graphics
Venari
Venari is a professional search company in Reno, Nevada and San Jose, California. They wanted to project their professional and aggressive attitude toward attracting top talent. We worked with the firm to select the name which translates from the Latin “to hunt,” turning the “headhunter” label around to work for them. The “Flying V” logo is a stylized bird of prey. The lightly modified Futura font is clear and modern.
As with any visual identity I create, a Graphic Standards Manual is included as part of the package. It is not uncommon for clients to request, “just a logo and a business card,” but equally important to the logo is its application. The Graphic Standards Manual lays all this out for any future implementation of the logo. Including this with the logo files provides the printer or designer with the rules for logo application to ensure that it is consistent without being restrictive. Logos are a form of shorthand to communicate a brand to its audience. When used with consistency over time, it builds trust in that brand. The manual is the tool to bring about that consistency, to build that trust.
Barbara Keegan 2012
Above we have the campaign logo for Santa Clara Valley Water District candidate Barbara Keegan. As the only woman in the race Ms. Keegan wanted a logo that looked refined, somewhat feminine, and showed her concern for the vital resources she’s trying to protect. I designed these logos as well as a graphic standards manual to establish her brand and communicate her values quickly, effectively, and memorably. The logo font is based on Caslon letterforms which were heavily modified. Water and earth elements were added to convey her stewardship of resources. Trajan (yes, “the movie font”) was used to convey a sense of authority. The graphic standards manual comprehensively directs any future uses of the logo to ensure consistency and maximum impact in any medium. I had the good fortune of producing this work for a highly qualified candidate who, while being heavily outspent, won her race with a 24 point margin.
2011 CREDO Logo and Graphic Standards
CREDO came to C Davis Designs looking for an altogether new identity. As an education research company aligned with Stanford University, CREDO sought to truly define themselves graphically for the first time in their 12 years. The group is influential in setting education policy and needed an identity that was unique yet within the bounds of the education research community. We provided them initially with the logos, colors, typefaces, and importantly, the instructions for establishing their new identity.
Impressed with our initial work, CREDO also requested business cards, letterhead, note pads and note cubes, as shown above. A Powerpoint presentation template and theme, report template, and note cards are all in the works and to be released soon.
2011 Alexandria Investment
Alexandria came to us with a product that could predict the future of the stock market and an image that reflected the past. That identity was put to rest with an overhaul that kept alive the idea of the ancient library of Alexandria but pushed it forward into the modern, cutting edge world in which they compete. Their product seeks to simplify the overwhelming amount of investment information produced daily into a graphical representation of market sentiment and their new identity supports that mission.
The Alexandria logo is a simplification of pyramids with the sun illuminating the forward faces and the negative space in shadows. As such the logo works best in white against a colored background which provides them with a unique look when used with consistency. The Alexandria palette is flexible although blue is used as the default corporate color while the other three are used for supporting materials.
2012 Apparel Graphics
Shift is an action sports company competing in the motocross and street markets. They define themselves by their youthful, somewhat rebellious customer. The brand is constantly looking to update it’s logo treatments. These are proposals for the 2012 line.
