SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket (collectively referred to as Starship) represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Starship will be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tonnes to Earth orbit.
As the effects of climate change become more prevalent, knowledge of the Sun’s impact on Earth is becoming more important than ever. So we were especially thrilled to be given the opportunity to create a poster for JPL’s “Solar Surfing,” an innovative study whose aim is to develop technology that will allow a spacecraft to come extremely close to the Sun–millions of miles closer than ever before!
The crucial feature of the technology is a shield with a new “highly reflective coating” that should allow a spacecraft, and the instruments inside, to withstand the heat within a narrow shadow. In designing the poster, we wanted to highlight the power of this exciting technology and the sheer boldness of the project.
It was an honor and a privilege to design the illustrations for this new book by author and astrophysicist, Dr. Becky Smethurst. Our first foray into book illustration couldn't have been a better fit for us here at 2046.
From the big bang to black holes, this fast-paced illustrated tour of time and space for the astro-curious unlocks the science of the stars to reveal fascinating theories, surprising discoveries, and ongoing mysteries in modern astronomy and astrophysics.
Oxford University astrophysicist and popular YouTube personality Dr. Becky Smethurst presents everything you need to know about the universe in ten accessible and engagingly illustrated lessons. In Space at the Speed of Light: The History of 14 Billion Years for People Short on Time, she guides you through fundamental questions, both answered and unanswered, posed by space scientists. Why does gravity matter? How do we know the big bang happened? What is dark matter? Do aliens exist? Why is the sky dark at night? If you have ever looked up at night and wondered how it all works, you will find answers--and many more questions--in this pocket-sized tour of the universe!
We were recently tasked with the job of redesigning the logo for the American Rocketry Challenge, the largest model rocket competition in the world! It was key for us to create a logo that would connect with a younger audience - we couldn't be happier with the results.
We were hired by the team at JPL to design a poster for the Deep Space Atomic Clock mission that NASA launched in June 2019. To learn more about the mission and what an atomic clock in space can do, visit the JPL website.
Originally hired to create one design, through the process of working on the poster, we ended up making three different versions. You can download print files of all three for free right here!
This year, 2046 Design had the pleasure of designing a branding package for AIA (Aerospace Industries Association) and its Vision 2050 Campaign.
"To mark AIA’s Centennial, we worked with industry leaders and experts to develop a vision of the A&D industry’s impact on society in 2050. These men and women are the very people imagining, developing, and investing in the revolutionary technologies that will change the way we work, move, and communicate tomorrow."
We were tasked with creating a logo and poster that would capture what the future of aerospace could be. Finding a balance of simplicity and futuristic visuals was key for the client. Our designs were used on everything from backdrops to socks!
We were absolutely thrilled here at 2046 Design when we were asked by Southwest Magazine to create a book cover design for a photo shoot with astronaut Scott Kelly. Finding the right balance of design, spacey-ness and simplicity was key for the client. After sorting through a bunch of options, we settled on a redesign of our Gravity poster for the book cover. Just seeing a real live astronaut next to our design is beyond words.
To check out the entire set of Fundamental Forces poster designs go here.
It’s been a long time coming, but I am happy to announce that the 2046 Print Shop is updated and ready to go! While the site may look similar we have gone through and totally rebuilt the back end resulting in faster load times, better mobile shopping and easier updates. SO get ready for more space, science and movie news and products coming out this year!
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are two Burmese journalists who were arrested Dec 12th while working to uncover evidence of killings of ethnic Rohingya Muslims at Inn Din village in Rakhine State, Myanmar. This was just one of many massacres perpetrated by the military which journalists have been unable to report and document as evidence for war crimes because the government denies us access.
Since September 2017, the world’s largest refugee crisis has been unfolding, nearly 800,000 Rohingya refugees fled state-sponsored violence in Myanmar for squalid camps in Bangladesh.
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had found photos and testimonies from perpetrators, including evidence of a mass grave. The evidence directly implicated the military and the government, which was something nobody had been able to do until now. Dec 12, a police officer asked to meet the journalists at a restaurant, and handed over sealed documents which he instructed them to open after leaving. Shortly after leaving the restaurant, the journalists were arrested and charged with violating the State Secrets Act, and denied bail.
Last month the story they were working on that got them imprisoned was published.
