WAFFLES AND MOCHI | SERIES | NETFLIX
Role: Pitch Deck Design , Concept Art , Graphics Team Member
Whimsical concept art and pitch deck design for the showrunners behind Waffles and Mochi, a children’s cooking show successfully greenlit for production by Michelle Obama(!) herself.
Pitching Waffles and Mochi
I was asked to join a pair of filmmakers to brand and pitch their 10-years-in-the-making kids' food show, Waffles and Mochi.
Together, we got the show picked up by Netflix and Higher Ground Productions, a then-new entertainment company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.
I designed, printed, and hand-bound a recipe notebook that was gifted to Mrs. Obama in the initial pitch meeting with Higher Ground Productions.
Throughout the one-year pitching process, I illustrated several pieces of character concept art that ultimately helped network execs fall in love with Waffles and Mochi as much as our development team had!
After an exciting year, Waffles and Mochi was successfully greenlit. As the show moved into production, I was brought on board to support the Season 01 art department with on-set graphics and props.
Showrunners: Erika Thormahlen and Jeremy Konner
Production Design: Cindy Chao and Michele Yu
Lead Graphic Designer (Production): Sarah Gonzalez
Pitch Designer and Production Graphics Support: Gina Alessi
Early title card concept art as pitched to Netflix.
“It was said in the [pitching room] many times: it was [Gina’s] warmth and tone that brought our packets and presentations over the finish line. [She] won everyone’s hearts and minds.”
– Erika Thormahlen, Showrunner: Waffles and Mochi