Is the sun rising or setting over the state of Indiana? Which Fortune 500 company’s logo is best described as half-essed? What’s really going on with Burger Chef and Jeff?
In this special tenth issue, we examine Indiana’s graphic identity by researching the histories of its most prominent symbols. Our panel of esteemed writers look at stories behind the logos of Indiana companies like Eli Lilly, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Vera Bradley, Cummins, Burger Chef, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and Ball Corporation. They explore other notable design icons like the Indianapolis and Indiana flags, the Indiana state seal and Robert Indiana’s logo for the city of Columbus.
How do these corporate and civic symbols contribute to the visual and emblematic make-up of the state? We invite you to find out for yourself.
All issues of Commercial Article are available here!
Choreo is a company that is focused on the future. They strategically assist businesses in adjusting their working environments to be more productive as technologies, business philosophies and design standards evolve. We were asked to refresh their logo and make it more dynamic without sacrificing the recognition already associated with their brand. We then developed a toolkit of brand guidelines and a suite of communications materials that solidified the updated identity.
As graduates of Herron School of Art + Design, we were particularly honored to be asked to design the school’s viewbook. This piece is a prospective student’s introduction to the school, university and city — and a key part of Herron’s recruitment toolkit. Working with photos from Esther Boston Photography and others, we created a simple design that uses bold typography and tactile production techniques to attract students to all Herron has to offer.
Logos are among the most challenging graphic design projects. There are big expectations for those little marks!
This is an assortment of some of our favorites.
Choreo
Event & Tourism Institute
Business Furniture
Indiana Artisan Seal of Quality
Mindful Movement
Ramen Ray
Christopher West Presents
Partners In Housing
Physical Activity and Wellness Center
The StressLess Method
2018 Rock the Ruins
ESL Spectrum Lighting
Basile Opera Center
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library
Classic Lacrosse Club
Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine
Sports Innovation Institute
Landstory Landscape Architects
Franklin College President’s Circle
Mojo Bicycle Company
Building Tomorrow Education Initiative
Indianapolis Civic Theatre
Veg Out Benefit Dinner
Westfield Welcome
Indiana Foodways Alliance
Love/Hate
Terre Haute Regional Airport
This ongoing project is a de facto annual report for the Indianapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects. While the size remains constant, the look evolves and becomes an interpretation of each president’s programming theme for that particular year. One of our favorite projects year after year!
Business Furniture is a nearly 100 year-old company that sells exactly what its name describes. Based in Indianapolis and Dayton, Business Furniture is a partner to furniture giant Steelcase and other progressive brands. We were hired to update their logo, but retain their iconic chair symbol. We redrew the chair and paired it with a bold new typographic treatment. Brand guidelines and applications that ranged from notebooks to delivery vehicles followed.
So many events are promoted electronically that when we’re asked to design a real, printed invitation we try to take full advantage of the physicality and make it something memorable. Here’s an assortment of our favorites.
The INDPLS GUIDE (or Indianapolis Guide) is the product of our collaboration with the remarkable periodical shop/salon PRINTtEXT. The guide is a collection of the shop owners’ personalized recommendations of what to do when visiting Indianapolis. It includes contributions from WNBA superstar Tamika Catchings, literary sensation John Green and other luminaries. Our design is a contrast of strong, systematic typography and whimsical, icon-style illustrations provided by the wonderful Manuja Waldia.
It’s been so much fun to design posters for The Bigger Picture Show. When the big night arrives it’s fascinating to see the redesigned interpretations of classic film posters. Even better – money raised from the sale of posters benefits the Indy Film Fest, which has been a wonderful event for the city.
Sid and Nancy: Love Kills
Flashdance
Gojira
Julie & Julia
Rosemary's Baby
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Right Stuff
Sunset Boulevard
The Shining
That Thing You Do
Ghost World
Rebecca
The Dark Knight
Almost Famous
Chinatown
In Cold Blood
Luna Music is the best record store in the solar system. We’ve had the opportunity to design posters, record labels, coffee mugs, t-shirts and even frisbees for our good buddies at Luna. A sticker we designed for Luna even ended up on Joey and Chandler’s refrigerator on the show Friends! Music is an essential component of our day, and we’re very lucky to have such a phenomenal resource just a few blocks away!
