Tempo | Visual Storytelling

Objective
Establish the visual language for Tempo by Hilton’s lifestyle photography at brand launch, defining how the brand would express itself across guest experiences, beginning with the Times Square location.

Approach
As a senior designer, I partnered in pre-production to define the visual framework for Tempo’s first lifestyle photo shoot. I helped translate Tempo’s brand ethos into three distinct visual storytelling approaches that could scale across properties. These frameworks guided casting, wardrobe direction, amenity integration, composition, and shot planning so the photography could work across different types of guests, times of day, and future properties.

Outcome
The resulting photo and video assets supported Tempo’s debut across digital, social, and OOH placements, including the TSX Broadway billboard. The narrative frameworks established during this shoot continued to guide Tempo’s lifestyle photography across future properties.

My Role
Pre-Production Art Direction, Narrative Development, Casting & Wardrobe Direction

Client
Tempo by Hilton

Year
2023

Team
Art Director: Bryan Babiarz
Associate Creative Director: Robyn Flood
Copywriter: Holly Sheldon
Producer: Alissa Liebert
Production: Hunt House Pictures
Photographer: Brecht Vanthof

Storytelling Approaches

LOOK

Tempo invites guests to look—up at thoughtful architectural details, around at intentional design moments, and within as they settle into their own rhythm. This approach sets the mood through color and lighting in architectural shots and through authentic facial expression in guest moments, showing how Tempo creates space for guests to feel confident, inspired, and fully themselves.

emPOWER

Tempo empowers guests to maintain their rhythm while traveling. From energizing workouts to restorative wind-down rituals, this approach captures moments of power up and power down, often in paired images that show both states within a single guest journey. The visual contrast reinforces how Tempo supports routine in motion, both day and night.

PACE

Whether on-the-go or enjoying some much-needed R&R, Tempo is designed to match the pace of every guest. This approach explores movement versus stillness, activity versus serenity, and social energy versus solitude, demonstrating how the hotel adapts to the rhythm of each stay.