Goals & Challenges

The client was seeking a compact branding solution for a children’s early learning center. The target audience included families with children aged 2.5 to 5 years, as well as parents between the ages of 25 and 45 who value a modern, play-based educational program rather than a traditional academic approach. The client also planned to offer freshly made, to-go meals for kids and eventually develop a kids’ kitchen for sharing recipes.

The client described the center as a unique early childhood program grounded in modern research and centred on love and happiness. Rather than implementing a strictly structured academic program, they focused on providing a holistic learning experience that encourages comprehensive development based on contemporary research.

To launch the business, they required a logo, a website, and labels/packages for the kids’ meals.

Resources & Materials

The client shared comprehensive information about their business, along with a general idea of what they want for their website. This included key business concepts that highlight their uniqueness. We extracted essential words from these key concepts and used them as design keywords for the logo, the overall website design, and the packaging.

Approach & Outcome

As logo and branding designers, we began our brainstorming process by sharing hand-drawn diagrams. This helped us confirm our understanding of the client's key concepts and ensured that both the client and our team were aligned. We developed five logo design concepts; then, with the selected logo, we created static website pages ready for development.

Early stage design exploration for the logo

The client felt all presented logos were unique, clean and modern. They narrowed it down to three choices: A, B and C, with minor adjustments and colour experiment requests.

Once the logo was finalized, we moved on to web design, starting with creating a style tile. We created two designs that reflect the brand image the client was aiming for: organic, happy and modern. Visitors can easily understand the centre’s value. Easy to navigate. Open for future expansion for additional functions such as online payment.

Concept diagram to understand how key concepts align with the center’s operation (left), Style tile for web design (right)

Although we completed the logo design and the design phase of the website, finding a physical location, hiring teachers and staff members, and getting building permission became very difficult for the client, largely due to COVID-19. The business opening was postponed indefinitely.

Goals & Challenges

The clients were landowners from Central Texas who had partnered with Tarleton State University. They were seeking an online platform to facilitate communication and provide resources for landowners and residents in the area, offering a unique opportunity to learn how to support and benefit native wildlife and habitats on their properties.

Additionally, the website will serve to present the goals, activities, and progress of the land management efforts by Tarleton State University.

Collecting content materials, such as management plan details (31 practices across 19 activities under 5 goals), species information (125 species categorized into 9 subcategories under 15 main categories), and additional photos showcasing nature and fieldwork, required strong organizational skills and patience.

Resources & Materials

We had several video calls and numerous email exchanges with the client and a coordinator, who was a graduate student. In addition to discussing the project's background and purpose, we reviewed specific details regarding the species and the management plan, including how the client wanted to present them and where to find external resources.

Species study database

While part of the management plan was still under review and expected to undergo some changes, we successfully gathered the key details with the coordinator’s assistance and were able to begin working without delay.

Approach & Outcome

We worked closely with the client to help them focus on gathering materials on schedule.

We restructured and organized the materials to prepare them for the website and carefully planned the site structure, ensuring that each piece of content had a clear purpose. A key feature of our work was creating pages that outlined the management plan in five steps. We designed icons for each step to help viewers easily understand the process, and we included a glossary on the side of each page to assist viewers in finding further information or definitions of unfamiliar terms.

Early stage sketches

Another key feature was the species catalogue. We designed it with easily recognizable category icons, which facilitate navigation and make the site enjoyable to explore. We also assisted in finding species images from Creative Commons.

Other presented designs

We made a conscious effort to use photos of the land taken by the client whenever possible. These images perfectly align with the project's purpose and convey a sense of love for the beautiful land throughout the website.

Inspiring photos taken by client

Goals & Challenges

The client was organizing an online event called the Bootstrap West Online Summit, a one-day micro-conference designed for independent software developers, makers, and solopreneurs in Western Canada and the USA. The organization’s core mission was to help bootstrappers develop healthy lifestyles and sustainable businesses.

The client requested a logo that incorporates one or two colors and can be easily printed on fabric while staying within budget.

Resources & Materials

From a style perspective, the client liked the logo we previously designed for WordCamp Vancouver.

Approach & Outcome

We developed three design concepts. The client liked all of them, but he preferred design A the most. He viewed it as the most versatile and felt it captured the essence he wanted.

