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.
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
