Iron Advertising, Marketing and Communication Design · 2024
Saia 100 Year Museum Truck Mobile Exhibition
by Bridgenext
- A' Design Award 2024 Iron Winner in Advertising, Marketing and Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: Bridgenext
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 50,162
- Verification code 0B2D516578 · Verify this award
About Saia 100 Year Museum Truck Mobile Exhibition
The Saia 100 Year Museum Truck showcases Saia LTL Freight's century-long history, along with its interactive trucking-related artifacts and truck driver simulator. The Mobile Truck Museum immerses visitors in a classic American success story. From selling produce to becoming a logistics giant, each milestone, from the Great Depression to the Motor Carrier Act in 1980, reflects pivotal moments in American history. The concept intricately intertwines with the automotive industry in the United States, drawing inspiration and synergy from its dynamic landscape and evolving trends.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- "Embark on a Century Long Journey, A Masterpiece Unveiled in Motion." The museum showcases Saia's history, brand artifacts and memorabilia, and immersive trucking experiences. The timeline highlights Saia's alignment with its rich history. The simulator offers a gaming experience with a livestreamed perspective. The artifacts educate nationwide about Saia and the trucking industry. The truck museum travels the country, engaging people with Saia LTL Freight and the American trucking industry.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Truck Weight Capacity - up to 44,000 lbs. Length x Width x Height (at door) - 53 x 99 x 110 inches Width x Height (inside) - 100 x 110 inches Type - Mobile Truck Museum
- Tags
- Museum, Logistic, Truck Museum, Mobile Museum, American Trucking History, Interactive Exhibition
- Production Technology
- Ceiling Panels - Pantone Cool Gray 10 U Color 818387. Heat and AC throughout interior of museum. Generator to power entire truck. Track lighting in ceiling. Gobo projector with Saia logo projected onto floor. Floors finished. 4 speakers in ceiling with Bluetooth capability. Ambient sound will be played through the experience. Decal floor vinyl. LED strip light on both sides of ceiling. Exit sign with emergency lights. Inventory with backup battery.
- Design Challenge
- With a century-long legacy, many historical facts and photos have been lost over time, leaving only a sparse collection remaining. To curate our exhibition, we delve into U.S. transportation history to recreate the context. Extensive fact-checking with experts is imperative. Collecting data from employee submissions is time-consuming, while aiming to enrich with interactive elements. Beginning with a reconstructed truck filled with crops, we transport visitors through a century of memories.
- Project Duration
- The truck's tour route includes key cities nationwide and active markets, totaling 34 stops and covering 11,087 miles per year.
- Operation Flow
- Saia truck models' evolution and a shadowboxed Saia uniform are featured. A 70-inch screen, resembling a billboard, plays Saia ads from the 60s to the present. The simulator, previewed by a CCTV screen, offers a gamer's perspective. Visitors interact with elements like a tethered vegetable, truck locks, and seatbelts. The child-friendly pegboard depicts "The Life of A Shipment," while interactive signs, doors, and metal trivia flaps engage visitors. Pallets with ratchet straps illustrate safety.
- Research
- Saia 100-year celebration began in late 2023 with mobile museums highlighting the past, present, and future. Analyzing Audience Over Indexes revealed Saia's strong alignment with Veterans and At Risk Youth. Supporting multiple charities bolsters corporate ethos. We transformed a Saia trailer into a mobile museum, engaging communities nationwide with interactive historic timelines. The mobile museum showcases Saia's history, offering Kid-focused, Saia's History, and Employee recognition exhibits.
- Inspiration
- The concept intricately intertwines with the automotive industry in the United States, drawing inspiration and synergy from its dynamic landscape and evolving trends. The museum immerses visitors in a classic American success story, tying back to Saia humble beginnings and contributing to its overall success and longevity. From selling produce to becoming a logistics giant, each milestone, from the Great Depression to the Motor Carrier Act in 1980, reflects pivotal moments in trucking history.
- Image Credits
- Bridgenext
Colors of Saia 100 Year Museum Truck Mobile Exhibition
Design Interview about Saia 100 Year Museum Truck Mobile Exhibition
The main principle behind the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck design is to celebrate and educate the public about Saia’s century-long legacy in the trucking industry. The idea is to create a mobile exhibition that effectively communicates Saia's evolution and milestones through an engaging and interactive experience.
The inspiration for the design stems from the rich history of the automotive and trucking industries in the United States. The truck draws from Saia’s transformation from a modest produce-selling business to a prominent logistics company, reflecting key historical events such as the Great Depression and the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. This historical journey is presented through a series of immersive exhibits and interactive elements that connect Saia’s past to its present and future, while also highlighting its impact on American trucking history.
The inspiration for the design stems from the rich history of the automotive and trucking industries in the United States. The truck draws from Saia’s transformation from a modest produce-selling business to a prominent logistics company, reflecting key historical events such as the Great Depression and the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. This historical journey is presented through a series of immersive exhibits and interactive elements that connect Saia’s past to its present and future, while also highlighting its impact on American trucking history.
