Project

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Suzuki - Next Bharat Ventures

Logo Design Competition
Winner

Next Bharat, empowers impact entrepreneurs dedicated to bridging income disparities in India by uplifting the informal and rural sectors. Their mission is to unite those driven by Cause, Contribution, and Community to create transformative change for the Next Billion in Bharat.

Info

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Role

Logo Designer

Timeline

01 Month

Mentored by

Dr. Saurav Khuttiya Deori

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Overview

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Brief

The brief was to design a minimalistic logo inspired by the Ginkgo Leaf, symbolizing resilience, growth, and innovation. Including the text "Next Bharat" and ensuring compatibility with Suzuki branding (Red/Blue or Black/White) while keeping it simple with no more than two colors, and making the text clear and legible.

Outcome

The logo draws inspiration from the Ginkgo leaf, symbolizing growth, resilience, and longevity. Abstracted arrows in a circular formation, reminiscent of Ginkgo leaves, represent innovation and expansion, while the leaves symbolize diversity and collaboration. Subtle curves resemble the Taj Mahal's dome, ensuring global recognition. The enclosed space evokes a blooming flower, aligning with the venture fund's mission. A vibrant yellow palette symbolizes growth and optimism, akin to a sunrise.

Stage 01

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Logo Design
Iterations

In designing the Suzuki Next Bharat venture logo, I initially experimented with abstracting the ginkgo leaf, aiming to reflect the themes of dynamism and future readiness. After several iterations, I shifted focus to the logo icon itself, recognizing that visual impact would be more effective through the design rather than typeface modifications. I transformed the ginkgo leaf into a human shape, aligning with the mission to unite individuals driven by Cause, Contribution, and Community to create transformative change for the Next Billion in Bharat.

Refining

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Abstraction

I began reworking the ginkgo leaf abstraction to distill its essence as a symbol of community. By reshaping it into a human form, I aimed to represent unity and connection, all while preserving the distinctive character of the ginkgo leaf itself. This balance between abstraction and recognizability was key to maintaining the logo’s integrity.

01

Depicting innovation and entrepreneurial growth through the use of arrows.

Depicting innovation and entrepreneurial growth through the use of arrows.

02

Abstracted leaf symbolizing collaboration, social impact, community and human-centric solutions.

Abstracted leaf symbolizing collaboration, social impact, community and human-centric solutions.

03

Blooming flower illustrating the growth and development of startups.

Blooming flower illustrating the growth and development of startups.

04

Yellow gradient portraying the progressive growth of social entrepreneurs

Yellow gradient portraying the progressive growth of social entrepreneurs

End of Stage 01

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Delivery

To capture the essence of community, I arranged the abstracted ginkgo leaf in a radial array, creating a visual that resembled both a flower rooted in the ground and human figures in harmony. This design approach in Stage 01 earned me a spot in the Top 20 globally.

Stage 02

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Reflections after Stage 01

After Stage 01, I received valuable feedback that shifted my perspective on the design. Key points included adjusting the proportion of the human figures' heads, resolving a gradient issue with the yellow that could cause printing difficulties, reducing the leading between "Next" and "Bharat," and addressing the font difference, which made the typeface appear unbalanced.

A_01

A_01

A_02

A_02

A_03

A_03

B_01

B_01

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B_02

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B_03

Stage 02

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Spacing & Color Iterations

I began refining the spacing between the abstracted ginkgo leaves to enhance clarity and achieve better proportions, making the logo more crisp and visually cohesive.

New Dawn

New Dawn

New Dawn

#EDB803

#EDB803

#EDB803

Comforting Warmth

Comforting Warmth

Comforting Warmth

#ECAB13

#ECAB13

#ECAB13

Fresh Growth

Fresh Growth

Fresh Growth

#79BC42

#79BC42

#79BC42

Trust

Trust

Trust

#707E96

#707E96

#707E96

New Dawn

New Dawn

New Dawn

#EDB803

#EDB803

#EDB803

New Dawn

New Dawn

New Dawn

#EDB803

#EDB803

#EDB803

Stage 03

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Reflections after Stage 02

After progressing through Stage 02, I received feedback suggesting that the ginkgo leaf was too abstract, resembling a nail, and that reducing the number of petals would enhance clarity. Additionally, I was encouraged to explore different typefaces to better complement the logo.

Refining

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Re-Abstraction

I re-abstracted the ginkgo leaf from scratch, incorporating the feedback from previous stages. I extended the tail just enough to maintain its essence while reshaping the base into a more curvilinear form, reminiscent of the onion dome of the Taj Mahal. This gave the logo a harmonious blend of Japanese and Indian elements, symbolizing the collaboration between the two nations.

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T-shirt

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About

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Journal

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Updates

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T-shirt

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About

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Journal

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Updates

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T-shirt

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About

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Journal

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Updates

Learnings

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Takeaways

Participating in this competition taught me the value of iterative design and the importance of adapting based on constructive feedback. I learned how subtle adjustments, such as refining proportions and balancing abstraction, can significantly enhance the clarity and impact of a logo. Additionally, the process deepened my understanding of how design can reflect cultural collaboration, requiring both creativity and precision to achieve harmony between visual elements. Ultimately, it reinforced the need for flexibility, attention to detail, and staying true to the core message of the design.