The design was selected and voted for by the public, with the airline stating that it reflects the energy, diversity and vibrancy of South Africa.

A DESIGN INSPIRED BY SOUTH AFRICA

Reyersbach’s concept centres on movement and connection. Drawing inspiration from South Africa’s people, landscapes and cultural rhythms, she aimed to create a design that feels warm, optimistic and distinctly local.

“I thought about how travel brings people together, and how LIFT acts as a bridge between places, moments and memories,” she explains. Using energetic colours and symbolic elements inspired by everyday South African life and natural landscapes, the artwork was developed to translate effectively from a digital canvas to the scale of an aircraft tail.

A lifelong creative, Reyersbach pursued art throughout high school before completing a BA in Graphic Design at Vega School. She currently works as a graphic designer at Lemonade Design Co. in Durban, where she has been part of the team for over three years.

FROM DIGITAL CANVAS TO AIRCRAFT TAIL

Designing at aircraft scale presented a new challenge. Reyersbach worked on the project in the evenings while employed full-time, spending approximately three hours each night over three weeks leading up to the competition deadline.

She describes the process as demanding but rewarding, involving refinement and multiple iterations before arriving at the final artwork.

The aircraft tail has since become what the airline describes as a moving canvas, celebrating unity, connection and shared pride as it travels across South Africa.

RECOGNITION AND INDUSTRY CONTEXT

For Haydn Halim-Henning, LIFT Brand Manager, the winning design captured both the airline’s identity and that of its passengers. He described the artwork as authentic, optimistic and proudly South African, reflecting the sense of connection that defines the brand.

LIFT has built a reputation for creative, culture-led collaborations. Past partnerships have included The Walt Disney Company Africa and Checkers Sixty60, as well as in-flight experiences celebrating local authors, fashion and theatre. The airline has also received international recognition, including being named Best New Airline Brand, South Africa by Global Brands Magazine and becoming the youngest airline in Africa to win a Skytrax World Airline Award.

A MILESTONE FOR A YOUNG DESIGNER

For Reyersbach, seeing her work take flight represents a significant milestone in her creative journey. She hopes the design evokes familiarity and a sense of home for travellers, both within South Africa and abroad.

The project has encouraged her to further explore illustration and reinforced her confidence in pursuing creative work at a national scale. While the finished livery may appear seamless, she notes that it reflects numerous small decisions, refinements and moments of persistence.

As the aircraft continues to operate across the country, the anniversary livery stands as a visible expression of local talent and storytelling integrated into a commercial aviation platform.