ABOUT

Think, Advertising, Design, Entertainment, Streaming, AI and Digital

Michael Strelan is an award-winning designer with 25+ years of experience in design, motion and VFX directing across advertising, streaming, and digital platforms.
He’s worked with leading studios and global brands—including Apple, Netflix, Disney, Google, and Sony PlayStation—delivering campaigns and experiences
that blend cinematic storytelling with hands-on craft.

From launching products for Apple to shaping visual worlds for IKEA, BBC, Foxtel, and Universal, Michael brings a unique cross-industry skillset spanning Sydney, London, and the US.
His work has been internationally recognised by Promax, CLIO, B&T, and ASTRA for its bold narrative and design innovation.
A natural team leader and collaborator, he combines strategic vision with deep technical skill—crafting emotionally resonant stories that shift culture and connect audiences.

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OPTUS | iPHONE LAUNCH

First to Market in Australia

Apple’s iPhone 15 launch was one of the year’s most hotly anticipated moments. For Optus, it wasn’t just about selling phones—it was about claiming the spotlight. In a fiercely competitive category, Optus needed to be first, bold, and unmissable. Backed by Yes Agency, we set out to launch with impact, reinforce premium brand alignment with Apple, and drive pre-orders through bold, creative innovation.

The Challenge
Launch iPhone 15 with standout creative
Be the first telco live in-market
Strengthen Optus’s premium Apple alignment
Drive pre-orders, store visits, and early sales growth

The Impact
First telco in Australia to launch with 3D OOH
Cemented Optus as Apple’s most agile, premium network partner
Demonstrated Yes Agency’s creative speed and innovation

Credits
Client: Optus
Agency: Yes Agency (M&C Saatchi Group)
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design, Campaign Rollout

DISCOVERY CHANNEL

Alien Month – On-Air Promo (Warner Bros. Discovery)

This 30-second promo was created to launch Alien Month on Discovery Channel, spotlighting key titles such as Alien Encounters in Area 51, UFO Witness, and Close Encounters.

The spot was entirely CG, designed to evoke an eerie, cinematic atmosphere centered around a mysterious light appearing in an isolated cornfield. The creative relied heavily on compositing and visual effects, using a combination of 3D motion capture, Cinema 4D, and After Effects to craft a seamless, immersive experience.

The result: a dark, moody promo that brought sci-fi mystery to life.

ANZ Promax Silver Award, 2021

Credits
Client: Discovery Channel
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design

DISNEY | UK

Phineas and Ferb – Title & Promo Package (The Walt Disney Company)

Commissioned by Disney XD UK, this project involved designing the titles and pack shot for the promotion of Phineas and Ferb: The Movie across UK and European markets.

The work required recreating and localising the film’s opening titles for a promotional video, staying true to the tone and visual language of the international version. All creative was developed in alignment with the Disney XD global brand style guide, ensuring consistency across territories.

The animation and compositing were produced using 3D Studio Max, Mental Ray, and After Effects, combining 3D modelling with broadcast-ready motion design.

Credits
Client: The Walt Disney Company
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design

FOX FUNNY – Channel Brand

Foxtel Networks Australia (21st Century Fox)

I developed the full brand identity for Fox Funny, Foxtel’s dedicated comedy channel celebrating the best in American sitcoms. The brief was to create a bold, playful, and instantly recognisable brand that would stand out within the Foxtel ecosystem and connect with audiences through humour and familiarity.

Programming included iconic series from Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Television, and CBS Studios — such as 30 Rock, Modern Family, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Scrubs, The Big Bang Theory, and Two and a Half Men.

My role covered concept development, logo design, on-air graphics, and the creation of a comprehensive brand system. I delivered assets across broadcast, digital, and print, along with detailed brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all platforms. I also led all compositing and animation, bringing static elements to life with a tone and pace that matched the channel’s comedic personality.

The result was a cohesive, character-driven identity that gave Fox Funny a distinctive voice and visual presence in a crowded content landscape.

Credits
Client: Foxtel
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design, Campaign Rollout

OPTUS | GOOGLE | SAMSUNG

24 Hours. Endless Possibilities (M+C Saatchi)

This massive collaboration between Optus, Google, Samsung, and Yes Agency celebrates how much of our daily lives are made possible by these three iconic brands. The campaign is led by a captivating 60-second hero TV spot, complemented by a series of 30-second and 15-second ads. What sets this campaign apart is its Australian-first innovation: a 24/7, 7-day OOH (Out-Of-Home) billboard domination at Sydney’s Central Station. The billboard features 17 unique 30+ second animations, each tailored to the time of day or specific location.

The integrated approach brought together various media formats, delivering consistent brand messaging across TV, digital, OOH, and social platforms.

• Massive engagement: Record-high foot traffic at Sydney’s Central Station, with thousands of daily views of the OOH billboards.

