Brooks Running Campaign

Project Goals

Brooks Running wanted to communicate the sensation of effortlessness that runners feel while wearing the Adrenaline GTS 13. As part of their larger “Genie” product campaign, where each shoe unlocks a magical, personalized running experience, they commissioned a series of print and digital ads. Jude’s concept was to bring that feeling to life by transforming the shoe into the launchpad for an entire retro video game world, bursting with energy, nostalgia, and visual metaphor. Pixel art was the perfect medium to reference classic games like Donkey Kong, using a familiar visual language to represent the obstacles that runners overcome each day—email overload, deadlines, traffic—and the “float level” that awaits at the finish.

Project Realization

The artwork was used across Brooks Running’s print and digital ad placements, including web banners, social media, and magazine spreads. As the central image in the campaign’s "Float" concept, the pixel art scene depicted a layered platformer-style level emerging from the sneaker itself, complete with treadmill-like paths, boss battles, and bonus power-ups. A triumphant runner stands atop the game, capturing both the campaign’s message and the runner’s sense of reward.

Creative Process

Jude designed every element of the video game scene from scratch, including characters, obstacles, and custom UI elements like energy bars, timers, and pixel typography. Having grown up playing NES platformers and now being an avid runner himself, the project married two of his lifelong passions. While Jude’s personal go-to running shoe is the Brooks Glycerin, he was especially excited to work on a campaign for a brand he already loved. By combining game nostalgia with an authentic appreciation for the runner’s journey, Jude created a piece that resonated with fellow runners and retro gamers alike.