Lighting control logo design update for SmartShow Lighting, UK stage and screen lighting product and software designers.
We were contacted by the directors of SmartShow Lighting to look at refreshing their company and product logo. With a company restructure and general streamlining of their product range, they came to us for our input on their existing logo and to discuss the design of the labelling for their new hero product.
Recognised as specialists in the design of products and software for the control of LED pixel lighting arrays, they were the first to admit that their logo and labels were homegrown and there was little in terms of consistency – a fresh pair of eyes were needed!
THE LIGHTING PRODUCT LOGO
Concepts for the logo and the label for the new product (the Pro-One) were presented together, enabling the client to understand the context of the new logo and its colouration.
The existing product logo had built recognition over the years and a decision was made to keep it, but to refine it and build on it if possible.
The result is a logo where we have made small adjustments to some of the characters and the overall letter spacing. We have updated the colour from the original black and have introduced a more showbiz-style element in the form of a lens-flare ‘burst’ around the letter ‘O’.
A bold and sophisticated purple and lilac colouration has been chosen, replacing the previous one-colour version, for where the logo is used on a white background and a reversed option for darker applications.
Various other colour versions of the logo have also been created to suit possible future uses. One option uses the transparent feature of PNG files to allow a one-colour version of the the lens-flare to interact with any background image it is placed over.
At an initial meeting we discussed a mockup of the product and it was noted that part of the printed circuit board would be exposed in the form of a panel to one end of the product. The colour of this panel in this case, was a rich dark pink/burgundy colour.
Although technically possible to have this manufactured in a different colour, we stored this away for when we proceeded with our first stage label concepts…
With the updated lighting control logo approved we created a simple usage guide with references to the logo and its colours for print and on-screen use.
The client has since taken this and applied the colours and logo to the controller’s built-in web browser interface to great effect.
THE PRO-ONE LIGHTING PRODUCT LABEL
Like a lot of tech products, these products are often black or dark in tone and the branding tastefully minimal or just an afterthought. Typically these products are attached out of sight, high up on lighting rigs in dimly lit situations. So, part of the brief was to (a) create a product clearly recognisable as ‘SmartShow’ and (b) to be easy for the lighting technicians to install, by ensuring that the various connectors were clearly visible and easily differentiated.
As part of the design process, we proposed a selection of eye-catching, light beam-type stock images, to act as a backdrop to the label and also for any future marketing and promotional materials that were needed.
As a challenge to the usual blues, blacks and greys used in this lighting product market, we suggested the image shown below with its strong magentas and purples. Both eye-catching and bold, it also acted as a way of tie-ing in the coloured PCB end panel (see images below) with the lighting controller’s new brand colouration!
The client agreed and the image below shows how the finished PCB end panel and label colouration work together!
Often the markings for the the various wired power and network connections are screen printed on the end of the product. This can be problematic particularly when the controller is mounted in an awkward position. So, we have designed the label with all of the references boldly displayed on the top.
The newly launched SmartShow lighting control product, the Pro-One, with its new logo and label design is available at www.smartshow.lighting
One exciting example of the product in use was at Gary Numan’s 1000th show at the Electric Ballroom. (The Pro-One controls the pixel strip at the bottom of each riser. )
(Image and video courtesy of David Howard Lighting Design)
Production Design: David Howard Lighting Design
Lighting & Video Supplier: IPS
Another project you may find of interest is our work on some marketing materials for UK printed circuit board manufacturer Minnitron.
