Ryan Charles McGrath

For the Olympic Running Trials in Eugene, OR, Nike came to HUSH looking for help in answering a single, simple question: how do you feel fast?

Nike’s “Camp Victory,” featuring three bold experiences centered around speed. HUSH worked closely with Nike Brand Design and Skylab Architecture to create an incredible, world’s fair size physical/digital installation that focuses on playful competition, deep sensory experiences, and powerful visual design.

The result was an intensive head-to-head Treadmill Running Game, a Nike+ powered HeatMap to visualize running data, and an immersive Speed Tunnel experience to bring attendees up close and personal to the raw velocity of an Olympic sprinter. After Eugene, Nike and HUSH took the experiences global – to New York, London, Moscow, Tokyo and beyond.

Press — PSFK, Fast Company, Adweek, Creativity, Shots, Creative Review, Knstrct, Freshness Mag

Awards — Art Director’s Club, One Show Interactive, Cannes Lion Shortlist, Webby Awards, FWA “Site of the Day”, W3 “Best in Show”,Telly Awards, Interior Design Magazine, AIA Portland, IDSA / IDEA Awards, NY Festivals, Good Design

Credits:
Client: Nike
Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

Under Armour came to HUSH with the following challenge: How could we upend traditional ideas of retail in order to help Under Armour take the Chinese market by storm?

HUSH created a powerful retail theater experience in Shanghai designed to transcend both language and cultural barriers by aggressively challenging the senses. A blend of architecture, film,  and audio-visual effects translates the Under Armour brand into pure light, sound, and form.

The result was a unique retail experience that combined a 270-degree panoramic film, bespoke architectural and lighting design, projection mapped surfaces, various AV technologies, and booming surround sound into an explosive, all-encompassing experience. From first look at the store’s closed facade, brimming with potential energy, to each visitor’s final arrival at the gallery-like, minimalist shrine to a few core Under Armour products, the store is a brand journey like no other.

Press — PSFK, Contagious, Most Contagious 2014, Retail Design Blog,Cool Hunting, Global Design Resource (gdruk.com)

Credits:
Client: Under Armour
Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

HBO asked Campfire to help build buzz for the premiere of their new series Game of Thrones. To do this, Campfire concepted an immersive fan engagement program based around the 5 senses.

Credits:
Client: HBO
Agency: Campfire
Role: Lead Project Producer

ExxonMobil had a very complex story to tell; how to explain their plan for the next hundred years of oil production in one of the largest oil fields on earth. ExxonMobil engaged HUSH to help tell this story.

HUSH created a permanent interactive installation that simplifies and displays decades of data surrounding past and predicted oil production in the vast Upper Zakum oil field. An integrated physical and digital design reflect ExxonMobil’s combined geographical and technological strategy for the region.

The result was an intuitive interaction method driven by moving “lenses” across a screen allowed for a clear understanding of ExxonMobil’s vision. The installation appealed to both advanced engineers, who possess a detailed understanding of the region, and political leaders with less technical knowledge but an enormous vested interest in ExxonMobil’s vision.

Credits:
Client: ExxonMobil
Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

Zaha Hadid’s “520 West 28th” is her first residential project in New York City, situated in the notable West Chelsea neighborhood. The developer of the project, Related Companies, asked HUSH to design an innovative experience for the property’s sales and marketing gallery.

HUSH focused on a guest experience punctuated by physical and digital design details – layout, narrative content, digital interfaces, sound and technology activations. Every move was intended to translate the power of architect-as-artist and the appeal of living inside a work of art.

The Result: Buyers are enveloped within customizable digital content, including an original animated film we produced about Hadid’s process, the building’s site, and the core gestures of the design – all narrated by Hadid herself. With choreographed sound and lighting transitions, buyers move into a lounge space featuring an interactive table to explore a mass of content through an unconventional, extra-large interface. From start to finish, the architect’s distinctive artistic vision for luxury living guides guests through an unforgettable journey.

