Progressive | Zynga

Playable Ad

Progressive is a leading US auto insurance brand known for its innovative approach and customer-centric experiences. Targeting millennials and Gen X (ages 31–45), the brand sought to amplify its playful identity through hypercasual game ads—transforming traditional advertising into interactive, engaging experiences.

As a Lead Designer, I spearheaded the creation of playable ad concepts, collaborating with internal teams to develop strategic, high-converting ad units; Present creative concepts through interactive mock-ups. Ensure seamless UX while maintaining brand consistency. Elevate brand awareness through dynamic, user-driven experiences

My Role

Graphic Designer | UI Designer

Company-Zynga

Creative Director: Matt Sharpe
Architect: Prasad Maruvada | Dale Darling

Tool

Photoshop, Sketch

Platform

Apple, Android, Tablet

Project Challenge

In today's crowded digital landscape, traditional advertising struggles to cut through the noise. Progressive sought to revolutionize auto insurance marketing by transforming passive ads into engaging experiences. The core challenge? To captivate diverse audiences, boost brand recognition, and make insurance relatable - all while standing out in a highly competitive market.

The Solution

We developed:

• Interactive playable ads that transformed insurance messaging into enjoyable mini-games

• Immersive brand experiences that organically incorporated Progressive's identity

• Accessible gameplay mechanics with universal appeal

• Strategic touchpoints that educated while entertaining

This fusion of gaming and marketing created memorable touchpoints that resonated far beyond traditional ad exposure.

The Result

By meeting audiences where they play rather than interrupting their experience, we created value-exchange advertising that users genuinely enjoyed. This human-centered approach to gamification delivered both immediate performance and long-term brand building - a rare combination in financial services marketing. A fresh, playful approach to digital advertising that set Progressive apart in a competitive market while driving measurable results.

Unicorn Runner
Playable Ad

Designed an engaging hypercasual playable ad featuring Progressive's iconic brand characters, Flo and Jamie. The game leverages popular tap-and-timing mechanics, challenging players to navigate a unicorn through rainbow-filled skies with perfectly timed taps.

As the lead designer, I spearheaded the transformation of Progressive's brand into an engaging hypercasual game experience. I crafted the visual identity, intuitive tap mechanics, and responsive UI while ensuring seamless brand integration. From concept to prototype, I balanced marketing objectives with player-centric design, delivering an ad that achieved higher engagement than traditional formats.

This project showcased my ability to merge marketing goals with player-centric design—transforming a corporate brand into an interactive experience that users wanted to engage with.

PROJECT 2

Fishing for Saving
Playable Ad

I transformed Progressive's insurance messaging into an engaging 30-second fishing game, blending carnival-style mechanics with branded savings elements. Designed intuitive tap-and-catch gameplay with strategic depth, maintaining Progressive's visual identity while delivering a fun, rewarding experience. The ad achieved a 42% completion rate and 2.3x higher CTR than traditional formats, proving gamification's power for financial messaging.

PROJECT 3

Water Balloon Pop
Playable Ad

For Progressive's seasonal campaign, I designed "Aim to Pop," an interactive carnival game that transformed insurance messaging into playful engagement. Players used intuitive water pistol mechanics to pop balloons and reveal rewards, while Progressive's character Jamie guided them through the experience. The vibrant design blended nostalgic midway fun with modern brand aesthetics, creating an accessible way to explore policy benefits through hands-on gameplay.

This innovative approach refreshed financial storytelling by marrying seasonal joy with strategic brand objectives. The satisfying shooting mechanics and discoverable rewards system drove strong engagement, proving that complex information could become compelling when delivered through interactive entertainment. The project demonstrated how thoughtful gamification could make insurance content both memorable and enjoyable for users.

PROJECT 4

Zig Zag Skiing
Playable Ad

For Progressive's winter campaign, I designed an immersive skiing game that transformed insurance messaging into an exhilarating downhill adventure. Players swiped to navigate a first-person slalom course, dodging snowmen and obstacles while enjoying vibrant mountain visuals. The intuitive one-touch controls made complex maneuvers accessible, blending the thrill of winter sports with subtle brand integration.

This dynamic approach reimagined financial content as an interactive experience, where smooth gameplay mechanics naturally reinforced Progressive's brand values of precision and control. The striking alpine environment and satisfying obstacle-dodging created memorable engagement, proving active participation could make insurance messaging both exciting and effective. The project showcased how sports-themed gamification could deliver brand objectives while providing genuine entertainment value.

PROJECT 5

Word Wheel Puzzle
Playable Ad

For this campaign, I designed an engaging word puzzle experience inspired by the wheel mechanic from Words with Friends. Players spun a letter wheel to form words that fit strategically onto the game board, blending vocabulary challenges with Progressive's insurance messaging. The clean interface and intuitive drag-and-drop mechanics made complex word-building accessible, while the familiar puzzle format created instant appeal for a broad audience.

This intellectual twist on advertising transformed policy terms and benefits into discoverable gameplay elements. By rewarding players for finding all hidden words, we created a satisfying loop that educated while entertaining. The project demonstrated how brain-teasing games could make financial literacy both approachable and rewarding, delivering brand messages through active participation rather than passive viewing.