DesignMarks.biz

Society of Typographic Arts
A Professional Association

Since its founding in 1927, The Society for Typographic Arts had been a vital force in Chicago’s mid-20 th Century design, printing and publishing industries. In 1990, the STA reorganized as a contemporary membership organization supporting the graphic design community through education, publications, design competitions and public exhibitions.

As one of the initial members and supporters of the revitalized STA, DesignMarks created the STA logo, suggesting the laborious (to us, joyful) process of typographical selection and placement.

My name is Nate. I’m a typoholic. Hi, Nate!

Severtsen Murray Inc.
A Healthcare Consultancy

Severtsen Murray provides hospital construction, management and organization expertise to hospitals and their associated clinical specialties. The majority of their work is with Catholic-based hospitals and affiliates.

Severtsen Muray’s servicemark is composed of square and triangular elements defining a cross, symbolic of both religious and compassionate care organizations – and also suggesting the architectural layouts of institutional buildings and additions. The contemporary color palette gives the logo a bright, upbeat tone.

It’s just what the doctor ordered.

MAJOR SENSELESS
An Online Comic Strip

What does a graphic designer do, laboring alone under a Luxolamp into the wee hours? Naturally, he invents an alter ego – a Superhero who conquers evildoers and stamps out ineptness for a grateful world.

Unfortunately, this would-be Superhero is a befuddled hare who acquires some superpowers – and now must develop his own collection of superhero stuff. A cool costume and (no surprise here) a logo. Something strong and distinctive that can be projected onto low clouds and the walls of evildoer hideouts… something to bring hope to the downtrodden and strike fear in hearts of the downtrodders… hmmm….

Oh, did we drift off? Next logo, move cursor down.

Gloria B. Miller Real Estate

A Real Estate Firm

Gloria B. Miller Real Estate specialized in the high-end mansions, townhouses and luxury highrise condos in the Gold Coast area, long-time enclave of Chicago’s Old Money. Gloria B. needed a logo that symbolized her firm’s focus on mansions, townhouses and highrise apartments – and suggested both personal and financial growth.

The DesignMarks solution stacked and aligned squares to suggest the area’s highrises and townhouses. The imposed leaf shapes added the growth factor and softened the image to appeal to female clients, often the key players in a home purchase. The “SOLD” sign is up.

The Investor Relations Company

A Financial Consultant Network

The Investor Relations Company is an international network of highly specialized investor relations professionals who are called together when and where needed by IRC clients to stimulate financial analyst and media attention, attract venture capital, or manage communications with increasingly activist stakeholders.

After assisting IRC in the design and production of annual reports for IRC’s clients in insurance, oil, electronics, manufacturing and healthcare, DesignMarks was asked to develop a logo for IRC itself. To symbolize IRC in a financial sector which demands substance and prefers an understated style, we forged a solid, balanced and very traditional nameplate.

A feeling of substance. That’s how capital is gained.

Imports International
Importer of Clothing and Accessories

Imports International is a US-based importer of youthful fashions and accessories with strong ties to producers in India and South Asia.

DesignMarks was contracted to create a brandmark for Import International’s lines of clothing. The mark had to feel bright and bold and youthful, be global in feel, and — to strongly imply “imported” — have the look of the stamping on a shipping crate (an approach used successfully by Crate & Barrel in its early years).

Let’s see. Two initial I’s. A global circle. Bright orange.

Done. Namaste.

Goodwill Industries
A Recycling Company

Goodwill Industries, well-known for its “thrift shop” recycling of furniture, housewares and clothing, has also become a major recycler of paper, plastic, metals and glass. Goodwill contracted with DesignMarks to create a logo for the recycling bins at its shops and other drop-off locations.

DesignMarks turned the Goodwill’s initial “G” into a circular green arrow, clearly symbolic of the recycling process. When a particular facility or bin is devoted to a particular material, a small icon representing the material is inserted the center.

Competitive recyclers are green with envy.

Center for Ethics and Advocacy in Healthcare
A Non-Profit Consumer Organization

Sometimes a logo rises above the literal name and business focus of an organization – and grasps the true meaning of its work and spirit. The Center for Ethics and Advocacy in Healthcare (CEAH) is a non-profit dedicated to helping people make good decisions as they move through our complex healthcare systems and institutions.

At its heart, it’s about choice – a credo and a virtue DesignMarks recognized in its work and proclaimed in CEAH’s logo design. The message has resounded with extraordinary power both within the CEAH organization and with its clients.

Today, a decade later, patient empowerment has become a primary goal of Federal healthcare reforms. We couldn’t be prouder of this solution — as professionals, as citizens, as caring people.

Calyon Financial
An Institutional Brokerage

Calyon Financial is a global brokerage firm providing institutional clients with efficient access to financial and commodity markets around the world. Earlier, as a futures specialist, they were virtually invisible outside of their narrow market segment. Anticipating an expansion into wider investment areas and client base, the firm invested in a bolder and more memorable corporate identity with DesignMarks.
Our CF logo, utilizing a powerful circular shape and rust/gray palette, was intentionally a departure from the fine-line style and muted colors typical of financial firms. It was the right initial offering for Calyon Financial.

EdSolve Concepts
An Education Equipment Company

EdSolve was a startup planning to create scholastic fixtures and equipment that would serve the changing needs of the modern classroom. DesignMarks was asked to name both the company and its initial product, “compudesk 1.0” — a school desk designed to hold a standard laptop computer.

The company’s initials, EC, superimposed on a bold red square, provided the strong identity registration needed for the startup – and would be legible on virtually any size of product name plate as well as business promotion materials.

The EdSolve name positioned the firm in the educational market but was intentionally left open-ended to embrace a variety of future product developments. That’s always popular in a classroom: Multiple choice.