Designing the logo for John Brown University was more than a professional milestone—it was deeply personal. I graduated from JBU with a degree in art & design, so having the opportunity to later redesign the university’s logo felt full circle. My connection to the school runs generations deep. My parents met there as college students. My siblings attended. My aunts and uncles went there. I grew up in the town, knew many of the professors personally, and spent years walking the same campus paths that shaped my family’s story. This wasn’t just another client—it was part of my identity.

Because of that, the responsibility carried real weight. The logo needed to honor tradition while positioning the university confidently for the future. Seeing the final mark come to life across campus—on buildings, diplomas, sports jerseys, the website, advertising, and so much more—has been incredibly meaningful. It’s not just a design I created; it’s a symbol that represents a place that shaped me and generations of my family. Knowing that students will graduate under that mark for years to come is something I’ll always be proud of.

The brief was simple: they wanted a shield, and to incorporate the cathedral, and a cross, and the “Head, Heart & Hand” motto, and include the new plaza shape. Simple right? My favorite part of the logo is the typography and letterforms of Perpetua. The custom drawn ligatures are the chef’s kiss.