After leading Vacancy through an intense strategy session to discover the heart of the brand, we created
the identity for the new apparel company to connect with their customer by engaging in provocative messaging and spark conversations.
–Eddy Muñoz, Vacancy Apparel
We’ll have a case study posted soon for Joyful Jack’s, a men’s health company slated to have products debut on retail shelves later this year.
Read about our identity design for this TV and movie production company in the HummingDream Productions case study.
Founded in Louisiana, Highland Motorcars exquisitely restores historic, high-end automobiles to mint condition. Desiring an identity to match the level of craftsmanship they put into their work, Highland enlisted Zookeeper to create their revamped logo. We designed an inspiring mark to be reminiscent of a vintage hood ornament and crafted the customized typeface to reflect the feel of classic 1970s European luxury sports cars.
ConnectX is a new satellite company that launches small satellites with impressive storage capacities using the highest levels of security. Bitcoin wallets, sensitive corporate information and top-secret government files would be stored securely ‘off-planet.’
The customized typography of the logotype features the Ns not touching to draw visual attention. The logo marks the spot with orbits crossing to form an X.
Launching in 2017, this L.A.-based start-up brewery will be located close to LAX and aerospace companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Leading the ownership team through an extensive strategy session, we discovered the brewery’s brand attributes and created customer personas, which we’d be gearing the design and marketing toward.
But first we needed a name, an increasingly difficult task in the saturated craft beer industry. We came up with dozens of selections. The name Ximix, a made-up word with a “space-y” feel, emerged as the winner. Instead of calling it the generic “craft brewery,” we wanted to keep the theme going, calling it a “Craft Exploration Company.”
We then imagined this explorer character holding a keg, an adventurer who would go to the ends of the galaxy to find the unique beer ingredients that would put Ximix on the map. He would be the Han Solo of the brewing industry. To finish up the identity, we crafted the customized type and gave the star an orbital swirl.
While it’s true the number of craft breweries in the greater Los Angeles area lags behind other major cities in the U.S., Southern California is in the midst of catching up fast. The ownership team of this start-up craft brewery, which will be located in the South Bay, approached us in early 2016 to create their identity for its opening.
After an extensive discovery session, Zookeeper created the logo after four rounds of identity design, crafting the logotype with hand-drawn, custom lettering to have an old-world, brewed-by-monks feel.
This brewery has since changed its name but we’re still very much involved in its branding, interior and exterior design, digital and social campaigns and branding work.
Read our case study on the branding of StormBreaker Brewing.
–Dan Malech, StormBreaker Brewing
Benson Marketing Group provides custom printing solutions to retail stores across the country, delivering hundreds of unique products that include bags, labels and tags. While focusing on country stores that sell folk art and antiques, Benson Marketing Group sought a new brand identity that would allow them flexibility in the future as they expand their business to serve a wider umbrella of stores, while appealing to a largely female client base.
Brainstorming and pondering many possibilities, we wanted to create a logo that symbolized the delight a customer would feel when leaving a store with a gift or new find. Zookeeper created a custom illustration of a ribbon, with a playful swirl, and colored it red to pop with excitement.
**We’re pleased to announce that Logo Lounge selected the logo we produced for Benson Marketing Group to be in their new book, Logo Lounge Volume 6, published in February 2011. This brand identity was selected by an international panel of judges in an “incredibly competitive judging session with over 34,000 logos entered.”
Read our extensive case study about the design of this Southern California retailer’s custom, hand-lettered logotype.
–Lawrence Tanenbaum, President and CEO, Kinsley
A health and wellness company based in Los Angeles, Mineral Power wanted a complete makeover of their logo. After an extensive discovery session, we created a vibrant, energetic identity.
After customize the the logotype, we designed a mineral-like crystalized effect with glowing, textured lettering. It’s an identity filled with life and energy, promising a better, healthier future.
The LifeBalance Program offers discounted products and services that allow companies and organizations to help employees and members balance work with fun to live their best life. The Portland-based company’s message is one of health, wellness and personal fulfillment.
LifeBalance’s management team enlisted us to makeover the brand and create an extensive brand standards manual. With a vibrant sun, rolling hills and streaming river, the shape of the brandmark is a cross between a guitar pick and digital map marker. The overall effect is intended to be bright, energetic and positive, reflecting the optimistic nature of the brand.
–Bill Bahrenburg, The LifeBalance Program
With the idea of being be a modern, sport-specific gym for elite hockey and lacrosse players, the Portland, Oregon-based ownership of this start-up fitness facility approached us to create its name, branding and develop the website.
After an extensive naming convention, The Train Station was chosen. The logotype was custom-created to resemble rail tracks. Crossed barbells form a mark inside the bold, on-rushing train.
–Matt Bader, The Train Station
After an insightful discovery session, we embarked on the brand identity process for Fire Bowl, a new restaurant in Los Angeles that opened in late 2015. Round 1 narrowed the focus down from a dragon or Asian-themed logo to a literal bowl on fire. The type was crafted from scratch, chiseled along the edges to look weathered. The mark in the middle is custom-illustrated.
