Logos, Merch, & Graphic Design
Cornell Stable Isotope Lab Logo
I joined my lab the summer after my freshman year through an undergrad research program where I studied fish samples collected over a century using both morphometrics and stable isotope analysis, which is the focus of the Cornell Stable Isotope Lab (COIL). I stayed in this lab where I continue to work on sample preparation and biogeochemistry research projects.
One of my favorite parts of being in this lab is our weekly lab meetings. We have monthly R competitions, where we each write code for a graphic visualization of a specified data set, then try to guess who made each one. (It's great because the members of the lab with advanced computer science skills teach me their methods, and in return I show them how to ask ChatGPT AI to make the code for me!)
I love being in this lab and was really excited to be asked to design its logo. The idea is based on the lab director's tattoo of a snake shaped in the lowercase Greek letter delta. This is because stable isotope ratios are reported with the delta symbol to indicate the difference in stable isotope ratios of a given sample and universally agreed upon standards. The snake fits in well because the research done and samples processed by the lab are ecological in nature.
I messed around with the design a lot and finally decided to use the loop (or coil) of the snake to be the 'O' of COIL. I think it works out well because COIL is one of those 'almost there' acronyms where COIL almost matches the letters of Cornell Stable Isotope Laboratory. Anyways, the snake-delta almost looks like an 'S' which would help out the acronym a little bit. And snakes coil and so on so forth. I love when things like this work on multiple levels.
The snake was drawn and painted with gouache paint & colored pencils, then the logo itself was edited in Adobe photoshop. The logo is a more simple version of the snake drawing in black and white, but for the merch, I designed a hat that has the original drawing.
SEEDS Cornell Logo
I founded a chapter of the Ecological Society of America's organization called SEEDS, or Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity, & Sustainability at Cornell University. Students from minority backgrounds are underrepresented in the field of ecology, and SEEDS works to create opportunities to make the field more diverse, all the while working towards sustainability goals. I think this is extremely important, and through building this chapter, I hope to make the kinds of science I love accessible to more people.
This is the logo I made for the organization. It contains the national SEEDS logo and a red eyed tree frog sticking to Cornell's famous clock tower. I originally drew this just for fun, but after making the chapter I realized it would make a good representation of ecology at Cornell.
Stickers for The Happy Botanist Podcast
The host of the successful botany podcast 'The Happy Botanist' just so happens to be a first year PhD student in my lab, and she asked me to make these stickers for her. The plants are wildflowers native to New York state, Fiireweed (Chamaenerion augustifolium) and Blue Cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica). Check out her incredible podcast here: https://www.thehappybotanistpodcast.com/
Live Laugh Low Rise Merch
During my first year of college I was the president of my dorm building, Low Rise 6, as well as the neighboring dorm, Low Rise 7. (Unfortunately, I did not have that much power - I just went to some council meetings and planned a few soccer games, things like that.) Anyways, our dorms had a reputation for being terrible simply because they were older buildings, especially since some new dorms for freshman had just been built. But anyone living in the Low Rises knew they were a great place to be because of the common spaces that let everyone get to know each other and spend time with friends when they were back from a day of classes. We might not have had air conditioning or furniture that wasn't a little bit stained if you looked too close, but the charm of the community was always there. I wanted to do something for our dorms that made people feel like it was a special thing to be a part of despite its reputation, so Live Laugh Low Rise Merchandise was born.
The design is just a watercolor drawing of the outside of Low Rise 6 with a play on the 'live, laugh, love' quote that you might find on any wall decal, mug, or notebook from Homegoods. They are supposed to look a little bit goofy and 'DIY' to match the reputation and put a fun spin on it, and I think the final product matches that. I assumed that people would appreciate the gesture, perhaps have a giggle and maybe wear the shirt once and throw it in the bottom of their dressers, but even a year later I have seen people around campus wearing them. It's definitely nice to see that people feel a little bit of pride for our Low Rise community.
