Creative studio Nice Shoes has signed directing duo MIRROR+SPARKS for U.S. commercial and film representation in immersive and XR experiences. The Munich, Germany-based duo, comprised of Zidi Liebold and Joerg Liebold, fuses its diverse skillset in live action, design, 3D animation, VFX and cross-platform storytelling to craft vivid experiences featuring non-linear narratives that allow viewers to interact and explore beautiful environments.
This marks the first U.S. representation for MIRROR+SPARKS whose body of work spans such brands as Audi, Cook Medical and Janua, along with leading global art institutions including the Pace Gallery, Clyfford Still Museum and Aspen Art Museum. Recently, they earned two coveted Gold German Brand Awards from the German Design Council in “Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation” and “Brand Communications” for their 360 VR experience for furniture brand Janua. They are currently working on a VR narrative experience that provides users with an inside perspective on the personal and professional life of renowned artist and director Julian Schnabel.
“The work that MIRROR+SPARKS creates is astounding in terms of their approach to scale, which allows users to be a part of the story, not simply be a fly on the wall,” noted Nice Shoes EP Nick Litwinko.
“It is vital to us to partner with a studio that holds the same level of importance toward consistently top-level creative standards, and Nice Shoes is just that,” added Zidi Liebold. “Their work is grounded in superior visual technique and impeccable attention to detail, and we look forward to working together to continue to push the limits of what is possible in immersive storytelling.”
Zidi Liebold brings a design focus to every project, leveraging her background in 3D animation, photography and design to develop creative concepts and spearhead the visual execution from a technical POV. She began her career across the advertising and design industries, working on projects across multiple mediums for such top brands as Coca-Cola, Siemens, Air France, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. As a designer, she spent over six years defining and elevating the visual language in the beauty and fashion space while working with Victoria’s Secret Beauty, developing and overseeing direction for cohesive design-driven concepts across integrated creative campaigns.
Joerg Liebold launched his career as a photographer before transitioning to postproduction. After contributing to the success of animation and post studios as VFX supervisor, he took the next step in his career to focus on animation and design by joining Psyop in its New York headquarters in 2003. He spent over a decade at the shop as a technical director and sr. VFX director. Constantly investigating new filming techniques and technologies, he worked on his first VR project in 2013, a VR pilot experience for a Formula One race in Austin, TX. Joerg is also passionate about educating a new generation of creative talent and is a professor for VFX, animation and emerging media at the University of Applied Sciences, “Hochschule Macromedia,” in Munich.