• Increased brand awareness: A notable spike in both brand recall and customer sentiment for Optus, Google, and Samsung.

• Stronger brand integration: Clear recognition of the collaboration between these brands, with users associating them with enhanced convenience and connectivity in daily life.

B&T AWARDS 2024 FINALISTS
Best CTV Campaign – Optus, “24 Hours on the Optus Network”
Best Out-of-Home Campaign – Optus, “24 Hours on the Optus Network”
Best Video Campaign – Optus, “24 Hours on the Optus Network”

Credits
Client: Optus | Samsung | Google
Agency: Yes Agency (M&C Saatchi Group)
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design, Campaign Rollout

HISTORY CHANNEL

HIROSHIMA – 70TH Anniversary Hiroshima (A+E Networks)

In 2015, The History Channel commissioned a powerful on-air promo to mark the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings—a turning point in World War II and one of the most devastating events in human history.

My role was to design and direct a cinematic spot that honoured the gravity of the event without being overly explicit—evoking emotion through atmosphere, not graphic imagery. Using shot footage of people layered with ash, dust, and slow-falling debris, we reimagined the haunting aftermath with rich compositing, subtle 3D, and visual poetry.

The result was a deeply resonant piece that struck the right tone between respect, remembrance, and historical storytelling. It delivered The History Channel’s highest-rated week of 2015, and was recognised with multiple national and international awards, including Promax Gold and a CLIO Entertainment Bronze.

Awards + Recognition
PROMAX GOLD – Best Visual FX and Compositing
PROMAX GOLD – Best Promo Not Using Program Footage
PROMAX SILVER – Most Outstanding Design in Promotion
CLIO Entertainment Award – Bronze
ASTRA Award Nomination – Creative Professional of the Year

Credits
Client: Foxtel | History Channel
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design, Campaign Rollout

HISTORY CHANNEL

Time Idents (A+E Networks)
As part of the History Channel’s refreshed brand identity, new idents were crafted to immerse viewers in pivotal transitions throughout history. A key piece featured a timepiece—3D printed, filmed, and seamlessly composited to showcase the passage of time.

The process involved compositing, keying, grading, and FX to achieve a seamless integration of live-action and CGI elements. Every detail was carefully refined to enhance realism and ensure a smooth transition between historical eras. This refresh was designed to ignite curiosity and transport audiences through time with a modern, cinematic approach.

ANZ Promax Silver Award, 2021

Credits
Client: Foxtel | History Channel
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design, Campaign Rollout

HISTORY CHANNEL

Spy Month (A+E Networks)
As part of Spy Month on the HISTORY Channel, our creative team developed a cinematic on-air promo that aired on Foxtel in 2018.
Working closely across design, compositing, and grading, we used Cinema 4D with Arnold and After Effects to craft a moody, suspense-driven piece that captured the intrigue of espionage.

The campaign was recognised with a Gold Promax Award for Best Use of Design in Video.

Credits
Client: Foxtel | History Channel
Role: Creative Direction, Motion Design, Campaign Rollout

CRIME + INVESTIGATION

Crimes that Shook Australia (A+E Networks)
The series explores some of the most notorious crimes Australia has ever seen, told through the eye witness experience of the people who were right at the heart of the tragedies, including the police and the victims’ families.

Through gripping interviews, dramatic reconstructions and archival footage, Crimes That Shook Australia details the events leading up to the crime, the crime itself and its enduring effect on the national consciousness.

As part of season 1 and 2, Foxtel Factual Creative were responsible to produce on-air promotion content and marketing content to promote the series.

Season 1 – On-Air Promotion

Season 1 required a highly visual on-air promo, bringing a familiar scene to life through live-action cinematography and visual effects.
Filmed in the backstreets of Sydney using a high-speed Phantom camera, the footage was carefully directed for VFX integration and live-action composition.
The final sequence was composited in After Effects, blending high-speed cinematography with seamless motion design to enhance the narrative impact.

Credits
Client: Foxtel | C+I Channel
Role: Motion Design, VFX Compositing, Directing

Season 2 – On-Air Promotion & Key Art

Season 2 required a highly visual on-air promo and key art, seamlessly blending live-action elements with digital compositing.
Background plates were filmed on location in a forest, while the actor was photographed in a controlled studio environment.
The final composition was crafted in Photoshop, integrating both elements to create a striking, cohesive visual.

Credits
Client: Foxtel | C+I Channel
Role: Motion Design, VFX Compositing, Directing

BBC COAST AUSTRALIA + New ZEALAND

As Head of Design, I led the development of the full on-air design package for Coast Australia and Coast New Zealand—a flagship factual series presented by British archaeologist and broadcaster Neil Oliver. My role covered 3D motion design, visual effects, compositing, and key art production, creating a cinematic and immersive visual identity that reflected the scale and storytelling depth of the series.

