From the Art & Design Department to the Super Bowl

A link with roots in the Artwork & Design Division led a trio of graphic layout alumni to showcase its do the job on a person of the major levels in athletics and enjoyment.

Derek Kunze ’16, Otto Setiajita ’18 and Julien Saliba ’19 – 3 of the 4 motion graphic designers for Boston-dependent online sports activities betting system DraftKings – all performed a function in marketing and advertising their firm all through the 2023 Super Bowl.

Developing the graphics for a star-studded commercial featuring Kevin Hart, David Ortiz, Tony Hawk, Ludacris and other people was a particular expertise in his profession with DraftKings, Kunze claims.

“In the context of the Super Bowl, it is a modest placement, but it’s still a fantastic sensation even so,” he says.

The commercial aired in the initial quarter of the Super Bowl, which drew in 113 million viewers.

The crew designed a movement graphic showcasing Kansas Town Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles helmets experiencing the Super Bowl brand, a pop-up textual content bubble and legal disclaimers for the 30-2nd advertisement.

With sports activities betting now legalized in Massachusetts, Kunze says the commercial will be a catalyst for the company’s internet marketing approaches.

“It was genuinely thrilling for me to be a part of the crew that was functioning with this talent, but that second also will get to explode outwards into the rest of our advertising campaigns,” he suggests.

Kunze began performing at DraftKings in February 2018 as a graphic designer. As the firm grew into a chief in its sector, so did opportunities for fellow River Hawks to be part of the design and style workforce. Setiajita landed a position with the corporation in August 2018, and Saliba was hired the pursuing summer season.

Saliba says his possibility to do the job at DraftKings came via conference Kunze and Setiajita all through a networking celebration for artwork pupils and alumni before he graduated.

“That was fairly a lot how I bought my foot in the door right here – being aware of Derek and Otto and getting connected officially via (Assoc. Teaching Prof.) Regina Milan’s advice,” he states. “From there, it was no matter if or not (DraftKings) was a good in good shape, which it was.”

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Saliba transferred from UMass Amherst, where he studied mechanical engineering, but said he uncovered robust aid from the Art & Style and design Office at the time he changed his key at UMass Lowell. He extra a focus in animation and interactive media along the way.

“My practical experience at UML is fairly a great deal the motive I’m in this article today,” he claims. “The (professors) designed these kinds of a substantial big difference. I’m quite thankful that the alternative I made back again then paid out off and I finished up in a area in which I’m delighted.”

Though all three are relaxed sports activities lovers, they also had expertise in sporting activities advertising and marketing ahead of performing for DraftKings. Each completed graphic style and design internships at the Campus Recreation Middle as undergraduates.

For Setiajita, the visual features are his major precedence for his function, no matter of the activity.

“I like esports and movie video games a whole lot a lot more, but the parallel (involving) the art and graphics and how it all arrives with each other is there, and which is what my inspiration for the perform is,” he says.

The trio has navigated the troubles of a worldwide shutdown of sports activities all through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and, additional recently, an elevated workload due to rising desire.

Throughout demanding situations, such as the months leading up to the Super Bowl, they have been capable to depend on each individual other the two personally and professionally.

“It assists a ton to have a workforce like that,” Saliba claims. “You really do not have to have long gone to university with them, but we have that foundation, and acquiring that bond is a large enable.”