Jeffrey Gibson,
The Spirits Are Laughing
An 11-minute animated projection created in collaboration with Jeffrey Gibson for Climate Week NYC.
Motion Graphics • Projection Design • Environmental Design
In The Spirits are Laughing, an original poem by artist Jeffrey Gibson comes to life through an 11-minute animation projected continuously around New York City and other US locations for an audience of roughly two million.
From start to finish, I served as the sole producer and designer of this project. I collaborated directly with the artist to translate his static archive — paintings, handwriting, and vector patterns — into a moving narrative. I handled the entire production process from storyboarding to final render, including the technical adaptation for the projection sites.Seeing my work projected on iconic sites like the Brooklyn Bridge, Radio City Music Hall, and The Highline remains one of the most exciting moments of my time working as a graphic designer. Working with Jeffrey was one of the most creatively fulfilling learning opportunities I’ve had throughout my design journey, and this project remains one of my proudest works.
Five elements of nature — the Animals, the Sky, the Land, the Water, and the People — speak urgent messages to viewers during Climate Week.
Throughout the artist’s extensive portfolio of paintings, sculptures, and installations, living and nonliving members of nature alike engage in peaceful dialogue. Humans, creatures, plants, and landforms alike take on their own voices and interact both with each other and with the viewer.
The artist’s ability to grant agency to all objects in nature — both animate and inanimate — exemplifies the mission of Climate Week: to heighten awareness of anthropogenic impact on climate, and to inspire empathy between humans and nature. The Spirits Are Laughing upholds this mission by magnifying the voices of nature on a massive, city-wide scale.
Jeffrey Gibson, The Spirits Are Laughing projected in Union Square
The animation combines patterns, color gradients, and an original typeface by the artist.
The main challenge of this project involved translating the artist’s signature analog style — simple typography, vibrant painting, and textile patterns — into a dynamic, digital space without losing their tactile quality. Working primarily in After Effects, I layered and keyframed color gradients, vector patterns, and text to create a serene, fluid animation that mimicked nature.
Adapting the animation for diverse aspect ratios and surfaces presented a significant technical hurdle. I created modular animation systems that could be re-mapped to fit the square dimensions of the Union Square projection area or the horizontal span of Pioneer Works without distorting the typography or imagery.
Ensuring a meaningful viewing experience both for quick passersby and a dedicated audience presented another challenge. I tested animation speeds, amounts of content displayed at once, and transition durations to maximize readability without compromising the animation's meditative pacing. These efforts contributed to a final animation that felt tranquil for stationary observers, yet still conveyed poignant messages at a glance to moving viewers.
Jeffrey Gibson, The Spirits Are Laughing Animation Stills