VG trends pres copy 2_Page_01.jpg

BEYOND THE HORIZON :

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRAVEL

 

Based on trend research, I developed brand criteria and CMF recommendations for Virgin Galactic. The company is still in its infancy, and even thought it has started to envision the look and feel of commercial space travel, it has yet to be clearly outlined.

The Virgin brand is well defined and recognizable, and these attributed serve as a good foundation. But, it's important to design this new experience and differentiate from traditional air travel and all its associations.

THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE VIRGIN      GALACTIC BRAND:

 

  • SERVICE

  • AUTHENTICITY

  • INNOVATION

  • FUN

Key considerations for Virgin Galactic affecting potential customers' brand perception:

 

  • In 2014, a Virgin Galactic spacecraft was involved in a catastrophic crash during a test flight.

  • Future customers will be required to spend 3 days in the port before take-off preparing for their journey.

  • Early trips will cost travelers upwards of $250k

VG trends pres copy 2_Page_10.jpg

Other primary visual and stylistic influences include:

  • The pioneer spirit of road travel and camping

  • Small and modular spaces

  • The heritage and prestige associated with the early days of air and ship travel

  • Popularized images of space and air travel of the 1950s and 60s and the "atomic" design aesthetic born of the era.

 

The experiential components that color and material proposals might be applied to:

  • APPAREL

  • TECHNOLOGY

  • INTERIORS

  • SERVICE

  • SPACECRAFT

TREND THEMES

 

Composites, ballistics, leather, matte metal surfaces, milled steel, and soft touch finish. Stylistically, precision angles and hard edges.

 

High pile fabrics, color plexi, molded surfaces, flocked, metallic leather replacement, high gloss plastic

 

"Unidentifiable", borrowed from nature. Fantastic fabrics, films, pearlescent paint, transparency play, dichroic glass, mirrored, anodized, metal flake.

 

Borrowing from athletic and performance gear, form adapting, gel, 3D printed, embossed, perforated, segmented.

 

Nostalgia and respect for "travel" as a concept. Riveted steel, stone, glass, patina, oil-rubbed, burnished.