GD1: Rationale for KUBI

The KU Biodiesel Initiative is a non-profit organization that is bringing out the importance of creating a more clean and healthy environment by creating a more efficient and less toxic form of fuel. Members of this organization are students of the University of Kansas and the majority are volunteers. Their responsibilities range from gathering left over vegetable oil from places such as Mrs. E’s Dining Hall to working in the laboratory to create the actual biodiesel. The goal of KU Biodiesel Initiative is to reach out to the community and provide an alternative fuel source that is less harmful and more efficient. They have made it a point to not only bring awareness to students of Kansas University but to, as well, inform middle school and high school students about biodiesel and the benefits it creates for the economy and environment. Therefore, the logo for the organization needs to bring the viewer to automatically read and resemble ‘biodiesel’ whether it is through type, symbol or combination of both. The logo should be strong, impacting and have a fresh, crisp look to it. Targeting, mainly, businesses and operations that are a part of the University of Kansas, the KU Biodiesel Initiative logo should have the same feeling as many other KU logos but at the same time stand out from the ordinary. This being said, the typeface that would work best is Trajan Pro since that is the typeface used for the standard KU logo. The color palette of green, white, blue and yellow are the most effective at allowing the organization to show what it is all about. The standard KU crimson and Jayhawk yellow do not successfully resemble KU Biodiesel Initiative. The logo should also have a unique, organic feel to it since it is representing a more efficient and better for the environment resource. These organic forms, lines and shapes will help make it feel distinctive, but still a structured logo. Both the scientific and creative parts of the company need to be recognized in some part of the logo. Therefore, a drop of oil is overlapping green square vectors to not only show the drop but to also resemble a gas nozzle in the ‘reflection’ on the drop while the square vectors act as the gas pump. Together, all of these elements can come together visually and can create an impact on the community.