And That, AS They Say, Is History
HQ Environmental Graphics Experience
As a 75th Anniversary present, the Cobalt Credit Union headquarters building was treated to a historical timeline installation celebrating key milestones from its history. I had the pleasure of designing the environmental installation.
What this says about me...
- I enjoy transforming complex information into meaningful experiences.
- I am energized by projects that require learning, research, and exploration.
- I thrive when balancing creative freedom with brand stewardship.
- I enjoy collaborating across disciplines to bring ambitious ideas to life.
Role
Historical Researcher
Visual Designer
Stakeholder and Vendor Partner
Team
Marketing Specialist
Environmental Graphics Vendor (Renze)
Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Overview
In celebration of their 75th Anniversary, the President/CEO of Cobalt Credit Union requested that we design and install a historical timeline of the institution. Being the only designer on at the credit union, the task fell to me to create the design and work with the vendor (Renze) to make the installation a reality. This piece is about 5 feet tall and 18 feet wide, built on rails and attached to a cement wall in the atrium of the headquarters building.
This is how we do it
discover
Research
Understand
Empathize
define
Problem
Goals
Positioning
design
Ideate
Design
Collaborate
— discover —
Research Summary
The research of the timeline fell to the Communications Specialist and me. She dug through boxes of old documents and photos for usable items, though, and I researched both historical timelines and our credit union history.
— define —
Define The Timeline
What milestones are important to include?
Accrue Assets
What historical artifacts are available?
Understand Brief
What is this intended to communicate?
Goal & Intent
The intent behind the timeline design was to highlight important milestones in our seventy-five year history in a way that complemented the design aesthetic of our headquarters building. We pay tribute to our past, from the founding of our credit union to our expansion into a community charter to surpassing a billion dollars in assets. We are proud of our military roots and our continued partnership with Offutt Air Force Base. A special thanks to the Offutt Base Historians’ Office and members of the SAC Elite Guard who were instrumental in sourcing early images for this installation. We also chose to highlight communities that have embraced us, products and services that have enhanced us, and technologies that have helped us to grow into the respected financial institution we are today. Though our name has changed along the way, our purpose remains strong, vibrant, and true blue.
Defining the timeline
The task of devising which elements on the timeline to highlight was a team effort. We had a listing of timeline items on the website, but no visual elements to back them up. We also chose to refine the list based on how many elements I felt would be reasonable given the space. After much discussion, we presented a final list the the President/CEO for approval.
Accrue Assets
Deep dive into the boxes and tubs of unfiled papers and photos of the last 75 years. The Marketing Team all jumped in to help sort through the mess. At the end I went through and pulled out the most inspiring images that corresponded with our timeline. Then I started chasing assets that we didn’t already have. I was pleased to find some images online. Getting to talk to the people behind the websites, I made a few new contacts and had some enlightening discussions.
— design —
Pitch Initial Ideas
Assets in hand I set forth with organizing an initial layout – like a wireframe. Then, based on my predetermined sized I created Adobe Illustrator files for each of the individual pieces. One piece (sometimes two) for each historical event. These files were linked into the initial wireframe to form a mockup. I photographed the wall that the installation was going to be on, and laid that in as a backdrop. Printing this at a large (but not life-size) scale, I assembled the tiles and taped it up to a wall. Then invited the stakeholders to have a first look.
Revisions
By and large the group was impressed with the overall design. There were a couple of bits of information to add before involving the production vendor. And the President/CEO requested that the last tile in the design be the 75th Anniversary icon that I had designed earlier in the year.
Technical Revisions
As the design progressed, we found that it was going to be rather complicated in terms of production. We definitely stretched the boundaries here. Our production vendor walked us through all of the materials and how they could possibly be used to accomplish our goals. There were elements that required some trial and error to determine the best possible outcome, but the production team managed to translate the flat design into something truly special in 3 dimensions.
Sample Selections / More Technical Revisions
My supervisor and I met with our contact several times to look at color and material samples in the space to make sure that the lighting was compensated for in the final design. I worked with the production crew altering designs when technical problems arose that would cause the design to fail in application. This was an exciting learning opportunity which allowed me to stretch my skills as a primarily 2D designer. Thinking about each surface as an object that reacts to light and shadow was such a fun and challenging process.
Final Approval
The President/CEO and my direct supervisors left it to me to do the final sign off on the design. Talk about a huge responsibility! After all of the work that went into this project, I felt confident that it was ready and I was not disappointed.
Installation
The installation process was very quick. The Renze team came in and installed the entire piece in one session lasting about 5 hours. I was able to be on site to watch the process and to see my creation come to life. It was exhilarating.
The Reveal
The timing of the project was a major concern from the start. We had decided to undertake the project in May of 2021 with a strict deadline of November 4, 2021 to unveil the final installation at the Annual Meeting. The final installation was finished about a week in advance and we covered it to allow for some “wow-factor” during the reveal at the meeting. It was very well received and continues to be a draw to those that visit the location.
Here you see the Marketing Team (myself included) next to the installation.
— reflect —
Impact
The installation transformed an unused architectural feature into a permanent brand experience that celebrates the organization’s history, values, and growth. By translating seventy-five years of milestones into a visual narrative, the piece created a shared point of pride for employees, leadership, and visitors while preserving institutional history in an engaging and accessible format. The installation was unveiled during the organization’s Annual Meeting and continues to serve as a focal point within the headquarters building.
What I learned
This project challenged me to think beyond individual design artifacts and focus on creating a meaningful experience. While I entered the project as a graphic designer, I left with a deeper appreciation for how information, storytelling, environment, and emotion intersect.
The process strengthened my ability to synthesize large amounts of historical content, identify the moments that mattered most, and organize them into a coherent narrative. It also introduced me to the realities of designing for physical spaces, where scale, materials, lighting, and fabrication all become part of the user experience.
Most importantly, the project reinforced something that continues to guide my work today: people connect more deeply with information when it is thoughtfully organized, contextualized, and presented as part of a larger story.
More Case Studies
What's on your mind?
Improve this site:
Share your experience as you interacted with this site.
Your feedback is critical to making impactful changes.
Collaborate:
New challenges welcome!
Tell me about how you want to work together.