NASA's Artemis program

Power & Propulsion Element
Illustration & Communications Intern

NASA's Artemis Program aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and enable future human missions to Mars. A cornerstone of Artemis is NASA’s orbiting lunar space station called Gateway and its Power and Propulsion Element (PPE). PPE provides Gateway with power, communications, and propulsion for deep space transportation, orbital transfer, and station keeping!

I have worked on a number of projects with NASA, some of which cannot be published. I won't be able to show many project visuals for the time being. However, I can provide a description of the work I've done.

As a PPE Illustration and Communication Intern at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), I had the chance to create corporate brand designs, various outreach materials, and a mission-critical training package for the PPE project.

Project Ideation

Throughout my internship, I helped lead the development and design of the official PPE project logo. The process was complex with inputs from many members of the PPE team. It was designed with many facets of the Artemis and Gateway program and heavily inspired by PPE Logo Competition submissions. This insignia will be used for all official NASA products and correspondence throughout the project life cycle.

I was tasked with designing a visual that captures key aspects of the PPE project. These include PPE's satellites and bright blue trajectory from its electric thrusters. Also, the project team wanted to highlight PPE's ability to spiral and propel itself and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) out towards the lunar orbit.

Visual Communication

I wanted to portray the spacecraft flying through Gateway's arch, which represents PPE's project residing under the Gateway Program. Brand consistency was another factor to consider since NASA, Gateway, and Artemis are all preexisting brands related to the PPE project. Visually communicating a connection between them is vital for the viewer as they will associate PPE's logo with these brands.

Design Process

Throughout the drafting process, I modified the logo based on feedback from the PPE team members. Some notes of feedback I received included conceptualizing one cohesive trajectory, a simplified orbit, and using negative space to imply distance between Earth and the moon, which is represented at the base of Gateway's arch.

Typography Iterations

To maintain brand consistency, I decided to utilize the same typeface as Artemis. This helps build a visual connection between the brands. The break in the letter E reflects Gateway's brand and typography style. The font modification in the P was inspired by a logo competition submission. Also, the PPE typography can stand alone, meaning it can be used with or without the logo graphic and still effectively represent the project.

Color Palette

Bright blue to catch the eye and draw attention to PPE's trajectory.
Golden yellow to tie in NASA's partner, MAXAR Technologies, as this company will develop the PPE spacecraft.
Graphite and lunar gray to capture Gateway's arch.
Deep navy for Earth and its 3-dimensional shape.

While not shown in my portfolio, the logo's color palette also carries significance:

Banner Stand

I got the chance to design a variety of outreach materials for the PPE project. One of which was a roll-up banner stand depicting the PPE spacecraft flying around the moon. With the banner, I had to follow NASA Headquarter brand guidelines. The design showcases a NASA-branded header and footer. Centered below the translucent Artemis heading, is PPE's title, which has a metallic, gradient fill.

Posters

There was more flexibility with the PPE posters, so I decided to feature Gateway in the header. I also had more freedom with the text colors and imagery. I designed two variations: one conveys warmth with deep orange and the other uses cool, complementary blues.

Stickers

The stickers shown on the right use the same high-resolution imagery as the banner and poster design above. Both feature the PPE logo typography with either blue or silver gradient fills. I also designed stickers using the PPE logo graphic. However, these cannot currently be published.

Patches & Pins

The embroidered patch and pins also showcase the logo graphic. Unlike the sticker designs, the patch shows the spacecraft's trajectory passing through the second P of "PPE." It also has a border featuring relevant agencies, programs, projects, and contractors. The text reads: "NASA, Artemis, Gateway, MAXAR, and Power & Propulsion Element" evenly separated stars. The pins have a similar design along with a bright blue border to make it visually pop.

Fun Facts Flyer

I also refreshed a flyer design with fun facts about the PPE project. Both showcase eye-catching imagery of the spacecraft and its components. One uses teal with hints of magenta, while the other uses deep purple with accents of bright yellow.

Activity Sheets

Additionally, I created activity sheets including a PPE maze and a coloring page featuring an illustrated version of the spacecraft. These will be distributed at outreach events to help engage young audiences.

PPE Training Package

Part 1: PPE 101

High-level training that's accessible to all Gateway personnel. It covers introductory topics and basic concepts, like PPE's role as a part of Gateway and its spacecraft configuration. It will be used to inform those working under the Gateway program about the PPE project.

Part 2: PPE Internal

Internal training that's only accessible to those working on the PPE project. This low-level training incorporates detailed content provided by PPE team members specializing in different areas of the project. Going forward, it will be used to train newcomers to the project and improve the overall onboarding process.

NASA's Artemis program

Power & Propulsion Element Illustration & Communications Intern

Power & Propulsion Element
Illustration & Communications Intern