Navy Federal Credit Union

EGD - Lounge

ZFG Architects

Brief: For an interior renovation at NFCU’s Virginia headquarters, a custom illustrative mural was created to wrap a return wall and highlight the organization’s culture and focus on local community.

Scope: EGD - Wall Graphic
Role: Concept, Designer, Production
Collaborators: Jenny Lee and Suejin Park
Status: Installation Completed

SD

schematic design

Sketch 1

After our initial meeting, NFCU shared their vision for a custom illustrated mural to anchor their newly renovated dining space. The goal was to highlight the many ways they engage with and support the local community—such as food donation drives, Habitat for Humanity builds, and their annual 5K—through an organic, flowing composition. Following a round of concept sketches, the team selected Sketch 2 for its clarity and streamlined design.

Illustration provided by client for reference

The selected sketch (2) was then developed in Illustrator, where a warm, earthy color palette was explored. During these early color studies, it became clear that the composition could benefit from more movement and depth. The original sketch was revisited and reworked in Illustrator to better address these elements, resulting in a stronger overall composition.

This refinement was made proactively, with the goal of elevating the final piece. While the initial drawing met the project needs, taking the extra step allowed the mural to feel dynamic and resolved, as seen below.

Revised Composition

construction documents

Once the wall dimensions were finalized, the artwork was refined to ensure all elements fit seamlessly within the space. Layered textures were incorporated to add visual interest up close, and scale studies were conducted to ensure the details translated well at full size.