I recently had the opportunity to design a logo for an alternative hair salon in Kyle, TX. The salon specializes in vibrant, punk-inspired mermaid hair styles with a high femme rainbow aesthetic. This project was an exciting challenge to capture the essence of their unique style in a versatile logo design.

Design Brief

• Create a logo for business cards, door signage, and exterior signage

• Incorporate punk/alternative aesthetic with a mermaid theme

• Use a bold, gothic font that's legible at various sizes

• Avoid typical salon imagery in main logo (scissors, combs)

• Reflect the salon's specialization in vivid, rainbow-colored hair

Design Process

1. Concept Development:

   • Brainstormed ideas combining punk aesthetics with mermaid imagery (moodboard below)

   • Settled on a skull with flowing, colorful hair as the central motif

2. Typography:

   • Experimented with various gothic fonts for readability and style

   • Chose a bold, gothic script for the final design, a hand modified version of Pirata One

3. Illustration:

   • Created a detailed skull illustration with long, wavy hair in ProCreate, vectorized in Illustrator

   • Added a seashell accessory to reinforce the mermaid theme

4. Color Exploration:

   • Developed multiple colorways:

     • Monochromatic pink for a cohesive look

     • Rainbow gradient to showcase vibrant hair possibilities

5. Layout and Composition:

   • Arranged text in a circular format around the illustration

   • Ensured design worked well in various applications (signage, cards)

Final Deliverables

• Primary logo in monochrome and color versions

• Alternative rainbow colorway for special applications

• Style guide for consistent brand usage

The final logo successfully captures the salon's alternative style while maintaining versatility for various applications. The striking design stands out in the local market and effectively communicates the salon's unique specialization in punk mermaid hair styles.