Hello, I'm Lesley

2020

The first in a series of events featuring cooking demonstrations and tastings, I created the back wall kitchen art, to fully immerse attendees in the environment. Using a combination of stock photography and photoshop, the 12 x 8 foot wall was the backdrop for the event.

2019

Working with MVA Experiential, I created the window and bar decals, inspired by traditional papel picado design. Incorporating Tequila Herradura branding such as the horseshoe and agave kept the designs relevant to the brand, as well as the theme of the Hola Mexico Film Festival.

2019

Working with FGPG we turned Freshmade, a cooking studio and event space in New York City into a fun and playful setting for the Enfagrow Media Event. The client asked that we create “A youthful spin on snack time… play up childhood fun and learning.”

We created a large magnetic wall where children’s alphabet magnets spelled out key nutrients in their toddler formula as well as recipes and other facts. A panel featuring brand ambassador Jessie James Decker was held in front of a bookshelf set with product and foam letter tiles spelling out Enfagrow. I illustrated a large collage of healthy foods that was viewed upon entrance to the space. A large balloon photo op rounded out the fun.

2019

I was so fortunate to work with MVA Experiential to help create this immersive experience for one of their clients at her estate in Hollywood. The logo was inspired by cigar labels and tobacco leaves. It appeared as neon in the photo booth, as well as the menus, cigar bands and on the truss for the band that I also designed. I created window decals for the patio, to recreate an authentic Cuban backdrop for the pop-up restaurant. I also skinned a beautiful bar which captured the art deco vibe of Havana.

2019

Working with MVA Experiential, I create the graphics for the Ray-Ban ”Proud to Belong” booth designed for Luxottica at the Vision Expo at Javits Center. Taking inspiration from the Soho flagship store, we created a subway car and loft-like living room to display the frames and branding.

2019

Consulting for FG|PG, I was asked to create a 20x10 booth plan for Proactiv at the Ulta General Managers Conference. Using existing client-owned inventory as well as some rental items from Show Services, we created a slick and inviting space for attendees to learn about product, get their photo taken and take home a freebie, while staying in budget and true to the client’s vision.

2018

FGPG asked me to help them bring their vision to life for client Zulily. They wanted a white elephant themed van that would go to different spots through out Manhattan and give away gifts to pedestrians through a White Elephant gift exchange. I was given the concept and created the artwork for the van, including direction for the 3D trunk that was attached at each stop they made.

Working with FG|PG (Freddie Georges Production Group), we designed a full street scene inspired by New Bordeaux, the fictional 1960’s New Orleans-esk city in Mafia III. There was a jazz band and fortune tellers. An electronics store with time-period TV’s showing news footage from the era. The double decker structure allowed for architectural details such as iron balconies. We even threw beads down to attendees during happy hour, which of course had hurricanes on the menu. There was a 35-seat theater created to show the demo of the game, all designed in the 60’s era style.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 6 was a feature title in the E3 booth. With limited assets at the time of the show, I created a museum-style installation featuring quotes from the announce trailer, etched into plexiglass. Above was a 60 foot screen which ran the trailer.

NBA2K17 was also a starring title at E3. We created a large back-lit ball installation, wanting to provide a sophisticated feature wall. We also had a free throw activation which allowed attendees to earn VC (virtual currency) to use in the game.

Again partnering with FG|PG we featured Battleborn with a sculpted photo-op of the 5 main characters of the game as well as 20 playable game stations. Faction artwork was displayed on large LED screens suspended above as well as a 20 foot logo.

XCOM2 was highlighted with an immersive theater experience. We created an area inspired by the environments within the game. Featuring large LED ads and scanners, plus a recreation of the iconic statue in the city.

Battleborn was represented at PAX East by a photo-op statue and 20 playable stations. We created a live-streaming area for YouTubers and influencers, plus a 2K broadcast desk. We also had an interactive photo-op that was inspired by the marketing campaign. It doubled as large branding when shown on the overhead LEDs.

