Open Chapters Branding

# Open Chapters Branding ## Meeting Notes ### May 10th, 2023 **Attendees** * Josh Simmons * Marie Nordin **Agenda** * Intros! * Let's get to know each other a little bit :) * Scope & budget info gathering * Let's talk about what your budget is and what you'd like the scope to include * What is the budget for the logo & type treatment? * Do you have a deadline that needs to be considered? (e.g. an event) * Who will be the decision-makers, besides you, on this project? * How frequently would you like to meet? * Are meetings or async check ins preferred? A combo? * How many concepts would you like to see? Revisions? * Is there anything else you'd like to add that we haven't already covered? * Logo & logo type * "Extras:" * Guidance on typefaces * Color palette * Is there a possibility for more design work in the future? * Questions to jump start the design process * About the company * Can you describe your consultancy business? * Josh & Julia both laid off, want to tak a new job, but the *right* job. * Want to build a brand identity that will hopefully come to fruition down the line * Independent work opportunities cropping up * Not necessarily the main source of income, no desire to expand quickly * Julias strengths are on the technical and research side (academia and open source metrics) * Josh strengths are on the human and organizational side of things (community building, inclusive organizing, strategy) * What services or products do you provide? * Three examples/clients/engagements: * For profit clients. Work related to OSPO. Metrics, risk management, release frameworks, external/internal engagement with open source. * Non profit clients. Significant tech, and looking for guidance. People who need to understand open source. For example: on the larger end IEEE (strategy, review business plans and ideas, training). on the smaller end an example would be OSI (help to build things from the ground up) * Public sector. Could mean municipalities. Helping progressive causes or candidates. * How big is your company? * Iirc, this is you and one other person * Why was your company started in the first place, and what was the motivation? * We covered this in the first question! * Who are your competitors, if any? * How do your competitors market themselves? * Open Tech Strategies - well established with "open source luminaries"- well recognized * OSPOCO - newer - run by a lawyer "OSPO as a service", does marketing. Josh contracts for OSPOCO. * These are competitors but also colleagues and friends. * What sets your company apart from the competition? * Not something that would be sold or maybe even highlighted, but, the other two are run by men. Josh and Julia are both queer and disabled. Focus on inclusion, representation, and inclusion. More human perspective. Might be choosier with the clients that they work with. Heavier on research and people centric work. Emphasize communication and organizational development * What are the strengths and/or weaknesses of your company? * Covered this in previous questions! * What are the long-term goals of the company? Where do you see your company in five years? Longer? * If you had to describe your business in one word, what would it be and why? * Human textured vibrant colorful * What are your company's values and/or mission statement? * About your audience * Who is the primary target audience? * What are some demographics for your target audience? (e.g. age group, region, small or big business) * How do you plan to communicate with your target audience? * If your customers had to describe your company in one word, what would it be and why? * Are there specific markets you'd like to break into? If so, what would they be and why? * About the logo & type treatment * What logo style are you looking for? (e.g. pictorial, wordmark, monogram) * Do you have a strapline or slogan that will go with your logo? * Not really, or not yet. "turning the page" "boundlessness" * What three attributes would you like your target audience to think of when looking at your branding? 1. Capable 2. Friendly 3. Forward looking * Which of these words is a better fit for your brand? (the answer can be neither!) * Traditional or modern* * Personable* or corporate * High end* or cost effective * Youthful or mature * Bold* or peaceful * Approachable* or elite * Unconvential(maybe) or mainstream(def not) * Friendly* or authoritative * Loud or subtle (somewhere between) * What colours or colour palettes are you leaning towards, if any? * no nothing in particular * 3 or less colors * leaning more towards the bold camp (orange, purple) affinity for purple * Where will the logo be mainly used? Print, web, etc. * Mostly web. some print * Are there any restrictions to consider when designing the logo? * not reminiscient of competitors. wants a logo that makes sense for those that are color blind. legibility is important. openly license typeface. * If you have competitors, what logos do you think work, and why? * OSPOCO seems a little "slick". There website doesn't feel personable. * Are there any logos you don't think work, and why? (competitor or any logo) * In your opinion, what defines a successful logo? * successful brand identity is one in which people will remember. makes an impression. have warm fuzzy feelings. **Actions & follow ups** * [ ] Marie to bring 3 concepts by middle of next week * [ ] Marie to put together informal proposal of work. * [ ] ABC kind of here is three diff scopes (a being the minimum, b has some trade offs, c being the max) * [ ] Some portfolio pieces (no huge expectations for either thing)