Project:
Beyond the Stutter
Logo & Merch Design (2024)
Beyond the Stutter
Hosted by Vondell Pilcher and Antoine Albert, Beyond the Stutter is a podcast dedicated to advocacy, connection, and empowerment. Through candid conversations and inspiring stories, they celebrate voices, raise awareness, challenge stigmas, and encourage self-expression for individuals with speech impediments.
project goal
The goal of this project was to design a logo that visually embodied Beyond the Stutter’s mission to empower individuals affected by speech challenges. The client’s vision was for the logo to symbolize freedom, resilience, & transformation, capturing the strength & journey of overcoming speech impediments.
process
Research
Listened to podcast episodes to immerse myself
in the powerful stories shared by the community, ensuring my design would authentically reflect their stories.Researched and learned from the stuttering community to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences, values, & achievements.
Explored symbols connected to the podcast’s mission to find relevant visual metaphors.
Iterations
Concept Development
Experimented with the idea of "growth" and "breaking barriers" through various sketches.
Brainstormed symbols associated with freedom, resilience, and transformation.
Collaborated with the client to refine the design, ensuring it aligned with their vision.
Explored abstract symbols representing communication, and growth.
final logo design
Symbol
The final logo design symbolizes freedom, growth, and transformation—key themes of the podcast. The shattering chain serves as a metaphor for breaking free from social stigma and overcoming barriers, while the fragments transforming into fluttering butterflies symbolize newfound freedom and boundless potential.
Typography
”Beyond the Stutter” uses a handwritten font which adds a warm, personal touch, reflecting the podcast’s mission to share genuine stories. The bold, all-caps conveys a sense of strength and confidence, symbolizing the resilience of individuals with speech challenges. The slogan is set in a simple sans-serif font, ensuring readability while complementing the handwritten type.
Centered Alignment
Centering the text & symbol creates harmony & unity. It also gives the logo a balanced, professional appearance.
Color Palette
Black-and-white is timeless and versatile. The stark contrast of black against a white background reinforces the idea of boldness and clarity in storytelling.
Versatility was a key priority; the final logo design was tailored for seamless adaptability across multiple platforms, including the podcast’s website, social media, and streaming services. The design files were packaged for both digital and print applications, and have been used by the clients to create hoodies.
