STATE Design, a new boutique design and animation studio, has opened its doors in Santa Monica, Calif. Founded by creative director Marcel Ziul and executive producer Joe Nash, the studio had already undertaken an animated graphics package for the NFL Network‘s 2014 NFL Draft coverage, and an animated Brazilian-market spot for Ecological Corredor to coincide with the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
“Marcel and I have worked together over the years, and it became clear over time that we both wanted a place where we could focus on what we do best: delivering great creative that’s not about being bigger, but being better,” explained Nash.
Nash brings both network and agency experience to STATE Design. As a producer at the NFL Network, he worked on scores of show graphics packages, and at Troika Design Group, he contributed to identity packages for ESPN, DirecTV and Canal+. Prior to that, as producer at Versus/NBC Sports, he coordinated and produced all on-air graphics for the network.
Ziul has worked as creative director/art director with studios in Brazil and the U.S., including Conspiracao Films, Mixer Group and Belief Design. As a freelancer, he contributed his talents to Prologue Films, Stardust, Zoic Studios, Troika, Shilo, Apple, MAL/TBWA, and Bigstar, where he served as an art director/lead animator on the Silver PromaxBDA Award-honored Bio Channel rebrand. Ziul was nominated for an Emmy in the outstanding achievement in main title and graphic design category for the Dr. Phil daytime graphics package.
For the 2014 NFL Draft, STATE Design’s goal was twofold: clearly communicate the cache of the NFL’s marquee event and brand to viewers, and develop a unique way of including the draft venue, New York’s Radio City Music Hall, through tone-setting animations and theatrical VFX.
For “Goleada Ecologica,” STATE Design created a whimsical animated piece to help their client Ecological Corredor inspire people to help fund an environmental campaign to plant 23,000 native trees in the Atlantic Forest. The :30 spot is currently airing in Brazil during the World Cup.