The main focus in designing the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck was to create a compelling and interactive mobile exhibition that effectively conveys Saia's rich history and its significant role in the trucking industry. The key goals were:
Immersive Storytelling: To transport visitors through Saia’s century-long journey, showcasing pivotal moments in its history and the broader context of the trucking industry. The design aims to engage visitors with a narrative that reflects Saia’s growth, achievements, and contributions.
Interactive Engagement: To incorporate interactive elements that enhance the visitor experience, making history tangible and engaging. Features such as simulators, interactive signs, and hands-on exhibits are designed to capture attention and educate visitors in an engaging way.
Educational Impact: To provide a comprehensive educational experience about Saia and the history of trucking. This includes displaying brand artifacts, historical advertisements, and interactive exhibits that offer insights into Saia’s evolution and the logistics industry.
Nationwide Outreach: To travel across the country and reach a broad audience, engaging communities in various cities with the mobile museum. The design facilitates easy setup and operation at multiple locations, ensuring that the exhibition can effectively communicate its message wherever it goes.
Immersive Storytelling: To transport visitors through Saia’s century-long journey, showcasing pivotal moments in its history and the broader context of the trucking industry. The design aims to engage visitors with a narrative that reflects Saia’s growth, achievements, and contributions.
Interactive Engagement: To incorporate interactive elements that enhance the visitor experience, making history tangible and engaging. Features such as simulators, interactive signs, and hands-on exhibits are designed to capture attention and educate visitors in an engaging way.
Educational Impact: To provide a comprehensive educational experience about Saia and the history of trucking. This includes displaying brand artifacts, historical advertisements, and interactive exhibits that offer insights into Saia’s evolution and the logistics industry.
Nationwide Outreach: To travel across the country and reach a broad audience, engaging communities in various cities with the mobile museum. The design facilitates easy setup and operation at multiple locations, ensuring that the exhibition can effectively communicate its message wherever it goes.
The Saia 100 Year Museum Truck aims to travel across the country and reach a broad audience, engaging communities in various cities with the mobile museum to sustain its relevance and broaden its educational impact. By visiting multiple locations, the truck ensures that the exhibition can effectively communicate its message wherever it goes. This ongoing journey not only highlights Saia’s rich history but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the evolution of the trucking industry, continuously inspiring and educating diverse audiences throughout its tour.
Designing the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck took approximately 5 months from conceptualization to final design. This timeline included extensive research, historical fact-checking, and collaboration with experts to curate the exhibits. The design process also involved creating detailed plans for the truck's layout, interactive elements, and technological features, as well as coordinating with production teams to ensure the successful realization of the mobile museum.
The design was commissioned by Saia to commemorate their centennial anniversary and to celebrate their significant contributions to the trucking industry. Beyond the commission, the concept was inspired by the dynamic landscape of the American automotive and trucking industries. The design aimed to reflect Saia’s journey from a modest start to becoming a major logistics player, incorporating historical milestones and the broader context of trucking history. The inspiration also came from the desire to create an immersive and interactive experience that would make Saia’s legacy accessible and engaging to a wide audience.
The Saia 100 Year Museum Truck is a custom-designed project created specifically for Saia, and it is currently being used exclusively by them. The design is not being produced or used by any other company.
Designing the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck was driven by several key factors:
The primary motivation was to commemorate Saia’s centennial anniversary. The desire to educate the public about Saia's evolution and the broader trucking industry inspired the creation of a mobile museum. A mobile museum was chosen to reach a wide and diverse audience across various locations. The design aimed to preserve and showcase Saia’s history in a way that is both engaging and informative.
The primary motivation was to commemorate Saia’s centennial anniversary. The desire to educate the public about Saia's evolution and the broader trucking industry inspired the creation of a mobile museum. A mobile museum was chosen to reach a wide and diverse audience across various locations. The design aimed to preserve and showcase Saia’s history in a way that is both engaging and informative.
The design of the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck was influenced by a variety of sources and design principles. The truck features versatile layouts that maximize the use of limited space. Additionally, inspiration was drawn from trends in interactive and immersive exhibit design, incorporating elements such as simulations, multimedia displays, and hands-on activities to enhance visitor engagement.
The target audience for the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck primarily includes:
General Public: The mobile museum aims to engage a broad audience across various cities, including individuals interested in learning about trucking history and Saia’s contributions to the industry.
Saia Customers and Partners: The design also targets Saia’s existing customers, partners, and stakeholders, offering them a deeper connection with the company and its history.
Local Communities: The truck brings the museum experience directly to local communities, making it accessible to those who might not visit a stationary museum.
General Public: The mobile museum aims to engage a broad audience across various cities, including individuals interested in learning about trucking history and Saia’s contributions to the industry.
Saia Customers and Partners: The design also targets Saia’s existing customers, partners, and stakeholders, offering them a deeper connection with the company and its history.
Local Communities: The truck brings the museum experience directly to local communities, making it accessible to those who might not visit a stationary museum.
