Branding Logo
My fourth competency in design communication was all about branding. I was assigned to come up with a type of brand, so made up my own company called Pen Pals. This company raises live animals for use in special events, including petting zoos and animal shows.
The target audience is broad, including everything from families to schools to libraries, and we raise a wide variety of species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and invertebrates. With that, the goal for this project was to develop a logo that showcases recreation, kid-friendliness and variety altogether. The design process worked just the way it should, and in the end, my final design was loved by my professor and peers alike. I enjoyed doing this project and hope to do it again in the future.
Process
The design process was a bit confusing, but I used the methods I learned from previous semesters to develop initial sketches. These sketches were mostly pictorial to emphasize the livestock concept, and each draft emphasized a different vibe from the moodboards, from festive to natural to rural.
Step 1: Sketches
Step 2: Initial Digital Drafts
Step 3: Refined Digital Drafts
Step 4: Chosen Design
Step 5: Revised Design
Step 6: Current Design
Challenges
Making sketches and mood boards in the early stages of this project was easy, but doing it the right way was hard to understand. I met with my professor individually to discuss what a mood board should look like and be used for.
Solutions
After considering what my professor showed and told me, I finally understood what was confusing me. A mood board contains examples of graphic design work that go together in a certain concept. (Before I thought it was just ordinary images.) The significance is to help the designer understand the different themes that a certain brand can emphasize in their logo and labeling. This is an important lesson that I continue to regard in all my current projects.
Reviews
"These animals in your logo are beautiful, they will carry your brand, please put them as elements in your brand guideline and on other pieces like your envelope."