Nike,

product reveal

Software Houdini 20+ / Karma XPU / MaterialX / Copernicus
Shots 6 + 1 Hero animation
Method Fully procedural
Year 2025

I was asked to work on a shoe reveal for Nike. I was approached based on my ability to bring out subtleties in materials and previous particle work. The deadline was short, and everything had to be built from scratch, with assets that were not all production ready at the start.

I built a procedural setup that responded to the updated assets, so there was minimal time lost changing anything out. All the styleframes and effects I set up and experimented with were saved as tool presets, so I could easily and quickly change things around based on the different feedback I received.

For this project I built the shot sequence, particle simulations, scenes, fire and smoke simulations, lighting and materials. I also created a heatwave post-effect in Copernicus that responds to the motion of the shoe.


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Behind the scenes

I always start a project with storyboarding, especially when it comes to abstract shots where you can spend hours wondering what the right shot is. A quick sketch tells it right away

I always start a project with storyboarding, especially when it comes to abstract shots where you can spend hours wondering what the right shot is. A quick sketch tells it right away

Impact forces research. Using a Pyro simulation with an advect force. The force is place on the sole, and moves outward the closer the point on the sole gets to the floor

Impact forces research. Using a Pyro simulation with an advect force. The force is place on the sole, and moves outward the closer the point on the sole gets to the floor

I used the previous Pyro simulation to influence ember particles and Pyro fire simulation.

I used the previous Pyro simulation to influence ember particles and Pyro fire simulation.

Styleframes for different fire/smoke effect. The brand world was clear at the start, but the client did want to me explore different variations and see how far I could push it hue/saturation wise

Styleframes for different fire/smoke effect. The brand world was clear at the start, but the client did want to me explore different variations and see how far I could push it hue/saturation wise

First look styleframes based on the abstract design references I have received. Usually I try to get something of a render target out as soon as possible

First look styleframes based on the abstract design references I have received. Usually I try to get something of a render target out as soon as possible