The museum is deeply intertwined with Saia's own 100-year history, reflecting the broader narrative of American trucking. It combines Saia's evolution with key moments in U.S. transportation history, offering a rich, contextual experience. Unlike typical static exhibits, this museum includes interactive elements such as a truck simulator with a live-streamed perspective, interactive signs, and a child-friendly pegboard. These features engage visitors in a dynamic and participatory manner. The design transforms a trailer into a fully functional museum with features like a 70-inch screen resembling a billboard, ambient sound systems, and detailed exhibits, all within the confines of a mobile unit.
The name "Saia 100 Year Museum Truck" was chosen to succinctly capture the essence and purpose of the mobile museum.
SketchUp is used for detailed design and layout planning of the truck’s interior and exterior. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are used for designing the visual elements. For the physical construction of the truck, tools like CNC machines, laser cutters, and other fabrication equipment are used to create custom parts and features.
Transforming a truck into a fully functional museum on wheels is an innovative approach, allowing the exhibition to travel across the country and reach diverse audiences. This mobility extends the museum's reach far beyond a fixed location.
We work as a team. Graphic Designers, writers, 3D Modelers and Animators, Project Managers, and Fabricators and Construction Teams all contribute their expertise to ensure that every aspect of the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck is meticulously crafted and executed. This collaborative effort brings together diverse skills and perspectives.
Technology is central to the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck, driving its interactive exhibits, immersive simulations, and dynamic visual and audio experiences. It enhances visitor engagement through digital displays, interactive signage, and a sophisticated audio-visual system, while also ensuring operational efficiency with environmental controls and reliable backup systems.
Yes, the design of the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck is influenced by data and analytical research. We conducted extensive research into Saia’s history and the broader context of American trucking, analyzing audience demographics and interests to ensure the museum's content and interactive elements were engaging and educational. This data-driven approach informed the design and content, ensuring that the museum meets both educational goals and audience engagement needs.
During the design and realization of the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck, we faced several challenges, including the need to reconstruct and present historical content with limited original materials, ensuring accurate and engaging representation of Saia’s legacy. Additionally, integrating advanced interactive technologies into a confined mobile space required careful planning and adaptation. Balancing historical accuracy with interactive elements and managing the logistics of a nationwide tour presented further complexities that required innovative solutions and meticulous coordination.
We decided to submit our design to an international design competition to showcase the innovative aspects of the Saia 100 Year Museum Truck and gain broader recognition for our work. The competition provided an opportunity to highlight our unique approach to mobile exhibition design, engage with a global audience, and receive feedback from industry experts. Submitting the design allowed us to celebrate the project's success, demonstrate our commitment to excellence, and connect with other professionals in the field.
I gained insights into managing the complexities of designing within a constrained mobile space, balancing functionality with engaging aesthetics. Additionally, I improved my skills in coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and leveraging research to inform design decisions, all of which contributed to enhancing both my design expertise.
Beyond its innovative design and interactive features, the museum truck plays a crucial role in engaging diverse audiences across the country. By traveling to 34 cities and covering over 11,000 miles annually, it not only educates the public about Saia’s rich history but also raises awareness of the broader trucking industry and its evolution.
Grand Interview about Saia 100 Year Museum Truck Mobile Exhibition
My goal was to turn the truck itself into part of the story. Since transportation defines Saia's identity, using a trailer as a traveling museum felt more meaningful than creating a traditional exhibition. It allows the experience to reach communities across the country while reflecting the company's own journey. Instead of asking people to visit a museum, we brought the museum directly to them. That idea shaped every design decision throughout the project.
I wanted visitors to actively experience the exhibition rather than simply read about it. The driving simulator helps people appreciate a truck driver's perspective, while historical artifacts create a stronger emotional connection to Saia's 100-year history. I also wanted visitors of different ages to discover the exhibition in their own way. Some engage through hands-on activities, while others connect with the historical artifacts and stories.
Because many historical materials had been lost over time, I combined company archives, employee submissions, and American trucking history to build a complete narrative. Every piece of information was carefully verified to ensure historical accuracy. The research process became an important part of the design itself. It helped us connect Saia's milestones with the broader history of the American trucking industry.
I designed the environment to feel immersive without overwhelming visitors. Lighting, audio, and projection work together to guide the experience while remaining practical and reliable for a traveling exhibition.
Since the museum would travel thousands of miles each year, durability was a major consideration. I focused on sturdy materials, secure installations, and modular components that would be easy to maintain throughout the tour.
I wanted technology to support the storytelling rather than distract from it. Interactive experiences help visitors engage with the history while authentic artifacts remain the heart of the exhibition.
I wanted families to enjoy the exhibition together. Interactive elements like The Life of a Shipment simplify logistics concepts so children can learn through play while adults explore the deeper historical content.
Receiving the A' Design Award was encouraging because it recognized the value of combining exhibition design, storytelling, and brand experience. It also reinforced my interest in designing experiences that connect with people beyond traditional museum spaces. The research process became an important part of the design itself. It helped us connect Saia's milestones with the broader history of the American trucking industry.
One of the biggest surprises was how much employees contributed to the project. Their stories and personal memorabilia made the exhibition feel much more authentic and helped shape the final experience.
I believe mobile museums will continue evolving through digital and interactive technologies, but the goal will remain the same: making history more engaging, accessible, and meaningful for diverse audiences.