Kia

Jul 2026

In the second installment of Kia’s Designing Tomorrow series, the automotive giant masterfully bridges the gap between high-performance electric mobility and the fragile architecture of the natural world. Featuring actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the narrative follows a journey that begins along a jagged coastal route in a metallic blue SUV before venturing deep into a dense forest ecosystem. This documentary-style short film prioritizes a contemplative exploration of environmental sustainability, juxtaposing the sleek, precision engineering of the modern vehicle against the untamed, organic textures of mycelium-based sculptures. The visual language leans into a cinematic aesthetic, utilizing sweeping drone footage to capture the scale of the landscape while maintaining an intimate focus on the tactile relationship between human innovation and biological design. William McVay enhances this interplay through meticulous post-production and visual effects, ensuring the transitions between the tech-forward automotive environment and the raw forest floor feel seamless yet distinct. Natural sunlight filtering through the canopy serves as a recurring motif, casting long shadows that ground the film in an authentic, atmospheric realism. By eschewing typical commercial bombast for a grounded, thoughtful dialogue, this live-action technique project positions Kia as a brand deeply invested in the intersection of form, function, and future-ready ecological responsibility, creating a compelling vision of what happens when advanced mobility meets foundational natural inspiration.

Documentary, Cinematic

Live-action Technique, Drone footage

Electric / EV, Automotive