Project Overview:

The Oakland is Unbannable shoot was developed as part of Jordan Brand’s global "Unbannable" campaign, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan 1. The larger campaign reimagined the iconic “Banned” story- posing the question: what if Nike never paid the fines, and the shoe truly disappeared?  It was a bold tribute to the power of rebellion, culture, and enduring greatness.

Positioning the city of Oakland as “Unbannable,” this shoot amplified the city’s legacy of resilience, creativity, and cultural influence- asserting that greatness can never be silenced or erased. The project featured Marshawn Lynch, Andre Ward, Hueman, Jahlil Nzinga, and key Oakland community members, each representing the spirit of defiance and excellence that has long defined our city.

The visual narrative aligned with the broader "You Can’t Ban Greatness" campaign, which included global athletes, cultural icons, social media blackouts, and high-impact activations like the temporary banning of the Jordan statue in Chicago and All-Star Weekend celebration in Oakland. Through this Oakland-based extension, the shoot grounded the message in local pride and community strength, ensuring that Oakland’s voice and influence were firmly represented in the brand’s milestone celebration.

Scope of Work:

• Concept & Development: Shaped the creative concept to position Oakland as “Unbannable,” developing a visual tone the compliments the overarching global campaign.

• Production: Managed all pre-production and on-set logistics, including location coordination, talent scheduling, and day-of shoot execution to ensure a seamless production process.

• Creative Direction: Led the creative vision across set design, shot composition, and talent direction to authentically capture the energy and the personalities of featured talent.

• Photography: Captured dynamic portraits and lifestyle imagery of Marshawn Lynch, Andre Ward, Hueman, Jahlil Nzinga, and the Oakland community, producing assets that aligned with the campaign’s visual language.

• Post: Oversaw image selection, retouching, and final asset delivery to maintain consistency with the Brand’s “Unbannable” aesthetic across all platforms.