Behind the Scenes: Vendors Spend Months of Preparation for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Every year, aviation enthusiasts from around the world gather for one unforgettable week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. While visitors see the finished booth displays, new products, and smiling faces, what often goes unseen are the months of preparation that happen behind the scenes.
For us at Barking Pixel, preparing for Oshkosh isn't something that begins a few weeks before the event. It's a process that starts months in advance with brainstorming, illustration, product design, testing, production, and countless hours of planning.
This year has been no exception.
Designing New Aviation Products from the Ground Up
One of the most exciting parts of preparing for AirVenture is creating new products for aviation enthusiasts, pilots, and aircraft owners.
Many of our designs begin as hand-drawn illustrations inspired by aviation history, classic aircraft, vintage travel posters, and the simple joy of flight.
Over the past several months, we've been working on new collections featuring:
- Aviation blankets
- Performance aviation socks
- Graphic aviation apparel
- Pilot gift items
- Aviation home décor
Each design goes through multiple revisions before it ever becomes a finished product.
Sometimes the artwork comes together quickly. Other times, a single illustration may take dozens of adjustments before it captures exactly the feeling we're trying to create.
New Aviation Blankets for 2026
Our woven and throw blankets continue to be among our most popular aviation gifts, so we've spent considerable time developing new designs for this year's show.
Creating a blanket involves much more than simply placing artwork on fabric. Every element—from aircraft placement and color palettes to texture and composition—must work together to create a piece that feels both artistic and timeless.
Our goal is always the same: create blankets that pilots and aviation families are proud to display in their homes, hangars, and offices.
Expanding Our Aviation Sock Collection
If there's one thing we've learned from past AirVentures, it's that aviation enthusiasts love unique socks. And at EAA AirVenture most of us walk a lot - easily 10 miles a day!
We've developed a sock that makes it a little easier on the feet - at least we think so! This year we've expanded our collection with new performance aviation socks featuring aircraft-inspired artwork, comfortable cushioning, and designs created specifically for people who live and breathe aviation.
From the EAA AirVenture Runway 5K, to airport walks to airshow adventures, we wanted to be able to offer socks that are as comfortable as they are fun to wear.
Like our blankets, every sock design began as original artwork before being adapted into a wearable product.
Introducing a New Handmade Pottery Keepsake Dish
One of the most exciting additions to our booth this year is something completely new.
We've been working on a handmade pottery keepsake dish featuring our signature "Fly Always" message.
Each dish is individually crafted and designed to serve as a meaningful reminder of the aviation lifestyle.
Perfect for holding keys, jewelry, watches, challenge coins, or small treasures, these keepsake dishes bring a touch of aviation inspiration into everyday life.
As a small business, introducing handmade products requires significant time and experimentation, but we believe the finished pieces are worth every hour invested.
More Than Products: Building an Experience
Preparing for Oshkosh involves far more than creating products.
Behind the scenes, we're also:
- Planning booth layouts
- Designing signage
- Organizing inventory
- Packaging products
- Coordinating logistics
- Creating displays
- Preparing new marketing materials
Every decision is made with one goal in mind: creating an inviting space where fellow aviation enthusiasts can discover unique gifts and artwork inspired by flight.
Why We Keep Coming Back
AirVenture is more than an event.
It's a gathering of people who share a passion for aviation and the memories that come with it. We come to Oshkosh with one goal: to offer thoughtfully designed products you won't find anywhere else—unique gifts, artwork, and keepsakes that celebrate the joy of flight and make meaningful gifts for the people who matter most.
As artists and aviation enthusiasts, there is nothing more rewarding than meeting customers who connect with our work and share stories about their aircraft, families, and flying journeys.
Those conversations inspire many of the products we create.
See You at Oshkosh
As the final preparations continue, we're looking forward to unveiling months of work, creativity, and planning.
From new aviation blankets and performance socks to our handmade Fly Always pottery keepsake dishes, we can't wait to share what we've been creating.
If you're attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year, stop by our booth and say hello. We'd love to meet you, hear your aviation story, and show you what we've been working on behind the scenes.
Until then, we'll be packing, organizing, and counting down the days.
Fly always.