Northwestern Commencement at the United Center

Challenge
Northwestern University traditionally holds commencement at Ryan Field. In 2024, the stadium was demolished to make way for a new facility, requiring the ceremony to relocate to the United Center. This shift called for large-scale motion graphics that could celebrate graduates while transforming an arena into a cohesive Northwestern-branded environment for thousands of attendees. This class was also uniquely impacted by COVID-19 during their freshman year, making it especially important to create a meaningful and memorable experience.

Role
Lead designer responsible for concept development, motion design, and production of animated graphics displayed across multiple arena screens during the live event.

Approach
Developed two distinct yet cohesive motion systems designed for large-format displays. One direction was energetic and celebratory, used before and after the ceremony, while the other was more refined and ceremonial for key moments. While designing for a stadium-scale environment, I intentionally balanced creating engaging, immersive visuals with maintaining an elegant tone, avoiding the high-energy feel of a sporting event. Each system was carefully crafted for scale, legibility, and timing to ensure clarity and impact, while preserving Northwestern’s visual identity.

Impact
The final animations transformed the United Center into a unified, immersive Northwestern experience, elevating the ceremony for graduates, families, and faculty while delivering polished, broadcast-quality visuals across the arena. The graphics were successful enough to be reused for the 2024 and 2025 ceremonies and are planned for continued use in 2026.