Discovery Sports Court Mural

CLIENT: Princess Cruises

ROLE: Lead Illustrator, Mural Design, Concept Development

THE BRIEF: Create a mural for the sports court on the Discovery Princess cruise ship that represents the destinations Princess Cruises brings its guests to—while also serving as a dynamic visual for social media moments and onboard photo ops.

processthe work

The Process

The project began with rough sketches and visual inspiration boards to explore style and tone. I proposed a postcard-inspired illustration concept, using stylized landmarks from Princess destinations around the globe. The artwork was created in Adobe Illustrator as a scalable vector but enhanced with custom layered textures to evoke a painted, tactile feel.

I used Photoshop mockups, built from ship reference photos, to test composition and scale in context. These mockups were crucial for adjusting the layout around physical obstructions and ensuring the artwork would read clearly at full scale.
Close-up of the “DIS” section of the Discovery mural, with illustrated landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, and classical domed buildings integrated into postcard-style lettering.

Creative Direction

The mural needed to be visually engaging and selfie-worthy, designed to delight guests and generate organic social content. I leaned into the nostalgic charm of vintage travel postcards to create something both playful and iconic.

Collaboration

I worked closely with the Creative Director on design alignment and coordinated with the print vendor’s production team to ensure final files were optimized for vinyl output and seamless wall application.
Close-up of the “COV” section of the mural’s Discovery lettering, featuring layered global landmarks like cathedrals, towers, and pagodas in a textured, illustrated style.
Close-up of the “ERY” section of the mural with illustrated icons such as the Space Needle and modern architecture representing global destinations within the stylized letters.

Outcome

The final mural transformed the sports court into a vibrant visual destination on the ship. It was widely shared across social media, with posts from both guests and influencers, and featured in cruise industry publications during the ship’s debut season.

The work

Illustrated mural of a Princess cruise ship at sea with postcard-style “Greetings from Discovery Princess” text on a cool blue background, used as the key visual for the onboard mural. Scenic view of the Discovery Princess sports court with snow-capped mountains in the background and the cruise ship mural visible on the wall, showcasing active guests enjoying the space. Children and adults play basketball on the sports deck of the Discovery Princess, framed by the colorful postcard mural featuring world landmarks and bold Discovery lettering. Guests play pickleball on the sports court of the Discovery Princess cruise ship, with the vibrant “Greetings from Discovery Princess” mural in the background creating a lively and shareable backdrop.

programs used

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Photoshop
© Neil Vilppu 2025