Nonprofit

Code for Boston

Refreshing the identity of a civic tech organization

Visual design Branding Iconography
Code for Boston logo on white and dark plum backgrounds
A final logo design I provided to Code for Boston.

The challenge

Code for Boston is a local meetup that uses creative uses of technology to address social and civic challenges in the Boston area.

The team commissioned me to explore alternative logo treatments to retire the existing Minuteman logo. The goals for this redesign were to:

  • Continue to tap into imagery of Boston's history and dedicated volunteers coming together rapidly to solve local issues
  • Lean into the group's values of optimism, inclusion, partnership, and hard work, and capture the welcoming, approachable, capable personality of the community
  • Create a flexible treatment for various uses - web, presentations, apparel, print, and most immediately, stickers for an upcoming hackathon.
  • Explore creating their own style. The initial logo leaned heavily on default Code for America styling, but after 6 years the team was open to exploring divergent options.
Original logos for Code for Boston and the Code for America Brigade badge
The original logo for Code for Boston and badge for Code for America Brigades.

I designed a new logo mark collaboratively with the team in less than three weeks

I focused on graphic elements first, since that was most pressing for their upcoming needs. I looked at the styling evolution for other brigades and Boston-based companies to get a sense of the landscape. Then, I began experimenting with imagery referencing Boston's history.

A set of three logo concepts for Code for Boston. First, a series of logo marks using imagery of Bunker Hill Monument and Faneuil Hall. Second, a series with a forward slash and three simplified flame icons, one empty and two filled in. And finally, a series with a oil lantern with closing HTML brackets inside.
Examples of early, low fidelity concepts shared with the team. I explored concepts like local landmarks (Bunker Hill Monument, Faneuil Hall), an abstraction of "one if by land, two if by sea", and Paul Revere's lantern with code syntax.

Quickly the lantern concept sparked a lot of interest from the team. The "beacon for action" theme aligned nicely with the team's mission. I began iterating further on lantern styles, exploring different lantern styles, perspectives, and color treatments.

A grid of iterations of lanterns in different styles and colors
I used this grid to discuss different lantern styles, code references, and start exploring color preferences with stakeholders.
A set of three Code for Boston logos, all variations of the lantern concept.
Based on feedback and close collaboration with the team, these were the three final concepts I prepared for handoff.