Vanish logo development
A few weeks ago, I wrapped up production on an exciting logo development project. The logo was for an open-source program called Vanish, which has recently received a healthy dose of media attention. And, as far as this designer is concerned, the attention is well deserved.
At our initial project meeting, the clients described their program as “self-destructive online data,” wherein any messages could be encrypted and protected from maleficent behavior by utilizing natural properties of global peer-to-peer networks. Although I understood only a fraction of the technicalities of how this worked, I am sufficiently versed in digital culture and the work of groups such as the EFF to grasp the impressive “wow” factor of this project.
With excitement, I quickly started sketching concepts for the logo. The client had requested a logo that conveyed comfort, warmth, confidence, security, as well as the actual functionality of the program. The first round of concepts didn’t quite hit the mark, but, as is often the process with projects like this, provided a good basis of conversation on how best to move forward.
After a few more rounds of concepts and dialogue between me, my client, and the client’s team, I developed a custom-shaped “V” that was adapted from a few type shapes that the client was drawn towards. Focusing on the descriptive words the client was seeking, I utilized a grid pattern to anchor my “V” shape to specific points along the grid. This provided me with a more solid foundation on which to apply the ideas exchanged between me and my client.
Early concepts of the “V” had the right side of the letter disintegrating into broken puzzle-like pieces or dispersing like envelopes in the wind. Although conceptually in line with the program’s functionality, these just weren’t working visually for me or my client. The client proposed a pixel-like idea instead, which relied on small squares that faded out. I immediately gravitated towards this idea.
A few more rounds of refinement brought in the background fading sphere, which worked to visually offset the “V” and communicate the behind-the-scenes of how Vanish works via the peer-to-peer global cloud of computing. I added some of the gradient and pseudo-3d elements (highlight on the inside left of the “V” and the oft-used icon drop shadow), and started testing how the transparency of the right side of the “V” would render in the Apple dock. Not having to worry about print applications, I was free to leave the logo as a gradientized, likely-out-of-print-gamut, screen logo.
Finally, I set the type in Gotham, mainly for its simplicity, readiblity, and balance – in short, I thought it captured the client’s request perfectly. This was the second logo I had done for this client (the first being Adeona last year), and I felt very pleased with how it turned out. And so did the client: “This is *fantastic*! I really appreciate all your hard work on this. The logo is wonderful.”
