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Labyrinth Of Lies
Netflix Original
3 Week deadline
Interactive Experince
The Challenge
Netflix needs to design a visually appealing logo lockup that captures the essence of their upcoming films and shows that are set to premiere on both theater screens and streaming platforms in the coming years. This isn’t just a logo—it’s the face of what audiences will see in trailers, posters, and social media, setting the tone for the cinematic experience ahead.
The Solution
Create a logo reveal that embodies the suspenseful and dark allure of the film Labyrinth of Lies while remaining versatile across promotional formats. The design should not only reflect the film’s tone and genre but also captivate and draw audiences into its world, whether they see it on a theater marquee or a mobile screen.
Research
Netflix invests heavily in crafting its show titles, using them as a creative gateway into the show’s unique world. Each title sequence is carefully tailored to the specific genre and mood of the show, with dramatic titles often having a bold, cinematic quality. This attention to detail enhances the viewer’s initial impression and sets the tone for what follows.
This story is a crime thriller about a detective named John Carter, a man with a strong sense of justice whose latest case has almost pushed him too far. John is thrust into a world of deception and lies, and he’ll have to find his way through the Labyrinth of Lies.
Ideation
What do ya want to see?
My aim in my logo reveal wasn’t necessarily to make the viewer uncomfortable, but to evoke a sense of unease—a feeling that mirrors John's own search for answers.
Concept 1 - Connecting Threads
There is no specific era stated the Labyrinth of Lies
takes place in, for this concept I wanted to imagine
that its a 1940-1970s style detective show with the
feeling of classic spy and detective movies like “The
Man From U.N.C.L.E”, “Sherlock Holmes” and “007”.
​
This imagery focuses on the connection of the
points of evidence and mystery though the classic
idea of strings and photographs, using the idea of a
full image reveled in the photos.
​
Chosen Thematically
Concept 2 - The Last Stop
The story revolves around themes of deception and
connection. What’s a common idea of connections
of people and locations? Trains!
​
This concept incorporates key plot points from the
synopsis, using a train interior as a way to create
pivotal moments in the show, twisting along,
allowing the narrative to unfold through each car.
​
Chosen Setting
Concept 3 - Game On
With Netflix expanding into interactive content and
gaming, I started thinking about how their use of a
new medium like Unreal Engine—primarily known
for video games—could come into play.
If Netflix were to create a video game, how might the game’s menu be designed?​​
​
Chosen Conceptually
Collective Ideas
Combining all the concepts turned out to be surprisingly smooth, despite how crazy it might have sounded at first.
The story came together into a gripping narrative about a detective’s journey on a train, trying to navigate a web of lies while being chased by an unknown entity the whole way.
An additional layer was added with interactive elements, inspired by Netflix's earlier projects, like the interactive episode of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. These interactive choices add a whole new level of engagement to the experience, giving the audience the chance to shape the story's outcome.
Motion Testing
These are some of the initial passes of the train scene. I aimed to ensure the train felt deeply connected to the story within the animation and its setting. The development process was a bit different with Unreal Engine, but overall, it was an enjoyable experience to create.
First Pass
The first pass was all about getting the project into Unreal and making sure the cinematic played smoothly. My initial goal was to make the trains feel a bit surreal—so I tilted them for that 'Alice in Wonderland' vibe. I decided to go for a Dutch angle on the camera instead to achieve the same goal.
This pass obviously needed to be texture and lit, It also needed more train cars. MORE MOVEMENT!!
Second Pass
This was my first big dive into learning the UV mapping system in Unreal Engine 5. It turned out to be pretty similar to other software, just with a few more naming conventions to juggle.
This pass also needed some love: I needed to clean up the lighting, tone down the textures, and add a few different scenarios to give the train a little more personality.
Story Segments
Here are several scenarios I developed to closely align with the story’s description and highlight its key plot points. Each scene was designed to ensure it supports the narrative and enhances the storytelling.
POLAROIDS
This room captures that classic detective vibe perfectly. Each is a clue in the larger puzzle, adding to the suspense and mystery. Every detail is crafted to make you feel like you're stepping into a detective’s world, where every photograph could be the key to cracking the case.
Model Creation
I created the train model in Cinema 4D and brought it to life by pulling together references from across the internet, and drawing inspiration from different angles and details to capture the vibe.
Every room and its assets were either built from scratch by me or customized from Cinema 4D's asset browser to fit the unique style I was going for.
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine never ceases to amaze me with its ability to produce fast and stunning renders! Even though it still has a few quirks that can make it challenging to use at times, I genuinely believe the latest improvements are pushing it toward a game-changing future for our industry.
With each update, it feels like Unreal is getting closer to becoming an indispensable tool for creators everywhere.
Title Creation
I crafted the title in After Effects, using masking to make the train door seamlessly close over the text. To blend it into the scene, I added a touch of chromatic aberration and made a few fine-tuned adjustments.
Final Render
Take Away :]
Labyrinth of Lies was a test of patience and my ability to utilize a complex program within three weeks. Despite encountering many bumps along the way, I was able to overcome each challenge and find effective solutions
Credits