Logo Design and More: Celebrating 250 Years of St George’s
Here at Cog Media, we always try to give something back when the opportunity arises. This month, one of those opportunities landed right on our doorstep.
The beautiful eighteenth-century building where my partner lives, St George’s in Wicklewood, is preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary. During one of the early planning discussions, somebody mentioned that the committee needed a logo to help mark the occasion. Before anyone could finish the sentence, I had already volunteered my services.
As a designer, projects like this are difficult to resist. Not only was it a chance to contribute to a significant local milestone, but it was also an opportunity to create something that would become part of the building’s history.
Developing the Logo Concept
During the first commemorative committee meeting, an idea immediately sprang to mind.
I wanted the logo to capture both the heritage of St George’s and the significance of the anniversary itself. My vision was to create a detailed 3D model of the building’s front façade and texture it in a way that echoed the original architectural plans and drawings from centuries ago.
It’s always risky putting all your eggs in one basket when presenting a design concept, but something about this idea felt right from the start..
Bringing the Idea to Life
The next step was creating the 3D elements that would form the heart of the logo.
So I set about creating the 3D elements that would become the drawing faces of the 250 year old building. Photoshopped textures were created to allow quick proof of concept and try out different styles and levels of detail. With every incarnation of the textures a look a feel soon fell into place. You know when you’re on a winner when you get a smile on your face when creating a design. I felt like the Cheshire Cat with every updated version.
Crop or not to crop
My initial concept featured the full width of the building extending beyond the boundaries of a circular logo roundel. Visually, it was striking, but it also introduced a number of design challenges, particularly around the building’s return sections and overall balance.
As I refined the concept, a wider version of the logo began to emerge, showcasing the impressive frontage in all its glory.
While it looked great, I wasn’t entirely convinced it was the strongest solution.
Looking at Things from a Different Perspective
One of the biggest advantages of using professional design tools rather than relying solely on platforms like Canva and AI generated content, is the level of creative control they provide.
I started thinking about the view that the first residents of St George’s might have experienced when arriving at the building for the very first time. That thought led me to experiment with alternative camera angles within the 3D model.
With a simple adjustment to the virtual camera, a fresh perspective was born. A new render revealed a completely different feel to the building and suddenly the logo concept took on a whole new character.
What had started as one idea quickly evolved into four distinct variations.
The Big Reveal
Armed with a collection of A3 printouts, I attended the next committee meeting ready to reveal the designs.
As every designer knows, presenting work can be nerve-racking, particularly when you’ve become invested in a concept. Thankfully, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Every variation received enthusiastic feedback, and it quickly became clear that the committee loved the direction.
The gamble had paid off.
Following the meeting, a WhatsApp poll was created to determine the final winner. Voting began almost immediately and before long it had become a two-horse race.
With one deciding vote left to be cast, things became surprisingly tense.
If you invite them, they will come
As often happens with design projects, the brief soon began to grow.
The local Wicklewood Primary School was invited to take part in the celebrations by contributing items to a commemorative time capsule. The idea was to create a lasting snapshot of life in the village, including letters from pupils, contributions from local residents and items that reflected life in Norfolk today.
To support the initiative, the committee needed a professionally designed invitation, helping to engage both the children and the wider community.
Naturally, the design work continued.
Everyone loves a sticker
The committee also wanted something special for the children attending the celebrations.
Drawing inspiration from traditional events such as the Royal Norfolk Show, the idea of commemorative stickers quickly gained momentum. Let’s be honest though — they weren’t just for the children. Plenty of adults were keen to get their hands on one too.
Fortunately, the final logo design had evolved into a circular roundel, making it perfectly suited for sticker production. Clean, simple and instantly recognisable, it worked brilliantly across both print and promotional materials.
Let them eat cake
No community celebration would be complete without cake.
The committee approached a local cake maker to discuss ideas for a special anniversary treat. One suggestion involved creating an edible sugar replica of St George’s itself. While impressive, it may have been a little too sweet for budget.
Instead, the logo once again came to the rescue.
By incorporating the anniversary branding into the cake design, the celebrations gained another memorable touchpoint. By this stage, the logo seemed to be appearing everywhere — from invitations and stickers to cakes and commemorative materials.
Exactly as a successful logo should.
More Than Just a Logo
What started as a simple request for a logo quickly evolved into a much wider creative project. From 3D modelling and branding through to print design and promotional materials, it has been a privilege to contribute to such an important milestone in St George’s history.
As designers, we’re often involved in commercial projects, but occasionally a project comes along that feels a little more personal. Helping celebrate 250 years of St George’s has certainly been one of those occasions.
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