To help raise awareness please use the attached images as posters, Facebook pictures, Instagram icons or wherever else you can think to use them. If you would like to support the journalists you can purchase a T-shirt with this design here. All profits will go towards the movement to free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe oo.
Below are links to download both English and Burmese versions of the poster design.
I’m a visual person. I always learn (and retain) information more effectively when watching a documentary or video than by other means. I tend to think in a visual way, so naturally I gravitate to visual teaching about the world. Call it educational, documentary, nature show, science programming, I love to watch a show that gives insight into the natural world. Here are some of my favorite places to go when I want to learn something new:
1. Cosmos (Carl Sagan) – Nothing really compares to the original mind blowing documentary series by Carl Sagan. It was one of the first series to make complex information about the universe easily accessible. While the graphics and music may reveal its age, the information in the series is still enlightening and insightful.
2. Cosmos (Neil Degrasse) – A worthy successor to the original, this reboot of the Carl Sagan series picks up right where Carl left off. With new and improved computer generated graphics we are given a more in depth presentation of our complex reality.
3. BBC Nature Docs (David Attenborough) Planet Earth, Human Planet, Frozen Planet, Blue Planet – I could have tried to pick one, but it was too hard, they are all so good. The BBC has a long history of creating narrative and imagery that keep you engaged and amazed at the natural world. With narration by famed naturalist, Sir David Attenborough these videos have taught me more about the biology of our planet than all of my high school classes combined.
4. Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design – In addition to being one of the greatest minds of our life time Stephen Hawking is also a great writer/narrator. His ability to talk about complex theories and what they mean to him on a fundamental and spiritual level is inspiring.
5. Crash Course – Youtube is the perfect platform for these short videos packed with information ranging from Philosophy to Sociology all the way to the history of video games. Great for those who want to learn with limited time.
6. Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell – Another Youtube channel that chooses fascinating subject matter and gives a succinct and colorful introduction to them. I am always excited to see a new video by this team.
Aside from locations literally setting the stage in a story, buildings, monuments, and scenery can enhance and develop moments sometimes beyond words themselves. Architecture specifically has the power to mimic landscapes, rebuild the human form and translate time into a lasting monument. Be it in film or on paper, moments and experiences can transcend dialogue when paired with an unforgettable, symbolic location. Whether it’s the overwhelming feeling of vertigo, the unbearable weight of grave conclusions, or the glittering burst of joy, these experiences are made deeper and richer with the power of stunning visuals and meaningful settings.
Here are some of the locations & buildings that have inspired the prints I have made throughout the years:
Hawkins Laboratory – This spooky show is made only spookier with the knowledge that the building that plays home to the Hawkins National Laboratory was once a mental illness hospital. Today it is part of Emory University in Atlanta Georgia.
Vulcan – The planet Vulcan has been a location for the Star Trek series dating all the way back to the original TV show. Originally it was filmed in the outskirts of LA at the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park. Since then the landscape of the park has been recreated and digitzed to create the landscape of the whole planet.
New York: 1933 – Originally this print was created for the 75 year anniversary of the original King Kong movie. Since then we have seen just a few more King Kong flicks come out. The Empire State Building is probably one of the most filmed and iconic buildings in the world and matches the themes and grandeur of King Kong perfectly.
Kansas 2044 – While the location is partially fictional because it takes place in the future, I think the feeling and location of Kansas is still an interesting choice for this film. In the third act of this action sci-fi you would expect a big climax, but this film does not go down that path. Instead the film slows down to a country lifestyle. We find ourselves in a farm in the middle of nowhere instead of some futuristic sci-fi locale. The scene where the protagonist talks with his older self takes place in a diner, a diner! As with all good movies the science fiction concepts are just a tool to create great characters going through extra ordinary circumstances.
Australia – Not only is the Mad Max series of films some of the best to come out of Australia, the setting and story is so tied to the landscape of the country. Dry arid land sets the tone for the story, isolation and dystopic themes of the movie franchise. It simply would not feel the same if it took place anywhere else.
Initech offices – The movie Office Space is filled with feelings of a stale, soul-less, office environment. The building used to film this movie is a perfect compliment to these themes. An nondescript strip mall in Austin taxes was the place where Mike Judge decided to film this movie.
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