Designing a Logo for the First Step Mental Health App

Location

CSU 203

Start Date

21-4-2014 2:10 PM

End Date

21-4-2014 3:10 PM

Student's Major

Integrated Engineering

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Rebecca Bates

Mentor's Email Address

rebecca.bates@mnsu.edu

Mentor's Department

Integrated Engineering

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

First Step is a smartphone application (app) that provides information about mental health and available resources as well as basic evaluation via a commonly used questionnaire for students at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In order for the app to be easy to use and to have quick impact, it is important to have a meaningful logo and a coherent user interface presentation. Developing the logo and interface requires the application of a visual design process. This includes researching the type of audience who would use this app, understanding the competition, i.e., similar available apps, and then coming up with a conceptual design that would stand out from the rest of the competition while conveying a message the expected audience can relate too. Through immersion in research and the development of basic concept, a sketch of a visual identity is developed. Beginning with the sketch and using an iterative feedback process, we find a symbol that effectively describes First Step’s intentions. The sketched design is converted to a crisp vector image using Adobe illustrator. The final logo is selected based on feedback from individuals who are asked to identify the symbols the logo represents. When they can do it quickly with little prompting, the logo meets the final criteria. Outcomes of this work are not just the logo for First Step, but also the creation of a story along with the design.

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Apr 21st, 2:10 PM Apr 21st, 3:10 PM

Designing a Logo for the First Step Mental Health App

CSU 203

First Step is a smartphone application (app) that provides information about mental health and available resources as well as basic evaluation via a commonly used questionnaire for students at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In order for the app to be easy to use and to have quick impact, it is important to have a meaningful logo and a coherent user interface presentation. Developing the logo and interface requires the application of a visual design process. This includes researching the type of audience who would use this app, understanding the competition, i.e., similar available apps, and then coming up with a conceptual design that would stand out from the rest of the competition while conveying a message the expected audience can relate too. Through immersion in research and the development of basic concept, a sketch of a visual identity is developed. Beginning with the sketch and using an iterative feedback process, we find a symbol that effectively describes First Step’s intentions. The sketched design is converted to a crisp vector image using Adobe illustrator. The final logo is selected based on feedback from individuals who are asked to identify the symbols the logo represents. When they can do it quickly with little prompting, the logo meets the final criteria. Outcomes of this work are not just the logo for First Step, but also the creation of a story along with the design.

Recommended Citation

Lopez, Mackenzie; Joshua Martin; and James Faraday. "Designing a Logo for the First Step Mental Health App." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 21, 2014.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2014/oral_session_11/1