Logo design: josebatalla web & graphic design

One of the first projects I did for Jose Batalla was the design of the agency corporate identity. They say – and rightly so – that designing your own logo is one of the most difficult challenges for a designer. So when I offered to do his, he said go for it. After looking at a project he was doing for a landscaping company, I was inspired by Jose’s style and design sense. That translated into this logo.

Jose went for it immediately, and worked with me on the final version. Or, I should say, versions.

Years ago a trade magazine interviewed the design team behind the MTV logo. They revealed that once they had developed the now famous M with script TV and spaceman, the team was undecided on the best way to color or pattern the logo. They did hundreds of versions, in every type of combination, and finally invited the client in to see it. The client walked in, saw all these versions on the walls, and said “We love it.” They bought the logo as an always evolving, ever changing object.

I’ve always liked that thinking. And when it comes to a web & graphic design agency, an evolving logo makes sense. We’re in the business of adapting to the needs of the client. Whether it’s a high-end furniture company, a historic museum or a bar, you have to keep their identity in mind when you design for them.

The concept behind the logo – change the colors depending on the application. When used on envelopes, it’s orange, on letterhead, blue, on business cards, green. Keep it changing so people never know what to expect. (See ad in post below for another version.)

That includes moving beyond solid color and playing with other variations. When it came time to decorate the outer office area we decided to go with large framed printouts of logos instead of the usual corporate art. Over a three week period we each put together variations of the logo, then finally voted on the ones to go on the wall. These logos were also used on client presentations when needed.

Shown here are some of the variations I did for our outer office decor.