Early in 2019, I was approached by a NEU research group that studies the Dragon Prayer Book, a medieval manuscript that mysteriously appeared in Northeastern's archives during the 1920's. The group had just been awarded funding to create the first student-run exhibit in Northeastern's library–but they had no existing branding or exhibit designers on their team.
Over the next few months, I worked with the group to develop branding for the Dragon Prayer Book, designing a logo, pattern, and colour palette based on marginalia from the manuscript itself. For the logo, I created a "D" symbol that reflected the architecture of the decorative letters in the book, while still maintaining a strong geometric shape. People interacting with the logo in marketing materials (stickers, pins, etc.) appreciate the amulet-like feel of the symbol. When conceptualizing the exhibit, I knew I wanted to involve collage in an organic, yet professional way. I combined vellum textures, ink from the book, paintings, etchings, and text to create a visually cohesive set of vinyl decals, while devising and adhering to a strong organizational system. I relied on our new colour palette and repeated typographic choices to unite these pieces. |