The Project

The Portland Timbers professional soccer team and Alaska Airlines teamed up to produce a new 737 soccer-themed aircraft. A design contest was introduced asking for entries that reflected what the Portland Timbers were all about. Over 500 entries from all over the country were submitted and Wright Side Up Design was chosen as the grand prize-winner.

The overall instructions and requirements allowed each designer to freely create what they felt. Incorporating the team’s logo was the only requirement. The images below will showcase each element of the plane and the reason for each design.

The tail section of the plane is where we chose to showcase the powerful brand mark of the Timbers. We designed the piece to extend past the actual plane section to give an even larger presence. We wanted the team icon to be the last image people see as the plane moves past them.

The body of the aircraft was designed after the team jersey. The graphics are very bold on the team jersey but if you look closely there are other subtle elements. I wanted to reflect the same feeling on the plane. The subtle soccer ball pattern is screened in the background. This detail does not reveal itself until after the plane approaches the terminal. The overall design consists of many layers and offers a new look each time it’s viewed.

The Result

An award winning a design that shows the passion that the city of Portland and the state of Oregon have for their professional MLS soccer team, The Portland Timbers. The design will represent this team for many years as Alaska Airlines flies from city to city. It is quite an accomplishment for Wright Side Up Design to have designed an Alaska Airlines 737. The problem is, how do we get it into our portfolio.