Wendy's
Led 3D fluid simulation for a Wendy’s brand piece, designing and refining the emergence of the “Tendys” logo from the brand’s signature sauce.
Outcome
The final sequence delivered a stable, appetizing fluid reveal that reinforced Wendy’s brand identity while adding a high-production visual moment to the film. The simulation successfully balanced realism with art direction, integrating seamlessly into the larger brand narrative.
Role
Motion Designer
Type
3D Animation
Date
September 2025
Tools
Cinema 4D, Redshift, X-particles, After Effects
Challenge
As part of a larger brand production for Wendy’s, the objective was to create a visually rich moment where the “Tendys” logo emerged organically from Wendy’s signature sauce. The sequence needed to feel appetizing, believable, and physically grounded without becoming chaotic or unstable.
Fluid simulations can easily become unpredictable, especially when interacting with solid geometry at high rates of viscosity. The challenge was balancing natural physics with art-directed control.
Role
Within the broader VML production team, I:
Led the 3D fluid simulation
Designed and refined the sauce behavior
Iterated on viscosity, surface tension, and motion timing
Collaborated with the broader motion and creative team to ensure brand consistency
Approach
The goal was to make the sauce feel physically authentic while still resolving cleanly into the logo form.
I approached the simulation as both a physics problem and a brand design problem:
Establishing a stable base simulation
Gradually refining viscosity and flow characteristics
Adjusting timing to align with editorial pacing
Introducing controlled forces to guide the logo emergence
The intent was to create something that felt natural, but unmistakably intentional.
Process
Using the native Cinema 4D simulation tools, I:
Built iterative fluid setups to test viscosity ranges and flow stability
Adjusted collision geometry to guide the logo emergence
Refined surface behavior to avoid visual noise or breakage
Ran multiple simulation passes to dial in consistency
Because the final mark needed to remain legible and brand-accurate, each iteration required careful balance between dynamic movement and structural control.
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of controlled simulation workflows, especially when working with branded forms that demand precision. It highlighted the value of iterative refinement when combining physics-based systems with strict visual standards.
