Earlier this year, The Washington Post published an eye-catching article titled "The New Space Age," which highlighted the growing interest in space travel. In this article, we explore how companies are embracing this trend.
The New Space Age marks a growing interest in space exploration and travel. Unlike the earlier phases when government agencies like NASA were sending people to the moon, the New Space Age sees private companies, such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Space Perspective and Blue Origin, leading the charge in space exploration.
Many companies like Mattel, Oreo, Mercedes, Prada, and Seymourpowell are catching up with the trend by partnering with space companies.
In 2020, Mattel sent two Barbie dolls into space in collaboration with the International Space Station, aiming to inspire more girls to pursue STEM careers. Last year, Mattel launched a toy series in collaboration with SpaceX under its iconic Matchbox brand.
This year, Oreo joined in with their space-themed "Space Dunk" cookie campaign, offering customers a chance to enjoy their crème-filled treats while floating through the stratosphere in The Space Perspective Capsule.
Luxury car brand Mercedes-Maybach and space tourism company, Space Perspective, are exploring exciting design and hospitality additions for end-to-end space experiences. Mercedes-Maybach’s all-electric vehicles will exclusively transport Space Perspective Explorers to and from their spaceflights.
Fashion is no stranger to space either. Coach, Heron Preston, and Balenciaga all did NASA-inspired collections in 2017, 2018 and 2021, respectively. In 2023, Prada announced a partnership with commercial space company Axiom Space to design spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis III mission to the Moon in 2025.
There’s a growing demand for innovative design solutions that enhance user experience in space travel and habitation. Designers are invited to think creatively about sustainable materials and technologies, making their contributions vital to the evolving landscape of the space economy.
Seymourpowell, a leading strategic design agency, collaborated with Virgin Galactic over a decade to design the interior of the world's first commercial spaceship. This unique commission allowed them to help define a new paradigm for space tourism.
The team conducted extensive research and testing to create an innovative cabin design that would manage high G-forces and optimise the weightless, out-of-seat experience for passengers. The final design featured soft, comfortable materials blended with structural carbon fiber, and a carefully curated color palette to ground passengers between earth and space. This groundbreaking project enabled Virgin Galactic to raise $450 million and achieve the first commercial spaceflight on Unity 22.
The in-house design team at Space Perspective brought a delightful experience into space by creating the world’s first "space lounge" for their Spaceship Neptune capsule. This design enhances the experience of enjoying the view and connecting more deeply with our planet.
“The biggest challenge in designing this interior was creating a versatile space that offers the flexibility to not only sit back and enjoy the view but also to celebrate and share the experience with others,” explained Taber MacCallum, co-founder, co-CEO, and CTO of Space Perspective, who leads the in-house design team.
SpaceX's spacesuit, crafted by Hollywood costume designer Jose Fernandez, finally combines aesthetics and functionality. Over 3-4 years, Jose and SpaceX worked to reimagine the suit’s look and unlike older versions, the new helmets are 3D-printed, and the gloves are touchscreen-sensitive to work with the control panel.
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