Oh boy, this was a fun one. Huge thanks to Eric Mortensen and the Mount St. Helens Institute for asking us to work on this special project. It was definitely a challenge to create a striking image for a license plate; something you only glance at while waiting at a stop light or walk by in a parking lot. We were most inspired by the view of St. Helens and Spirit Lake from the Mount Margaret backcountry, and the returning wildlife (ie. mountain goats!) to the area since the eruption in 1980. We wanted to depict this vantage point with a simplified interpretation—something that your eyes could register rather quickly—and from a distance. Additionally, we wanted the colors to feel authentically “Washington,” aligning with our current license plate and our beloved sports teams. The plate is set to be released on May 18th, 2020, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the infamous eruption—something I vividly remember watching on TV as a wide-eyed 5-year-old. One last thing though: We need your help WA residents! The institute needs 4,000 signatures to make this a reality. If you live in Washington and would like to have this plate on your vehicle, we’d love if you would sign the petition.