Case Studies
Gay Pride & Prejudice is a Gimlet original podcast written by Zackary Grady, and produced by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita. In this modern interpretation of the Jane Austen classic, Bennet, a 30-something, non committal gay man struggles to find belonging when his chosen family suddenly begins coupling up and settling down. With the unique challenge that only comes with a fictional audio series, Sarah had the opportunity to visualize these characters, while also bringing in the likeness of the talent who voiced Bennet and Darcy. This was a cross-functional project involving thoughtful creative concepts, bespoke illustration and a high-profile digital marketing campaign.
The Creative Concept
Sarah and team brought Carolina Bingley’s queer dating app, PERSUASION! to life in this #queerpersuasion concept. She brought the two main characters (Bennet and Darcy) together via their imagined dating profiles. These dating profiles play on the notion of vignettes- popular during the original Pride & Prejudice period.
While the script nods to relationships and milestones in the classic Pride & Prejudice text, this work has a modern and sleek feel.
Two modern phones slightly overlap at the bottom of the devices to become a modern reimagining of the classic cameo and a vignette floral element around the profiles winks at the classic telling. Painterly emojis displayed on the wallpaper are yet another play on “what’s old is new.”
Portrait and emoji illustrations by Hannah Gillingham.
Layout by Talia Rochmann.
The Portraits
Sarah worked with illustrator Hannah Gillingham to bring the characters of Bennet and Darcy to life through her painterly-realistic illustrations. Actors Blake Lee (Parks & Rec) and Ronald Peet (The I-Land) portray Bennet and Darcy respectively. Since a podcast leaves the visuals up to the listener’s imagination, Sarah and team were free to create a world in which Bennet and Darcy could come together.
The Wallpaper
Hannah also created custom emoji wallpaper using her signature painterly illustration style. The emojis chosen are ones that are used by Bennet and friends through the script.
Digital Marketing
The colorful visual identity came to life both on the Spotify platform and on Social.
Out of Home
The team put together two impactful out of home placements: an animated board at Penn Plaza in NYC (below) and The Reef in LA (right).
OOH Design by Elise Harven.
Spill the Tea
Custom tea sets were manufactured and sent to influencer couples to create buzz around the launch of Gay Pride & Prejudice. Hannah’s emoji wallpaper illustrations were used in the branding of these sets.
Concept & Design by Elise Harven.
Tribeca Film Festival
Actors and creators came together to promote the podcast at a panel during the Tribeca Film Festival.
(L-R Ronald Peet, Vella Lovell, Zackary Grady, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita, Blake Lee) on the red carpet ahead of their Tribeca Film Festival Panel: “A Romantic Comedy Event: Gay Pride and Prejudice.” Credit: Getty.
