IBM
TERMINAL
ART / EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR
IBM / OGILVY
SUMMARY
An immersive training game from IBM, designed as a three-act simulation where players step into the roles of Analyst, Manager, and Executive to defend airport systems against escalating cyberattacks and ransomware.
I directed the creative vision and game design, building the narrative arcs, missions, dialogue, and cinematics to capture the pressure of a live cyber crisis. I also oversaw motion design, audio direction and adaptive music that helped establish TERMINAL as a benchmark for serious games in cybersecurity training.
TYPE
Interactive Simulation
WebGL Experience
Game Trailer & Cinematics
PROJECT
Client: IBM / Ogilvy
Studio: North Kingdom
Year: 2020
WHAT I DID
Creative & Art Direction
Game Direction & Design
Narrative & Cinematics Direction
Production Design
SIMULATING CHAOS TO TEACH CONTROL
IBM needed a way to train cybersecurity professionals that felt urgent and memorable. Typical training modules were dry and technical, but the stakes in real life are anything but. They wanted a tool that could simulate the pressure of a live ransomware attack while still teaching core principles of teamwork and decision-making.
MY ROLE
I served as Creative and Game Director, working for six months alongside IBM’s cybersecurity specialists and a wide network of creative talents. Together we built a three-act experience where players stepped into escalating roles: Analyst, Manager, and Executive, shaping the narrative arcs, designed the mission flow, and wrote dialogue that mirrored the language and pressure of real incidents.
Beyond the story, I directed of the cinematics, voice performances, music, and sound design, ensuring every detail heightened the sense of urgency. My job was to align the technical expertise of IBM’s specialists with the craft of interactive storytelling so the end result felt both authentic and gripping.
RESULT
Terminal became a standout piece of training. Instead of passively reading or clicking through a course, players were dropped into a situation that felt alive, tense, and consequential.
It helped professionals understand not only the mechanics of a cyberattack but also the human and organizational challenges that come with it. The feedback was clear: people came out more aware, more engaged, and more prepared.
ACT 1 EXCERPT
ART FROM THE PRODUCTION
WRAP UP
Terminal was the kind of project that proves what happens when specialists and creatives truly collaborate. IBM brought the expertise, we brought the storytelling, and together we turned routine training into an immersive simulation that people actually felt. It was an intense six months of bridging worlds, but the payoff was clear: a serious subject transformed into an experience that sticks.