SEAN DERRY

MAKING/DOING IDENTITY

This letterhead system was designed for artist Sean Derry. While completely functional, the letterhead is also meant to be poetic and descriptive. The dual concepts of making and doing are explored through lists of possible actions and reactions on the business card, while the phrase “tying together a beginning by going around the end to feel beyond the reach of my hands” wraps around the front and back of the envelope as a blind embossed line of text.

BREBEUF

BREBEUF JESUIT SCHOOL LOGO

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School was named after the French missionary Jean de Brebeuf, whose work with the Huron people inspired the school’s philosophy of social justice. We were asked to create a symbol to represent the school that combines elements of these two cultures, but doesn’t pander to native American stereotypes. The result was a classic French fleur-de-lis with the center petal replaced by a single feather, a reference to the Braves, Brebeuf’s athletic team name.

C FIBERS

C FIBERS LOGO

This logo only hints at the fascinating story behind the woman who commissioned it. After being bitten by a black widow spider and nearly dying, our client spent six months in bed with spastic paralysis and lost her short and long-term memory. Having to learn to use her body and brain again, knitting became a way to get her fingers moving and establish cognitive functions. Knitting helped to stimulate her C fibers, small sensory nerves that were damaged by the bite. Her beautiful and thoughtful new work is both a tribute to the spider that bit her and proof of her resolve to recover.

COMMERCIAL ARTISAN

COMMERCIAL ARTISAN IDENTITY

This iteration of our identity is meant to be bold, bright and active — a distinct change from our first, more obtuse look. Not being able to establish a hierarchy for the words included in our company name, we opted to print them on top of each other and let the viewer’s eyes battle it out. Continuing our obstinance, we retained the size of the letters and words despite the shrinking sizes of our formats.

ELEMENTS

ELEMENTS LOGO

This logo was designed for the upscale Indianapolis restaurant Elements. The typeface was created particularly for the logo and mirrors the restaurant’s concept of unconnected pieces coming together to form a whole.

EQUIS

EQUIS LOGO

Equis Consulting is a company that provides training to enable people to discover the possibilities of personal and organizational growth through the use of specialized client-based programs and individual training experiences. Beginning by creating the name Equis, we developed an identity that reinforces the concepts of quality and sophistication.

HAMILTON COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

TOWN SQUARES / URBAN FLAIR LOGO

This logo was created for on the occasion of the bureau’s move to a new office in the Arts and Design District of Carmel, Indiana. The logo marks a shift in focus to a combination of small town charm mixed with urban sophistication. The logo appears in many applications including an array of printed materials and bureau signage.

HOUSE IN HARMONY

HOUSE IN HARMONY LOGO

We were asked to create a logo that reflects the philosophy of interior design company House in Harmony. They practice an integrated approach to design that reflects an individual’s style, but seeks to elevate it to a more refined level. This logo appeared in a wide array of applications that included signage, hang tags and corporate communications.

INDIANA ARTISAN

IDENTITY

This mark serves as Indiana’s version of a “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.” It is awarded to products of distinct quality that originate in the state, and can be used as a part of their promotional campaigns. It also appears on signage at select retail locations that present the best that Indiana has to offer.

INDIANAPOLIS CIVIC THEATER

CIVIC LOGO

The Indianapolis Civic Theater is the longest continuously-operating community theater in the country. This logo simplifies the theater’s name and message to Civic, and places it in the context of the stage’s spotlight. In use for over a decade, this logo is one of our most visible designs.

DEBORAH KELB, CPA

DEBORAH KELB IDENTITY

This is the graphic identity system for our accountant Deborah Kelb. Intended as a play on the familiar look of IRS forms, the identity had unintended results. Unsuspecting clients of Kelb’s would receive her correspondence and instinctively respond with panic and fear. After assuaging their concerns, most of Kelb’s clients appreciated the joke. We refer to this project as “the little job that could.” It has been recognized by the AIGA and Communication Arts in their design competitions, as well as being featured in other design-related publications.

PEAR TREE

PEAR TREE IDENTITY

The Pear Tree is an upscale Indianapolis gift store that specializes in fine linens, gifts and stationery. We were asked to create a simple identity that reflected the classic nature of the store as well as the owner’s philosophy toward design. The logo was applied to many items including signage, gift tags, invoices, stickers, ads and stationery.

TU-LA

TU-LA IDENTITY

TU-LA was an extravagant gift and clothing boutique in Indianapolis. Working with the shop’s creative director, we developed an identity that was a reflection of the eccentric look and feel of the store’s interior. The identity features a collection of images provided by the creative director as well as additional found illustrations and handwriting samples. We designed an extensive collection of collateral materials that included multiple stickers, signage, assorted business cards, post cards, envelopes and sales forms.

© 2011 Commercial Artisan