Westfield, Indiana is a city twenty minutes north of Indianapolis, whose growth in recent years has been startling. Investing in world class sports facilities and progressive amenities has propelled this once sleepy farming community into the spotlight. Our work for them includes a brand guide that unites all of the city’s various identity components into one comprehensive document. We have also designed a number of event logos for the parks department as well as a Year In Review publication that summarizes the activities of all city departments.
Logos are among the most challenging graphic design projects. There are big expectations for those little marks!
This is an assortment of some of our favorites.
Choreo
Event & Tourism Institute
Business Furniture
Indiana Artisan Seal of Quality
Mindful Movement
Ramen Ray
Christopher West Presents
Partners In Housing
Physical Activity and Wellness Center
The StressLess Method
2018 Rock the Ruins
ESL Spectrum Lighting
Basile Opera Center
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library
Classic Lacrosse Club
Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine
Sports Innovation Institute
Landstory Landscape Architects
Franklin College President’s Circle
Mojo Bicycle Company
Building Tomorrow Education Initiative
Indianapolis Civic Theatre
Veg Out Benefit Dinner
Westfield Welcome
Indiana Foodways Alliance
Love/Hate
Terre Haute Regional Airport
The mission of Kids Dance Outreach is to positively impact the lives of all children through joyful dance programs that inspire excellence, instill confidence, encourage teamwork, and applaud persistence. We were asked to design a strategic report that provides guidance and recommendations for the organization as it grows and moves forward.
We’ve worked with Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky for several years. We were recently asked to redesign their Access newsletter and annual report to reflect the graphic standards of the national organization. We chose a new compact size and put an emphasis on strong, prominent photography. We also designed their holiday card which does double-duty as a seasonal greeting and a very important piece of fund raising communication.
The Indiana Design center is a one-stop shop to redecorate, remodel or build your home. More than 15 showrooms provide access to residential and commercial design products from national brands and Indiana companies. We’ve designed sophisticated looks used in ad campaigns, on-site signage, event invitations and editorial features over the past several years.
Landstory is the name of an Indianapolis landscape architecture firm that uses native landscape characteristics to tell a project’s story. We were hired to redesign their graphic identity, communications pieces, and website. Our starting point was a page-turner of a logo that acts as a visual metaphor for their philosophy. We were very pleased to once again work with Pica Studio on the design and implementation of their site.
First Merchants Bank was opening a new branch that featured progressive architecture, a coffee bar, a community conference space and other amenities not necessarily associated with a bank environment. We were hired by Skeleton Crew Marketing to work with Greg Whitaker Photography and develop a series of word + picture combinations. These images would not only reflect the quirky nature of the new bank’s neighborhood, but also act as unexpected art statements on screens within the bank.
We rarely design self-promotional materials, but always produce a holiday card. Sometimes they take the form of festive garlands and sometimes they’re more traditional, but they’re almost always silly. We love bribing our friends with pizza so they’ll help with the frantic mid-December assembly sessions! Here are a few of our favorites.
Early Learning Indiana is a century-old organization that provides leadership, advocacy, and early childhood education services to continually improve the early learning landscape in Indiana. They asked us to design a brochure that serves as both an introduction to the organization and a tool for their development efforts.
As part of their centennial celebrations, the AIGA asked representatives from each or its regional chapters to design a chair for the Facing Forward exhibition in New York City. Our design draws inspiration from our Commercial Article project and pays homage to our Indiana graphic design hero Gene Lacy.
A designer designing their own visual identity can be a daunting task. We designed this look to represent Commercial Artisan in 2013. Our goal was to abbreviate our company name to as few letters as possible. When we reached CA (and were still dissatisfied) we decided for forgo letters altogether and simply represent ourselves as two dots.
