Unicycle
The University News Cycle needed a new(s) visual identity.
I know. I'm funny. What isn't funny is a logo that can't work on various media.
The University News Cycle is a satirical news show/club at Syracuse University. They produce absurdist jokes making fun of real-life events.
While the show's first season was a great success (it had the most views of any show on its network), the producer wanted to revamp their image to look more professional and clean.
The old logo worked well enough, providing a fun, easygoing vibe, but it was not easily usable. My goal when deciding on how to recreate their logo was usability while still maintaining the fun, charismatic image the show was known for. The producer had also mentioned that they wanted UniCycle not to be directly associated with Syracuse University, or the United States for that matter, as they wanted everyone to enjoy and relate to the jokes.
With these goals in mind, I ended up with a simple image of a unicycle with the planet as its wheel displaying all the continents (sorry, Australia). This symbol stands out on its own, works on many different backgrounds, and still follows the silly theme set with the prior logo. It also allows for great responsive design.
Motion!!!
The motion was arguably the most important part of the redesign. The first season did not have any form of motion besides basic hard cuts. I wanted the show to be more eye-catching. The motion gallery below showcases the work I made on Adobe AfterEffects for reporter's name tags, the title card, and the "Breaking News" call.
Nametag
Breaking News
Title Card
Visual Identity
Deciding on the color scheme was fairly simple. We agreed to try to keep true to the old red, white, and blue color scheme that the old brand had, but we also agreed that a new twist was necessary. The light blue added this twist and allowed the logo to stand out compared to the many other symbols that use red, white, and blue.
A new logo also needs a new typeface. I chose the Le Harve family because it is a sleek-looking sans-serif font with a unique shape and a lighthearted feel.
