The West Virginia University College of Creative Arts and Media’s (CCAM) Graphic Design program recently collaborated with the WVU Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources’ Department of Mechanical, Materials & Aerospace Engineering (MMAE) on a mission patch for an upcoming U.S. Navy operation.
A mission patch is worn by those involved in a major military operation, with its design representing the mission, its crew and any unique elements of the operation. The student-designed patch is for the CSAVMS program, which represents the development of a naval defense system for a specific kind of missile threat. The MMAE program has a team currently working on the program through a Navy contract.
“It was an outstanding collaboration. My students enjoyed being involved in a different type of creative process. I believe the CCAM students also enjoyed seeing the engineering side of the creative process,” said Wade Huebsch, professor in the MMAE department.
Nine students in the advanced graphic design class created more than 100 unique concepts for the patch, which was narrowed down to three designs voted on by the MMAE team. Paige Burger, a student with some experience in the cockpit, designed the winning patch.
“My main inspiration for the patch was seeing through the lens of defense and the perspective of Navy ships looking at the enemy. Flight controls and radar were inspired by my very short-lived days as a pilot in training,” Burger said. “There was a long list of must-haves for this project. The most important being the design must be slightly obscure and simplified enough so that the protected information was not compromised. Conveying motion and rotation was essential. I had to include Naval elements like the rope border and color treatment. Also, it absolutely had to look cool.”
The winning Mission Patch, presented at the Aeronautics & Astronautics’ Defense Forum
The winning design was then refined and presented at the 2025 American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics’ Defense Forum at Johns Hopkins University in April.
“This project allowed design students, who tend to deal more with visual and metaphorical communication, to engage with engineering students, who lean more toward literal and technical communication,” said Donald “Kent” Kerr, associate professor of Graphic Design. “The experience of finding common ground and learning to think and create in a way that best suits each group is invaluable for our students and for the professors overseeing the projects.”
All participants directly involved in the CSAVMS project will receive the patch. Burger’s design will also be used for any related meeting or presentation.
“It feels awesome to have such a unique piece in my portfolio,” Burger said. “It is almost unbelievable knowing my work is worn by soldiers and a helicopter pilot. My mom always wanted me to be a Navy pilot, but I'll stick with just designing for them.”
For more information about the Graphic Design program, visit artanddesign.wvu.edu.