Designing a logo and animating a gif
In this assignment I was tasked with designing a logo and an animated gif for a fictional boutique surfboard company “gnarly” based in Byron Bay Australia. The company wanted to capture the essence of a laid-back eco-conscious surfing lifestyle. They wanted a brand which felt natural, organic and connected to the ocean. Their customers were serious surfers and people drawn to the beach culture.
In order to do this I conducted research on the surfboard industry, customer needs and the target market. I researched how boards were made and competing companies, as well as Australian culture and aboriginal art.
After doing this I experimented with different ideas (octopus letters, hands…), finally ending with a simple ellipse with a red line symbolising the Australian horizon with rounded lettering giving the design a natural and appealing feel.
After finishing the logo I animated it by hand, morphing the A into a surfer who runs into the horizon with the N as a surfboard before surfing back into place. I also created a secondary version of the logo showing on text, and a third version of the logo where the top of the G is shaped like a wave with the red line in the background. I wanted to create a logo that was versatile, easy to replicate and instantly recognisable.
What I have learnt from this experience
In this experience I learnt how to strategically design a product for a customer and their target market based on research. Because of the complexity of this project I had a regimented work process.
Throughout the course I significantly improved my Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator skills to make the logo, mockups, secondary and third logo.