Carbit Paint

To celebrate Carbit Paint’s 100th anniversary, Cushing partnered with the century-old Chicago manufacturer to design and produce a custom, multi-element timeline wall that honors not only the company’s history, but the people behind it. Installed along the main corridor between reception and the workshop, the display transforms a transitional space into an immersive storytelling experience employees and visitors encounter every day.

Because Carbit’s story spans a full century, our process began with in-depth collaboration and discovery sessions with company leaders and the Westerman family. Together, we reviewed archival photos, documents, and memories to shape a narrative that celebrated the individuals, teams, and culture that built the company. The timeline was organized around defining eras: founding ingenuity and patents, early product innovations, decades of growth, industry leadership, evolving ownership, and cultural evolution — with each chapter highlighting the employees and relationships that made those milestones possible. Through layered graphics, dimensional elements, and curated imagery, the final installation balances history with humanity, turning Carbit’s legacy into a tangible, personal experience.

• Distilling 100 years of company history into a clear, compelling, and people-centered story
  
  
• Aligning on themes and tone through detailed stakeholder collaboration
  
  
• Balancing business milestones with recognition of employees and company culture

The finished timeline wall transforms an everyday hallway into a celebration of the people who shaped Carbit’s first century. By spotlighting employees, leadership, and shared memories alongside key milestones, the installation reinforces pride, connection, and continuity across generations. More than a historical display, it serves as a daily reminder that Carbit’s success has always been driven by its people and the legacy they continue to build.