GIF Queen Archive
The Evolution of my GIF-making CareerAnd just for the record, I pronounce with a hard G.
For nearly a decade, I was the sole creator of the animated GIFs published by NBCUniversal for the majority of its primetime programming. I produced hundreds of GIFs every week, earning me the affectionate nickname "GIF Queen”.
It all started with Tumblr. The first GIF I ever made came from a scene in Sofia Coppola's 2006 film Marie Antoinette. I posted it, and almost instantly, I was hooked. At the time, I had no idea what went into creating a truly beautiful, high-quality GIF. I also never imagined that just a few years later, I'd be making GIFs all day professionally.
In February 2016, I joined NBC as a digital designer. My days were spent watching shows like Chicago Fire, This Is Us, and The Good Place, creating animated GIFs for the marketing and social media teams across nearly every series in NBC's primetime lineup. I also produced GIFs for live broadcasts and special events, including Hairspray Live!, the Golden Globe Awards, The Voice, and America's Got Talent.
When my parents asked what I did for a living, I told them the truth: I got paid to watch TV.
Obviously, my job was more than that. I started learning about all the different types of GIFs and what made each one special. There were evergreen moments, action/reaction GIFs, cinemagraphs, quotes, designed GIFs, stickers, memes, and campaign pieces. Each style had its own purpose, and I began to understand how each format could tell a story and connect with audiences in its own way.
But hey, my knowledge and passion for pop culture and current trends did come in handy!
Evergreen, aka Action & Reaction GIFs
These were the bread-and-butter GIFs, the moments everyone wanted to share. My job was to spot the scenes people would immediately text to a friend, repost on Tumblr, or tweet with the perfect caption. Whether it was a dramatic first kiss, a hilarious reaction shot, or an unforgettable TV moment, I was always looking for the scenes that would live far beyond the episode itself.
Cinemagraphs
A cinemagraph is a hybrid format combining a still photograph with localized, repeating video motion. While the majority of the image remains completely frozen, a specific element (like pouring coffee or fluttering hair) loops continuously, creating a transfixing visual effect.
The next step was bringing my design skills and GIF-making skills together to create GIFs that felt a little more special. By combining typography, motion, and visual elements, I could tell a story, capture a feeling, and make each GIF more than just a clip from a show.
My Early Designed GIFs
This was the beginning of experimenting with how design and GIF-making could work together. I was learning the possibilities, testing what resonated, and figuring out what could—and couldn’t—be shared on the social media channels of a company as large and influential as NBC.
Campaign Support GIFs
GIFs created to support the bigger social media campaigns for each show. I worked within the specific look and feel of each series, following its design and brand guidelines while finding ways to make the GIFs feel fun, engaging, and shareable.
Rio Olympics Torch Relay GIF Series
My first big GIF design project was for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The campaign brought together NBC primetime shows, including classics like 30 Rock, to build excitement for the Games being broadcast on the network. Various characters and TV personalities were featured holding an Olympic torch, often animated to look like they were passing it along the route toward lighting the Olympic flame. The GIFs were posted on each show’s social media accounts, then “passed the torch” by tagging another show’s account and keeping the chain going across the network.
Some Twitter reviews of these Relay gifs:
After seeing the reaction to the #NBCUTorchRelay, Monday Night Football took the idea a step further with a football toss across NBC’s social accounts, getting different audiences in on the fun.
Hairspray Live! GIFs
As part of the award winning NBC Digital team, I created custom typographic treatments for gifs to be made and posted during the live network musical premiere.
When I first started, the social marketing teams would choose the moments and quotes from each episode for me to turn into GIFs. But as I spent more time at NBC and got to know the shows, the characters, and the audience, I earned the team’s trust and was given more creative freedom to find the moments I knew people would love to share. This is truly when I became the “GIF Queen”.
Self-Initiated This Is Us GIFs
Some of my favorite GIFs that I’ve made were often began as self-initiated projects. As a fan of the show This Is Us, I loved coming up with ideas that used visual storytelling to bring memorable moments and characters to life in a fun, engaging way.
I created this GIF set inspired a scene in season 2, episode 5, where we get our first little glimpse into the character Jack’s military service during the Vietnam War. Knowing the next season would explore this part of his story further, I created this GIF diptych as an emotional teaser that hints at his past and where his character’s story was headed. Using a line of dialogue from the Season 1 finale and a double-exposure effect, I wanted the GIFs to capture the mood of Jack’s character and the way he carried so much beneath the surface while always trying to be a good person and father.
I further adapted the look and feel of these GIFs into a new set featuring the show’s main characters, highlighting Jack’s relationship with his three children.
These map GIFs were inspired by episodes where the characters explored different cities. I originally self-initiated the Philadelphia map GIF, including scenes from the episode that highlighted iconic spots around the city. Some of the locations featured were places I had personally visited and loved, which made me especially excited to bring the idea to life as a GIF. After the Philadelphia GIF was well received, I was later asked to create a second map GIF for a later episode that featured the characters visiting different locations around New York City.
GIF Stickers
A collection of GIF stickers created for shows including Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, America’s Got Talent, Suits LA, and the People’s Choice Country Awards. I also created stickers for in-person events like San Diego Comic-Con and the Law & Order: SVU pop-up Dun Dun Diner in NYC.
Animated Typographic GIFs
Both self-initiated and assigned work.
Meme GIFs
Peacock Collaboration
Near the end of my time at NBC, I had the opportunity to work with the Peacock marketing team in New York to create GIFs promoting The Paper ahead of its Fall 2025 premiere.
Misc. GIFs
A few more fun GIFs I’ve made.