2012 brought 2K to PAX East with playable for both Borderlands 2 and Spec Ops: The Line. Utilizing 2-50x50 booth spaces, one for each game. We created 2 distinctly themed areas, tied together by the 2K-brand red carpeted aisle between them.

Spec Ops: The Line takes place in the war torn deserts of Dubai. We created a broken down, bullet riddled bus as an interview backdrop and the centerpiece of the space. Metal billboard frames were created to house 98” LED screens to broadcast trailers and in-game propaganda. Gameplay stations were set into sand dunes.

Borderlands 2 also had themed gameplay stations as well as a larger that life sculpted photo-op of the 4 main characters from the game.

Both areas were set against 20 foot tall branded fabric backdrops.

E3 2011 featured a new booth build that consisted of demo theaters that spoked off of a main open area. This area was Sports-bar themed, to support the 2K Sports titles. It also create an area for people spend time in between meetings, or to even hold impromptu meetings in.

We featured immersive, themed demo theaters for Darkness 2, XCOM and BioShock Infinite.

The Darkness 2 theater was hand-painted by an artist to emulate the carnival environment within the game. XCOM’s theater and meeting room were themed in the 50’s FBI style of the game, and BioShock Infinite was given an intimate, living room setting reminiscent of the early 20th-century time period of the game, complete with in-game posters and taxidermy adorning the walls.

Working with FG|PG we created a 1980’s New York City subway scene pulled straight from the game Darkness 2. Attendees entered through a turnstile to gameplay stations that were mounted to pillars within the space. The walls were plastered with graffiti and grit, reminiscent of 80’s downtown Manhattan.

2009 took 2K off the show floor and into a smaller meeting room. Because we had 3 major titles - BioShock 2, Mafia II and Borderlands - that needed their own demo areas, we built out smaller theaters that we designed to immerse the viewer in the games’ environments. I recreated large in-game scenes to seamlessly wrap around the walls of the room to give the feeling that attendees were in the game. Even the floors of the theaters were skinned reinforce the idea.

2016

We partnered with Eventmakers to produce the closing General Session of the 2016 GameStop Managers Expo. 5,000 managers were treated to a performance comprised of a 70 person choir dressed in authentic 1968 costumes, a 16 piece New Orleans jazz band and an All-Star Rock band made up of the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction, Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver, Joey Castillo of Queens of the Stone Age.

They performed 2 songs from the 60’s soundtrack Mafia III, backed by the choir, who entered the arena as part of the 2nd Line Funeral procession, also inspired by the 1960’s New Orleans setting of the game.

The band then introduced the lead of the development team to present more details about the upcoming game.

2009

This event took place at the Dogpatch, a raw warehouse space in San Francisco. There was a stage presentation, followed by time with the game and interviews with the development team. We used lighting to immerse attendees in the underwater setting go the game.

The ground floor was set up with 32 gameplay stations, the second floor was designated for interviews and the top floor was set as a lounge and bar area.

2K partnered with KLF Events on this project.

2014

We returned to Dogpatch again for the Evolve Hands-On event. The 4-verse-1 theme of the game was emphasized by playable sets-ups: 4 solider players on one side facing against the 1 monster player on the other. We set up a stage and large screen for developer presentation and tournament at the end of the event.

We used projections of environmental footage from the game to emerge the attends into the setting. This was also supported by atmospheric sound and lighting.

2K partnered with KLF Events on this project.

2015

To celebrate the amazing community of fans for the Borderlands franchise, we threw the “Borderlands Pants Option Couch Party” during PAX East 2015 in Boston. The party was based on Borderlands The Handsome Collection and the couch theme was chosen to emphasize the amazing co-op playability of the game.

As part of the lead up to the event, we held a contest to give away a collections of “Awesome Loot” including a custom couch and 2 matching arm chairs, a Claptrap mini fridge(!) and a loot chest coffee table with masks inside.

We had a number of playable stations at the party, set up as 4-player co-op, a large screen for videos and presentations, fun cocktail party swag including claptrap koozies, and even a impromptu cosplay contest that led to a giveaway of a Collector’s Edition of the upcoming game.

