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I had the privilege of designing a logo for the Vision, Autonomy, and Decision Research (VADeR) Observatory at the University of Colorado Boulder. This logo was intended for various applications including doors, stationery, websites, clothing, and mugs. The objective was to create the beginnings of a distinctive identity for the lab that resonated with the crew of students, professors, and staff setting up the new research lab.
VADeR conducts research “on space domain awareness, civil space traffic management, space policy, and space strategy topics.” Initially, they had a design from another source, although good, didn’t capture the essence of the observatory’s mission. Recognizing the need for a logo that truly represented the scientific endeavors happening in the lab, I set out to create something that everyone would be excited to display.
My research process involved interviewing the VADeR team to understand their needs and gather ideas for the logo. I found it particularly helpful to identify their dislikes, as these provided clear direction for refining the design. Dislikes offer more objective feedback and can guide the design process more definitively. Additionally, I requested supporting ideas and visual references to incorporate into the logo. Through these discussions, I learned about the team’s passion for their work, which significantly informed the design process.
The concept development phase began with a prompt from the head of the observatory, suggesting elements such as the moon, earth, sun, stars, satellites, a lighthouse, and The Eye of Ra. I focused primarily on the planetary aspects. Using Adobe Illustrator for most of the design work, with some Photoshop for editing supporting imagery, I created several logo iterations. Balancing client input with professional design judgment was crucial. While some suggestions from the team were valuable, others needed gentle steering toward more functional and visually appealing choices. This iterative process ensured the final design was both representative and practical.
The concept development phase began with a prompt from the head of the observatory, suggesting elements such as the moon, earth, sun, stars, satellites, a lighthouse, and The Eye of Ra. I focused primarily on the planetary aspects. Using Adobe Illustrator for most of the design work, with some Photoshop for editing supporting imagery, I created several logo iterations. Balancing client input with professional design judgment was crucial. While some suggestions from the team were valuable, others needed gentle steering toward more functional and visually appealing choices. This iterative process ensured the final design was both representative and practical.
The VADeR team was thrilled with the final design. They felt it represented the lab much better and looked great on the various products they intended to use it on. This logo provided VADeR with a solid identity that could be recognized nationally, starting with its debut at a nationwide aerospace conference in Hawaii. This project taught me the importance of balancing client input with professional design judgment, ensuring that the final product was both functional and visually appealing.
