Grace Nelson’s Post

On a lark, I filled out a March Madness bracket in which I compared teams by the color contrast ratio of their primary branding colors. I initially did it as a contrarian joke, but as I dug into it, it became a fun way to demonstrate accessibility using familiar examples. The clear winner in this is the University of Connecticut. To explain what made U. Conn a "clear winner," I might have to explain the concepts of color contrast ratios and how they are determined. Color contrast is about how one color stands out from another color. A color contrast ratio helps measure that. Contrast ratios can range from 1 to 21 (commonly written 1:1 to 21:1). The higher the number, the higher the contrast between the two colors. No color ratio can be lower than 1 to 1, and that's achieved when a color is paired with itself. The highest ratio is 21 to 1, and that is achieved when white is paired with black. Nothing can have a higher ratio color ratio. I started by looking up the primary branding colors for each of the 68 schools in the bracket. Then I went to the school's website to see how the colors were used. Most often, each of the primary colors were paired with white. I checked the color contrast ratios of the primary color when paired with white. To determine the ratio, I plugged the colors into WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker. What if two competing schools have the exact same ratio? And what if they have the exact same color combo? That happened in the first round when Texas Tech faced off against NC State. Texas Tech Red and Wolfpack Red are identical colors, and both are paired with white. I allowed each one to progress the next round, thinking they'd lose to a ratio that's higher than 5.88 to 1. And they did! They lost to Kentucky, whose Wildcat Blue had a higher color contrast ratio of 10.59 to 1. I had another tie in the fourth round (Elite 8) when I had Gonzaga facing off against University of Akron. Both use the same hex code. Paired with white, that blue has a ratio of 16.54 to 1. They each advanced to the next round. In the next round (national semifinals), Gonzaga/Akron had to face off against Longwood University. But Longwood has the exact same hex code! Because all three had the same color contrast ratio of 16.54 to 1, they all advanced to the final round. The University of Connecticut, with a ratio of 19.02 to 1, beat all three. Obviously, this was not a robust checking of one's color palette. This isn't meant to measure which one was "best" or "most accessible," because I only was evaluating one contrast ratio. But the point wasn't to ding one school or praise another. The point was to raise awareness of the concept of color contrast, and on a more basic level, raise awareness of web accessibility in general. If you made it this far in the post, you'll probably start thinking color pairings in a new way. And if that happens, then this silly bracket exercise had some effect! #WCAG #Accessibility #a11y #MarchMadness #NCAA

Finished at last! This final course assignment, a brand development guide, was a doozy, but an extremely valuable experience and tool to showcase a wide variety of skills: conceptualization, typography and color selection, mark making, composition, and much more.

Most of our clients haven’t designed a custom Playwell Bricks set themselves and may not be sure what information they should bring to their discovery call📞☎️. The main focus, for now, is: size, desired outcome, audience, branding, and volume📑. Once your design has shifted into concept phase, there will be more things to think about, such as printed bricks vs stickers, whether or not you’d like to include minifigs, and any special graphics you’d like have designed🖇📑. For an expanded explanation of these, please see the full article at https://lnkd.in/e46DTuTd

