The logo is the visual signature of any brand. For Arriaga Archive, the aim was to craft a mark that felt both contemporary and approachable. Here is a step‑by‑step recount of how the thick, rounded display font was developed.
Initial Ideation
The brief called for a logo that would stand out against a dark navy background while maintaining legibility at small sizes. Brainstorming sessions began with hand‑drawn sketches, focusing on rounded forms that could convey friendliness without sacrificing impact.
Choosing the Typeface Base
Several geometric sans‑serif families were evaluated. The final choice was a custom‑modified version of Montserrat, selected for its clean lines. Each letter was thickened uniformly, then the corners were rounded to a radius of approximately 20% of the character height.
Digitization Process
Using Adobe Illustrator, the sketch was traced with the Pen tool. The vector shapes were then refined with the Pathfinder “Unite” operation to ensure a seamless, solid silhouette. A subtle inner glow was added for depth, but only on hover interactions to keep the default look crisp.
Testing Against Backgrounds
Because the site’s dominant color is #060216, the logo was tested in pure white, off‑white (#f5f5f5), and a soft pastel teal. White provided the strongest contrast and was adopted as the primary logo color. A secondary version in gray is used for footer subtleties.
Responsive Scaling
The logo appears in the sticky header, the footer, and occasional hero sections. CSS media queries adjust its size:
@media (min-width: 1200px) { .logo { font-size: 2.5rem; } }
@media (max-width: 768px) { .logo { font-size: 1.8rem; } }
This ensures readability while preserving the thick, rounded aesthetic on all devices.
Final Application
Beyond the header, the logo is integrated into the About Me section as a large watermark, providing brand consistency throughout the single‑page layout.
Key Takeaways
- Start with hand‑drawn concepts to explore forms freely.
- Leverage a flexible base typeface and modify it to meet brand goals.
- Test color contrast early, especially against dominant background hues.
- Implement responsive scaling to keep the logo legible on all screens.
Conclusion
The Arriaga Archive logo is a testament to how thoughtful typography and purposeful contrast can create a strong visual identity that works across a dark, modern UI.