Work
About
Contact
Careers
News

pt
en

Congonhas: Tragedy Foretold

We created the visual universe for the documentary that tells the story of Flight 3054 — the deadliest air crash in Brazil’s history. Design was the starting point to unify perspectives and details of one of the most devastating events in Brazilian aviation history.

How do you tell a story made up of fragments, memories, testimonies, and conflicting versions of the same tragedy?

Read more about this project

Elements such as safety cards, control panels, and technical instructions inspired the graphic design choices — from typefaces to collage scraps and compositions — to precisely convey the atmosphere surrounding the event.

Graphic elements in maps, timelines, and other visuals also stem from this blend of technical aviation components and materials related to the documented case: fragments of reports, tabloid clippings from the time, and so on.

In Congonhas: A Tragedy Foretold, the design doesn’t just illustrate the facts: it guides the viewer’s experience, making each visual element an essential part of reconstructing this powerful story.

See our works

Film
Design
Communication

Design as order in chaos

Congonhas: A Tragedy Foretold reconstructs the events and aftermath of the plane crash that shocked the country, stretching two minutes of tragedy into a profound investigative narrative. Our challenge was to translate this deep dive into a powerful visual language — one that could inform, contextualize, and match the intense pace of a remarkable story.

From typography to graphics, every element was designed to build an immersive environment, drawing from the world of aviation and investigative journalism. The project incorporates a collage aesthetic, layering documents, news articles, and archival footage to piece the story back together with clarity and objectivity. Elements such as safety cards, cockpit panels, safety instructions, and technical diagrams inspired the choice of typefaces and compositions, conveying the atmosphere surrounding the event with accuracy.

The timelines are inspired by aircraft instruments, giving the documentary an immersive quality and adding rhythm to the narrative. They not only provide information but also heighten the tension throughout the film. Drawing from aviation gear like altitude, rotation, and tilt indicators, the timelines incorporate graphic nuances that highlight moments ranging from stability to complete loss of control. Minor events appear as overlapping fragments, while major time spans are presented in a calendar format, emphasizing the progression of events.

The maps reflect a duality between objectivity and subjectivity, mirroring the clash of narratives and perceptions around the event. It plays a crucial role in the visual storytelling, shifting between technical precision and the fluidity of human perception. Illustrations vary from rigid to organic lines, expressing the different interpretations of the accident and its consequences. This graphic tension illustrates conflicting versions of the events — from concrete data in official investigations to the layered media and political narratives that emerged over time.

The visual identity evolves alongside the documentary itself, starting with a structured layout and descending into increasing visual chaos as the story unfolds. The interplay of digital and print textures adds depth and realism to the visuals. News reports are presented with subtle highlights, opening up space for new interpretations and contexts.

In Congonhas: A Tragedy Foretold, design doesn't just illustrate the facts — it guides the viewer’s experience, making every visual element a vital part of reconstructing this powerful story.

Credits

Agency
Direction
HardCuore Team
Production