The promo and title package were built using Cinema 4D for 3D environmental design and After Effects for advanced compositing and visual effects. The visual language blended CG elements, dynamic typography, and atmospheric textures—bringing together historical richness and coastal drama in a seamless, premium aesthetic.

Alongside the on-screen graphics, I also directed and produced the key art, aligning all creative output under a unified design system. The result supported one of the highest-rating factual series on Foxtel, with Coast Australia’s season two becoming the network’s top-performing factual program in 2015.

Promax ANZ Silver – 2015
Best Factual Entertainment Promo – Coast Australia, History Channel

Credits
Client: Foxtel | History Channel
Role: Motion Design, VFX Compositing, Directing

THE PACIFIC WITH SAM NEILL

History Channel – Foxtel Networks Australia (A+E Networks)

Launch campaign for The History Channel (AU/NZ), featuring art direction, design, layout, and compositing for both print and television promotion.
As Head of Design, I developed the brand identity, on-air design package, program titles, on-screen elements, and key art, while also directing and producing the on-air promo with visual effects integration.

Number 1 program on The History Channel
281K premiere audience – #5 local production launch ever on History
746K unique viewers – reaching 10% of all Foxtel subscribers

Credits
Client: Foxtel | History Channel
Role: Motion Design, VFX Compositing, Directing

FOXTEL | Moon Month 50th Anniversary

Foxtel Networks Australia (21st Century Fox)

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and man's first steps on the Moon on July 21, 1969, Foxtel celebrated with a special tribute throughout the month of July. The campaign featured a curated selection of new and commemorative factual programming across its Movies and Factual channels, including HISTORY, Discovery, Discovery Science, National Geographic, BBC Knowledge, and Foxtel Movies.

As lead designer, I created and produced the overall look and feel of the campaign. This included concept art, 3D modeling, editing, and final finishing, ensuring a cohesive and visually engaging identity that spanned television,
print, and social media.

Promax Gold
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign for a Channel or Platform

Credits
Client: Foxtel | Movie Channel
Role: Motion Design, VFX Compositing, Directing

WORLD OF OUTLAWS: SPRINTCARS

PlayStation 2 | Ratbag Games (Sony Entertainment)

As the lead designer for Sprintcars: World of Outlaws on PlayStation 2, I was responsible for art directing, editing, and executing the opening titles, user interface, and overall game design. Developed by the Australian studio Ratbag Games and published by Ignition Entertainment in Europe and Infogrames in North America, this title pushed the boundaries of racing games on the PS2.

A key highlight of the project was incorporating the dynamic soundtrack "West End Riot" by The Living End to drive the energy and pace of the opening titles. This track helped set the tone, adding intensity and excitement to the game’s intro. My role involved collaborating with a talented team of designers, game developers, and programmers to create a seamless in-game interface, engaging interactions, and visually dynamic elements. The process included video editing, 3D modeling, and refining the user experience to ensure the game felt intuitive and immersive for players. I was also responsible for the creation of title designs, storyboarding, and overseeing the final production, including colour grading on Flame.

Credits
Client: Sony Entertainment
Role: Motion Design, VFX Compositing, Directing

DVD Interface Menus

International Films

As Creative Director at Oxygen Studios, I led the design and production of over 200 DVD menu interfaces for international film studios, in collaboration with KOJO (Oasis DVD).

Titles included Million Dollar Baby (Warner Bros), Lantana (20th Century Fox), The Cube and The Deer Hunter (Universal Studios), and Chocolat (Miramax).

My role involved overseeing creative direction, UI design, motion graphics, video editing, and 3D modelling. Working closely with developers and programmers, we delivered interactive, cinematic menus that captured the essence of each film and elevated the user experience.

Awards
Lantana received the DVD Region 4 Magazine award

Credits
Client: Universal, Warner, 20th Century Fox
Role: Motion Design, VFX Compositing, Directing

IKEA | YOU-TUBE

Happy to Bed (Mother London)

Collaborated with Ralph&Co London on IKEA’s Happy to Bed campaign, developed by Mother London, to create interactive 3D bedroom environments for an online personalised showroom experience.

Working in 3DSMax and VRAY, I designed four customisable rooms featuring IKEA products. Users could change materials and colours, view detailed product info, and click through to purchase via IKEA.co.uk. I also created additional environmental elements beyond the supplied furniture models.

The showroom was hosted on YouTube and integrated with Facebook data, delivering personalised bedrooms based on individual lifestyles. Features included user-generated photo frames and smart design choices informed by a nationwide lifestyle study.

This project blended UX, personalisation, and 3D design to position the bedroom as a personalised, multifunctional space — and gave users a unique way to visualise their ideal room.

Credits
Client: IKEA
Role: Motion Design, Compositing