In August of 2013, our retrospective exhibit ink / paper / staples / glue opened at the Herron School of Art and Design and included a selection of work from the previous twenty years. It has since traveled to other locations including the Ajngel Gallery in Croatia.
The Indianapolis-based American Pianists Association provides the world’s largest fellowships for pianists in both the jazz and classical arenas. Among the notable projects we’ve designed are their updated website and the looks for both the Classical and Jazz Fellowship Awards. The style is clean and simple with strategic use of color to convey the vibrant essence of the music.
It’s been so much fun to design posters for The Bigger Picture Show. When the big night arrives it’s fascinating to see the redesigned interpretations of classic film posters. Even better – money raised from the sale of posters benefits the Indy Film Fest, which has been a wonderful event for the city.
Flashdance
Sid and Nancy: Love Kills
Gojira
Julie & Julia
Rosemary's Baby
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Right Stuff
Sunset Boulevard
The Shining
That Thing You Do
Ghost World
Rebecca
The Dark Knight
Almost Famous
Chinatown
In Cold Blood
AXIS Architecture + Interiors is one of the most progressive and respected design firms in the midwest. Their projects have been honored by the American Institute of Architects with numerous awards.
Our work with them includes developing a look and system of proposal materials they can adapt and assemble on an as needed basis. We’ve also designed a series of booklets that highlight their civic and commercial projects, as well as a refresh of their well-established corporate identity.
Roland Hobart came to Shelbyville, Indiana from his native Innsbruk in 1966. Known for his bold, graphic precision, he quickly became a highly regarded figure in the central Indiana art community. His literal towering achievement — a downtown Indianapolis super-graphic — is sadly fading and flaking into history. Not content with being famous in Shelbyville, Hobart reinvented himself again! The ninth issue of Commercial Article is Our Own Roland Hobart. All issues of Commercial Article are available here!
So many events are promoted electronically that when we’re asked to design a real, printed invitation we try to take full advantage of the physicality and make it something memorable. Here’s an assortment of our favorites.
Created with the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), these reports are designed to appeal to donors willing to invest in programs supporting three strategically-focussed initiatives: Inspiring Places, Family Success and College Readiness. The goal of the initiative is to develop less fortunate citizenry into contributing members of the community, attract the best and brightest to live here, and retain creative, community-minded and highly educated workforce. Our design is simple and straightforward — using lush photography and emphasizing numerous CICF success stories.
Logos are among the most challenging graphic design projects. There are big expectations for those little marks!
This is an assortment of some of our favorites.
Choreo
Event & Tourism Institute
Business Furniture
Indiana Artisan Seal of Quality
Mindful Movement
Ramen Ray
Christopher West Presents
Partners In Housing
Physical Activity and Wellness Center
The StressLess Method
2018 Rock the Ruins
ESL Spectrum Lighting
Basile Opera Center
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library
Classic Lacrosse Club
Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine
Sports Innovation Institute
Landstory Landscape Architects
Franklin College President’s Circle
Mojo Bicycle Company
Building Tomorrow Education Initiative
Indianapolis Civic Theatre
Veg Out Benefit Dinner
Westfield Welcome
Indiana Foodways Alliance
Love/Hate
Terre Haute Regional Airport
Long a mainstay of the Indianapolis art community, James Wille Faust is known for his bold color studies and optical and spacial illusions. Color Meditations is the title of his 2016 show at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art. Working with the artist and his wife Martha, we designed a catalog in three parts (outer title sleeve, accordion fold booklet, folded poster) to commemorate the show.
Originally entitled Haiku, Discovering Japanese Bamboo Art is a 2016 exhibit of unbelievable craftsmanship and creativity at Herron School of Art & Design. Consisting of one collector’s assortment of bamboo sculpture, the show reveal secret upon secret the longer one views them. The catalog we designed is a minimal document of a substantial and thoughtful exhibition.
