And alongside the newly launched Choose Meridian project, Graphic Zen also completed the redesign of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce website. This is continuing with the goal of the Chamber’s 5-year plan, and one step of that was completed a couple of years ago when we created the new logo for the Chamber. This new website continues with the branding elements that were created with the new logo and is a cleaner and easier to navigate site than the previous version. It also integrates with the Chamber’s member management software (Chamber Master) so that the Chamber staff can continue to utilize that software without having to reinvent the wheel and learn something new. Additional info and images about the project can be found at this link.
Logo
Choose Meridian Logo and Website Project
Welcome to the interwebs Choose Meridian! This project was a logo and website to benefit the Meridian Chamber of Commerce and the City of Meridian, Idaho. We collaborated with the Meridian Chamber of Commerce to create an identity that would complement the Chamber brand identity we designed a couple of years ago. The goal of the website is to be a tourist/relocation resource that showcases the tourist attractions and events that are in Meridian and also details the resources that are of interest to businesses and families that might be looking to relocated to Meridian. School information, hotels, rental and real estate information are all located in an easy to navigate website. You can check out more about the project at this link.
Stroth General
Continuing work with a new client, and we just finished their new logo. Meet Stroth General, a commercial and residential contractor that is licensed in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Colorado. In addition to the new logo we are in the process of building out a new website for them, which should be online by the first part of 2017. This project was typical of most logo design projects, in that after an their initial logo intake, we met to discuss needs, wants and desires. From there we created a few rounds of concepts, and the client selected one for refinement, which in this case was only minor color adjustments. After providing the finished logo, we began the process of building the site, which is currently in the development stage so if you happen to visit strothgeneral.com you’ll see a nice landing page that displays their new logo and contact information. If you’d like us to help build your new logo, please visit our logo page here.
TallBoy and Daisy J
Just finished up a new logo for a blogger and adventure traveler: TallBoy and DaisyJ. This couple travels the U.S. and internationally on exciting mountain bike tours, and Daisy J loves to write about it. In her words,
Years ago when I was working long hours and filling my time with work hours instead of ‘anything other then work’ I found that I worried more, felt worn out and daily could feel my light within diminishing. I was not of much value to myself or anyone else. When I found time to stop and get quiet I heard a sweet, soft voice whisper, “Be true to yourself. Write more, express more, be adventurous and above all love more.”
My job was to create a new logo for her upcoming blog, something that showcased her love for the outdoors and mountain biking. Fun project, awesome client.
The Iron Maidens
Last year we created a logo for Rock Canyon Amphitheater in Twin Falls, Idaho. This year we got to create a poster for one of their upcoming events, for an Iron Maiden tribute band. Now, you may be thinking, “Why would I go see an Iron Maiden tribute band?” I thought of a few different ways that I could describe the band to you, and the one that kept shouting loudest was a younger version of myself, say early 20’s. That version of me was shouting, “THIS IS SO COOL! THIS IS A BAND OF TALENTED HOT CHICKS THAT PLAY IRON MAIDEN!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!? Indeed, it is cool. The Iron Maidens can shred with the best of them, and on June 25 the city of Twin Falls will be rockin’. So if you’d like to treat your younger self to an Iron Maidens concert, I suggest that you get yourself over to www.rockcanyonamphitheater.com for tickets and more info. And if you want to check out the poster for the event, it’s there to the left, because I know that you read this before you looked at the poster, right?
Nagel Foundation
Our latest project is done and live on the interwebs! Extremely grateful to the entire Nagel Foundation Board of Directors, for collaborating on the process of developing a new brand identity mark and website.
The Nagel Foundation story started with a German immigrant who bought a soda-water company for $700 in 1895 that serviced ten saloons in downtown Boise, and turned it into a thriving business.
In 2009 after the Nagel family sold their business, they established the Nagel Foundation with the mission to support human needs such as medical treatment, food needs, and youth education.
To read more about the project and view before and after images, visit the project page here: //graphiczen.com/nagel-foundation/
Graphic Design: Meridian Writes Program Medal
Projects sometimes come with no set of guidelines or creative brief. I can be free to explore and develop concepts without feeling like I’m straying from a set of rules. That’s cool. This was the case with a recent project from the Meridian Library District, and their Meridian Writes program.
This program was created to highlight the talent and work from Meridian authors. Authors who live in the Meridian city limits or library boundary district can submit work for review by library staff. The staff will select three finalists and then ask select members of the Meridian community to choose a winner.
I initially started creating a traditional “medal” award type of graphic, complete with gold or silver accents and somewhere in the process I thought, “Why does it have to be round like a coin?” So after thinking about some shapes, I decided to go with something different, yet still “roundish”. For the center graphic, I experimented with different type styles and images, including a tree and the calligraphy nib you see here. I decided to add the digital-like element as part of the calligraphy pen to represent the fact that we now live in a digital age where books are often created and read via computer and tablet or phone, yet the art of writing began and still continues with putting pen to paper.
Of the five designs submitted, the Library choose the one you see here. I hope the participants of this new program continue to work and enjoy their creative craft, much like graphic designers do. 🙂