This past year I’ve had the privilege of joining the DesignLab at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, an in-house design agency supporting NASA science and engineering, to communicate the value, results, and wonder of space exploration.
Flyby a few project highlights below. ✨️
Flyby a few project highlights below. ✨️
Viral Cat Video in Deep Space
🌎 Reached Earth Dec 2023 ︎ Motion Graphics ︎ Public Media Strategy
NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications sent this video from 19 million miles away to test novel laser technology, redefining the future of spaceflight communication as we know it. I contributed to this video’s concept, graphics, and motion design. Read more︎︎︎
The video went viral, reaching 451 million people and generating 2.57 million impressions within 4 days. It outperformed sharing benchmarks by 740%.
Taters the cat also inspired news media, social media, and space/tech stories from top platforms: CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post, AFP, ABC,
NBC News, BBC, USA Today, Space.com, and more.
NASA continues to execute revolutionary missions with the confidence of tech demos (essentially proof-of-concepts) that precede it (read more here.) Since Taters, this experiment has sent over 4.7 TB of data in deep space, more data than the lifetime of any NASA JPL mission.
NASA continues to execute revolutionary missions with the confidence of tech demos (essentially proof-of-concepts) that precede it (read more here.) Since Taters, this experiment has sent over 4.7 TB of data in deep space, more data than the lifetime of any NASA JPL mission.
Behind the scenes of the video reaching Earth!
“So... we need a video.”
The ask was incredibly open-ended, but working with the mission’s lead project technologist, I took the graphics in a technical, yet approachable direction to reference the physics and engineering prowess behind this experiment. While this was an extraordinary technological feat in space comms and its implications for future missions, the video and cheat sheet extends the technical subject’s reach to the masses.
We achieved 3 main objectives: (1) optimize test success comprehension for scientists, (2) catch the attention of the public, and (3) inspire people to learn more about DSOC and NASA.
The ask was incredibly open-ended, but working with the mission’s lead project technologist, I took the graphics in a technical, yet approachable direction to reference the physics and engineering prowess behind this experiment. While this was an extraordinary technological feat in space comms and its implications for future missions, the video and cheat sheet extends the technical subject’s reach to the masses.
We achieved 3 main objectives: (1) optimize test success comprehension for scientists, (2) catch the attention of the public, and (3) inspire people to learn more about DSOC and NASA.
Software Symposium 🚀️ Launched Feb 2024 ︎ Branding ︎ Research
A lot of software fuels science and space exploration. Having interviewed 15 engineers, designers, and PMs at JPL, I distilled the unique essence of software for space exploration into this conference identity.
Earth System Science Methodology
🚀️ Published Dec 2023 ︎ Information Design
I helped engineers debut a new systems science methodology at the biggest Earth science conference, American Geophysical Union (AGU). This framework condenses the complexity of identifying impactful science topics for societal benefit.
With research and collaborative sketching, I broke down the complexity for a general science audience.
“All they have to do is fill out these tables” (They took an hour to explain).
The methodology was lengthy and cumbersome, even to the point of team members failing to get through the whole process themselves. With several alignment conversations, expert reviews, and sketches, we shifted the focus from its objective steps into a productive conversation-starter about science impact. We reframed complexity to inspire future collaboration and adoption in the science community.
The methodology was lengthy and cumbersome, even to the point of team members failing to get through the whole process themselves. With several alignment conversations, expert reviews, and sketches, we shifted the focus from its objective steps into a productive conversation-starter about science impact. We reframed complexity to inspire future collaboration and adoption in the science community.
Cleanroom Instructor Tooling
🚀️ Implemented Jan 2024 ︎ UX Design ︎ Visual Design
I worked closely with instructors to redesign course templates and teaching aids for quality, consistent, and trusted manufacturing training for all NASA personnel. Beyond setting new visual standards, the implemented designs are revision-conscious and compatible across course offerings and instructing styles.
Kind words from the lead instructor I worked with—
“What sets Elysha apart is her exceptional ability to transform high-level, abstract concepts into tangible, user-friendly designs.”
More projects launching soon!