Fortune Cookies was the title of our 2005 exhibit — a collection of prints that were all based on the prophetic insights of actual fortune cookie fortunes. The results were haunting, deadpan and humorous pieces that featured found as well as self-generated imagery and text.
A designer designing their own visual identity can be a daunting task. We designed this look to represent Commercial Artisan in 2013. Our goal was to abbreviate our company name to as few letters as possible. When we reached CA (and were still dissatisfied) we decided for forgo letters altogether and simply represent ourselves as two dots.
In August of 2013, our retrospective exhibit ink / paper / staples / glue opened at the Herron School of Art and Design and included a selection of work from the previous twenty years. It has since traveled to other locations including the Ajngel Gallery in Croatia.
George Philip Meier was the most prominent fashion designer in Indianapolis in the early years of the 20th century. His wife Nellie Simmons Meier was a scientific palmist who consulted movie stars, artists, adventurers and at least one president. Their life together was filled with glamorous trips to Paris for months at a time. When they came home, it was to Tuckaway — their ornately decorated Indianapolis house that has lived on in legend many years after their deaths. The eighth issue of Commercial Article is Life By Design: The Meiers of Tuckaway. All issues of Commercial Article are available here!
CJ Pyle is an Indianapolis-based artist whose fascinating work straddles the line between beautiful and grotesque. His intricate drawings of faces — seemingly made of fiber and eyes — are completely mesmerizing. We were thrilled to design this site that showcases his work.
Sean Derry is an artist currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
His work addresses contemporary concerns through sometimes simple or common means. Sean has included us as collaborators on the documentation of some of his projects, which are always as thoughtful as they are thought-provoking. As with all work we do with artists, our goal is to extend their vision by accurately interpreting their message and aesthetic.
Holliday Park is one of the great Indianapolis public parks. Located on Indy’s northwest side, the park is home to extensive trails, playgrounds, a nature center and a sculptural centerpiece called The Ruins. In recent years certain aspects of the park have been tremendously improved, while others have languished, or become dangerous eyesores. These pieces were created as part of a coordinated fundraising effort to renovate and improve those areas. The brochure cover art is a quote by John Holliday (the park’s namesake) that assigns the responsibility for the welfare of a community directly to its citizens.
This Brand & Gear Guide was designed for Under Armour’s Action division in 2014. A showcase for buyers, this book highlights the technologies that make UA garments so special. Our work for Under Armour gives us access to some of the most exciting photography we’ve ever seen and an opportunity to work for one of the world’s most prominent apparel companies.
The Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre celebrated a remarkable 100 year anniversary in 2015. We were asked to document their storied history through the design of Imagination, Education and Participation — a three part display of photos, clippings, interviews and memorabilia. We worked with archivists and the marketing department to produce three towers that divide the story into book-like sections. The display will visit Civic’s current and former locations in the Indianapolis area throughout the year.
This ongoing project is a de facto annual report for the Indianapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects. While the size remains constant, the look evolves and becomes an interpretation of each president’s programming theme for that particular year. One of our favorite projects year after year!
We’ve designed scores of projects for Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School — logos, viewbooks and annual reports just scratch the surface. We implemented a series of standards that created an identity that was modern, but rooted in Jesuit tradition. The school’s emphasis on social justice throughout the world makes Brebeuf one of premier secondary learning institutions in the midwest.
Luna Music is the best record store in the solar system. We’ve had the opportunity to design posters, record labels, coffee mugs, t-shirts and even frisbees for our good buddies at Luna. A sticker we designed for Luna even ended up on Joey and Chandler’s refrigerator on the show Friends! Music is an essential component of our day, and we’re very lucky to have such a phenomenal resource just a few blocks away!
We have a long history with the Indianapolis Museum of Art!
Going back more than twenty years, our projects with the IMA have included guides for educational programs and summer camps, fund raising materials for the Second Century Society, and invitations to gala openings like Dream Cars. But perhaps most significantly are the book projects. We’ve been thrilled to design a half dozen major volumes for exhibits as diverse as Turner In Indianapolis and Crossroads of American Sculpture. The history of the Indianapolis Museum of Art is the subject of Every Way Possible (2008), the most recent in the series.
