paid off… the final physical space was incredibly faithful to the original 3D models, successfully bringing the station's newsroom into the modern era.
WUSA SIGNAGE
Following the launch of the WUSA rebrand in March 2018, I pivoted to designing the station's exterior signage, including a street-corner monument and a facade-mounted channel sign. Dissatisfied with the limitations of 2D mockups, I rebuilt the entire facility in 3D to accurately simulate how the lighting and glow would behave across various times of day. This "digital twin" approach allowed me to stress-test the visibility and aesthetics long before the first bolt was tightened.
The project was also a significant learning experience in navigating the intersection of design, engineering, and local government. I worked directly with electricians to manage power requirements and conduit placement, while simultaneously navigating a complex permitting process for our historic neighborhood. Balancing modern brand standards with strict architectural guidelines taught me how to move a vision through the bureaucratic hurdles of a heritage-protected area without compromising the final design.
AMPU SET & LIGHTS
While you’ve seen the renders for A More Perfect Union, this section highlights the technical foundation of the production at the National Constitution Center. I focused on a design that prioritized both the camera plot and the physical atmosphere, ensuring the show’s brand translated into a cohesive environmental experience. You can click the floorplan image to download the full camera plot PDF.
Beyond the television frames, I worked closely with the lighting crew to "paint the room" with light, utilizing red and blue textures to mirror the show's visual identity. Although there were few audience cutaways in the final edit, the immersive lighting created a "magical" atmosphere for those in the room, proving that the experience of the live audience is just as vital as the one on screen.
IT’S ACADEMIC
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest-running high school TV quiz show, It’s Academic is a Washington, D.C. institution. Because the show maintains a lean production budget to focus on its local community mission, any studio upgrade requires careful planning to maximize visual impact without overextending resources. I am currently leading the design phase for an upcoming studio overhaul, transitioning the set from its legacy configuration of three small monitors to a modern LED wall system.
To help the production team visualize this evolution, I produced a series of high-fidelity renders exploring various configurations of large-scale LED displays. These models demonstrate how a unified digital backdrop can completely revitalize the program's aesthetic while remaining functionally flexible for the quiz format. By simulating these options in 3D, we can stress-test how different LED scales and resolutions interact with the existing studio footprint, ensuring that the world's longest-running show looks as sharp as the students competing on it.