Credits:
Client: The Related Companies
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

Nike had the challenge to promote the trial of Nike’s new Zoom running shoe in Beijing, China through an interactive gaming experience that excites runners to “find their fastest.”

In order to do this, HUSH designed and developed a custom game experience that challenged eight runners to a head-to-head, one-mile sprint. As they covered more distance, the audio/visual content increased in intensity, complexity and movement until they finally crossed the (digital) line.

Through a seven-part user journey beginning with attract and inform graphic signatures, through a real-time test of strength and endurance, thousands of attendees found their fastest through unique, technology-driven trial experiences.

Credits:
Client: Nike
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

In the lead up to Super Bowl XLVIII at Metlife Stadium, HUSH was challenged to transform the iconic Niketown NYC store into a Super Bowl spectacle.

The solution was to create an immersive retail theater. Light, sound and structure. HUSH translated design details from Nike’s football gear into bold audio-visual experiences within a custom architectural experience.

The result was the energy of an entire stadium packed into a store. Structure and media came together to wrap the audience in the seminal innovations of Nike football products, and the installation was refreshed weekly for the month leading up the Super Bowl to express the technology and details of various products across the Nike football line.

Credits:
Client: Nike
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

For Google I/O, one of the most important developer conferences in the world, HUSH was engaged to push the boundaries of a beautiful Google Chrome experiment even further.

HUSH designed a bespoke interactive experience for the Chrome “Racer” experiment, expanding the gameplay of the multi-player, multi-device game onto a huge digital canvas.

The result was an amazing, enhanced display of a game-changing browser technology. HUSH worked intimately with Google’s Creative Lab and managed an epic team of developers, technology specialists and fabricators in an incredibly short timeline. Adapted gameplay, custom-built technology and a stunning physical platform allowed I/O attendees to seamlessly link their Chrome-enabled devices to race each other for the gold.

Press — CNN Money, CNET, The Verge, Mashable, Consequence of Sound

Awards — FWA.com, Tomorrow Awards (Nominee)

Credits: 
Client: Google
Design Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

At the stealth startup’s debut at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, how could HUSH convey Lyve's amazing technology solution for solving the ubiquitous problem of too much media, from too many sources, across too many platforms?

HUSH conceived, designed, and built a vivid, off-the-CES-floor experience, especially suited to communicating Lyve’s product offering and brand voice.

The result was an installation anchored by a large central screen and flanked by a custom designed product display. Visuals showed a collection of personal images and videos breaking into fragments and transforming into colored lighting illuminating the assortment of tablets, phones, and other devices arrayed on glowing physical pedestals below. The visuals and color spectrum acted as a metaphor for Lyve’s collecting, sorting and protecting service.

Credits:
Client: Lyve
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

IBM has been tracking detailed game information about the world’s top 100 tennis players for over 8 years. IBM challenged HUSH to engage tennis fans in a visual experience to convey the usefulness and power of harnessing data.

For the second year in a row, HUSH developed and refined an interactive data experience at the US Open, making accessible to fans IBM’s real-time data surrounding every aspect of the game.

Through interaction and play, thousands of attendees to the US Open were able to compare and contrast player data down to the smallest details. A beautiful and fast interface allowed for fun and intuitive exploration of every forehand, double fault, temperature, match duration, and serve speed. Every stroke, every point, and every win.

Press — Mashable, Creativity, NY1

Awards — Telly Awards

Credits:
Client: IBM
Agency: Ogilvy
Design Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production/Director of Operations, HUSH

IBM is all about data. And while data is often complicated, they can make it easy to understand – and useful for their client’s business. In this light, IBM forged a partnership with the USTA to collect tennis data from the top 100 players around the world. Their challenge was what to do with this data that’s truly insightful for the US Open audience.

HUSH's design solution was to develop a compelling visual experience that demonstrates interesting insights about tennis data, and displays them in a cool, fun, interactive way accessible to any US Open tennis fan visiting the 2-week event.

