PALEYFEST 2017 celebrated Orphan Black, the groundbreaking sci-fi drama exploring the far-reaching consequences of a covert government cloning experiment. For a series with such a passionate fanbase and such a distinct creative identity, it was exactly the kind of entertainment project I love diving into — one that merges fandom, storytelling, and the electric atmosphere of a live cultural event.

During my time working with The Paley Center for Media, I was already knee-deep in producing a wide range of promotional print and digital assets — everything from event flyers and branded collateral to web banners, email promos, and onsite screens for celebrity panels. The Paley Center has always been a sacred space for anyone who loves television and pop culture; it’s an archive, a museum, and a storytelling hub all in one. So when Senior Creative Director Jack Chen casually mentioned that Orphan Black was coming in for a PaleyFest Q&A panel, I nearly had to stop myself from vibrating out of my chair.

I’ve always been drawn to entertainment properties with rich worldbuilding and devoted fan communities, and Orphan Black sits high on that list. Hearing that it would be hosted in just one week, I remember walking straight over to Jack’s desk and asking — probably with too much enthusiasm — what I could do to help. Much of the event branding was already underway, but there was one piece still outstanding: a PowerPoint-style presentation that needed to highlight the cast, the characters, and key moments from the show for the live audience.

For most designers, that might have been just another slide deck.

For me — a creative who thrives in the entertainment world and was already emotionally invested in this show — it became an opportunity to build something special.

The team no longer needed to scramble to educate themselves on a show they hadn’t seen. I knew the characters, the arcs, the tone, the visual language. I knew what fans cared about. And I knew exactly how to translate that into a presentation that felt more like a mini-feature than a series of static slides. I pulled together dynamic compositions, layered key art, integrated motion, and built a sequence that honored the spirit of the show while energizing the audience for the live Q&A.

What happened next made it even more meaningful.

The Orphan Black event sold out immediately and was expanded into a two-night engagement because the demand was so overwhelming. After night one, I took it upon myself — without being asked — to append new video footage and fan moments from the first evening into the next night’s presentation. It transformed the deck into an evolving, in-the-moment celebration that reflected the energy happening inside the venue. That flexibility is something I’ve always loved about entertainment work: everything is alive, everything moves, everything responds to the audience.

By the time the event opened, the reel had become a highlight in its own right. Fans crowded around the screens, taking photos in front of the animations and calling out favorite characters as they appeared. Watching them react — seeing joy, nostalgia, laughter, and excitement spark in real time — was the moment I knew I had done something right.

Entertainment projects like this remind me why I love working in this industry: the human response, the shared energy, the cultural connection. When the work resonates with fans, it becomes part of the memory of the experience itself — and that is the highest reward.