Great Lakes Humanities Services
Industry: Education & Nonprofit Support
Type of Assignment: Logo Design
Location: Michigan
Year: 2024
Overview:
Great Lakes Humanities Services is an initiative focused on providing educational outreach, community programming, and support services rooted in humanities across the Great Lakes region. They needed a logo that would represent the beauty, culture, and identity of Michigan while also appearing professional and modern.
Design Process:
The concept began with the idea of using Michigan’s shape as a central icon, pairing it with an abstract sunburst and stylized lake elements to suggest optimism, growth, and reflection. The golden sunrise in the background symbolizes new beginnings in education and community service, while the cool, layered lake hues below echo the region’s geography and calm energy. To reinforce professionalism, I wrapped the design in a clean circular badge with evenly spaced typography. The star element in the lower portion was added to represent excellence, guidance, and aspiration.
Design Goals:
• Capture regional pride through recognizable imagery.
• Balance warmth and professionalism with vibrant
yet grounded colors.
and merchandise.
• Create a design versatile enough for web, print,
Outcome:
The final logo offered both symbolic depth and visual clarity. It was well received for its balance of artistic warmth and structural cleanliness, making it a strong fit for both digital and printed platforms. The design reflects the organization’s mission while leaving room for flexibility as they expand programming.
Personal Note:
This project allowed me to blend regional symbolism with modern design structure. It challenged me to visually express a mission-driven identity with both heart and clarity.