Karlie Thornton

Driving My Story

In 2020, Nissan North America harnessed the power of social media to hear from Black tech-leaders and influencers across the nation about how they were driving a positive impact in their communities—using the hashtag #DiscoverMyStory.

The social media experience put users and influencers including Morgan DeBaun, Keiza M. Williams, Monique Idlett, Will Lucas and Sequoia Blodgett behind the wheel of the 2020 Sentra® using an AR Filter, symbolizing the independence of driving their own stories.

Sequoia Blodgett
Sequoia Blodgett is a Reporter for Black Enterprise. She is also the founder of Commas, a virtual entrepreneurship resource center.
Will Lucas
Will Lucas is the founder and CEO at A William Lucas Company (aWLCo) which is home to several technology, media, and real estate development businesses.
Keiza M. Williams
Kezia M. Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of The Black upStart – a nationally recognized company serving innovators interested in start-ups.
Morgan DeBaun
Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur and corporate advisor. She is the Founder and CEO of Blavity Inc., the leading digital media company for Black culture.
Sequoia Blodgett
Sequoia Blodgett is a Reporter for Black Enterprise. She is also the founder of Commas, a virtual entrepreneurship resource center.
Will Lucas
Will Lucas is the founder and CEO at A William Lucas Company (aWLCo) which is home to several technology, media, and real estate development businesses.
Keiza M. Williams
Kezia M. Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of The Black upStart – a nationally recognized company serving innovators interested in start-ups.
Morgan DeBaun
Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur and corporate advisor. She is the Founder and CEO of Blavity Inc., the leading digital media company for Black culture.
Sequoia Blodgett
Sequoia Blodgett is a Reporter for Black Enterprise. She is also the founder of Commas, a virtual entrepreneurship resource center.
Will Lucas
Will Lucas is the founder and CEO at A William Lucas Company (aWLCo) which is home to several technology, media, and real estate development businesses.
Keiza M. Williams
Kezia M. Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of The Black upStart – a nationally recognized company serving innovators interested in start-ups.
Morgan DeBaun
Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur and corporate advisor. She is the Founder and CEO of Blavity Inc., the leading digital media company for Black culture.

We worked with Trigger to create AR social effects for Facebook and Instagram. The effect was also used as a Facebook AR Ad. Upon opening the effect in their preferred platform, users will feel as though they are in the driver’s seat of a Nissan Sentra thanks to immersive background segmentation. Users were encouraged to take photos or videos with the effect and share using the community hashtag, #DrivingMyStory.

In 2020 as a Junior Art Director for fluent360 this was my first pitched campaign bought by a client we produced as an agency.


Nissan/INFINITY

I've also worked with Nissan/INFINITY as an Art Director for social and TV involving their Black History Month (BET experiential activations/Driving The Beat), Hispanic Heritage Month and LGBTQIA+ campaigns.

Using Format