Responsive Branding, Illustration & Font Design
Forerunner Church is a church community in Calgary, Alberta, focused on giving people the tools they need to integrate their faith into their everyday life and help them run life’s race. Knowing that everyone’s day-to-day life gives different opportunities to utilize personal gifts and beliefs, they focus on teaching that equips listeners with skills to share their faith in the way THEY are called to. The Forerunner team came to me looking for a fresh and engaging way to spread this message. Together we built a brand toolkit that gives them all the assets they need to tell this story in a beautifully engaging way.
RACE INSPIRED
With the main focus of Forerunner’s mission being to equip people to “Run Your Race,” a brand that was stylized and rooted in racing of all sorts only made sense. The monogram that acts as the brand’s foundation is inspired by classic track lines on a running track, giving an instantly recognizable visual cue without being too on the nose. Each line of the monogram represents a piece of Forerunner’s vision. The middle line represents a community member running their race, the inner line represents Christ’s support, and the outer line represents Forerunner as a support and coach through the race.
FAST TYPOGRAPHY
To build on the “racing style” foundation while also giving Forerunner a distinct look typographically, I created a custom lettered wordmark and typeface based on classic racing letters found around vintage car racetracks and memorabilia. The result is a super distinct and unique look, with or without the monogram accompanying it.
To break up the heavily geometric feel of the core branding marks while also deepening the race-inspired aesthetic of the brand, I created a custom script mark inspired by retro car badges. The result is a mark that feels equally modern and vintage while providing the brand with a sense of motion.
I have worked with Zach for many years now and I knew in a new role at a church in Calgary, undergoing a rebrand, that we needed his help. Honestly church branding brings its fair share of unique challenges because you aren’t just developing a brand for a company or product, it’s like you are trying to create a brand for a family. Zach brought such incredible creative ideas, walked us through the process and helped us launch. I have recommended him often to others and am always so stoked to see what new branding he is coming up with. Being a part of Reflect Design’s portfolio is like being a part of a community and I am proud to have our place in it.
JOEL PURDY – FORERUNNER CHURCH
“I have worked with Zach for many years now and I knew in a new role at a church in Calgary, undergoing a rebrand, that we needed his help. Honestly church branding brings its fair share of unique challenges because you aren’t just developing a brand for a company or product, it’s like you are trying to create a brand for a family. Zach brought such incredible creative ideas, walked us through the process and helped us launch. I have recommended him often to others and am always so stoked to see what new branding he is coming up with. Being a part of Reflect Design’s portfolio is like being a part of a community and I am proud to have our place in it.”