2007

2009

2007

2010

I designed the logo and art directed the animation which shows the logo through the ages.

2015

Logo design to celebrate 2K’s 10th anniversary. The logo was used on apparel and plaques given to employees.

2014

Snowflake logo created using the 2K logo form. It was used on holiday party invitations and collateral and etched onto pint glass given to employees as gift.

2014

The Borderlands franchise had quite a few appearances at PAX East 2014. To encourage attendees to interact with each one, we created a Loot Pass, or passport. They would receive a stamp for each Mission they completed through the convention. Once finished, they were entered into a sweepstakes to win limited edition prizes. They also received a pack of exclusive collectible trading cards.

2010

I concepted, designed and managed production of all elements of the BioShock 2 Special Edition. Included in the collection were a hard cover art book, a full sized LP of the game’s score, a CD of music inspired by the game and 2 art lithographs. The prints, when seen normally, were Art Deco ads from in-game. But once viewed under black-light, secret messages appeared. We waited for people to discover this and post to social media on their own, giving us a little extra cost-free advertising.

2009

I designed and hand-produced the invitation to the BioShock 2 Hands-On Event. The concept was inspired by the Little Sister’s drawings throughout the game, and one of the brands, Sinclair Solutions. Using a matchbox, designed to look like a discarded bullet box, and Big Daddy and Little Sister paper dolls, I hoped to create something that a Little Sister might have made in Rapture.

2009

I designed and hand-crafted the press kit for the First Look Announce Event for BioShock 2. They were designed in the Art Deco style of the game, and personalize for each attendee to look like it was sent from Andrew Ryan, the founder of Rapture.

Each guest also received a luggage tag that, when opened, revealed a name tag that had been crumpled and scorched from the initial plane crash that brought to player to Rapture.

2009

To promote the upcoming release of Mafia II, I created a pin-up calendar which was sent to press and buyers as a Holiday gift. I used the amazing concept art from the developer which was in the 1950’s style of the game. Each month having its own pin-up girl set in a playful Mafia-themed scene.

2009

I designed and hand-produced the press kit for the Mafia 2 First Look Event, which took place at an old-school Italian restaurant in North Beach, San Francisco’s “little Italy”. It was made to look like a take out container (blood-splattered, or course), and included a DVD with digital assets, a branded ashtray from the in-game hotel and a box of matches. The design was inspired by the 1950’s mob theme of the game.

2010

Using the fictional brands Shubert Automobiles and Swift Cola,, I created ads that were used as billboards and others advertising within the urban 1950’s, post-war setting of Mafia 2.

2007

This highly-sought after Limited Edition for the original BioShock included a CD of the score, designed to look like an EP record, “Welcome to Rapture”, a making-of DVD as well as an exclusive Big Daddy figurine. Along with the game, they were housed in a custom, die-cut box with a porthole window to evoke the underwater theme of the game and highlight the figurine.

2007

At the time of BioShock’s release, custom Xbox faceplates were all the rage. Up until this point, most of them were basic key art or logo and not very inspired. Cue the BioShock faceplate, that was designed in the Art Deco style of the game, using borders and textures to create a background for Big Daddy, who’s mask glowed when the console was turned on.

The limited edition faceplate was sent to GameStop managers as part of a mailing and soon because a highly sought-after collectible, appearing on Ebay and commanding quite pretty penny.

2004

Working with Atari to promote their upcoming Transformers video game, I designed this brochure in a comic-book style to reference the origins of the game.

2000

While at Infogrames (formerly GT Interactive and then later, Atari) we release Driver 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 1996 game. I created a series of mailings that went out to the press to hint at the journey of Tanner, the main character of the game. Each mailer was a cryptic message sent to his partner as he traveled to each location from the game - Havana, Las Vegas, Rio De Janeiro and Chicago. These 4 culminated in a final mailer with the full-color brochure, and VHS (yes, VHS) tape with a personalized message to each recipient.