Courtney John, 27, a graphic designer from Llanelli in south-west Wales, has reached the semi-finals of a renowned NASA global design competition. This artistic achievement serves to illustrate her stunning talent and creativity. Her visionary design, “Past, Present, and Future” features three plush humanoids. Their hands in a circle, representing collaboration and inclusiveness, definitely flags some evolution of the space exploration.
John’s plush toy design includes one humanoid dressed in a spacesuit from the Apollo 17 mission, which marked the last time humans set foot on the Moon on December 19, 1972. Beside it sits a full-sized, plush figure outfitted in the new Artemis II spacesuit. This woman symbolizes an amazing time we’re living in—the new space age. This design aims to encapsulate humanity’s journey through space, emphasizing the spirit of exploration and the significance of NASA’s Artemis campaign.
More than 2,600 entries poured into the competition. John’s design really stands out with its rich depiction of time and the concept of unity through space travel. She expressed her excitement about being selected as a finalist, stating, “Even being chosen as a finalist is amazing.”
The importance of John’s design goes further than its symbolism. If she wins, her cuddly companion will have a real shot at visiting the Moon! It will teach astronauts how gravity behaves on its surface. Her latest success came in November 2022 when a plush toy she created for NASA’s Artemis I mission was launched into orbit around the Moon. It acted as a zero gravity indicator (ZGI). As a zero-g indicator, the ZGI is meant to be a signifier that a spacecraft has reached the condition of weightlessness—a pivotal achievement of space exploration.
Reflecting on her aspirations, John said, “I’ve always been interested in space, and the opportunity to have something you’ve made go into space would be amazing.” She sees her design as a lasting commemorative to human ingenuity and invention. It represents collaboration in our shared efforts to understand the universe.
John’s design is centered around these cute plush humanoids which really pop out nicely. In the background, a United States flag and Moon devices further contribute to the inspirational and patriotic nature of the artwork.
We look forward to the announcement of the competition winner later this year. If John is sad about the end of her creation, she’s hopeful for what lies ahead. She remarked, “It’ll be such a great achievement [for them to go into space], and when they’re in space they’ll be able to see how far they’ve gone.”
