Donald & Jane is the eponymous company name for a jewelry collection. Playing multiple roles as brand designer, company co-founder and jewelry designer, I'm able to craft the brand in an agile way; it's a work in progress.
Because the jewelry collection plays with contrasts—rough and smooth, light and dark, organic and industrial, aged and bright, whimsical and serene—the identity embodies that same spirit. Sketching, discovery, experimentation and a balance of the ancient with the modern are hallmarks of our work.
Despite exporations into clever company names, we ultimately decided on our first names (Think Dolce & Gabbana!). But "D" and "J" are two of the least interesting letterforms in the alphabet. The ampersand became the focus instead, which has its benefits. Alone, it can be seen as a clasp or link in a chain. With its box, a pendant, and the perfect shape for a signature stamp in the jewelry.
Hand-drawn, the symbol highlights the simple tools, traditional techniques and gestural spirit of the jewelry. The font, Syntax, is both elegant and human with an old-world, yet modern, feel. The color palette represents the combination of gold and oxidized silver used in the jewelry.