City of Grand Marais rebrand
In the city of Grand Marais, Minnesota, stands a tree that has captivated me for years. Over numerous trips to the area, I've found myself drawn to this remarkable tree, photographing it each time. If you've strolled along the breakwater there on your way to Artists’ Point, you're likely familiar with the tree I speak of. It emerges from the rugged rocks, its trunk twisting and reaching upward, creating a truly unique silhouette.
Yet, it wasn't until a recent visit to California, where I stopped to admire the iconic tree featured in the Pebble Beach golf course logo, that I had an epiphany. I realized that my beloved tree in Grand Marais deserves just as much recognition as its west coast counterpart. Inspired, I dove into my collection of previous photos and began sketching various ideas to bring this tree to life in the digital form.
Ultimately, I settled on a minimalist design composed of three key elements: the water of Lake Superior, the shoreline rocks of the north shore, and, of course, the unmistakable silhouette of the tree.
Break Away in Grand Marais Campaign
My creative process often leads me to ideate and craft brand campaigns for the project at hand. This endeavor was no exception. Upon completing the logo, I started to envision how the city of Grand Marais could leverage it for their marketing efforts.
Armed with vacation photos from previous trips and an extensive understanding of the area, I wrote, designed and mocked up a few key visuals in the traditional and digital space. The tagline, 'Break Away in Grand Marais,' held dual significance not only evoking the traditional sense of escaping to a serene vacation destination but also nodded to the city's renowned natural breakwater.
