Polaris & Premium Plus Amenity Kits

Project: Polaris & Premium Plus Amenity Kits
Industry: Aviation / Hospitality / Onboard Experience / Product Design
Client: United Airlines × Therabody
Services: Creative direction

Product design

Packaging design

CMF strategy

Sampling and development

Manufacturing coordination

Skincare packaging development

Presentation and storytelling

Photography and art direction

A three-year amenity program developed with Therabody that transformed United’s premium cabin experience through wellness, reuse, and thoughtful product design.

The full United x Therabody Premium Plus kit laid out on white - the stone hard-shell pouch, quilted eye mask, Theragun Mini in its case, socks, cleansing towelette, and the custom skincare range.

Context

As Design Lead at WESSCO International, I led the design and development of United Airlines’ Polaris and Premium Plus amenity kits in partnership with Therabody. WESSCO introduced the collaboration between United and Therabody, bringing a wellness-focused approach to the airline’s premium cabin experience.

The program evolved across three annual rotations, each introducing new bag structures, materials, and functionality while maintaining a consistent design language. The objective was to create amenity kits that passengers would continue using beyond the flight, extending the onboard experience into everyday life.

Three pebbled recycled-leatherette Therabody bags in grey and navy stacked against a dark backdrop, showing the paired collectible structures of the final rotation.

Challenge

The program needed to evolve each year while remaining recognizably part of the same collection. Every rotation required a fresh design direction that encouraged reuse, reflected Therabody’s wellness philosophy, and maintained clear differentiation between Polaris and Premium Plus.

The kits also needed to balance premium materials, manufacturability, durability, and cost while creating products passengers would genuinely want to keep.

Two heather-grey RPET Therabody wash bags on white pedestals alongside the skincare minis, showing the recycled material strategy.

Our Approach

Designing for Secondary Use

Each rotation was developed around a reusable product concept rather than a disposable amenity bag. The first introduced an RPET crossbody bag for Polaris and RPET felt pouches for Premium Plus. The second evolved into a recycled leatherette hanging bag designed to store a Theragun Mini after travel, while Premium Plus adopted a coordinating flat pouch. The final rotation introduced pebbled recycled leatherette bags with a more premium finish across both cabins.

Building a Collectible Program

The final rotation introduced simultaneous A and B bag structures, encouraging passengers to collect multiple versions over time. Together, the paired designs created a stronger perceived value while remaining within the program’s budget requirements.

Refining Through Development

Working closely with WESSCO’s sourcing teams and manufacturing partners, I refined construction details, zipper quality, materials, and finishes through technical drawings, digital renderings, and multiple rounds of sampling.

Extending the Wellness Experience

Beyond the bags themselves, I designed the primary and secondary packaging for the custom Therabody skincare range, including the refreshing towelette, facial moisturizer, hand cream, eye roller, and lip balm. I also collaborated with WESSCO’s sourcing and brand teams on formula development and fragrance direction to create a cohesive wellness experience from bag to product.

The full-size Therabody lavatory amenity range - hand wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hand and body lotion, and refreshing mist - arranged on stepped white plinths.

The Work

Creative direction across three annual amenity kit rotations for Polaris and Premium Plus.

Development of multiple reusable bag concepts, including crossbody, hanging, modular, and gusseted structures.

Material strategy spanning RPET, recycled felt, and pebbled recycled leatherette.

Design of the A and B collectible bag system to encourage repeat engagement and secondary use.

Primary and secondary packaging design for the complete Therabody skincare collection.

Collaboration on skincare formula development and fragrance direction with sourcing and brand teams.

Technical development, sampling, and manufacturing refinement across all products.

Presentation development and stakeholder communication with United Airlines and Therabody.

Wide overhead flat-lay of the navy Polaris kit on a dark surface - pebbled leatherette pouches, a quilted eye mask, socks, and the Theragun Mini insert card.

Impact

Wellness as a Signature

The Therabody program established wellness as a defining element of United’s premium cabin experience.
Beyond the Flight

Across three years, the amenity kits evolved from functional travel pouches into collectible, reusable products that extended their value beyond the flight.
A Cohesive Experience

The integration of reusable bag concepts, premium materials, and a custom skincare collection created a cohesive passenger experience that reinforced both United’s premium positioning and Therabody’s wellness philosophy.