IDENTITY DESIGN
I’m passionate about creating logos that groups can rally around, whether for ongoing projects or special one-off commissions. Each design is crafted with hidden meanings, tailored to represent the unique essence of the teams and organizations they symbolize, capturing not just their visual identity but also their core values and missions.
NASA MISE
DESIGN PROCESS
I was honored to be commissioned to create the logo for the MISE (Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa) system, a key component of NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission. Launched on October 10, 2024, the Europa Clipper satellite will explore Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. The MISE system will use infrared light to detect calcium fluoride levels, helping to create a more accurate picture of the moon’s surface. This project is one of the largest currently underway at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Faced with a lack of cohesion among the team, the group leader sought to create a unifying symbol that the engineers and scientists could rally around and use as a bonding mechanism. The team members, proud of their contributions to the Europa Clipper project, wanted a symbol that would represent their work and foster a sense of identity.
During the project, each new iteration of the device received an ascending letter of the alphabet along with a corresponding animal, creating a shorthand that was fully understood by all team members, even though it was never publicly disclosed. When the project reached its 10th iteration, labeled “J,” the team named it “Jackalope.”
This naming convention was so compelling that I insisted using the Jackalope as a cryptic symbol for the project. This image would be special to those involved, serving as a unique and meaningful emblem that only those working on the project would truly understand.
NASA SENTINEL-6 AMR-C
DESIGN PROCESS
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory commissioned me to create a logo and identity for the Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR-C) component to the the Sentinel-6 satellite. Launched on November 21, 2020, 9:17 AM PST, This satellite mission Is measuring ocean evaporation for the next 10 years. This logo has been used digitally as well as on branding materials such as t-shirts, polos, stickers, magnets, decals, and hats.
The Sentinel-6 engineering crew at JPL requested a logo for their device to place next to the other historical satellite mission patches. Working from there, I received a brief of the mission and visuals of what the device looks like. I wanted to accurately represent the instruments and create a patch that would not feel out of place with other satellite mission patches. I used Adobe Illustrator to stylized the outlines of the device and highlighted the specialized instruments in gold. The star pattern in the background is used to represent the 6 members of the team and the blue waves in the background hint at the oceanic water vapor it will be measuring.
GOOGLE SITE RELIABILITY ENGINEERING
DESIGN PROCESS
I was contracted to create a logo for the Google’s Los Angeles branch of the Site Reliability Engineering department. They requested a clean and minimal design and a rallying flag that would distinguish them from other departments in other cities. After interviewing several members of the department to gather key information about their needs, the consistent description of their department is that they are the guardians of the network. To showcase this in a uniquely Los Angeles style, I drew inspiration from the distinct Los Angeles beaches’ lifeguard towers. For the color scheme, as Los Angeles is city of sunsets, i wanted to recreate a silohette to keep the identity simple and effective.
SCIENCE 37 TECH TEAM
DESIGN PROCESS
I designed and illustrated a satellite mission inspired logo for the Science 37 tech department. The head of the department wanted a badge steeped with easter eggs and inside jokes. Although most of them remain a secret, “Amicus Utilis Mirificus” is Latin for “Kind Useful Awesome” and “100101” is binary for “37.”
