{"id":5282,"date":"2019-12-06T20:56:43","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T20:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2020.europe.wordcamp.org\/?p=5282"},"modified":"2019-12-11T18:08:54","modified_gmt":"2019-12-11T18:08:54","slug":"designing-the-new-wceu-identity-the-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/designing-the-new-wceu-identity-the-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing the new WCEU identity: the journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the 8th edition of WordCamp Europe, we chose to re-imagine the logo, replacing the vision that was originally created …<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Design Team for WordCamp Europe 2020 consists of five members: Carola from Italy, Tammie from the UK, Estela from the Netherlands, Roberto from Spain, and Helder from Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the 8th edition of WordCamp Europe, we chose to re-imagine the logo, replacing the vision that was originally created by this year\u2019s Design Team Lead, Tammie, back in 2013 for the first ever WordCamp Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WCEU trivia: <\/strong>The original logo was never intended to \u201cstick\u201d long-term, and its evolution was well overdue!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The very first WordCamp Europe logo. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The task was to create a new logo, as well as colours, typography, and visual elements that would stand the test of time, influenced by the history of WCEU whilst also looking forward. The Design Team worked to create an identity with elements that could be adapted to any location, starting with our home for 2020, Porto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The starting shape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The process started with the team thinking about the long-standing, passionate history of WordPress communities in Europe, and WordCamp Europe as an event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photographs
Azulejos tiles in blue with repeating traditional pattern. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The next step was to find the visual elements that could be used in the logo, which led to the decision to reduce back to the simple form of geometric shapes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When joined into patterns, visuals began to form. These geometric patterns are seen throughout Europe in tiles, particularly in Portuguese Azulejos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Images
Exploring shapes in potential logos. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Growing the identity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The second step was to build up from the foundational meaning. We tried using the letters W, C, E and U in Morse code and in binary code, but didn\u2019t see the WordCamp spirit in either iteration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Images
Exploring binary and Morse code in logo examples. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We also explored the number 28, to represent the countries of the European Union with a simple dot calling back to the original WordCamp Europe logo, but the team at WCEU discussed how Europe reaches beyond those 28 countries. Our event is global and the European WordPress community includes non-EU countries such as Serbia, the country that was home to WCEU 2018<\/a>, which took place in Belgrade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, we looked at how data and numbers could be represented more accurately, instead choosing the number of WCEU events so far. Each dot represents a WordCamp, and a story. It\u2019s a personal, adaptable and powerful visual. Each camp, marked in time, has added its own stamp on the WordCamp Europe brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring this led to the addition of the underscore as a symbol of continuity, visually representing the story we are writing and a story that continues with every WordCamp edition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has a strong visual identity and meaning: an expression of the future linking to the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sketch
The dots represent previous WordCamps and the underscore represents the next WordCamp. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The final element of the square brought us back to wrapping around, bonding and cohesion. We are a community joined together. As this evolved, an opening was made, moving beyond boundaries and providing space for our guiding WordPress \u2018W,\u2019 our beacon, and an indication of WordCamp Europe 2020\u2019s colours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final form<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Introducing the new logo and brand identity for WordCamp Europe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The new WordCamp Europe logo.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Just like the identity evolves based on location, the shape can change based on format. This means it will be robust for the future whilst still keeps the strength of the brand. Here are versions for social media and down to the smallest size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Medium sized WordCamp Europe logo with text, but no dots or box. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Smallest
Smallest sized WordCamp Europe logo, with only the \u2018W\u2019 WordPress logo and an underscore.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Branding for 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each year, specific branding is created for WordCamp Europe, with a focus on elements and colours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Colour palette choice of yellow, blue and sand. Typography choice of PT Sans. Tile graphical elements.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Colours are an element that are changed every year. For Porto, we picked a warm yellow, because this is the first colour that makes people think of Portugal, with the blue of the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The design elements have their roots strongly in the Azulejos tiles. These patterns are our grounding elements to be reflected across everything done with this year\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any identity for WordCamp Europe needs to stand the test of time, so the future featured heavily in our vision for the new mark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you can see how the logo could evolve, adding dots (locations, stories) for future WordCamps in imagined locations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Variations of the logo for 2023 and 2027, showing extra dots and colour changes. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Closing & feelings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our team is very proud of the results we have achieved. We worked closely on this and realised our goal of creating a symbol that has meaning, that will serve its purpose for many years to come, is recognisable and can be used in different ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating an identity is like telling a story. For us, this year\u2019s visual identity helps us tell the WordCamp Europe story loud and clear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the 8th edition of WordCamp Europe, we chose to re-imagine the logo, replacing the vision that was originally created …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15025730,"featured_media":5458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-announcements"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/files\/2019\/12\/wceu-new-brand-design.jpg?fit=1200%2C586&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15025730"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5282"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5460,"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5282\/revisions\/5460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/europe.wordcamp.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}