Edith Peskir created the Marietta S. Lipomi Foundation to honor her partner, Marietta, who fought stage 4 lung cancer for 18 years before passing away. She faced the disease with humor and resilience, and found joy in playing the saxophone she loved, even while laughing at how “terrible” she was at it. Edith wanted a logo that celebrated the life Marietta lived. Marietta received her treatments at Roswell Park Cancer Center, and the foundation’s mission is to support the center in their efforts. treatments.
Vision
“Terrible” at Sax
Marietta’s love of playing the saxophone became the heart of the visual identity. The goal was to create a logo that felt resilient and personal while remaining professional and appropriate for a nonprofit organization. Edith wanted a design that was enduring, honoring Marietta’s personality and legacy without tipping into sentimentality.
Process
Bending Brass
I began by gathering saxophone references, studying various stylings for one that would read clearly at smaller sizes. I started with a detailed saxophone, including keywork, tone holes, and keyguards, and gradually pared it back until it struck the right balance of recognizable and simple. Each adjustment focused on preserving just enough detail for instant recognition while removing elements that would clutter the form or get lost at small scale.
Sax & Stack
When it came time to integrate the saxophone with the foundation’s long name, the instrument’s irregular edge made a cohesive composition challenging. After experimenting with different silhouette treatments, I decided on a reverse silhouette on a gold rectangle, which provided a straight edge for the typography to align against. I then explored stacking the foundation’s long name: “Marietta S.” smaller, “Lipomi” larger to emphasize the surname, and “Foundation” beneath a horizontal line. Adjustments to leading and kerning aligned the text with the saxophone and balanced the three lines with each other. The result is a compact design that feels structured, clear, and unified.
Challenges
Loooooong Name Precedents
The length of the foundation’s name posed a unique challenge. The text needed to be visually balanced, and versatile without overshadowing the saxophone icon. I referenced logos of organizations with long names and tested multiple stacking configurations. These refinements helped the typography complement the icon and created a unified, adaptable identity.
Outcome
A Lasting Tribute
The final logo features a white saxophone silhouette on a gold background, paired with the stacked text. It feels modern yet timeless, honoring Marietta through the saxophone reference while providing a professional, flexible identity for the foundation. Edith loved how the design captured Marietta’s love of the saxophone and honored her enduring legacy in a single, cohesive mark.