In 2018, I developed concepts and key art that helped define the creative design direction for NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mission campaign. My focus was on creating a cohesive visual identity that could unify the missions design across internal needs, public engagement, news and media communications, and milestone moments such as launch and landing.
Data visualization, outreach products and separate campaign design for “Send Your Name to Mars” were created.
TEAM SHIRTS | PRESS ROOM SET DESIGN | MEDIA ASSETS
A simple design was created to be placed next to the computer chips containing all the names of people submitting to the “send your name to Mars” campaign. The design was etched on the plate containing the chips showing Mars, Earth and being connected by one light (the sun.)
DESIGN PERSPECTIVE:
Traditionally, mission imagery leaned heavily on realistic 3D renders and technical visualization. For Perseverance, I pushed toward a more human, painterly approach.
2018-2020 were stressful years for many with the COVID lock-down, social unrest and daily bombardment of bad news. I began posting simple gradients on my personal social media to let people pause and breathe amidst their scrolling even if just for a moment. This simplicity amidst chaos influenced my exploration of wrapping M2020 in a simple gradient composition. I developed a visual language built around transitions from deep blue (Earth) to iron red (Mars), as the mission would be gathering samples another mission would someday bring back to Earth. Simple almost silhouetted rover images amidst the gradients symbolize mystery, journey and connection.
Lastly, a painterly aesthetic was added inspired by the expressive legacy of JPL artists of the 1960’s and 1970s — using texture, brushwork, and composition to evoke feeling over precision alone. The rover, often placed along a distant horizon, became less a machine and more a symbol of adventure, curiosity, and the enduring human drive to explore beyond what we know.
Additional Contributors
Mars Public Engagement Leads - Carolina Martinez & Scott Hulme
M2020 Perseverance Logo Design - Tobias Van Schneiderhttps://vanschneider.com/mars2020
Perseverance 3D models /3D animation - Kevin Lane
Rover Photography - Ryan Lannom
JPL/ NASA Art Director - David Rager
Rover Plate Design Strategy- David Delgado, Dan Goods, Kait Abbot, Lois Kim