2025 SVG GFX Forum Bring Together 250+ Attendees To Forge New Ideas, Discuss Future of Live Sports Graphics Graphics creation, next-gen tech, style and design philosophy, and more were discussed in NYC By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor Friday, February 21, 2025 - 9:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The brightest and most forward-thinking sports graphics professionals once again reunited for the 2025 SVG GFX Forum on Thursday, Feb. 20. More than 250 attendees took in a full day's worth of sessions focused on sports graphics, AR, virtual technology, and the latest creative-design trends in the business.
SVG Sports Graphics Committee Chair & ESPN Creative Director Tim O'Shaughnessy welcomed attendees to the event.
This year's program was spearheaded by the SVG Sports Graphics Advisory Committee and its Chair, ESPN Creative Director Tim O'Shaughnessy and was hosted a short walk away from the Empire State Building at The Cutting Room in New York City. With the influx of new workflows into the production ecosystem and fresh ideas making an impact on live broadcasts in a creative way, this year's event generated fruitful conversations on how to tell a better story through engaging on-air elements.
All sessions from the SVG GFX Forum will be available to watch on demand at SVG PLAY in the coming weeks.
The event opened with a deep dive into ESPN's latest journey into the world of alternate broadcasts. This session focused on two recent productions that happened in quick succession, The Simpsons Funday Football on Dec. 9 and Dunk the Halls on Christmas Day. The trio of VP, ESPN Creative Studio, Michael Spike Szykowny; Senior Creative Director, Animation, Graphics Innovation and Production Design, David Sparky Sparrgrove; and Manager, Graphics Innovation, Amy Nelson, provided an inside look and behind-the-scenes glimpse at the strategy and technological innovation of these broadcasts.
Next, O'Shaughnessy was joined by a longtime supporter of the SVG GFX initiative, CBS Sports' VP of On-Air Graphics & Design JP LoMonaco, and TNT Sports' Art Director Chase Oliver. This panel revolved around how to handle a major rebrand, working holistically with all staffers involved in the project, and how this approach will turn into a product that better serves the fan.
ESPN's Michael Spike Szykowny, David Sparky Sparrgrove, and Amy Nelson walked the crowd through their work on The Simpsons Sunday Football and Dunk the Halls.
A quick 15-minute chat with PGA Tour's SVP and Executive Creative Director David Piccolo walked the audience through the organization's workflows on the graphics side. Anchored by their newly minted, 165,000-sq.-ft facility in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, guests learned how their fan-focused content is captivating domestic and global audiences.
After a brief networking break, leading vendors and manufacturers broke down the state of live graphics technology. From augmented-reality enhancements to real-time data visualization, the technology powering sports-broadcast graphics is evolving rapidly to meet the demands of modern fans. Members from AE Live Group, Chyron, Ross Video, SMT, and Vizrt explored the latest innovations in playout, graphics engines, virtual studios, and more that are shaping the way sports stories are told visually.
A panel entitled Gridiron Graphics: A Creative Roundtable With NFL Rightsholders brought together the four linear networks that televise professional football - CBS Sports' VP, Graphics Innovation and Design, Komal Bhukhanwala; Fox Sports' EVP/Creative Director Gary Hartley; ESPN's Senior Art Director Thomas Maloney; and NBC Sports & Olympics' Art Director John Schleef - as well as Two Fresh Creative's Founder and Executive Creative Director Phil Guthrie to spotlight their respective graphics packages.
Following lunch, Hartley returned to the stage with his FOX Sports colleague - SVP, Graphics Technology and Integration, Zac Fields - to recount how the network leveraged AR graphics, XR multicam technology, and advanced LED displays to elevate storytelling across the biggest stages in sports, including Super Bowl LIX and EURO 2024.
Vendors and networks alike entered the fray to chat about developments in augmented reality, extended reality, and virtual production. Representatives from |drive| Studio, The Famous Group, ESPN Creative Studio, Warner Bros. Discovery, and CBS Sports delved into the role of AR, XR, and virtual-production technologies in the studio and on the field.
After a case study with BallerFX's Founder Justin Peterson about the role of automation in the graphics-creation process, NBC Olympics' VP of Creative David Barton brought us back to the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Barton went into the vision, design process, and techniques used to develop the graphics package and overall visual identity.
More than 230 industry professionals were in the audience in New York City.
In the penultimate panel, Bhukhanwala moderated a conversation with ESPN's Senior Director, Sports Business Development & Innovation, Zack Malet; Meta's Executive Mixed Reality Producer, Entertainment Experiences, Shawn Grover; and K exFrame's Founder and CEO Arturo Brena about how brands can develop interactive experiences for their users. As gaming platforms evolve into expansive social ecosystems, brands are leveraging Fortnite, Meta Horizon, and other virtual worlds to create immersive, interactive experiences that resonate with fans across the globe. From gamified campaigns to persistent virtual environments, this panel explores how media organizations are pushing creative boundaries to build alternative brand experiences that drive engagement, foster community, and open new revenue streams.
To end the day, ESPN closed out the event with a p
