PROJECT BRIEF

Mara Cressey is a Missouri-based artist focusing on figurative drawing and painting. Her work often depicts social scenarios featuring various characters, including herself. With a strong emphasis on self-portraiture, Mara explores different versions of herself, embodying confrontational and rebellious traits. Her latest series portrays a fictional party scene with youthful characters interacting with items like snacks, beverages, and party attire. Subtle religious iconography also appears, reflecting her Catholic upbringing.

Mara needs a cohesive brand identity and an upgraded portfolio website, which I will create using Webflow. This identity will be used on social media platforms like Instagram. A unified brand identity and polished online presence are crucial for attracting attention from galleries, residencies, museums, and academic institutions, enhancing her visibility and professional opportunities.

Artwork by Mara Cressey
Artwork by Mara Cressey
Artwork by Mara Cressey
Artwork by Mara Cressey

Mood Board

Found public domain images used to inspire the project.

Disclaimer: I do not own nor have I created any of the images included in this mood board. These are public domain images. If I have made a mistake and any of these images are not in the public domain, the owners may contact me and I will immediately remove them. Attributions: Lynette Ortiz, KA Designs, Yasmine Patterns, Ruby Roller Art, Design Desk, Jaclyn Caris

LOGO CONCEPT: THE ANTI MARA

I’ve seen a decrease in popularity of mascot logos in the last decade. Many prominent mascot logos are over 60 years old or have been dropped completely, such as the Aunt Jemima logo and Fighting Sioux logo. Many female mascot logos are often associated with food products and come off as soft and delicate while there are more male mascots that have an aura of masculine strength and power. The Mr. Monopoly mascot depicts the power of wealth. The Mr. Clean logo emphasizes the strong male musculature, and many sports team mascots depict strong male warriors and other physically imposing mascots.

This project presented an opportunity to revive the mascot logo that we don’t see as much of in emerging design. It also presented an opportunity to highlight feminine strength that we also don’t often see in mascot logos. This seemed fitting as Mara’s work has an emphasis on self portraiture, character development, and strong feminine qualities.

LOGO VARIATIONS

COLOR PALETTE

BRAND ASSETTS

Old Teddy Bear

Representing nostalgia, resilience and self-reflection. Confronting our true self and acknowledging our past “cringe” moments while continuing to appreciate our own growth.
Paint Bucket

Representing Mara’s main medium. I was going to illustrate a paint brush, but decided a bucket would be more fitting as Mara d=is extremely serious about her craft and does a significant amount of painting.
Music Notes

Created to reflect the party themes within Mara’s work.
Donut

Created to reflect the party themes within Mara’s work.
Camera

Representing a key component of Mara’s artistic process: Photography.
Sunglasses

Representing a fun an mysterious alter-ego.
Balloon Dog

Works as both a party symbol while also representing contemporary artwork in general.
Choka - Cola

Another party symbol with satirical typography to reflect the humor seen in Maras paintings.