Early stage sketches

Goals & Challenges

The Binaytara Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing positive changes to people’s lives by promoting health and education. The foundation is focused on advancing healthcare in resource-poor communities and enhancing cancer care worldwide by educating healthcare providers and the broader community.

The client had an upcoming major project that involved constructing the first phase of a new 200-bed hospital in Janakpur, Nepal. A fundraising event was also planned. They were looking for a material that illustrates how the organization’s diverse activities align with their mission, making it easier for the public to understand, especially potential donors.

Resources & Materials

After studying the information provided by the client, including their vision, achievements, and future plan, we deconstructed and reorganized the information into separate sheets and a diagram to see the big picture and the relationships between each organization’s achievements and future goals.

Studying, deconstructing and reorganizing information from the client (left), A diagram summarizing the organization's initiatives (right)

Approach & Outcome

We started by creating a word map of the data and identifying design keywords. Next, we focused on determining the most effective way to present this information in alignment with those keywords. Our goal was to help the public, including potential donors, clearly understand the organization's efforts, achievements, and current focus.

As a result, we created infographics that effectively communicate essential data about the hospital project, incorporating visuals related to Nepal and its neighbouring regions. Additionally, we designed a chronological infographic with icons to summarize the organization's efforts and accomplishments.

Detailed sketches

Goals & Challenges

This was a product pre-launch project for M!nder, an intelligent theft-deterrence system for Bicycles. As this product did not yet have a proven market, the client was hoping for only quick work rather than a deeply contemplated creation. However, we needed to ensure that the logo would be versatile enough for future packaging and other applications. The client preferred that the logo not focus on theft; instead, his vision centered on the love of one’s bicycle. He was also open to any other inspirations that might spark the designer's creativity.

Resources & Materials

Grasping the product's concept and the reasoning behind its name was crucial. Since the product name had not been finalized at the start of our project, we concentrated on creating a graphic representation that would resonate with the product and align with the client's vision of a "love of bicycles."

Approach & Outcome

As logo designers, we developed three design concepts.

Design exploration

Initial sketch (left) and variations (right)

The client appreciated both the text and illustration of design A. He found the lower-case letters particularly effective with the exclamation mark and the concept of ‘love.’ The client also liked how the illustration was more dominant compared to the name.

Prof. Taft is a professor of movement at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He works primarily with students in the Theatre Department. It was a pleasure working with inspiring photos.

Goals & Challenges

Maracaibo Estates is a private residential community that offers individual lots, shared property, and a membership program. Approximately 150 members enjoy access to a variety of common facilities, including cottages, a marina, a lagoon, sports courts, private hiking trails, and a members’ lounge.

The client was looking for a new website to promote the estate to the public and provide members with cottage booking capabilities, access to documents, and better communication options.

Many members were seniors, and we understood the potential challenges they might face with technology. Our goal was to enable every member, regardless of their technical skills, to access information and actively engage with our services online.

Resources & Materials

The client conducted a survey and identified several important issues.

• Many members didn’t even know the website existed.
• The management office and some members felt a new website could reduce paper and analogue work.
• The new website needed to serve two purposes: promoting the property to potential buyers and allowing members to find internal information and possibly communicate with other members.
• The new website needed visual improvement.

The client provided photos that highlight the property's natural surroundings and architectural features.

Approach & Outcome

We collaborated with the project committee members and the strata councils from research, planning, and presentation at their AGM.

We created a public website that showcases the beautiful property and its amenities, providing all the necessary information for potential buyers. We also developed a password-protected site for members, allowing them to cover their wish list with features such as larger text sizes, clear instructions, and simplified menus to ensure a comfortable browsing experience.

Site structure plan

Early stage sketches

At the Strata AGM, we presented the website alongside the website project committee and conducted a group instruction session, along with individual sessions after the site launch.

With the new website, members can easily find updates from the office, access business documents, and use a member directory. They also have the ability to check the availability of cottages and make bookings. As members became more comfortable using the website, they requested the addition of a bulletin board for information exchange. This board can include lost and found notices, recommendations for housekeeping services, invitations to gatherings, and more. The project enhanced the workflow of the management office and transformed how members find information and communicate with each other on a daily basis.

As a derivative project, we were commissioned to design a new trail map that includes updated information for members and visitors, including children.