We also created the restaurant’s signage, designed the menus and consulted on its retail design.
–Robert Lee, Fire Bowl
Hockey has grown like wildfire in the western U.S. since the 1990s, and Good Sport Media documents it all, from youth to professional ice and roller hockey in California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. We redesigned each of their logos, customizing the type, creating the swirling, energized puck behind the type and giving each state a specific color palette to work from.
In addition to crafting their new identity, Zookeeper designed their branding materials, developed their websites and revamped their print publications.
A trade school based in downtown Los Angeles, the Film Connection requested that we reimagine their logo. First, we selected a geometric, sans serif font and customized it by moving the Ns together to emphasize connection. We then concepted and created a mark using the F and a backward C to form the part of movie projector where the film threads and loops through the feed sprocket.
Read more about our work for the Film Connection.
–Mike Keesling, The Film Connection
Gold, Jerry, gold. In the music business, gold symbolizes success. Charged with creating the new identity for the Recording Connection of downtown Los Angeles, we designed an abstracted mark to resemble the lines of a record player with modern angles. As in the Film Connection logotype, the Ns in Connection are brought together to emphasize the networking possibilities of the trade school.
Read more about our design and branding work with the Recording Connection.
–Brian Kraft, The Recording Connection
After creating the new name for this Los Angeles-based kids clothing company, we imagined the Apparel Monster. An illustrated creature threaded together with a zipper neck and button head to be imaginative, fun and playful. More whimsical than scary, the Majicco logo serves as the flag for the stylish, European-influenced brand that’s taking a hip and cutting-edge approach with its fashion designs for kids.
We customized a classic font, tweaking it to be youthful and infusing it with an attitude of play, and the two o’s combined to symbolize childhood stretching to infinity. The uncommon gold and silver coloring is intended to make an immediate, bold impression.
We didn’t just start imagining a new identity for Modern. Since we first began working together in 2010, we’ve had our mind on the horizon. Where should the brand evolve to? A family-run business since 1971, there were some existing sentimental ties to the old logo.
The previous logo proved to be a challenge with its different colors depending on the file, no brand standards and a variety of different fonts employed for the tagline. The mark itself was made to look like a simplified house that doesn’t accurately reflect the wide variety of modular building products that Modern makes. Ther Serpentine typeface is what we call in the industry “Font out-of-the box,” which means it hasn’t been customized and any person that downloads the font for free can type Modern’s name and easily recreate the logo.
We strategized that the new identity should look modern. It should be dynamic. It should clearly reflect Modern’s history, yet pave the way for an expansive future.
We wanted to create a completely custom mark with handcrafted type with a fresh color palette. And a bold optimistic appearance. We wanted to make the word Modern the dominant visual takeaway, with Building Systems still present but less prominent. We wanted to put the focus on the Mod since Modern makes modular buildings. And we aimed to create a mark that could stand alone if need be to represent Modern’s evolution.
We also didn’t want to completely do away with the old identity, but take some selected elements to move forward with. We wanted to emphasize strength. Stability. Flexibility. Mobility. Craftsmanship. And environmental-friendliness.
Bold. Original. Well-Constructed.
Modern’s new identity makes a memorable impact with a from-scratch capital M. Its twin peaks rise up and move in a diagonal direction to convey optimism. It’s an M that can easily stand alone and serve as a distinct mark on the front of a Modern truck or stamped on a piece of wood. It’s an M that can be enlarged and form a pattern for backgrounds. And of course, the M hints at a modular structure rising.
Strong yet Approachable.
The Outage typeface we selected after pouring over dozens of options was completely customized for Modern. Every letter has been heavily tweaked, modified and smoothed to be strong yet approachable. The Building Systems is Unvers Light, a no-nonsense sans serif font that’s a timeless favorite of ours. It too was modified to be slightly bolder yet not overwhelm Modern, which was intended to be the primary takeaway of the identity along with the M.
Going Green.
Then we added color. The old identity used a dark blue. But since Modern is focused on being green and that now being a big selling point, why not truly be green? This bright green was chosen for its vibrancy and life. Modern’s new flag is a dynamic way to smartly head into the future with confidence. To increase emotional connections with customers. And to forge new perceptions that will lead to increased sales.
The Decadent Moose prides itself on being a snarky, sassy blog dedicated to covering the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and all things hockey.
Zookeeper helped name The Decadent Moose, then brainstormed on what would make for an unforgettable brand impression. We created a fun, memorable identity that’s a cross between Bullwinkle and Dean Martin wearing a lampshade as a hat.
Screaming eagles. Demonic clowns. Saintly angels. Artist Matt Andrews sends them down the road in serious style. He imagines and then paints inspiring images on bikes, trucks and cars. He came to us seeking a brand identity for his new airbrush studio named Hypnotic Air. We created this logo to reflect the energy and impact of his impressive painting style.
