Project 05 / 06

Brand Identity · Print · Spring 2026

Gamma Phi Circus
Rebrand.

Role
Brand designer (solo)
Type
Class project
Tools
Illustrator · InDesign
Year
Spring 2026

A formal, nostalgic identity for Illinois State's collegiate circus as it approaches its 100th anniversary: a new logo, type, color system, and a set of printed applications.

Two lanyard badge mockups, one for a performer and one for staff, with illustrated juggler and bear-on-bicycle artwork
01 — Overview

A century of thick and thin.

The organization has gone through thick and thin, from its first shutdown during WWII and coming back, to the pandemic in 2021 with its first nationwide livestream performance.

With its 100th anniversary approaching, Gamma Phi is looking for a fresh new look. My goal was to create a formal and nostalgic look for our collegiate organization, helping it stand out while looking back on many iconic circus groups.

  1. 01Logo
  2. 02Typography
  3. 03Color palette
  4. 04Tri-fold brochure
  5. 05Event badges
  6. 06Merch & stickers
02 — Research

Looking back at iconic circus groups.

The mood board pulls from vintage circus posters, signage and packaging, and sits next to five early directions for the wordmark.

Mood board of vintage circus posters and signage next to five early Gamma Phi Circus logo variations
Mood board and first logo variations
03 — Sketches

From pencil to color.

Hand sketches of the wordmark, and the first color drafts that came from them.

Hand-drawn logo sketches alongside first color drafts of the Gamma Phi Circus wordmark
Sketches and initial color drafts
05 — Type & color

A formal, nostalgic system.

Modestro Condensed Light for headlines, paired with Times New Roman, and a palette of deep maroons, copper, cream, navy, slate blue and olive green.

Typography sheet pairing Modestro Condensed Light with Times New Roman
Typography
Color palette of deep maroon, copper, red, cream, navy, slate blue, and olive green diamonds with hex, RGB, and CMYK values
Color palette
06 — Applications

The brand out in the world.

Closed tri-fold brochure mockup showing the Gamma Phi Circus cover and a Horton Field House map panel
Tri-fold brochure, closed
Open tri-fold brochure mockup with a diamond pattern, event details, and a campus map
Tri-fold brochure, open
Two lanyard badge mockups, one for a performer and one for staff, with illustrated juggler and bear-on-bicycle artwork
Performer and staff badges
Gamma Phi Circus sticker with a diamond pattern on the palm rest of a laptop
Laptop sticker
Model wearing a dark green T-shirt with the Gamma Phi Circus logo printed on the back
T-shirt
07 — Brand book

See the full guide.

The complete brand book walks through every part of the identity.

Open the brand book (PDF) ↗
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