St. Matthew Music Institute
Music Education Nonprofit
A finished identity and brand guide for a new Detroit nonprofit, delivered in time for its first season.
The Problem
Ahead of its first season, a new Detroit music nonprofit needed an identity that reflected the architecture of its founding church and still felt welcoming to the community it teaches.
The Solution
I created an identity centered on an illustration of the church’s bell tower, supported by serif typography, a color palette drawn from the building, and practical brand guidelines.
The Mark
The historic bell tower of St. Matthew Catholic Church became the focus of the identity. I simplified its architectural details and softened the corners so the illustration remains clear at small sizes.
The wordmark is set in all-caps serif typography, giving the vertical mark a weighted, sturdy foundation that feels historic, classical, and approachable.
- Dome Blue#1B3B4A
- Dome Green#00716A
- Goldenrod#F6BD43
Stoke
Headings
Ancizar Sans
Body copy
Color and Type
Dome Blue and Dome Green are sampled from the bell tower’s copper dome. I added Goldenrod as a warm complement to the copper tones and use it as the accent for calls to action. Stoke sets headings and Ancizar Sans sets body copy.
The Guide
I sampled the color palette from the copper dome of the church’s bell tower, then compiled a guide covering color hierarchies, typographic pairings, and layout rules for concert programs, digital announcements, and apparel.
The guide demonstrates the system in use, with type scales, margins, and color combinations that staff and volunteers can reference when creating materials.
The Result
I delivered the logo, identity system, and brand guidelines in two and a half weeks, so the team started its inaugural season with a finished system to work from.