Communication Design for NASA
Strategies designed to strengthen NASA's engagement and communication, telling the story of their extraordinary contributions to humanity made possible on the International Space Station.
Team
16 designers total
Worked in a 4-person subgroup to develop one prototype
My Role
Design Strategy
Creative Ideation
Research
Storyboarding & Scripting
Visual Design
Client Communication
Voiceover Narration
Presentation & Public Speaking
Industry
Science Education Aerospace / Space Education
Project Context
15-week design strategy project for an external client engagement through Parsons School of Design
Year
2025
Tools
Figma
Miro
ChatGPT
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Premiere Pro
Project Brief
How might we tell the story of the opportunity landscape beyond earth in low Earth orbit (LEO) and the evolution of NASA's extraordinary scientific achievements?
Challenge
While NASA drives significant innovation in space exploration, its communication strategies primarily target scientists and researchers, and its public-facing content often remains dense, complex, and heavy with scientific terms. This creates barriers to greater public awareness, engagement, and interest, widening the gap between the space industry and the broader public. Ultimately, this results in limited awareness of the life-changing benefits of space exploration while reinforcing the perception that the field is accessible only to major players.
What makes building awareness even more urgent is the development of NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program, which will support the creation of private commercial space stations. As NASA plans to replace the International Space Station's (ISS) after its retirement in 2030 with commercial stations, new opportunities for research, tourism, and manufacturing will emerge, while also raising important questions about equity, access, ethics and sustainability.
Week 5-8 Initial Concept Development & Validation
Researched CLD opportunities and challenges, focusing on how to shape science communication to build awareness on the value of space exploration and to support the transition towards an equitable, accessible, and sustainable future of commercial space exploration
Ideated initial concepts that could create value across all six target domains
Presented insights and initial concepts to client for feedback
Process
Week 1-4 Discovery, Research & Ecosystem Mapping
Met with client to understand key challenges, goals, and needs
Mapped and analyzed stakeholders to better understand the network of players, power dynamics, and key tensions
Identified that stakeholders were naturally organized into six domains: research, investment, government, public, sustainability, and commerce
Reviewed NASA's past and current work, as well as its digital channels and communication strategies to identify gaps and opportunities
Evaluated communication, marketing, and engagement strategies leveraged by both public and private actors in the global space industry
Week 9-12 Concept Testing & Prototyping
Conducted assumption mapping to identify high-risk prototypes and guide prototype development
Categorized prototypes into phases, ensuring to address each phase in the transition towards a thriving, sustainable, and equitable future of space exploration
Organized team into subgroups, each responsible for developing one concept into a prototype
Leveraged design strategy frameworks and workshops to test and inform decisions and maximize value
Conducted research on NASA's achievements, communicating with clients for fact-checking
Identified distribution channels and formats to reach target audiences
Created scripts, moodboards, and storyboards while integrating client and peer feedback
Storyboard
Week 13-15 Prototype Development & Final Client Presentation
Developed a low-fidelity prototype as the final deliverable by sourcing footage from stock agencies and editing Adobe Premiere Pro, including voiceover narration, sound effects, and music
Refined storytelling and pitch
Presented research and design process, along with low-fidelity prototypes to client
Presenting to NASA!
Proposed Solution
A Day in the Life Without NASA
An advertisement campaign conveying life on earth without the advancements made possible by NASA, especially research done on the International Space Station, including medical, scientific, mechanical, and technological advancements
Demonstrates the scope and value of NASA's research and highlights how integral it is to our daily lives — usually in ways we are unaware of, and for inventions that are often taken for granted
Walks viewers through a day in the life but without the impact of NASA, emphasizing how different life would be today without NASA's contributions
Designed to be a 90 second video with the possibility for segmentation into 30 second shorts to maintain engagement and optimize content for social media
Outcomes & Learnings
Participated hands-on in each phase of the design process
Refined my ability to tell clear, engaging, and emotionally impactful stories using complex subject matter
Gained hands-on experience in client communication and presentations
Leveraged my experience and skills in film and media production to inform the design process and effectively lead my subgroup to the final deliverable
Strengthened my skills in research, creative ideation, storyboarding, video editing, marketing strategy, and production