Project Goal:
Create a mark that is bold and striking, but also still reads as a taxidermy logo. While death is a natural part of life, it is still a difficult subject to deal with for a lot of individuals, especially when it comes to their furry companions. So how do I create a visually stunning mark that deals with such heavy subject matter?
Them Bones...
After my initial bit of research, I already knew that I was not going to create yet another taxidermy mark that involved a dear head, dear antlers, or camouflage. I think the world has had enough of those, personally. But this left me with the question of, what direction do I go in? I had no earthly clue about taxidermy or how to visually communicate anything about it.
Luckily I had a super cool client that didn't live far from me with a house full of bones. She was not only gracious enough to let me see the myriad of bones in her keeping, but she also provided me with a lot of inspiration and information. She even sent me home with an actual skull of a Blackbuck Antelope.
And wouldn't you know? This beautiful Blackbuck Antelope skull turned out to be the inspiration behind the final mark for this project.
Trust the Process
When developing this mark, I really tried to explore all the ways I could incorporate the unique horn pattern of the Blackbluck Antelope from very literal interpretations to more abstract approaches. I also played around with using different parts of the animal for the mark, sometimes using the skull, just the horns, or the whole antelope.
Final Result:
I felt that using wildlife was imperative in creating a mark that would read as a taxidermy logo. The use of an antlered animal provides a sense of familiarity, while the distinctly stunning antler pattern of the Blackbuck Antelope sets this logo apart from other typical taxidermy logos. The circular shape of the logo serves as a nod to "the circle of life", as the services she provides honor the lives and deaths of pets and animals who are no longer with us. Satisfied, my client went on to provide taxidermy services to the public with a visually impactful logo along with some branding collateral.
