Campaign Strategy / Art Direction / Design

The largest PDX Next construction project at the Portland International Airport is the main terminal redesign—impacting the entrance, ticketing, and security areas for several years.

 

To prepare for this major disruption, sparks+sullivan built a campaign strategy to communicate future plans to travelers and employees before and during construction.

Rather than focusing on architectural renderings, the “XO PDX” campaign celebrates local places, people and passions that inspired the new airport designs—assuring the public that the future airport will embody the things that people love about PDX.

We were inspired by the architecture of the new main terminal, and the more we looked at models and drawings, the more we were seeing the elements that the Portland region is known for.

XO_PDX Collage.jpg

 

We led a photoshoot with photographer Michael Chung to authentically capture local business owners, artists, construction workers, architects, food and PNW nature that inspire and contribute to the airport—acquiring enough content and stories to last a year. 

 

From concept to creative and campaign launch, we worked with the PDX team to bring this campaign to life throughout the airport and online.

The campaign launched at the brink of the COVID19 pandemic, and the message of supporting and celebrating the local community and resources proved even more relevant. 

XO PDX

Work like this is a group effort. Thanks to these incredible collaborators!

Award Recognition

Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) 
International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA): Silver

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) 

365: AIGA Year in Design Award

Project Team

Client Team
Jennifer Fowler
Kelley Bonsall
Katie Meeker
Henry Gonzalez
Steve Cowden
Megan Zimmer
Tripp Somerville

Photography
Michael Chung

Writing
JD Shadel
Ian Deming

Graphic Design support
John Gordon

Photography of install
Micah Fischer

Architect (new terminal)
ZGF Architects

sparks+sullivan Role
Campaign Strategy
Art Direction
Design

Did we miss a detail or shout out? Email us
and let us know! hello@sparkssullivan.com

A special thanks to the people, businesses and sites that were showcased in the XO campaign.

 

Alex Chiu, artist
Air Traffic Control Tower Operators
Airport wing walkers
Columbia River Gorge
Concourse E Construction Crew
Dee and Waylon Gipson
Jordan Richards, musician
Jared and Brianne Mees, Tender Loving Empire
Katherine Lam and Daniel Nguyen, Bambuza
Kiss Coffee
Nick and Sam Purvis, Good Coffee
Oxbow Regional Park
Powells Books
Renee Zengara, artist
Screen Door
ZGF Architects

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