CAVS PLAYOFFS 2026 | Graphic Designer
For our fourth consecutive playoff run, we made a deliberate shift in tone, moving away from the brightness of the regular season and into a darker, more elevated look. Black backgrounds paired with a polished gold system became the visual cue for postseason intensity, signaling a clear transition in stakes.
With deeper playoff experience and expectations of a longer run, we planned ahead with a dedicated March shoot, capturing a new library of player imagery that helped define the campaign’s direction. That content carried across everything, from social to large scale in market placements, creating a consistent, high impact presence.
Despite the speed and volume that come with playoff execution, the final output stayed true to the original vision, making the campaign feel cohesive from start to finish and especially rewarding in retrospect.
THE SHOOT
The playoff photoshoot, which I was fortunate to provide creative direction on, was designed to feel dramatic and rooted in the idea that this team still has more to prove. High contrast lighting, stark backgrounds, and intense, locked in poses strip away distractions and put all the focus on the players’ mindset rather than the moment’s celebration. By leaning into shadow, negative space, and tight crops, the imagery suggests a story that is still being written, echoing the theme of unfinished business heading into the postseason.
Photographer: Jimmy Longo
BTS
PHOTOGRAPHER: NICO MORALES
