"Agents of Chaos" - Elastic. Main title & in-programme graphic design (2021)

** Emmy® nominee -- Outstanding Design **

I was invited by Elastic to propose a design concept for the revelatory HBO documentary, "Agents of Chaos".

The series reveals unsettling truths about social media, how it can manipulate and obfuscate. I began with the idea of using familiar social media iconography and interface to distort and conceal. I felt I could underline this notion with digital smears that warp the presentation of information. This phenomenon seemed a fitting metaphor for a series concerned with in the misrepresentation and manipulation of data and facts in the digital age. 

Below is my original concept contribution. The colour scheme and spirit of this early concept can be seen in the beautifully excecuted Elastic opener directed by Hazel Baird. My design also percolated through into the in-programme graphics.

Below are some of my ideas and explorations of how in programme graphics could work:

I also briefly explored a possible darker implementation of the concept as can be seen below:

Above: a rough motion test of the "smearing" operating system window idea

Below: the final opening sequence created at Elastic and directed by Hazel Baird

Client: HBO

Titles Design Studio: Elastic

Director: Hazel Baird 

Art Director: Diego Coutinho

Design: Diego Coutinho, Dave Penn

Typography: Ben Woodlock Animators: Rafael Morinaga, Bruno Ferrari, Guilherme Ferreirinha; Editors: Rachel Fowler, Andrew Young; Producer: Michael Ross; Coordinator: HJ Kim; Executive Producer: Luke Colson; Head of Production: Kate Berry Managing Director: Jennifer Sofio Hall