SPOTLIGHT:
Ko Architects

LOGO
The Ko Architects logo is the synthesis of elements intended to communicate the mission of the architect: To artfully segment space and to meet the practical purposes of human existence.

SYMBOL: The background is representative of a nautilus shell. The nautilus shell represents the perfect structure of the natural world. From its strong but beautiful exterior to its gracefully divided interior, it is elegant yet organic. It is completely functional without sacrificing its aesthetic. Most poignantly, it is a "living" space. This idea is the fetish of the architect - to create a living space.

TEXT LOGO: The presentation of the firm's name reinforces the concept. The name "Ko"- being particular, is separated from "Architects"- the general. That is to say, the two words which make up the company's name are divided by their purpose; the proper noun "Ko" informs you of who, and title "ARCHITECTS" tells you what. Each word has been allowed its own space - yet the boundaries that divide them maintain the necessary cooperative relationship between the two.

LETTERS: The custom letter forms which make up the word "Ko" were designed to invoke the concepts of balance and symmetry. The letter "K" is symmetrical top to bottom, the "O" forms a perfect circle, and the arms of the K form three perfectly balanced angles 45, 90, and 45 again. Add up those three angles and the result is 180 degrees, a half circle. This artificial perfection contrasts the organic qualities of the shell icon, a yin to its yang. Architecture is by definition the progenitor of this dichotomy - the introduction of the artificial (concrete, steel, plastic) into the natural (earth). The challenge is to do it well.

Space artfully segmented.