Lake Forest High School Student's Logo Design Meets Client's Needs

When people view the new logo for the Lake Bluff Park District’s Bright Beginnings preschool program, they are also seeing the hard work of Lake senior Hannah Nedeau.

Nedeau’s design, which she created in the high school's Graphic Design 2 class last spring, was selected as the winning design for the Bright Beginnings program’s new logo. The design features a flower stem with a yellow hand as the flower itself.

“I just took into consideration the word ‘growth’ a lot,” Nedeau said of her design. “A flower and a plant are representative of growth.”

Graphic Design teacher Carolyn Bielski said officials approached her in spring 2010 with the idea of having her students help in designing a new logo for a re-branding project. Three park district representatives visited the Bielski’s class to tell students what Bright Beginnings preschool is all about.

Bielski said one of the aspects the officials touched upon is Bright Beginnings’ proximity to a lot of green space, and the fact that the children get to play outside frequently.

Bielski’s students then went to work, using computers to design everything from logos to letterhead for the Bright Beginnings program. These items, including business cards and T-shirts, were put together as portfolios for park district officials to consider. The projects were critiqued by park district officials, who ultimately narrowed the selections down to two.

Nedeau’s was selected as the winner.

“I feel like it fit’s the bill,” said Bielski. “It’s exactly what the client wants.”

Plus, Bielski said, the project gave her students the chance to “see that their work is valued.”

Nedeau learned via e-mail from Bielski that her design had been selected as the winner.

“I was really surprised,“ said Nedeau. “ We had a lot of good designs.“

Nedeau said she has taken a number of graphic design and art classes at the Lake Forest, but this was the first time she had created a logo that would actually be used by a client.

“I didn’t know when I signed up for the class that the final project would be for a competition,” said Nedeau. She received $50 for her winning entry.

Nedeau said she may consider graphic design as a career opportunity in the future. She is also interested in studying advertising. She will attend Boston College this fall, where she will play field hockey.

In addition, she plays soccer and is a member of the school's Student Council and National Honor Society.