We have a long history with the Indianapolis Museum of Art!
Going back more than twenty years, our projects with the IMA have included guides for educational programs and summer camps, fund raising materials for the Second Century Society, and invitations to gala openings like Dream Cars. But perhaps most significantly are the book projects. We’ve been thrilled to design a half dozen major volumes for exhibits as diverse as Turner In Indianapolis and Crossroads of American Sculpture. The history of the Indianapolis Museum of Art is the subject of Every Way Possible (2008), the most recent in the series.
AXIS Architecture + Interiors is one of the most progressive and respected design firms in the midwest. Their projects have been honored by the American Institute of Architects with numerous awards.
Our work with them includes developing a look and system of proposal materials they can adapt and assemble on an as needed basis. We’ve also designed a series of booklets that highlight their civic and commercial projects, as well as a refresh of their well-established corporate identity.
In only a few short years, Pattern Magazine has seeming done the impossible by putting Indianapolis on the fashion map! We’ve contributed the design of three feature articles over the course of the past several issues. They feature the photography of Gabrielle Cheikh, Hadley Fruits and Polina Osherov.
Conceived as a gift for women struggling with breast cancer, The Reconfigured Goddess is a book of poetry and art designed to bring comfort to those who may need it most. Produced through a grant from the Heroes Foundation, this was a very special project for us, as well as a fantastic opportunity to get to work with the amazingly talented Andrea Eberbach.
The painter Ed Sanders was a progressive voice in the Indianapolis art scene in the 80s and 90s. Following his untimely death in 2006, friends and colleagues rallied to assemble Ed Sanders / Life and Art, a retrospective exhibit at the Herron School of Art and Design. This catalog, written and researched by former Indianapolis Museum of Art director Bret Waller, is the record of the show and of an artist whose haunting influence outlasted his time here.
Pendleton, Indiana native Walter Dorwin Teague is regarded as one of the “Big Four” industrial designers. He was a giant of the profession, designing everything from cameras to airplanes. The seventh issue of Commercial Article investigates the life and (extensive) work of this seminal figure in the world of industrial design. All issues of Commercial Article are available here!
This book for Los Angeles artist Tim Hawkinson was designed to reflect his sense of quirky ingenuity. A singer-sewn binding and metallic silver tints throughout help to emphasize the effect. Produced on the occasion of his first major museum exhibition (Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati), the book quickly sold out and was honored by the American Center for Design and the Ohio Museums Association.
Our work for the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau encompasses all facets of tourism branding and promotion. Our dual goal is to promote the charm of the county’s small towns with the sophistication of the burgeoning suburban population. Through innumerable publications, identity designs and special projects (historic displays and interior design) we worked to draw potential visitors and event planners to this vibrant area just north of Indianapolis.
People for Urban Progress (PUP) is an Indianapolis-based not for profit that promotes environmental responsibility by rescuing discarded materials and redesigning them for public benefit. We worked with consultants Tamara Zahn and John Beeler to translate their recommendations for PUP’s future into a simple and modern report. The design is meant to be restrained, but also impactful and directed.
In an admirable effort to bring art to the general public, The Arts Council of Indianapolis developed a series of public art exhibitions in downtown Indianapolis. Art by internationally known artists like Julian Opie, Chakaia Booker and George Rickey was positioned throughout the Indianapolis downtown area. These publications served as exhibit guides and maps to people interested in visiting the art. Our goal was to present the required information in a helpful manner and adapt the design of each guide to reflect the visual sensibility of each artist.
Logos are among the most challenging graphic design projects. There are big expectations for those little marks!
This is an assortment of some of our favorites.