Unveiling the Secret: Create Your School Logo Easily

When unifying two brands, you merge colors and fonts first… the symbol is last. https://lnkd.in/gfBp5TrA I have been in countless brand mergers, and the go-to technique to unify two companies' visual languages always starts with matching colors, which is quickly followed by matching fonts, iconography, illustration language, and all the other sideline graphic paraphernalia… The logo (and symbol even more so than the logotype) is usually last, which, more often than not, is a combined name of the prior brands that will usually shed off one of the two over a few years... or it becomes a portmanteau. Why is this? Quick answer: Color is both the most noticeable (by sheer visual “real state”) yet among the least controversial brand attributes to change … A perceptible hint that “something is anew and worth paying attention to.” Any rebrand effort is an act of measured change, attempting to be seen in a new light by a desired prospective audience yet still familiar to your existing loyal base. If there is too much innovation on your brand, your existing customers will cry foul (“Dont change what we already love!”), If there is too little, your new message will never be noticed outside your self-reflective echo chamber. Color is a happy mid-point step in what is always a multi-year strategy. UC Berkeley seemed to have a split personality for a long time, with the academic side being known as “Berkeley” and the sports side as “Cal.” Somehow, the success and reputation of either side were diluted and did not reinforce each other. Quote: “We want people to know that the university with 26 Nobel Prize winners is the same university that has claimed 103 team national championships.” Bringing both names together, I suspect, is a long-game effort that has started with hues and fonts. I remain curious about the next calibrated steps. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on the name “Berkeley” slowly growing its scale and prominence over the more generic “Cal” … but I am sure better sport-savvy folks than me might differ: Any strong arguments on the opposite? #brand #branding #logo #naming #berkeley #cal #ucberkeley

I instruct a Business Principles course for Digital Media Art & Design students at King University. Students aspire to be photographers, videographers, or graphic designers. The capstone project of this course requires them to develop a related business idea and then write a business plan, along with a marketing plan and draft marketing materials. It's exciting to watch students develop their concepts and efforts as they wrap their heads around the complexities of market research, competitive analysis, pricing, and start-up costs.

Let’s dive into a question I get all the time: Why is a logo so important? 🧐 If you've ever gotten stuck attempting to create a logo that "just works" or spent hours scrolling through possibilities but nothing felt quite right, this is the one for you. In today's topic, we're breaking down why logos are considerably more than just a mere mark.💡 Hit play to get a fresh perspective on the art and strategy behind logos and see how even small tweaks can make a big difference. Let’s turn your brand’s first impression into a lasting one! ✨

The first year in MBA is mostly buried under textbooks and case studies. It was the same for me as well. In between the business cases and marketing plans, I was introduced to graphic design and I fell in love with it. Choosing just the right font and playing with color palettes... It was an adrenaline rush like no other. Suddenly, assignments weren't work; they were my creative escape. And that's when I discovered the fact that every year there is a Pantone's "Color of the Year". Pantone’s selection process involves a careful consideration of global influences, including fashion, design, art, travel, technology, and socio-economic conditions. Each year, a new hue takes the spotlight, a color carefully chosen to reflect the spirit of the times. This year, it's 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, a gentle, warm, and comforting orange-pink. It's a color that speaks to our desire for connection, optimism, and a softer approach to life. Interestingly, Pantone's color choice has become a powerful marketing tool. Brands across industries are embracing Peach Fuzz, incorporating it into their product lines, packaging, and advertising campaigns. Motorola has been producing Pantone Color mobiles for the last couple of years. For me, Peach Fuzz isn't just a trend. It's a reminder that even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, there's always room for warmth, comfort, and a touch of whimsy. It's a color that fuels my creativity and reminds me to embrace the unexpected twists and turns in my own journey. What do you think of Peach Fuzz? How will you incorporate it into your creative projects or marketing strategies? Share your thoughts and inspirations in the comments below! 👇 #graphicdesign #pantone #coloroftheyear #peachfuzz #creativity #passionprojects #marketingtrends

Graphics are a great way to visually communicate ideas. That's why, for marketing purposes, it's important to design attractive graphics and posters that appeal to your target audience. Font choice, color, hierarchy, and accessibility all play important roles in creating effective graphics. 😊 I recently designed a poster to promote cupcakes as the unique selling point of a bakery shop. I would love to hear your thoughts on how I can further improve it. 🍰

Treat yourself to the unforgettable taste of Korneez Butter Scotch. Did you like the design? Let me know if I can help you with catchy graphics. #graphicdesigner #portfolio #korneez #posters #brandtheme #branding #graphicdesigning #socialmediaposters #socialmediamanagement #marketing #digitalmarketing #themes #linkedingrowth #linkedincommunity #graphicdesignercommunity #networking