When I got the gig, I was absolutely delighted. It wasn't like my other work. I mean, It wasn't for commerce. I was getting paid, but I wasn't creating to sell anything. I was asked to re-create the heritage and face of a school. A gem of a school in the Los Angeles area. Verbum Dei is not your average high school. With a 50 Year history and it's catholic roots - this school preps teens for college and a better life.
Sitting down at the table with the school's leadership was a wonderful experience for me. In these times of religious confusion, a catholic school had asked a muslim iranian-american to design their new identity. Actually The Verb as it's referred to, has always been open to all people from any back ground. I loved their open hearts and their approach to leadership and education.
Some of the notable things that I understood about the school was their Cristo Rey Work Program, where kids go to work for big corporations. The kids get amazing experience, and the corporations sponsor part of their education. The internal operations and logistics of the program were amazing.
Verbum Dei High Eagles EmblemI was asked to design their identity, logo, sports identities and a 50th Anniversary logo. I also created some new symbols for the school that were based on the heritage and symbology of what I took away from my visit to the Verb. I loved this project and I can't wait to work with the folks at Verbum Dei again. What an honor to have my work become part of this wonderful schools future. I can just imagine the thousands of kids that will wear these identities proudly on their school uniforms, on their football helmets and more for another 50 years. It was important to me to create a timeless identity that could last for as long as this school is on this planet. I think the biggest deal is that this identity will probably outlast my lifetime - It will be part of history and the future. It will be here for all of eternity - That's an incredible feeling.
V | Eagles