In the summer of 2018 we began a long campaign with our partners at Under Armour to create a custom flag design for one of the most inspirational figures, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (DJ). After months of design work, prototyping and building, our team of makers created something that exceeded our wildest expectations. Even more wild, was the opportunity to deliver it to DJ in person on the set of the newest Jumanji movie with our mentor and dear friend Kevin Plank, the founder of Under Armour.
The Challenge
How do you create a one of a kind piece of artwork for one of the most iconic entertainers and leaders of our day? First, build an incredible team. That team included the creative leaders and thinkers from Under Armour and the passionate combat veteran makers at Flags of Valor. Step two...figure out how to seamlessly combine raw wood, dog tags, a military missile launch tube, and paint together.
The Process
Although we've made many thousands of wooden American flags and equally many custom pieces, this was the most unique project we've ever taken on. It took months of testing and design. This took place in the halls of Under Armour headquarters, the team room at Flags of Valor and the Foundery Maker Space in Baltimore. All said, the process of creating this world class piece involved the talents of dozens of designers and 20 combat veterans from Flags of Valor. After melting, casting, and hammering steel, hand grinding the wooden stripes of the flag, applying heat to warm the grains, inlaying dog tags of the veterans involved, and more... we ended with a product we couldn't be more proud of and one that left DJ speechless.
(The beginning at Under Armour Headquarters in Baltimore, MD)
(Initial concepts with Dwayne Johnson's and Kevin Plank's team in the big room of ideas)
(Team FOV's craftsmen are front and center of everything we do)
(Briefing the experts on metal fabrication)
(Breaking down the missile tube collar for the Rock's logo)
(Shaping the molten metal)
(Getting the bull just right!)
(Finished Dwayne Johnson and Flags of Valor hammered metal logos)
(Andre and Brian preparing the wood American Flag stripes)
(Flags of Valor craftsman Eric lending a hand )
(Flags of Valor giving Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson the finished product)
