Image is Everything

Client: Image Comics
Category: Brand Identity Proposal

Image Comics is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher that is now the third largest comics publisher in the United States. They continue to push forward the comics medium with a commitment to supporting the independence and creative freedom of comics artists. Image provides resources for creators to publish their work and maintain complete ownership and control over their creations.

Challenge

Develop a compelling new identity system that also reflects Image’s legacy as a groundbreaking comics publisher.

Themes

Independent spirit, creative freedom, diverse artistic visions, diverse genres, pop culture leader, boundary-pushing, print media.

Identity

The visual language of the brand is bold, colorful, and energetic. The new symbol is inspired by the shape of a fountain pen nib, one of the primary tools of a comics artist. The updated logotype references the type of the original logo. On closer inspection, there is a pencil hidden in the letter “A”. The mark is immediately iconic and distinct creating a heroic emblem that stands for independence and creativity.

Logo Grid

Color Palette

The core color palette is inspired by the inks used in four-color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Here, the black is replaced by a vibrant pair of violet colors that serve as the lead color combo.

Photo Effect

As a nod to the print quality of vintage comic books, a halftone effect is applied to people photography. This combined with a duotone effect using the core colors maintains a consistent look to portraits and other photos.

Patterns

A variety of branded patterns can be applied to promotional collateral and premium items.

Process

Stylescapes

Before starting the design process in earnest, I created these preliminary stylescapes to explore potential directions for the visual brand. These stylescapes collect options for color palettes, typography, and textures as well as logo comps, customer persona portraits, and existing visual assets.