The NYS GIS Association is a non-profit professional organization representing the interests of the entire geospatial community within New York State.

I was brought on to the communications team to create various event and social media graphics and while doing so I began to develop a new look for the entire Association brand. After sharing my brand design with the team, it was decided that the Association would move forward with an updated brand that still paid homage to the old brand.

The Logo

The goal was to create something that immediately denoted both the geospatial community and the state of New York. The red pin was an ideal symbol to represent the geospatial community since it implied both the spatial and technical nature GIS, and the red apple became an obvious choice to pair with it for the Empire State.

Graphic elements of points, lines, and polygons representing the types of spatial data are used throughout.

Type & Color

A sleek sans serif (Open Sans) was paired with a friendly and sophisticated serif (Libre Baskerville) to highlight the traditional and modern aspects of the field of GIS.

The color palette is heavily inspired by the landscape and official colors of New York state. The warm red and yellow mix with various blues and greens, and a rich multi-colored palette was welcomed in this case to highlight the collaborative and inclusive nature of the Association. The result is something that evokes the Empire state of mind, from the brick facades and taxis of Manhattan to the beautiful foliage, lakes, and blue peaks of the Adirondacks.

NYS GIS’s Brand Values

1 ― Established

The Association serves as an institutional resource for GIS professionals, and the field of GIS is rooted in centuries of geographic and cartographic principles and studies.

2 ― Friendly

A collaborative community where GIS professionals can connect with peers and find professional development resources.

3 ― Fresh

Although established in centuries of study, GIS continues to be a vital technical asset for the future.