burner collective is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a "legal canvas" to graffiti and street artists alike, doing so through acquiring all necessary permits, zoning rights, land rights, etc.
Burner? Don't worry, there's no arsonists involved! Burner is slang in graffiti and street art culture, and it's one of the highest compliments an artist can receive. "Oh man, that piece is so burner!"
The challenge in this project lied in finding a way to create the branding and identity for a organization focused on street art and graffiti without leaning into too many clichés. Essentially, creating a mature look of a well established organization that can be taken seriously, but is full of fun-loving street art and graffiti enthusiasts that don't take themselves too seriously, if that makes sense. Providing an "edge" without getting too edgy or stereotypical.
But how do you create an "edge", without being edgy?
Solution? Create a logo that can be taken seriously, but make all of the other design motifs and elements fun and "edgy!"
The logo is scalable, from full lock-up, to a badge logo, and of course, the app icon.
Graffiti and street art, as a culture, is way too large to contain into a single design motif. Best way to solve this? Have fun with the logo! Add some texture, mask some patterns. Let the artists go wild, creative, and expressive. That's what the culture behind street art and graffiti is all about, right? Let the logo be what the artist wants it to be. Just don't use it officially, that's what the full lock-ups are for!
The business cards carry on the same principle of mixing contemporary maturity with the freedom and culture of street art and graffiti. "Business in the front, party in the back," as they say!
