Brand Identities
An identity is more than just a logo; it’s the way you visually portray your brand. We create memorably effective logos, but we also create the supporting visual language or graphic style that makes a truly emotive, memorable brand. (talk about how color, typography, image style and mode, etc all play a role in creating an emotive, successful brand image that sends the right message and stands apart.)
Kendal Homes
A specialization in building modern and mountain homes led to a photographic, 3-D identity solution. The square shape of the logo itself was carried through in the unconventional shape of the business cards.
MHTN Architects
When MHTN Architects approached us about redesigning their identity, we had some hesitation. Their 20 year-old logo was designed by a now-retired, highly-respected local designer—and we liked it. But after MHTN engaged us, we learned through our 5d Perception Branding process that the architectural firm had changed. The 50 year-old company, long known for their professionalism, but less recognized for progressive design, was now led by partners with different values. To signal the change, we created a new logo that was intentionally related graphically to the former mark, wrote a new tagline (“vision made real”), adopted new color and typography standards, and applied it all to the corporate papers. Their Web site sports the new logo while we work with them towards a complete overhaul.
Nucleus
We created an identity as part of a campaign to launch the next generation of HealthCare Insight’s fraud prevention application: Nucleus. The software helps health insurance companies find fraud, waste and abuse in insurance claims. We started strategically, with our 5D Perception Branding process and then designed a strong, colorful identity for Nucleus, which tied together all the touchpoints.
J. Joyce & Associates
The law office of J. Joyce & Associates, which specializes in insurance litigation, approached modern8 for creative services after separating from a large downtown Salt Lake firm. The mark we designed takes advantage of the paired letters and suggests the professionalism of a monogram. We applied the logo to stationery and business cards that reflect the shape of the letter “J” with a single rounded corner on the bottom right edge.
NIC
NIC is the world’s largest provider of Web-enabled government services. Working through our Perception Branding Process, NIC clarified their position and incorporated it into a brand identity both visually and verbally.
The dotted “i” design of the finished logo was a logical representation of the “people behind” concept. Once the logo design was established, we created and published corporate identity guidelines for use of the logo, such as color specifications, proper presentation space and typography. Also included are examples of correct and incorrect uses for the logo.
K2 Foot + Ankle
Stanton Smith is not only a podiatrist but also a mountain climber, and though he doesn’t always want to talk about it, that must have had some influence on the choice of a new practice name. Moving to new offices, the foot specialist has upgraded the look and feel of everything. We created a new identity and applied it to the stationery, moving announcement and on-site identification. A Web site is in the works.
YESCO
Young Electric Sign Company has casually used the acronym YESCO for many years, but until recently, the real name of the company was only in long form. The duplicity caused some confusion. In some cities in the Western U.S., like Las Vegas, the company was better known by the acronym and just the opposite in other cities. Although YESCO has been our client for over 10 years, the logo preceded us. But in 2008, a legal necessity provided an opportunity to re-brand. It was important however that the visual equity of the logo be maintained. We kept the most important feature, the “Y” mark, but dropped the enclosing border and anachronistic typeface. We formally adopted the Univers type family, which we had preferentially used for years and produced a complete Brand Identity Standards manual. The revised identity is simple, graphically memorable and easily read at great distances, a valuable trait in the outdoor medium. The identity has rolled out gradually and is now appearing on stationery, trucks, buildings and uniforms.
JRCA
The architects, James R. Child and Associates wanted a new identity that reflected a contemporary view and an environmentally-sensitive attitude. Our solution emphasized a geometric, de Stijl-like division of space, but with an earthy color palette.
Associated Food Stores
Few logos we’ve designed get as wide a distribution as the “the cart in the a” logo we did for Associated Food Stores in the early 90’s, whose trucks move their branded products all across the Western United States. We were asked to create a mark that retained much of the visual equity of the logo that preceded it, but without the female shopper, which by 1990, had become anachronistic. The result integrated the letter and shopping cart into a unified form.
Dr. Rand Bennett
The logo for Dr. Rand Bennett & Team is a memorable, unique illustrative metaphor for the services offered by the orthodontist. Dr. Bennett has commented that the logo has converted many prospects. “They’ll come in holding my business card, saying, ‘I came here because of your logo.’”
Szechwan
Szechwan Chinese Kitchen is a great little restaurant in Park City, widely recognized by locals as the best Chinese food in the county. The Szechwan Chinese Kitchen engaged modern8 to brand the restaurant as sophisticated fare, but in a casual, resort atmosphere. Szechwan’s former identity did not distinguish itself from fast food competition.
30 years of Identities
Our experience in logo design and corporate identity goes back three decades. Here are a number of classics from throughout the years.
