Tampa International Airport (TPA) wanted to infuse its corporate office spaces with the same vibrant energy and character that defines the airport itself. The goal was to create a visual system that celebrated the city’s culture, charm, and coastal beauty. They sought to bring a sense of local pride into the workplace. TPA commissioned Render Impact to design a suite of 3D digital art pieces that would transform static walls into living windows of Tampa Bay.
Originally designed for TPA’s corporate offices, the content quickly became a centerpiece for the organization’s identity. The work resonated so strongly that Render Impact was later commissioned to create content for the airport itself.
Crafted as a love letter to Tampa Bay, each scene captured moments of warmth, playfulness, and local pride. Together, these pieces form a cohesive narrative: a series of environments that reflect the airport’s connection to the community it serves.
From a glowing tropical sunset to a flamboyance of flamingos, from cheeky pirates to a heartfelt “I ❤️ TPA” statement, the collection celebrates the city’s unique blend of sophistication and charm. Every animation was crafted to feel cinematic, yet welcoming. Immersive enough to capture attention, but calm enough to live harmoniously within TPA’s architectural design.
Tropical Sunset Arrival
Soft light washes across a runway as golden clouds drift over the horizon. The sequence transitions from day to dusk, painting the space in shades of orange, pink, and violet. It’s a digital exhale. A calming welcome that mirrors Tampa’s coastal serenity. That’s when a massive plane lands down the runway, driving straight towards the camera and almost emerging from the LED display for a wow-factor moment of 3D pop.
Flamingo Flamboyance
A lone, oversized flamingo stands tall above a wading pool. An anthropomorphic TPA-branded beach ball floats up to it and starts pestering it. Frustrated at this intrusion on its rest, the Flamingo tosses the ball back. This moment of comic levity is inspired by the oversized flamingo found in TPA’s central terminal.
I ❤️ TPA
The team at Tampa Bay Airport loved the beachball from Phoebe so much, they wanted to use it again in this calming piece set in an empty terminal. The ball explores the space with the charm of a Pixar character before flying into the screen for a quick-but-hilarious comic button.
Argh! Pirates
A nod to Tampa’s Gasparilla Festival, this sequence bursts with energy and humor. Cannon smoke drifts through the air as pirate ships glide into view, their sails catching golden light. It’s bold, cinematic, and full of local character. Can you spot all the hidden references to Tampa Bay’s sports teams?
Each LED environment was designed with its own rhythm, scale, and emotion.
The Moments of Tampa collection brought the airport’s personality to life in a new way by bridging the gap between workplace culture and traveler experience. What began as internal art for TPA’s corporate offices became a defining feature across the airport’s public spaces.
These digital LED installations celebrate what makes Tampa unique: its colors, its humor, and its hospitality. Travelers pause to take photos. Employees feel pride in the environment around them. And together, these digital experiences transform everyday spaces into a living expression of the Tampa Bay spirit.
Following the success of our “Moments of Tampa” collection, Tampa International Airport (TPA) turned to Render Impact to enhance one of the most high-traffic areas of the travel journey: the baggage claim. The goal was to transform the potentially tedious wait for luggage into an entertaining, branded experience.
To achieve this, we developed a custom character to serve as the airport’s official digital mascot: Orbie. A playful personification of the TPA logo, Orbie is a spherical beachball brought to life with blinking eyes and “go-go-gadget” arms.
This series of five high-energy 3D animations follows Orbie as he explores the terminal, gets into good-natured mischief, and provides a “wow-factor” welcome for arriving passengers.
Each animation in the Orbie series was designed to catch the eye of weary travelers, using humor and forced perspective to create an immersive, lighthearted atmosphere.
Luggage Hide-and-Seek
As a mountain of scrolling luggage passes by the viewer, the parade suddenly pauses. One specific suitcase begins to wiggle and shake until Orbie’s face peeks out from the zipper to wave at the passengers. Realizing he’s been spotted, he quickly ducks back inside before the luggage continues its journey off-screen.
Baggage Claim Augmented Reality
In this mixed-reality style sequence, we utilized live video footage of TPA’s baggage carousel and seamlessly composited Orbie into the real-world environment. Passengers watch as Orbie attempts to claim a piece of luggage that is clearly too heavy for him. After a valiant struggle, he decides to give up and hitches a ride, lazily circling the carousel on top of the bag.
Orbie Ball Pit
Taking full advantage of forced perspective, Orbie enters what appears to be a 3D glass box within the display. Suddenly, the room is flooded with hundreds of mini-Orbies, filling the container to the brim. The audience watches the real Orbie use his telescopic arms to swim through the sea of mini-beachballs in a frantic, comedic effort to find his way out.
A Day in Tampa
In a more scenic departure, Orbie takes on the role of a local guide. He reviews a series of beautiful, high-definition shots of the Tampa area as they move across the screen on a scrolling vintage film strip. It’s a nostalgic and visually stunning “welcome home” that highlights the beauty of the city beyond the terminal.
Holiday Helper: Valentine’s Day
Designed to bring seasonal cheer to the terminal, this piece features a fully decorated TPA environment. Orbie spots a low-hanging Valentine’s Day banner and uses his gadget arms to fix the decor. Once the terminal is perfect, he turns to the viewers and presents a digital bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.
First Bag / Last Bag
The TPA team could not get enough of the TPA Beachball! After wrapping production on their initial batch of content, Render Impact was commissioned to create a piece for the baggage claim endcaps in the airport proper. This serene piece showcases our hero beachball lounging in the sand.
By combining 3D character animation with “naked-eye” 3D effects, we transformed the baggage claim endcaps into a destination of their own. Orbie’s expressive personality and the seamless integration of digital art into the physical airport environment ensure that the first thing travelers experience upon arrival isn’t just a wait for bags, but a smile.
These digital experiences bridge the gap between utility and entertainment, proving that even the most functional parts of an airport can be turned into a living reflection of Tampa Bay.
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