Symbol Design
Year
2025
This is a project assigned in my first semester of college.
I designed a symbol representing Kelowna, B.C.'s, Ogopogo.
Sketches
The theme for this symbol is Ogopogo, the elusive lake monster said to inhabit Lake Okanagan in Kelowna, British Columbia.
I began this project with research into the legendary creature and learned of its origins. Ogopogo stems from N'ha-A-Itk, a water spirit sacred to the Indigenous Syilx peoples. Stories of N'ha-A-Itk describe it with the head of a horse, so I opted to use the head of a ram to avoid misconception. While Ogopogo is described as mysterious and terrifying, N'ha-A-Itk is sacred — it was important that I respected that.
I explored various iterations of the beast, using other imagery such as waves, anchors, and boats to show that it lives in the water.
Colour
After deciding on a design, I moved into colour exploration. I knew I wanted to use a dark blue for the water and/or a dark green for Kelowna's forests. The assignment limited me to two colours only (including black), so I had to decide whether I wanted to use both colours or one colour with black.
In the end, I settled of black and blue because they appeal to a mature audience. As well as water, the dark blue suggests authority, which alludes to Ogopogo's presence.
Final
The final symbol combines imagery of Ogopogo, a sailboat, waves, and an anchor. Ogopogo is large in proportion to the sailboat, not only as a way of communicating its believed enormity, but also its role in Kelowna's tourism industry. Sailing is a common activity in Kelowna and one that draws people to Lake Okanagan, where Ogopogo lives. The anchor shape is an additional nautical element that emphasizes the importance of the lake. Ogopogo is placed strategically in a way that it is the first thing the eye notices, and the design flows in a pleasing, rounded shape, making it a versatile symbol for logos.