Graphic Design Department Logo
Graphic Design
Brand Identity
Logo
Old Dominion University
GD Department
Visual Design
Graphic Design Brand Identity Logo Old Dominion University GD Department Visual Design
GD department Logo
A branding project where we were tasked with designing a new logo for the Graphic Design Department at Old Dominion University. The goal was to create a unique brand identity that set the department apart from other programs on campus. The deliverables included a logo, typefaces, a color scheme, usage guidelines, and a clear tone/message for the department.
Brand Identity
Software
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
The Graphic Design Department at Old Dominion University does not have an identity or a unified image to represent its department.
Problem
The main tone for this logo is to make the department feel inspiring and creative for the students in the program.
Tone
Design a logo that is unique to the Graphic Design Department while clearly maintaining its affiliation with Old Dominion University.
Solution
Old Design
When designing the new logo, I went back to a previous logo I had made for the Graphic Design Club. There were issues with this logo:
Spacing in between the parts that interlock
Felt scrunched together
Typography felt too small under the logo
Wanted to try different type combinations
Wanted to make refinements
Challenge
The project required designing a logo that balanced three faculty members' distinct visions while reflecting the creative spirit of graphic design. It needed to be professional yet unique, with the option to follow Old Dominion University's brand guidelines or take a different approach—as long as it didn’t resemble other universities. The final design blended both strategies, subtly adjusting ODU’s colors while maintaining a distinct style.
Branding Overview
Inspired by a previous logo I designed for the Graphic Design Club, I experimented with its shape to create a new logo for the department. The logo has multiple iterations, ensuring it stands out against different backgrounds or can be used in a single color if preferred.
Colors and Typefaces
Colors
Midnight Black: #02020B
Perfect Dark: #34288B
White: #FFFFFF
Silver Reign: #828A8F
Deep Sky Blue: #00ABEB
Typefaces:
Primary: Zilla Slab
Secondary: Josefin Sans
Social Media
To ensure the logo worked at smaller scales, I tested it on the ODU Graphic Design Department’s Instagram page. This helped verify its visibility and effectiveness in digital formats and for physical content.
End Goal
The goal of this project was to create a cohesive brand for the Graphic Design Department while maintaining a connection to Old Dominion University’s style. Building on an old design, I developed a brand guideline that incorporated ODU’s colors while ensuring the logo remained distinct from other universities and departments. By slightly adjusting the university’s color palette and refining the design, I created a visual identity that felt both professional and uniquely representative of the department’s creative spirit.
