City@90
Type
Logo Design
Software
Adobe Illustrator
For City College of San Francisco's 90th anniversary, I designed a logo for the Chancellor, who needed a versatile design for social media, lamp post banners, ribbons, brochures, and other collateral. The client emphasized simplicity and minimalism, which I achieved through a clean typeface and a structured layout. The celebratory feel of the "90" is enhanced by the swooping shape of the 9, while rounded corners on the background box create a friendlier touch. I incorporated the college’s year span, as requested, and used red to reflect the school’s official color, tying the logo to its identity while ensuring a bold and impactful design.
Sketches
During the sketching phase, I knew I wanted the 9 to have a swooping shape because it feels celebratory. I experimented with different placements for "city@" to find a layout that balanced the design and emphasized the 90th anniversary of the college.
Iterations
During the iterative process, I experimented with various typefaces and stylistic approaches for the "90" while exploring different placements for the text. Based on the client brief, I focused on refining the design to achieve a clean, minimal, and simple look that aligned with their vision.
Final
For the final design, I chose a clean and simple typeface, with the shape of the 9 adding a celebratory touch. The "90" is placed against a background to ensure it stands out, while the rounded corners of the box create a friendlier feel. The numbers touch the edges of the box for a neat, structured look, and all openings are uniform for cohesion. At the client’s request, I included the college’s year span to honor its legacy. I also incorporated red to reflect City College’s official color, tying the design to its identity while maintaining a bold look.
I also created a Pride version of the logo, replacing the solid background behind the "90" with the rainbow Pride flag. This variation will be used during Pride Month and the San Francisco Pride Parade to celebrate inclusivity and diversity. It will appear on buttons, banners, brochures, and other collateral, ensuring the design remains adaptable for different occasions while staying true to City College’s identity.
