Clark College Animated Music Department Logo
When I presented the sketches to classmates, the feedback was super helpful. I jotted down notes (seen below the initial sketches) that helped shape the next version. The most impactful critique came from my instructor, who suggested dropping the circular shape that was enclosing the logo. That opened up so many new possibilities and helped the design feel less restricted.
From there, I combined the strongest elements from all three original versions, refined the color palette to a clean black and white, and played around with subtle effects—drop shadows, angles, and line placements. After another round of feedback, I had a near-final version and was ready to start animating.
Initial Sketches and Illustrator Process
When this project was first introduced, our class was split—half would design a logo for the music department, and the other half for theater. I was really hoping for the music side, since I’ve always been deeply connected to music. At first, I was placed in the theater group, which honestly left me a little disappointed—I didn’t know much about theater at all. Thankfully, a kind classmate offered to switch with me, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.
I started sketching logo ideas right away. I focused on building a strong static design first, saving the animation for later. This reverse approach worked well for me. I made multiple variations, playing with layout, color, and typography. I was especially leaning toward one concept that had around four design iterations.
After the second round of feedback I had almost little to no feedback. I got more feedback and ideas on what I could consider when it came to the animation.
The Animation Process
With the logo finalized in Illustrator, I moved into After Effects. I really wanted the animation to feel professional, whimsical, and elegant—something that would resonate with the essence of music.
- I started with the music note, using a trim path to create a smooth drawing animation.
- For the flowing lines, I played around with them going off-screen to give a sense of motion and freedom.
- The typography was kept subtle—sliding in with a simple animation, and I added a playful touch by dotting the “i” in a unique way.
- The figures were a bit tricky. I didn’t want them to just fade in, so I gave them slight movements: the vocalist lifted her arm, the trumpet player leaned up, and the violinist finished a strong note.
When I showed my first animated draft, the feedback was mostly minor—adjustments to spacing and alignment, especially connecting the lines to the “M” pegs more accurately. After refining those small details, I had my final version.
We presented our animations to both the theater and music department heads. Everyone gave a small pitch on their concept and intent behind the logo. A couple of weeks later, we found out whose logo had been selected—and mine was chosen for the music department!
I was genuinely honored. The process, the feedback, and the time spent redesigning and refining truly paid off. I’m especially grateful to my classmates and instructors—their insight made a huge difference. I know for a fact that I couldn’t have reached this final result without their input.
This logo will now live on archival videos at Clark College!