I recently had the opportunity to work on a logo redesign for The Hudson Scholar, a Hudson County–based, student-run magazine organization.

My approach to any project starts with learning as much as I can about the organization. I like to ask thoughtful, intentional questions to really understand their values, goals, and vision. Once I have that clarity, I can approach the design with their expectations in mind and create something that truly aligns with who they are.

I especially enjoyed this part of the process—digging deeper to uncover what they’re trying to achieve. Some of the questions I explored included:

• What inspired the launch of The Hudson Scholar?
• What role do you see the publication playing in the community?
• Is your audience primarily local residents, business owners, young professionals, families, etc.?
• Who do you consider your main competitors?
• Do you want your brand to feel more authoritative, community-focused, investigative, lifestyle-driven, etc.?
• If there were no limitations or obstacles in your way, what would your business be doing?

They also shared a few organizations they felt aligned with, which helped guide the visual direction.

From there, it was off to the races—and I developed a range of logo concepts based on everything we discussed.

Once a direction was selected, I applied the logo to a previous magazine issue for real-world context—and it was a perfect fit.

I’m incredibly happy to have contributed to such a driven and talented group of students.

If you’re in the Hudson County area, be sure to check them out:
https://www.thehudsonscholar.com