portfolio & design blog of logo & identity designer, Graham Smith
Zulu Safari Logo Design
This is just a quick overview of a logo and identity design I finished for a project called, Zulu Safari. A brief and to the point information on that design and a full logo process article will follow.
The client is a family missionary, zipping around Africa and who needed an identity to distinguish himself. To try and modernise the sometimes antiquated perception of missionaries as a whole.
The challenge was to avoid any obvious cliché associations with safari, zulus, africa, religion etc. It was a potential field of cliché mines. Yet not to make it so clinical or generic to have no meaning at all. I instinctively went down the route of the obvious at first, herds of animals, zulu warriors, desserts, trees, tribal patterns and then once suitably hacked off with the amount of clichés on one pasteboard, we moved on.
After many sketches and head banging sessions, I developed this very symbolic icon that has several meanings and associations. .
The main logomark consists of the initials, ‘Z’ and ‘S’. Yet, when drawn in a certain style, creates the impression of a face, the eyes and nose.
Unusually, this logo often appears without the the logotype, so it’s a very symbolic picture, that at it’s heart, is full of history and culture and multiple meanings. People have seen snakes, some have seen subtle Zebra associations. It’s designed to conjour up these associations in a loose and friendly way.
This was an early design for me yet remains one of my all time favourites. This sums up so much in one memorable mark, it evokes a number of emotions and associations.
You can see the Zulu Safari logo in use as a Twitter Profile image @ZuluSafari
Categories: Logo Process, Portfolio
Tagged: africa, brand identity, Identity, logo design, music, piano, Portfolio, zulu safari < Previous: Case Studies – The Real Source for Logo & Brand Identity Inspiration
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Graham! I love it. It is so… iconic. I think this kind of design is what I strive for. I want to create more than just type with my logos. Wonderful.
I did a logo for a Ugandan Orphanage recently. I’d love to hear what you think! http://www.bethesdainternational.org/.
@nickwichman
Graham! I love it. It is so… iconic. I think this kind of design is what I strive for. I want to create more than just type with my logos. Wonderful.
I did a logo for a Ugandan Orphanage recently. I’d love to hear what you think! http://www.bethesdainternational.org/.
@nickwichman
nice – slight feeling the ZS overpowers when with the logotype
Yeah, I know what you are saying. The thing is, the logo was designed to be used ‘without’ any type, as a standalone icon.
So any type I do place, is more of a lable, and is purposefully small so that it DOES allow the logomark to shine.
It’s not a usual logo in that sense, just a different way of presenting. Breaking the norm so to speak
nice – slight feeling the ZS overpowers when with the logotype
Yeah, I know what you are saying. The thing is, the logo was designed to be used ‘without’ any type, as a standalone icon.
So any type I do place, is more of a lable, and is purposefully small so that it DOES allow the logomark to shine.
It’s not a usual logo in that sense, just a different way of presenting. Breaking the norm so to speak
wow! what an idea to come up with and then , reproduce it in a way so efficient. Nice job.
It was a challenge, trying to see past the obvious… so glad I stuck with the initial idea. It was a huge challenge to make this icon just right.
wow! what an idea to come up with and then , reproduce it in a way so efficient. Nice job.
It was a challenge, trying to see past the obvious… so glad I stuck with the initial idea. It was a huge challenge to make this icon just right.
Speaking as both an African and a Christian, I’m so glad you avoided the cliches. They’ve been done to death! If the client is happy with the result, then it’s job done. Good on yer!
Speaking as both an African and a Christian, I’m so glad you avoided the cliches. They’ve been done to death! If the client is happy with the result, then it’s job done. Good on yer!
this is really cool!
this is really cool!