Center for Aviation Technology & Training
Using World War II History to Inspire Innovation
Deliverables: Visual Identity, Signage, Exhibit Graphics
The Center for Aviation Technology & Training (CATT) is an initiative of Hosanna House, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering growth and education for children in underserved communities. The mission of CATT is to excite and empower these children to pursue interests in aviation and other STEM-related career paths. CATT’s physical location comes complete with a museum, built in coordination with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, that focuses on the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen.
I worked the client and Children’s Museum exhibit experts to brand the entire program, establish an aesthetic for the exhibit, and create engaging exhibit and wall graphics. The museum is slated for opening in March 2022.
The Logo
The logo I created depicts a stylized eagle in flight that’s made up of two key elements of symbolism that tie back into our WWII heritage:
1) The eagle is given a red tail to directly honor the Tuskegee Airmen, reflecting the aircraft paint scheme of the 332nd Fighter Group. These red-tailed P-51 fighter planes are integral to the Tuskegee Airmen identity.
2) The wings of the eagle consist of two interlocking V’s that pay homage to the “Double V Campaign,” a national movement launched in 1942 by The Pittsburgh Courier, an African American newspaper. The Double V’s stood for two victories: victory over the forces of facism and oppression overseas, and victory over racism and prejudices at home.
Museum Graphics
Once the visual brand was established, I collaborated with exhibit design specialists from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to apply the brand aesthetic to the space and exhibits of the CATT & Tuskegee Airmen Museum. This included exterior building signage, wall graphics for the lobby and computer lab, “Double V” exhibit graphics, and an interactive tangram panel.
