DARREN CARROLL + HAKEEM OLAJUWON

March 13, 2023
Darren Carroll has a rich history with Sports Illustrated and Hakeem Olajuwon and we asked him to share his take on this recent shoot...

"I owe a great deal of my career to Sports Illustrated. For my first 15 years in the business, the weekly Time, Inc. powerhouse magazine was my primary client—first as a lighting technician for some of the best basketball and hockey photographers in the world, and later as a regular contributing photographer covering just about anything and everything, from baseball to basketball to football to hockey and golf and tennis, from action to portraits to documentary work and yes, even the occasional still life."

"The magazine is now a monthly, and with the decline of the editorial print industry, assignments from it (and magazines in general) are few and far between, so it’s always a privilege to get the call for one these days and a change of pace from commercial work. Late last year, the folks at the magazine contacted me about a story they were working on. It had to do with the lost art of playing the low post in basketball. The sport has become dependent on speed, moving the ball around the perimeter, and three-point shooting. Getting the ball to a big guy in the middle has all but become a thing of the past. Or has it? It turns out one of its finest practitioners, former Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, was still teaching players about it on an individual level on his ranch outside of Houston, where he’s converted a barn into a full-sized basketball court; players come from far and wide to seek his counsel. A writer was being dispatched to witness a coaching session; would I be interested in documenting it and having Olajuwon sit for a portrait session afterward?
 

It was great to work with a legend, and it brought things full circle for me, career-wise. In 1995, I worked the first of many NBA Finals for Sports Illustrated, dangling out over the railings of the catwalks high above the court at the old Summit in Houston to hang studio strobes, and running the triggering system for the 32 remote cameras that SI’s three photographers used to cover the finals. The Rockets defeated the Orlando Magic that year. The series MVP? You guessed it. Hakeem Olajuwon."

see more of Darren's work here!

THOSE 3 REPS + FRESHLY COOKED CREATIVE

May 28, 2025
🪄 Bringing Our Brand to Life with Freshly Cooked Creative 🪄 When we set out to celebrate our 36-year journey - and communicate who we are today - we partnered with Freshly Cooked Creative to help us tell that story visually and memorably. The result is a stunning animated piece that begins with our sapling logo and grows into a vibrant, flourishing tree. It’s more than a beautiful metaphor. The animation reflects our evolution: deep roots in the industry, decades-long relationships, and a future full of growth and possibility. Every frame is intentional, designed to reflect our expanding capabilities and continued relevance in the creative space. But Freshly Cooked didn’t stop at animation. They delivered a complete brand package built to meet today’s marketing demands. We now have: Four optimized formats of the animation for use across digital platforms Custom-designed web icons, Zoom backgrounds, and event signage Branded social media assets and sticker graphics for both digital and in-person impact Thanks to Freshly Cooked Creative , we now have a dynamic, versatile visual system that honors our past while positioning us for what’s next. Curious how Freshly Cooked can help bring your next campaign, pitch, or brand refresh to life? Check out their latest work and reach out to us if you want to see more!

ICONIC + JAMES NELSON

May 21, 2025
✨ Why Custom Illustration Matter ✨ Why icons deserve a second look! Icons are often treated like a checkbox - something to grab from a stock library or pull from an existing UI kit. But when they’re built intentionally, they become one of the most quietly powerful tools in your creative arsenal. Custom icons do more than reinforce a brand. They clarify communication. They guide users. They bring visual consistency to even the most complex projects - across digital, print, packaging, environments, and campaigns. Illustrator James Nelson approaches icon work with that kind of purpose. His sets are clean, strategic, and built to flex—whether they’re solving for user experience, packaging hierarchies, internal comms, or large-scale marketing systems.

ROLLING LOUD + LINCOLN DURHAM

April 1, 2025
✨ Lincoln Durham - 3D Character Design + Animation - Rolling Loud Music Festival ✨ Lincoln Durham created this dynamic sizzle reel showcasing some of the 2D and 3D animations he developed for the Rolling Loud Music Festival across various cities, in collaboration with Zellus. These animations were primarily used for social media promotions and as NFTs to further engage festival fans. The original artwork, provided by an undisclosed artist, served as still illustrations that Lincoln brought to life by adding motion and sound. For the 3D scenes, he sculpted and rigged characters inspired by the 2D illustrations, using them as a foundation to build out a story line based on direction from Zellus. Lincoln’s ability to seamlessly blend 2D and 3D animation, along with his expertise in motion and sound design, brings energy and depth to every project. His work for Rolling Loud is just one example of how he transforms static illustrations into immersive, high-impact visuals. Looking to elevate your next project with dynamic animation? Consider Lincoln for your upcoming creative needs!