Through interaction and play, our audience learns more about the game of tennis, fun facts, and the power of harnessing data. Compare, contrast. Understand what’s going on, with every stroke, every point, and every win.

Press —

Mashable, Creativity, NY1

Awards —

Telly Awards

Credits:
Client: IBM
Agency: Ogilvy
Design Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

Nike partnered with NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of State for the LAUNCH summit on sustainable materials and manufacturing. Nike charged HUSH with helping them visually convey their deep commitment to sustainability.

HUSH created a customizable identity design system to inform visual branding, wayfinding and structures within the conference space, as well as collateral and elements of experiential design.

The result was an integrated system for the event at the Nike campus in Beaverton, OR. Both visual and physical, the exhibit culminated in a display of sustainable efforts, from NASA’s Mars Rover to Nike’s own sustainable product innovations.

Press — Nike, Inc.

Credits:
Client: Nike
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair serum is used by women around the world as part of their nightly beauty ritual. HUSH was charged with determining how to leverage this simple, compelling idea and connect these consumers in their shared experiences surrounding beauty.

HUSH tapped into Estee Lauder’s dedicated social media fan base to create an online ecosystem in which to collect stories and foster global conversations surrounding a woman’s point of view on the night.

HUSH created a global interactive platform, represented by a view of the earth at night, where women appear as points of light and their stories as interconnected lines. Women from 26 countries  around the world shared experiences about beauty, ritual, or simply an emotional statement – a vibrant community experience for a global brand.

Press — Creative Review, Retail Solutions Online, Popsop, Brand Republic, NY Egotist, Cosmetics Technology, ClickZ

Credits:
Client: Estee Lauder
Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

Around the world, Nike+ has changed the way people run. Nike challenged HUSH with finding a way to celebrate this community in a hyper-local experience for the Nike retail audience.

To do this, HUSH designed and developed an interactive, multi-touch Community Board that displays local, real-time Nike+ running activity and competitive stats. HUSH created a destination experience to visualize a global phenomenon in a way that resonates with the experience of runners in a particular city.

Audiences engaged with their collective running data represented in artful Nike brand language, overlaid on a city of parks and routes, of sidewalks and streets, of paths and bridges, all engrained in the local running consciousness. The Community Board has been deployed in cities all over the world, at both Nike retail locations and bespoke Nike brand experiences.

Awards — Adweek “Issac Awards”

Credits:
Client: Nike
Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

For AERIN’s inaugural fragrance launch, HUSH was charged to simply and elegantly demonstrate a sophisticated point of view within the complex ecosystem of fragrance design.

HUSH conceived, designed and built a unique web experience and directed / produced a poignant brand film inspired by Aerin Lauder herself, the science of fragrance, and the user’s personal creativity.

The result was an intimate film that connects us with Aerin’s personal memories and the inspiration for her fragrance line through dreamy, poetic imagery. The “Art of Fragrance” website invites visitors to learn in depth information about the ingredients used to create each fragrance. Users can design custom prints utilizing the visual elements of the ingredients themselves.

Press — Luxury Daily, Into The Gloss, Politics and Style

Credits:
Client: AERIN
Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production, HUSH

American Express challenged HUSH to connect shoppers to American Express’ network of amazing – but difficult to find – local, small businesses and their products within a centralized, urban setting.

To do this, HUSH used the design notes of boutique retail and the bold interactivity of “fun” digital experiences to create an installation that generates awareness for local shops and their unique products – and provides a direct line of information to connect consumers with these merchants.

The result was a fully-contained, interactive retail product that can be quickly activated in any location. Pedestrian shoppers could discover thousands of local small businesses through their bespoke product exploration and interaction. Using geographical reference and personal preference indicators, it taps into a database of merchants to encourage real, in-person shopping experiences that small businesses love.

Press — PSFK, Trend Hunter, GDRUK

Awards — Webby

Credits:
Client: American Express
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

The New York Times came to HUSH with this challenge: express The Times’ unique intellectual approach to video storytelling at one of the most important venues for innovation in digital — the 2014 NewFronts.

