The MECS signs are up in the flesh. It’s a bit odd seeing them. The still haven’t cut the posts down (so you can’t see the tops) but there you go. I am not super impressed with the top bubble’s light-brown as it looks more yellowish than it should. I guess Pantone can let you down a little afterall… might be the surface?
Today – finally – is the launch of the new MECS brand. Initially the project was part uni assignment that I coupled with a pitch and managed to get the job! For the last little while I have been working on their signage and stationery and as soon as I get given copies, and the signs are put up – I will share some photos. Note to the locals: I’m not responsible for the car stickers or the open day signs… just the other stuff.
This is the logo, by way of explanation it is:
- An abstraction of three people in conversation, this ties in with both a community focus and home-school partnership.
- A tree, representative of growth and suitable for the Yarra Ranges environment.
- Pathways, indicative of MECS providing direction and leading students through their time at school.
- And to a lesser extent the addition of five colours is reflective of 5 values (which I cannot pull off the top of my head at this very moment).
The logo has undergone several transitions from where I left it and a huge number from where it started. The one submitted to uni used an entirely different typeface and was one-colour, the placement was also closer to the secondary vertical version. The typeface in use now is Fontin it suits the school better than the previous one, it also makes my life easier because it is of superior quality and can be used more widely.
Secondary vertical version:
This morning the school had a brief morning tea to officially kick off the branding. I am really happy with the outcome, it feels right for the school. Here’s to hoping I get to dig my hands into their website in the next few months. In the mean-time I have picked up another job doing a website revamp for a pharmacy.
I am not sure if I have talked much about concluding my time working at Ergo Consulting. I am in the handover process and will be finished by the end of March it seems the timing is really good. I’ve loved working with Ergo and learnt a huge amount while I’ve been there – not only in administration/design but about the business world. They are exceptional people to work for. This year however, I need to focus on uni a bit more and want to keep doing this freelancing stuff to get some experience under my belt.
On the design note, I have also just finished the Business Sustainability Round Table website (Work through Ergo) – the focus of all my IE complaints via Twitter of late. The fun area is in the member section (Which you aren’t allowed to go to!) and I got to dig around and make useful various plugins and php. I also created the BSRT logo – the pyramid is to do with some business model/a leaf shape for sustainability, the ’round’ bit is quite literal for ’round table’, you could say it is globe’ish too, but that could be taking things a bit far. A brochure is currently getting printed, photos to come of that too.
The current state of the world in regards to school logos is utterly appalling. Every designer should cry, and cry and cry some more, and then get busy in doing something to remedy the situation.
This is my chance: MECS
This is my branding project (so a uni assignment) as it so happens, it may or may not result in my final solution being used as their new logo. They have other designers at work.
So I have the privilege of creating ‘new’ identity for my lovely old school to draw it out of the 90’s and into the light. I had a meeting with the principal this morning. Now it’s all heads down to work (I currently only have one of those… so it’ll be working triple time).
The shields in 95% of school logos are the only thing protecting the stakeholders getting shot. No more freaking shields!