New Branding for Mayo Civic Center

CWS is pleased to announce a new identity system for Mayo Civic Center. In conjunction with an updated website framework (which will be released in the next few weeks), we were asked to develop a new logo and other collateral that, while maintaining a connection with the previous identity, would establish a new look for this first-rate facility.

With a bit of artistic flair, the bold colors and dynamic forms of the new trademark express the breadth of activity that takes place at the Civic Center. The facility's 120,000 square feet of space host a steady stream of concerts, sporting events, tradeshows, banquets, and other unique events. Mayo Civic Center is the major hub of activity for southern Minnesota.

Because it has the potential to be used in so many different contexts and applications, we developed a logo with several different variations in format and color. The typeface and forms were also designed to work well with the existing signage and architectural elements of the facility.

CWS is proud of the Rochester community, and it is always a pleasure to work on projects that support and promote our city. Be sure to check out Mayo Civic Center when you're planning an event or a night out on the town!

Site Launch: WingHouse.org

Wing House asked CWS to develop a new, contemporary logo that would reflect the character of the organization in a straightforward way. Our solution relies primarily on typography to give a sense of the personal, home-like atmosphere of the facility and its mission -- emphasizing the transitional nature of the care provided.

Similarly, the understated design of the website gives a calm, thoughtful presentation of the organization with a number of photographs to give visitors a good picture of life in the welcoming, supportive community that Wing House provides.

We've enjoyed working on this project for Wing House, and look forward to working with them again in the future!

No Google Christmas Logo

In the past, I've commented on the custom logos that Google produces for various holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. With the next holiday rapidly approaching, this got me thinking about what they might be up to for Christmas. However, during my research I discovered something interesting.

They don't create a custom logo for "Christmas".

I found this interesting because they have created custom logos for all other "official" U.S. holidays that don't necessarily apply to other countries (like Thanksgiving and Halloween). Instead, Google opts to create something they call "Holiday Doodle". It's a collection of complimenting logos displayed over several weeks.

For example, here are the logos which displayed during the holiday season of 2003. As you can see, the "doodle" tells a story about a snowstorm and the aftermath of "digging out".

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Personally, I was a bit disappointed that they did the "politically correct" thing and avoided this national holiday all together. After all, it is a nationally reconized holiday like all of the others. If Google can't stand up for recognizing Christmas for what it is, who can?

Please Note: Google has requested that the above logos are only available for historic purposes and should not be used for daily use. If you are linking to Google you should use an official logo made available for daily use.

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