James Surdam | Selected Works

the client

The New York Times
Social Visuals

Aug 2020 - Sept. 2022

the brief

In joint collaboration between the newsroom, graphics, social visuals and R&D departments at the Times, and in partnership with Meta, the task was to build over 40 world-class experimental augmented reality experiences to coincide with original Times reporting.

the role

Art Director | Content Creator
Contribute to art direction of projects by creating wireframe mockups and providing general style guidance. Additionally produce standalone original reporting to feature across social platforms to promote effects on the Spark AR platform.

Instagram stories

Created unique designs and templates to feature the latest news and promote original New York Times reporting on Instagram's vertical content platform.

Often working alongside reporters and content producers to help convey the story in the strongest manner.

Occasionally produced entirely original videos, interviews and illustrations.

Instagram posts

Coinciding with the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, this experience featured a markerless motion capture of gymnast Sunisa Lee.. It detailed how the Olympian contorts into superhuman poses for her routines, giving the user an unprecedented look and the uneven bars.

The corresponding Instagram story featured a step by step guide to the augmented reality experience as well as exclusive interviews with Times journalists, reporting from the games at Tokyo.

Scan to open the experience.
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Dispatches

An Augmented Reality reimagining of the classic game, this experience uses plane tracking and a series of checkpoints to monitor progress and accuracy. Completing the game reveals a hidden image.

The corresponding Instagram story used to promote the effect leaned heavily on demonstration walk-throughs in order to familiarize the user with gameplay prior to opening up the experience.

Scan to open the experience.