World Building
I'm still that nerdy kid surrounded by D&D books.
> Characters, world-logic, and design coherence are an obsession for me. Sharpened to a fine point by always asking: how can we make this look and feel cooler?NETFLIX | Rebel Moon Part 1 & 2, Directed by Zack Snyder
Credited: Speculitive Civilization Advisor
Building Cinematic Universes: Beyond a Single Film
Rolling out a film franchise is far more ambitious than creating a standalone film. Each movie represents just one chapter in a much larger narrative universe. My role involves rendering that broader world—whether it's reshaping familiar elements from the films or crafting entirely new prequel stories that set the stage for on-screen action.
While we aim to anticipate as much as possible, spontaneity is inevitable. Creative discussions often spark unplanned world-building, driven by thoughtful questions that push the boundaries of the universe.
To ensure narrative and thematic coherence, I begin by creating specialized documents that map out the story's core rules, boundaries, and consequences. These frameworks help me construct the broader cosmology and explore the universe's internal logic. Importantly, this isn't a cold, objective process; the story's inherent subjectivity is central. By analyzing and mapping its perspective, I uncover opportunities for richer, more inspired creative decisions.
Over time, I become a key resource for the cinematic universe—not by dictating its direction, but by fostering collaboration. I elevate critical questions, listen to creative solutions, and document as much as possible to fuel further development. My goal is to empower others while ensuring the universe remains cohesive, dynamic, and engaging.
Speculative Design Lead
“ Speculative design is concerned with future consequences and implications of the relationship between science, technology, and humans” -Wikipedia
Learning the Art-Science of World-Building
I had the privilege of learning the art and science of world-building from internationally renowned designer Alex McDowell RDI, founder of the Los Angeles-based design studio EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN. A visionary artist and former production designer for richly imagined films like Minority Report, Alex pioneered a highly visual, research-based methodology that enables stakeholders to collaboratively visualize preferred futures and work toward shared goals.
As part of a team of researchers, I applied this methodology to a project commissioned by the University of Alaska. Our task was to conceptualize and design a virtual campus for their extensive higher education system. The result was a speculative digital space—a web-based artifact where knowledge meets the unique needs of a population living amidst vast natural resources increasingly shaped by global demand.
This project exemplified the power of world-building as a tool for imagining futures, aligning diverse perspectives, and creating immersive, purpose-driven designs.
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, 2040
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN | Los Angeles |2018
Credited: Deisgn Lead
Experimental collaborates with the University of Alaska to conceive and design a Prospectus that includes future academic programs and research centers in a mindful way. The end product? An interactive website highlighting new possibilities for student journeys. By witnessing their path to learning, we bring a uniquely Alaskan — and universally human — perspective to the education system.