Adding drama to the unscripted six-part series by Rex, for National Geographic, we designed a full broadcast graphics package suite including in-flight HUDs, mission entry sequences, maps and series title.
The project was a unique collaboration between Nat Geo and the US Navy. Though illustrative, the HUDs and mission graphics were US Navy approved to ensure they are true to form. The graphical style and design choices were inspired by real cockpit and HUD UI designs, balanced with layouts and data points that would be intuitive for audiences to connect with.
We designed several sequences depicting the training exercises and simulations that aspiring Top Gun students must undertake. Choreographing and accurately replicating these complex manoeuvre, such as defensive and offensive BFM, strikes, dogfighting and aircraft carrier landings.
Drawing inspiration from authentic operational pilot HUDs, the designs were subtly enhanced to amplify the narrative. Crucially, key attributes such as G-force, airspeed, and altitude were centred on the screen, immediately communicating the critical nature of any manoeuvre to the viewer. We worked in Adobe Illustrator to design the HUD elements then animated in After Effects.