HUSH leveraged the metaphor of “the gallery” – a place for curated, artistic expression – and created a playground of installations, presentations, animations and sound inspired by Times Video’s new “T” identity featuring the video play arrow.

The result: hundreds of guests moved through an array of fourteen triangular digital/physical plinths, each one representing one of the fourteen channels of Times video. Attendees then experienced over 45 minutes of dynamic audio-visuals, custom animation and editorial abstractions of the Times’ video logo. Everything from the stage itself to the visual graphics reflected this brand element and their commitment to video.

Press — PSFK, AWN

Credits:
Client: New York Times
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

Twitter came to HUSH with the challenge of creating a custom experience for C-level brand marketers that leverages millions of rich audio/visual sentiments shared in real-time on Twitter and to define a visual language for the experiential design of Twitter’s brand environment at the Cannes Advertising Festival.

Using the World Cup (happening in real-time during the festival) as a backdrop, HUSH built digital design experiences of perceived infinite scale allowing our audience to visualize their favorite World Cup content through the unique stories, emotions and expressions on Twitter.

The result were hundreds of curated experiences for brand and media influencers, demonstrating how any brand resonates within the Twitter ecosystem. Through immersive design and interactive storytelling, a platform once known for its 140 character limit was transformed into an experience of epic, content-driven, proportions.

Credits:
Client: Twitter
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

Verizon FiOS offers better HDTV picture and the fastest Internet, but low-tech suburban families, Verizon's largest target, weren't seeing the benefit of upgrading to FiOS. Campfire created a marketing platform to demonstrate the benefits of FiOS, allowing neighborhoods to interact with, and better understand, the reasons to switch.

Credits: 
Client: Verizon
Agency: Campfire
Role: Line Producer, Project Producer

Challenge—

How could HUSH harness the sonic power of a spoken New Year’s “wish” and translate it into a unique image?

Design Solution—

HUSH devised a process in which viscous pigments, suspended in water, could be reverberated from below by a powerful speaker to create organic, unpredictable, and completely unique forms.

Result—

HUSH recorded themselves making one hundred “wishes” for the the year 2013, and then translated them into one hundred beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of art. They then packaged each one with care and sent our “wishes” to our friends all over the world.

Press — Design Envy, Agency Spy

Credits:
Agency: HUSH
Role: Head of Production

Challenge —

Building off of previous explorations of translating audio into artwork, how could HUSH create visual manifestations of emotional values in a way that specifically reflects the uniqueness of individual feeling?

Design Solution —

HUSH crafted a piece of custom software that generates digital, three dimensional visual forms based on the unique timbres and tonalities of individual voices.

Result —

HUSH asked 100 people to share their feelings about the end of 2013, and the beginning of 2014, in the form of a spoken “release.” Using the forms generated by our software HUSH then created and analog printed a limited run of 100 posters that we sent to the people that inspired us most in 2013.

Press — AgencySpy, Creative Review, The Method Case, Motionographer

Credits:
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH

Challenge —

How could HUSH tell a story of its success in 2014 in a non-traditional, artistic way? How could this inspire clients and peers with the unconventional design methodologies at the core of the agency?

Design Solution —

“Made By Numbers” is a project that uses HUSH's own 2014 data to generate a unique, artistic output representing our brand. HUSH mined a year of HUSH’s data and used it to design a physical / interactive sculpture. Weekly work habits, project flow, productivity and other narratives of the agency all acted as the design input for the form of this sculpture.

Result —

“Made By Numbers” represents a design methodology that translates data into form. The 5′ high sculpture is physical and interactive (sound, light). The form expresses the year-in-the-life of our agency, showing changes over time. The piece can also be “played” via a simple hand movement up or down, releasing 52 sonic chords and light effects – all tied to the data. Together, the sculpture, a run of 250 limited posters featuring the sculpture, and the case study video about our process, told HUSH's 2014 story.

Press — The Next Web, The Creators Project

Credits:
Agency: HUSH
Role: Director of Operations, HUSH