The Washington Conservatory of Music (WCM), founded in 1984, is a nonprofit community music school in Washington, D.C. WCM offers music education for all ages and levels, including lessons, classes, and ensembles.
WCM serves underserved communities through the Tapestry Music Project, providing free programs for low-income families. It hosts monthly concerts with “give-what-you-can” admission and has partnerships with embassies.
The Washington Conservatory of Music (WCM) tasked us with creating a refreshed and modern aesthetic. Several design concepts were developed and presented to the client as part of this initiative.
The updated Washington Conservatory of Music logo incorporates a prominent “C” for Conservatory, visually constructed from a series of lines.
These lines are designed to evoke an animated volume dial, displaying a crescendo and decrescendo effect. Cleverly integrated within the abstract “C” are the initials “W” for Washington at its top and “M” for Music at its base.
The new logo features a prominent “C” icon paired with the institution’s name in a modern, bold, and clean sans serif typeface, positioned to the lower right of the icon to emphasize the strong graphic element.
This logo is adaptable for various events and locations, allowing for the inclusion of venue information and programing initiatives either below the complete wordmark or inline with the “C” icon.
We also considered a design concept drawing inspiration from the Grand Boulevards of Washington D.C., envisioned by French-American architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant.
The sharp angles of these boulevards and avenues are reflected in the prominent angles of the “W” and “M” within this dynamic icon.
