Brand

For much of my career at MAC, I was in charge of the graphics and branding of the Multnomah Athletic Club. 

The primary focus was monitoring the club's logo, a red "M" with wings, that has remained fundamentally the same since the club formed in 1891.

For many years, the logo remained untouched and a recognized symbol that was prominently displayed around the club and worn proudly on member uniforms and workout clothes.

When desktop publishing took off, the logo began appearing with different sporting equipment incorporated into the "M" or wings, including a bicycle wheel, gymnastic rings, and a tennis racquet. In some cases, new colors were added. Without protection, these changes were putting the club's logo at risk.

A master logo file and logo guidelines created and the work of managing the logo became the responsibility of my department. For a short while, some committees and departments resented the need to obtain permission to use the logo. I made the process easy and the resentment faded. Soon staff and members were contacting me if they saw a logo that did not meet standards.

In addition to the primary club logo, a handful of logos were used for restaurants and programs and it was my department's responsibility to modify and monitor the logos so they fit within the design and colors of the club's primary logo.