![United Airlines plane flying above the clouds](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_B787-9-Livery_Priestmangoode.jpg)
United Airlines
Year
2012 – present
Sector
Our design partnership with United began in 2012 soon after United Airlines and Continental Airlines merged to become the world’s biggest carrier. In that time, our collaboration has spanned everything from brand identity to cabin interiors, lounge design, wayfinding, onboard products and services, and CGI visualisation for marketing and promotional materials.
![A car on a road arriving at an airport terminal building, with a lit up United Departures sign seen on the side of the building](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_Newark_Arrivals_S_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![A couple is seated at luxurious bar. The spacious room has a with a slatted ceiling, recessed lighting, herringbone grey flooring and marble surfaces. A bartender is making drinks while another person approaches the bar](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/United_Polaris-Lounge-Bar-Area-2_Priestmangoode-1440x851.jpg)
![Two cabin crew standing in front of the United brand panels at the entrance of an aircraft](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Polaris-Cabin-Entrance_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![A woman is drinking champagne seated in a Business Class aircraft seat](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Polaris-Seat_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![United Airlines Polaris Business Class meal service tray and crockery](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United_Airlines_Polaris_Meal_service_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![United Airlines First Class seats](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_First-Class_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
Challenge
Initially briefed to create new cabin interiors for the airline’s domestic fleet, our work with United expanded to include every element of the brand identity and customer experience, from corporate brand guidelines to livery design for a fleet of nearly 1400 aircraft, cabin interiors, ground services and marketing materials, all with the goal of developing a single vision to unite the fleet across all classes and all touchpoints.
At the heart of this project has been a stepped approach that has enabled us to gradually roll-out the new designs across United’s entire business. This has helped us achieve a more holistic brand experience over time and enabled the airline to maximise return on investment.
![United Airlines brand colours and pattern details](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airilines_Livery-process_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![The United Airlines livery shown on a wide variety of aircraft types](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/United-Airlines_livery-fleet-study_2_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![Hundreds of people in an aircraft hanger for the launch of the United Airlines livery, with a United aircraft](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/United_LiveryLaunch_72dpi-1440x960.jpg)
![United Airlines aircraft tail fin](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-1440x960.jpg)
Solution
At the core of all our work with United is a clearly defined brand identity that we have used as an anchoring visual cue to create an intuitive customer journey from home to destination. We have used the brand’s globe logo as our starting point to create a wide range of designs for application across all areas of the passenger experience, from abstract patterns on brand panels onboard to textiles in airport lounges all the way to the smallest details on the inflight meal service.
These new iconic brand elements sit alongside an extensive range of new products, like the airline’s Polaris Business Class seat, as well as everything from lounge seating to complete cabin interiors. Every touchpoint now embodies the airline’s brand DNA.
![Wayfinding and signage guidelines for United Airlines, including an artist's render of wayfinding within a vast airport environment](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Wayfinding_Signage_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![United Airlines gate design with signage details](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Gate_Pylon_Signage_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![Signage guidelines for United Airlines](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_Signage-Guidelines-2_Priestmangoode.jpg)
“This modernised design, especially our iconic globe, enhances the very best of United’s image and values while pointing in the direction of where we intend to go next in serving our customers.”
Oscar Munoz, Executive Chairman and former CEO, United Airlines, 2019
![The custom designed dinner set for United Polaris](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_Polaris-Chinaware-Service_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![United Airlines Polaris menu](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Menu2_Priestmangoode-1-1440x916.jpg)
![Custom designed drinks containers including coffee jug and tea pot for United Airlines](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_Plaris_Drinks_Service_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![The custom designed dinner set for United Polaris](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United_Polaris-Service-OnBoard_Priestmangoode.jpg)
On the ground, the United experience is defined around key principles that set the tone for the passenger journey: an impactful entrance using bespoke patterns and finishes, improved passenger flow with thoughtful wayfinding throughout the airport from curbside to gate, a world glass reception with lounge design that carries forward the identity of the cabin interiors, improved personal space and brand consistency at gate.
![A car on a road arriving at an airport terminal building, with a lit up United Departures sign seen on the side of the building](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_Newark_Arrivals_Priestmangoode-1.jpg)
![A man seated in a lounge chair surrounded by upholstered privacy panels, with a small table lamp in an airport lounge](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Polaris-Lounge-Seating_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![Two passengers seated at a table eating in the luxurious Polaris airport lounge. In the background is a large buffet area, with a person stood on the other side of the buffet](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Polaris-Lounge-Restaurant_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![A passenger is greeted by a receptionist at the entrance to the United Polaris lounge. A marbled wall and 3D branded panel feature in the backdrop](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United_Polaris-Lounge_Entrance_Area_Public_72dpi_crop-1440x1388.jpg)
![A couple is seated at luxurious bar. The spacious room has a with a slatted ceiling, recessed lighting, herringbone grey flooring and marble surfaces. A bartender is making drinks while another person approaches the bar](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Polaris-Lounge-Bar_Priestmangoode.jpg)
Our ongoing work with United is based on a detailed analysis of every touchpoint, both from a passenger and from airline staff’s point of view. We have used a range of tools from journey mapping to user testing and virtual reality to ensure that every experience, from digital interaction to economy and Premium, is well-thought out, beautifully delivered and clearly United.
![](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_CMF_Workshop_2_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![Sketches and images showing elements of the design process for United Airlines](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/United-Airlines_Design_Process_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![A selection of material samples mostly in different shades of blue](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/United-Airlines_CMF_Materials_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
Meanwhile our CGI + Visualisation team has worked extensively over the course of our partnership, to maximise the use of visualisation and VR as part of the design and development process, as well as to create imagery and animations for marketing and promotional purposes, bringing the passenger journey to life and setting the tone for the airline’s vision to be the leading US carrier.
![United brand panel at the entrance to the aircraft cabin](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/United_B777-entrance-Brand-Panel_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![Two cabin crew standing in front of the United brand panels at the entrance of an aircraft](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Polaris-Cabin-Entrance_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![A woman is drinking champagne seated in a Business Class aircraft seat](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_Polaris-Seat_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![United Airlines First Class seats](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_First-Class_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_First_Class_seat_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_First_Class_seat_detail_Priestmangoode.jpg)
![Detail of the United logo within the aircraft cabin interior](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/United-Airlines_B737-Entrance-Branding_Priestmangoode-1440x810.jpg)
![United Airlines Economy Class Cabin](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/United-Airlines_Economy_Cabin_Priestmangoode-1440x685.jpg)
![United Airlines Premium Economy Plus seat](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/United_Pinnacle-YCplus_Priestmangoode-1440x960.jpg)
![Tag with the United logo on the side of aircraft seats](https://www.priestmangoode.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/United_CR7_Tag-Shot_240414_72dpi-1440x960.jpg)