Getting the chance to create a new logo for a high school is always exciting but getting the chance to do it for a whole school district is another challenge completely. One that we were more than happy to take on.
Last fall, we were invited to meet with the Superintendent at Clay County District Schools. The district was looking for a fresh brand, as they felt their old logo no longer stood up to the test of time. After our meeting, a few things were clear; keep the colors, tagline, the Torch of Knowledge and district motto. Make it a crest shape, but other than that, free reign.
I was pumped and started the process like I always do: a hot cup of black coffee, 80’s rock music in my earbuds, and a stack of white sheets of paper and a pencil. After about 50 quick sketches, I finally landed on the idea of having the torch be the hero of the logo, with the flame shaping the letter “C” for Clay. After transferring the sketch to the computer, it was time to play around with different layouts, fonts, and colors. I knew that the school was looking for a crest, but the combinations of elements are endless. This process usually takes the longest, as it can take forever to get to the point where everything “just works” – especially if you’re suffering from perfectionism, like yours truly. Sometimes, you hit out of the park right away and other times the revisions seem as endless as the possibilities. This one landed somewhere in the middle.
A few e-mails with edits later, I was once again invited to the district office. This time, however, it was to present the new logo to the school board, who would later vote on whether or not to adopt it. No pressure. Luckily, our CEO was also present and gladly took on the presenter role (thank you, Josh).
When the presentation had reached its last slide, the room was filled with excited faces that couldn’t wait for the new look to roll out. I can only speak for myself as a designer, but these are always the peak moments in my profession: having completed a project that I can get behind 100%, which also (more importantly) leaves the customer happy.
To everyone at Clay County District Schools, we thank you for this amazing opportunity.
It has been a privilege, and we can’t wait to work on more projects together.
Mathias Johansson
Director of Cady Culture
