Two Navy Federal Credit Union Break Room Murals
Two walls, 425 square feet, and just two days on site. When Navy Federal Credit Union asked us to create two break room murals for their office in Coppell, Texas, just outside Dallas, the goal was simple: give employees a fun, inviting place to take a break, and celebrate the city they call home. Here’s how it went!
The Brief: A Collage Celebrating Dallas
Navy Federal's team came to us wanting collage-style murals celebrating the Dallas area, designed in their brand colors. These murals were all about employee morale. A break room is where people go to recharge, chat with coworkers, and step away from their desks for a few minutes, so it should feel like a space people actually want to spend time in.
The final designs include some of the most recognizable icons of Dallas and the Lone Star State: a big, bold "HOWDY" in retro Western lettering, Reunion Tower, a pair of cowboy boots, the outline of Texas, and the Texas Star Ferris wheel from the State Fair of Texas, and blue bonnets, all scattered with stars and finished with sweeping diagonal stripes in orange and blue.
They are bright and playful, and it feels unmistakably local without feeling like a postcard.
Designing Around the Rooms (Literally!)
Here's something people don't always think about when they commission an interior mural: the wall isn't going to stay empty. In this case, a TV was being mounted right in the middle of one mural, and lighting would hang directly in front of the other.
That meant I had to plan every illustration around those elements so nothing important got blocked. A great mural isn't just about what's on the wall. It's about how the wall works once the room is finished and people are using it.
The color palette took the same approach. We used Navy Federal's brand colors, but also pulled in the colors chosen for the room's lighting and furniture, so the murals feel like part of the space rather than something stuck on top of it. That's the graphic designer in me: everything should work together.
A Smooth, Collaborative Process
My main point of contact was Navy Federal's senior facilities project manager. Once she provided the scope and brand guidelines, she trusted me to run with the designs, and we landed on the final version after two rounds of revisions.
The only real curveball was timing. Construction delays meant we had to reschedule the install a few times. That's pretty common on commercial projects, and being flexible with dates is just part of working alongside construction schedules.
Once we were on site, though? Smooth sailing. With three assistants on the walls, we finished both murals in just two days. If you're curious what goes into mural timelines, here's my breakdown of how long it takes to paint a mural.
Painting With Friends
This project was extra special because I got to paint alongside Alli and Sam, who are longtime friends, plus Carly, who rounded out an amazing crew. I stayed with Alli while I was in town, so I got bonus time with her outside of the job site too.
One of my favorite parts of working with other muralists is seeing how they do things. I borrowed a lot of Alli's supplies for this project, and let's just say she is way more organized than I am. I may have come home with a few new ideas for whipping my own supply kit into shape.
This is exactly why I love building a network of talented artists around the country. Painting murals nationwide means I don't always bring my whole team with me, but I always get to work with people I trust (and sometimes, people I adore).
The Result
The two finished break rooms are bright, welcoming, and unmistakably Dallas, with murals that work around the room's TV and lighting instead of competing with them. Navy Federal's team was super happy with how it turned out.
Why Office Murals Are Worth It
When companies invest in their workspace, employees notice. A custom office mural can make a space feel more personal, reflect your brand and community, and give your team a place they genuinely enjoy taking a break in.
For more ideas, check out my post on custom murals for offices, or see how we added an interactive element to the Dr. Melanie Orthodontics office mural.
Want to see how the process works from start to finish? Here's how working with Pandr works, or browse our full mural portfolio.
Ready to Give Your Team a Space They'll Love?
Whether it's a break room, lobby, or entire office, I'd love to help you create a workspace that reflects your brand and makes your team happy to show up. We paint for companies across the country!
Send over photos of your walls and a few details, and let's chat!
