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Case study

Project
Blackbird

An interactive oral history of the restaurant that transformed Chicago's dining landscape.

Role
Creative Director / Design Lead
Org
MTG Media Group
Recognition
Grand Neal Finalist, top 4 nationally
Project Blackbird hero image

Challenge

Translate a culinary movement into an immersive digital experience.

How do you tell the story of a restaurant that helped spark an entire culinary movement? Blackbird was not just a restaurant. It shaped Chicago's farm-to-table identity. We needed to translate that complex, multi-layered story into an immersive digital experience.

Approach

Long-form storytelling, visual depth.

  • Typographic hierarchy

    Strong grids and clean layouts supporting long-form storytelling.

  • Immersive media

    Original photography, illustrations, and video woven into the narrative.

  • User-centered navigation

    Interactive storytelling letting readers explore the personalities and vision behind Blackbird.

Results

A national finalist, a guest seat at Medill.

  • Jesse H. Neal Award
  • Grand Jesse H. Neal Finalist, Top 4 Nationally
  • Invited guest at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism

Presented insights on long-form journalism in digital media at Medill, discussing strategies for translating complex stories into engaging, user-focused digital experiences.