The custom-illustrated swirl draws the eye in and doesn’t let go. The type was heavily altered to have a unique feel. We also worked to give the logo a sense of depth and dimension. Just don’t stare too long or you will get very sleepy…
–Matt Andrews, Hypnotic Air
A management consulting firm in Portland and Bend, Oregon, The Gunter Group called upon Zookeeper to create their brand identity. We created this G mark with an arrow to spark visual interest and serve as a forward-aiming symbol of their future direction.
We’ve also been enlisted by Gunter over the last few years to lead an extensive strategy session, consult on future marketing directions, design their stationery system, develop their website and create advertising campaigns.
After branding and launching the new website for their sister company TargetClose, the DuMont Project approached us to revamp their logo and create a new site for their branded response marketing consultancy.
The DuMont Project features an integrated mark with the P inside the D, symbolizing the high-tech company’s ability to deliver integrated results in direct-to-consumer marketing.
We also designed an extensive system of icons for the high-tech company.
Chomp! Celebrity chef James Berry enlisted Zookeeper to bring his new brand to life, making it fun and energetic to inspire healthy eating.
Based in Los Angeles, his company needed a name for his new health food products company. We brainstormed and came up with the memorable Grubble Grubble name. Wanting a brand inspired to make healthy food choices fun, we created the new logo and tagline to stand out and gain attention on food product labels. With a flavorful mix of organic foods, Grubble Grubble encourages people to eat a well-balanced diet for optimum health and clarity.
Zookeeper wanted to capture the fun and youthful attitude that the brand name embodies. The custom-crafted, heavily altered logotype was created with large, rounded, block letters, which we took a chomp out of the corner. Orange was selected to stimulate appetite and happiness, while radiating the warmth and energy of the company.
—James Berry, Grubble Grubble
Based in Los Angeles, Peter B Media produces a wide variety of entertainment and events, from music recordings to award shows. The company needed a new logo to reflect the excitement surrounding its programs and events.
Zookeeper set the type with the P and B to be dominant, with the middle letters all connecting. Placed on a black background for dramatic effect, the dynamic logotype was formed out of numerous points of light and then given a strobed effect to appear to glow.
***Our brand identity for Peter Be Media was selected for inclusion in the new Logo Lounge Masters Library Series book, “Typography and Enclosures” from Rockport Publishers published in 2011.
With uneven corners, splintering benches and more faulty faucets than hockey pucks, the 40-year-old Valley Ice Arena appeared run down. But to our eye, it looks great — an old barn loaded with character and personality. The Zookeeper-produced logo and tagline lends a gritty, fun feel that differentiated the rink from other brand-new but sterile arenas in the Portland, Oregon-metro region.
Zookeeper also created the tagline, “The Rink with character. And characters.”
***Our brand identity for the Valley Ice Arena was selected for inclusion in the new Logo Lounge Masters Library Series book, “Typography and Enclosures” from Rockport Publishers published in 2011.
Zookeeper directed the creation of the new logo and logotype for The Neighborhood Group, an emerging real-estate company in Oregon and Washington, to be welcoming and friendly, while exuding elegance and symbolizing trustworthiness. The clustering of homes and the upward arrow above the ‘i’ were designed to suggest the idea of community, movement and appreciation.
**We’re pleased to announce that Logo Lounge selected the logo we produced for The Neighborhood Group to be published in Logo Lounge 5, found in nearly every bookstore in the U.S. Over 33,000 logos were submitted for consideration and the final collection “is not only an excellent point-in-time examination, it is full to the brim with inspiration, higher thinking and craftsmanship.”
Located in West Hollywood in the shadow of the legendary Chateau Marmont, The Den of Hollywood wanted to rebrand the restaurant and bar with a fresh identity to signal their new ownership. Zookeeper was enlisted to take over The Den’s social media in late 2010, giving us unique insight into their customers and discovering a dedicated, hip core of regulars, many of whom work in the entertainment industry. With Pink Taco moving in across the street later in 2011, The Den’s management was willing to go with a new look that pushed the envelope.
We created an illustrated identity intended to surprise then endear, a magical unicorn with a mischievous mustache. The strong, bold logotype below was customized to be completely unique to The Den. Not taking itself too seriously, the logo symbolizes the fun times to be had at The Den, an unpretentious, favored hangout in the heart of L.A.
Centered around an outdoor fire pit on the patio and an inside fireplace, this alternate logo for The Den Of Hollywood focuses on fire and the unusual down-leading staircase at is entrance. Descending into a devilishly good time for the evening? Warmth, passion and fun light up this theme.
The logotype was created by hand to be completely original to reflect the eclectic cast of artistic characters that this West Hollywood restaurant and bar attracts. Entertainment types from the film, TV and music industries make up the bar’s core customers, with the occasional A-list celebrity thrown in for good measure.
InfoScouts was intended to be a premier travel information website for adventurous clients roaming the globe. We crafted their logo’s lettering to be wind-swept and weathered to give the appearance of an old-world map.
