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animation club
role
graphic designer
coordinator
timeline
2023-2024
tools
Illustrator
Photoshop
content type
logo, branding, social media
project overview.
Just stepping out of the casualties created by COVID-19 social distancing, Animation Club at Penn State was in need of upping their club member retention in order to keep active status as a student organization on campus. As the club's graphic designer, and in later years -vice president, the goal for Animation Club's rebrand was to find voice and visual appeal for underclassmen wallflowers, creatives, and animated media enthusiasts.
targeting the problem.
Due to graduated executives and a lack of in-person participation caused from social distancing, the club had lost its audience and needed to start from zero. Another issue, Animation Club at Penn State's SEO search was overshadowed and confused with an older standing student org, the Anime Organization. In order to find their audience, it was decided to push social media engagement by increasing production of social media posts, stories, print advertisement, and asking a growing following their opinions through polls and questionares. This would not only be the start in creating the brand and follower relationship but help guide the brand's voice, thematic events, and overall visual message.
starting the design.
what's the vibe?
Moving away from the Penn State blue Anime Organization was utilizing, the team and I at first picked colors that would reference school pride while also suggesting bold, 70's funky, and friendly. As a club, the goal for the logo was to allow ample opportunity for it to be animated and provide clarity in readability and contrast.
Iteration 1 (2023)
Keeping in toe with Penn State's blue, this rebranding references the infamous bouncing ball routine with use of 3D assets and photography.
Iteration 2 (2024)
As the club grew, the idea of having a club mascot and updated colors became more relevant with the need to push the ties of friendship, animation, and audience engagement. In the end, it was decided to feature two mascots, a yellow frog representing renewal/leap of faith and a blue dinosaur taking reference from the 1914 Gertie the Dinosaur. The decision to go into a Cartoon Network/Sanrio art style was again solving the issue of distinguishing the club from the Anime Organization while acknowledging the overlapping interests of both. It also gave opportunity for members to build a stronger relationship with Animation Club as brand.
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