streaming refresh

A+E Global Media’s back catalog spans decades of programming across A&E, Lifetime, LMN, FYI and HISTORY Channel. Much of the artwork was created for an earlier media landscape, with busy compositions, inconsistent typography, dated imagery, and unclear genre cues that struggled at thumbnail size. What began as a relatively light-touch refresh expanded as updated titles gained visibility across streaming platforms. The challenge became: modernize a huge title library while preserving the distinct identities of its brands, genres, and franchises.

As Freelance Design Director, I partnered with A+E leadership to lead day-to-day creative direction from title assessment and designer briefing through review and final sign-off. I established the genre framework and direct 15+ designers across hundreds of titles, setting priorities, guiding revisions, and maintaining quality. I also help source freelance talent to match the project’s needs. Working with existing photography and limited source material, I guide improvements to cropping, color, compositing, and typography while navigating talent rights and licensing constraints.

1. Define the genre promise
   Competitive audits informed distinct visual principles. From evidence-driven Crime to intimate Thriller imagery, and from the physical scale of Hidden History to the archival authority of Core History.

2. Evaluate each title
   I grouped titles by genre and subgenre, identifying recurring issues with composition, typography, emotional impact, and thumbnail readability.

3. Set the level of change
   Each review asked: What reads first? Does the genre register without a synopsis? Is the title legible at thumbnail size? Does the idea hold across aspect ratios? The answers helped determine whether a title needed no change, a tweak, or an overhaul.

4. Scale the reviews
   A master audit deck, Airtable title tracking, and shared feedback language gave designers and stakeholders a consistent basis for decisions while leaving room for each title’s character.

Sean McNamee, Mike Zizza, Matt Mason, Tom Fournier, David Irlanda, Daniel Forkin, Matt Ostrom, David O’Brien, Kaori Sohma, Julia Kuswardi, Kyle Moriwaki, Deni Belanich, GNAH, Hermes Arriola, Mike Choo, Peter Gatto, Tiffany Wong, Richard Fahey, JJ Raskin, Darlene Cordero

As of October 2026:

1500+ Title Streaming Library Evaluated

350+ Title Refreshes Directed

5 Network Brands, One Unified Genre System

15+ Designers Led

Refreshed titles appeared in Netflix’s Top 10