Illustrative Sports Team Logo
The Leaping Lizards
llustrative logo for a fictional minor basketball team, the North Aurora Leaping Lizards. Created using three colors, orange, green and red, and different tints to create shading and accents. This project was completed for the Digital Illustration Class at the College of Dupage in the Spring of 2017.
Concept
The concept behind the design project was to find an unusual animal that could embody the most notable attributes of the sport of basketball. The goal was to create a design that was both unique and memorable, capturing the essence of the sport in a way that was both creative and captivating. The idea was to create a design that would resonate with the target audience, inspiring them to embrace the sport and everything it stood for. I made the decision to use a lizard as the central character in the design. Lizards are known for their quick and nimble movements, making them an excellent choice to embody the agility and speed of the sport. They are also known for their strength and tenacity, two traits that are essential to success in basketball. Additionally, lizards have a unique and distinctive appearance, making them the perfect choice for a memorable and eye-catching design.
The Process
Ideation And Sketches
During the research, making sure that there were not any basketball teams using the lizard as a mascot.
I started the design process by drawing a simple yet powerful illustration of a lizard hugging a basketball. My goal was to create a design that was both eye-catching and memorable, and I felt that a lizard hugging a basketball would be the perfect symbol for the project. I began by sketching a rough outline of the lizard and basketball, trying to capture the essence of the idea in its simplest form. I wanted the shapes to be as simple as possible to minimize the use of color, but also detailed enough to bring the design to life.
Digital Concepts
Once I selected the sketch that best fit the project, I started the process of creating a digital framework for the design. I used Adobe Illustrator CC, a powerful vector graphics software, to create a simple digital framework that would determine the size and overall look of the design. This was a crucial step as it allowed me to see the design in a more concrete form and make any necessary adjustments before moving forward with the final product.
With the digital framework in place, I started to experiment with color. I wanted to ensure that the design would meet the requirement of only using three colors, so I carefully selected the color palette and applied some colors to the design. This gave me a general idea of how the design would look with the limited color palette and allowed me to make any necessary adjustments before moving forward. I played around with different color combinations, trying to find the perfect balance between boldness and harmony. I was careful to ensure that the colors were aesthetically pleasing and worked well together, as this was a critical aspect of the design.
Revisions
With the three colors applied, red, green, and orange, I was ready to work on the final details of the design. I spent several hours reviewing the designs and making minor adjustments, trying to perfect each one. Eventually, I narrowed the choices to two designs that I felt were the strongest. These two designs stood out for their unique combination of color, form, and texture, and I felt confident that either one could be a hit with the target audience.
I presented the two designs to fellow students during the peer critique and sought their feedback. After a thoughtful discussion, we all agreed that the first iteration was the strongest of the two. It closely resembled the initial sketches and had a beautiful shading effect at the bottom of the lizard, bringing the design to life. However, there was a consensus that the top part of the design could use some improvement. So, I made a minor adjustment and removed the three stripes on the back of the animal. This simple change really elevated the design’s overall look, making it more streamlined and sophisticated.
Final Design
In the end, I made several changes to the original design to give it a more modern, flat design look that would appeal to the target audience. I started by simplifying the overall design and streamlining the lines and shapes to create a clean and minimalistic look. I wanted the design to stand out but not be too busy or overwhelming.
To complete the look, I adjusted the color palette. I wanted the colors to be bold, eye-catching, harmonious, and balanced. I experimented with different color combinations until I found the perfect combination that would improve the look and feel of the design. The final design was eye-catching and modern, making it ideal for a team sweatshirt or hoodie. The color palette would work well on various fabrics, making it a versatile design that could be used in many different ways.
