cardinal creature mark
objective
I was tasked with creating a graphic interpretation of the northern cardinal based on a structural framework and an economy of form. When designing, I focused on communicating the cardinal's most essential physical and associative attributes, such as its triangular head and vigilant disposition.
research
I gathered images of cardinals to obtain a better understanding of the creature's form. Referencing these images, I identified the basic shapes that make up the bird which served as the foundation of my initial sketches.
ideation
I made my sketches as realistic as possible, exploring how the cardinal appears from different angles and profiles, before simplifying the bird, capturing its essence using only a handful of basic shapes.
digital iterations
After sketching, I began to iterate digitally using a structural framework that consisted of a limited number of shapes that would comprise the form of the bird.
final creature mark
composition ideation
The second part of this project involves the creation of a composition that creates a visual relationship between the interpretive phrase and the creature mark.
final composition
Employing color, size and space, I established a connection between the word “twinkle” and the eye of the cardinal. Additionally, the flower-like shapes in the background not only resemble foliage but also twinkling stars, accentuating the relationship between the visual elements and the cardinal's attributes.
