Where Creativity Takes Flight

How one designer found her place at Piedmont and why aviation offers more paths than you might expect.

The iconic stripes, the steady Speedbird, the attention-grabbing blues and reds; behind the consistency, creativity, and intention of Piedmont’s visual identity is a designer who understands that branding is more than how something looks – it’s how it makes people feel.

Meet: Kayla Glass, Graphic Design Coordinator at Piedmont

Before designing buses, billboards, and materials that bring Piedmont’s brand to life, Kayla was perfecting the art of popcorn – specifically, the butter-to-salt ratio – at her very first job at Fisher’s Popcorn. It was there that she learned the smallest details make the biggest difference in how people feel. Today, that same focus on detail and storytelling is what makes her the creative force behind the Piedmont brand.

A Love for Graphic Design

Kayla was creative from a young age; she dreamed of being an illustrator and was interested in journalism. When her journalism class in high school was cancelled, Kayla found herself in a graphic design elective, and that’s where it clicked – design was the perfect blend of creativity and storytelling, with the added excitement of working with rapidly-evolving technology.

After graduating college, Kayla explored roles in graphic design as well as magazine production. At times when design roles were hard to find, she returned to her first job, Fisher’s Popcorn, as well as other retail work.

Discovering the Possibilities of Aviation

When a friend mentioned an open position at Piedmont Airlines, Kayla was intrigued by the company culture and all the amazing perks, from the travel privileges to the health plans. So, she started to investigate available roles and career paths.

“When I thought about working for an airline, I saw pilots, flight attendants, and gate agents. I never really considered airlines a place for anything else,” she said. With no graphic design roles available, Kayla accepted a role as a Recruiting Coordinator and later became the DEI Coordinator.

“I told anyone who would listen that I had a degree in design,” she recalls, even during a time when there were no open design roles in sight. She never lost her passion for design and, when the opportunity finally came through a restructuring, she didn’t hesitate. She knew exactly where she belonged.

Designing the Piedmont You Know

Most people recognize Kayla’s work through advertisements, social media posts, flyers, and Piedmont swag, but some creative moments stand out.

One of her proudest projects was designing the Piedmont Bus Tour, an experience she sums up with, “I designed a whole bus!” The project brought together branding, logistics, collaboration, and creativity, including exterior graphics, magnets, stickers, and shirts.

Another highlight was the creation of the Piedmont Zine, a true labor of love that took months to complete. Drawing on her editorial roots, she led the project from concept to completion, organizing layouts, assigning stories, creating quizzes and word searches, and coordinating with teammates. It was a defining moment of growth, confidence, and leadership.

At the heart of everything Kayla creates is a deep passion for branding. She loves rules, especially the kind that give structure to her creativity. Working for an airline means consistency and accuracy matters, and for her, that challenge is what makes the work exciting.

“There’s intention behind every design,” Kayla says. “Branding isn’t just how something looks; it’s how people recognize who we are.”

From posters and billboards to letterheads and internal communications, every piece plays a role in telling Piedmont’s story. Take a look at some of Kayla’s favorite projects here.

Leaving a Legacy

When Kayla thinks about the mark she hopes to leave behind at Piedmont, it comes back to the brand…and that bus.

“I still brag that I designed a whole bus – it’s one of the coolest designs I’ve ever done!”

To Kayla, branding is more than visual graphics; it’s a way to tell a story, set a standard, and inspire connection. Once the brand standard is set, the intention behind every design is to not only meet that standard but exceed it.

And if someone sees a design someday and knows it’s Piedmont before seeing the logo? That’s the legacy she’s proud to leave behind.

Are you interested in joining the Piedmont team? Introduce yourself to join our talent community.