MakeMusic is a world leader in music technology. More than a software company, MakeMusic is a collection of people and personalities who share a passion for music. Their products include Finale, SmartMusic, Garritan and MusicXML. Their mission is to develop innovative solutions that transform how music is composed, taught, learned, and performed.
MakeMusic hired an agency in Colorado in 2020 to redo their brand identity and create a new logo. After months of work, input and feedback they had reached the finish line and new brand standards were set - only to realize the logomark wouldn't work legally as it was so similar to already existing brands. With this in mind, me and a few other visual designers rolled up our sleeves and took on the rebirth of MakeMusic's logomark.
We all explored different routes for a new logomark that would best represent the brand while still not being copyrighted by other similar companies. Starting with thumbnail sketches, we moved through different stages of feedback and iterations and finally presented our final options to the key stakeholders and came to a mutual decision on the "Spotlgiht" mark I had created.
Logomark design:
Concepting:
Motion Graphics:
My Role:
Crafting a logomark representing the connectivity and freefeeling of music, the tech forward aspect of the company and the double M's for MakeMusic. I researched other music software companies and what components they used in their logo and branding, I cross-checked visible similarities to other copyrighted work and bounced ideas of off fellow designers before coming up with this icon and mark that represents "stepping into the spotlight", interacting within the ecosystem, and the flow of music.
Cross-collabs:
Throughout the weeks long process I received feedback on all my sketches and input from visual designers and the creative director. We worked closely with key stakeholders as well as the legal department to make sure we didn't have the same problem as before.
MakeMusic is a world leader in music technology. More than a software company, MakeMusic is a collection of people and personalities who share a passion for music. Their products include Finale, SmartMusic, Garritan and MusicXML. Their mission is to develop innovative solutions that transform how music is composed, taught, learned, and performed.
MakeMusic hired an agency in Colorado in 2020 to redo their brand identity and create a new logo. After months of work, input and feedback they had reached the finish line and new brand standards were set - only to realize the logomark wouldn't work legally as it was so similar to already existing brands. With this in mind, me and a few other visual designers rolled up our sleeves and took on the rebirth of MakeMusic's logomark.
We all explored different routes for a new logomark that would best represent the brand while still not being copyrighted by other similar companies. Starting with thumbnail sketches, we moved through different stages of feedback and iterations and finally presented our final options to the key stakeholders and came to a mutual decision on the "Spotlgiht" mark I had created.
Logomark design:
Concepting:
Motion Graphics:
My Role:
Crafting a logomark representing the connectivity and freefeeling of music, the tech forward aspect of the company and the double M's for MakeMusic. I researched other music software companies and what components they used in their logo and branding, I cross-checked visible similarities to other copyrighted work and bounced ideas of off fellow designers before coming up with this icon and mark that represents "stepping into the spotlight", interacting within the ecosystem, and the flow of music.
Cross-collabs:
Throughout the weeks long process I received feedback on all my sketches and input from visual designers and the creative director. We worked closely with key stakeholders as well as the legal department to make sure we didn't have the same problem as before.
If you'd like to know more about me or any of my projects, feel free to check out the rest of my website - or email me directly at hello@elindesigns.com.
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