Choreo
Event & Tourism Institute
Business Furniture
Indiana Artisan Seal of Quality
Mindful Movement
Ramen Ray
Christopher West Presents
Partners In Housing
Physical Activity and Wellness Center
The StressLess Method
2018 Rock the Ruins
ESL Spectrum Lighting
Basile Opera Center
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library
Classic Lacrosse Club
Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine
Sports Innovation Institute
Landstory Landscape Architects
Franklin College President’s Circle
Mojo Bicycle Company
Building Tomorrow Education Initiative
Indianapolis Civic Theatre
Veg Out Benefit Dinner
Westfield Welcome
Indiana Foodways Alliance
Love/Hate
Terre Haute Regional Airport
This book is a tool to help the four legged residents of the Humane Society of Indianapolis. IndyHumane has recently undergone a transformation that positions them as the leading voice for the welfare of animals in Indianapolis. Ambitious new plans will require a great deal of money. The case statement, entitled Once. And for all., is designed to appeal to those most likely to help make the plans a reality. We were thrilled for the opportunity to work with our friends at Well Done Marketing to make that happen.
Stacks is a book that chronicles the 140 year history of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library system and its relationship with the greater Indianapolis community. The design plays with the conventions of library books by taking elements like book plates and “Date Due” pockets and blending them with hundreds of other historic photographs and illustrations (some never before published). Even the book’s cover becomes a bookshelf that shows a selection of books from the library’s first hundred acquisitions.
International fashion statesman Norman Norell hailed from Noblesville, Indiana. He is credited with the translation of Parisian couture into American ready-to-wear women’s fashion. He won every major fashion ward while he was doing it too! He is the subject of issue 06 of Commercial Article, our forum for documenting the lives and work of Indiana’s neglected design figures. All issues of Commercial Article are available here!
So many events are promoted electronically that when we’re asked to design a real, printed invitation we try to take full advantage of the physicality and make it something memorable. Here’s an assortment of our favorites.
Earlhamite is the magazine of Earlham College and the oldest college alumni magazine in continuous publication in the United States. We had the privilege of designing Earlhamite for over 15 years, which included a 2009 complete redesign. We commissioned illustrators from around the world to create artwork for the always illustrated Earlhamite covers.
Logos are among the most challenging graphic design projects. There are big expectations for those little marks!
This is an assortment of some of our favorites.
Choreo
Event & Tourism Institute
Business Furniture
Indiana Artisan Seal of Quality
Mindful Movement
Ramen Ray
Christopher West Presents
Partners In Housing
Physical Activity and Wellness Center
The StressLess Method
2018 Rock the Ruins
ESL Spectrum Lighting
Basile Opera Center
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library
Classic Lacrosse Club
Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine
Sports Innovation Institute
Landstory Landscape Architects
Franklin College President’s Circle
Mojo Bicycle Company
Building Tomorrow Education Initiative
Indianapolis Civic Theatre
Veg Out Benefit Dinner
Westfield Welcome
Indiana Foodways Alliance
Love/Hate
Terre Haute Regional Airport
Working again with consultants Tamara Zahn and John Beeler, this report is a guide of recommendations for the future of the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art (iMOCA). We were asked to utilize color, symbolic quotations and exhibit photography to convey where iMOCA has been and to help guide them to a successful future.
Luna Music is the best record store in the solar system. We’ve had the opportunity to design posters, record labels, coffee mugs, t-shirts and even frisbees for our good buddies at Luna. A sticker we designed for Luna even ended up on Joey and Chandler’s refrigerator on the show Friends! Music is an essential component of our day, and we’re very lucky to have such a phenomenal resource just a few blocks away!
This ongoing project is a de facto annual report for the Indianapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects. While the size remains constant, the look evolves and becomes an interpretation of each president’s programming theme for that particular year. One of our favorite projects year after year!
For over ten years we’ve contributed art and design work to Tonic Gallery — the art component of the phenomenally successful Tonic Ball fundraiser. Both the gallery and the ball raise money to benefit Second Helpings, an organization that assists the community by finding uses for food that would otherwise be discarded. Several years ago they began asking designers for their reinterpretations of classic album covers that could then be auctioned. Here are a few of ours that honor The Velvet Underground, Tina Turner and Bruce Springsteen.
