how we got our logo

The design began with doodles -a sort of doodle brain storm. The key question was "What are we about as a church?"
So it was back to our vision for our church and Saint Martin.

Saint Martin, the Roman soldier who tore his cloak in half to clothe a naked beggar, exactly tied in with our vision of trying to serve our community, unconditionally.

As the torn cloak is central to the story of Martin, it made a good starting point for the design process.

A well drawn torn cloak would be not easily recognized as such. It could be too complex and confusing. Whilst going through the process of trying to simplify and stylize the image of a cloak, the letter "M" provided the ideal starting point with which to follow through the torn cloak idea. 

All that was needed was further refinement and stylization of both the "M" and the "tear". After some experimentation, the two halves of the "M" were moved slightly asymmetrically, to reinforce the tear or cut, and the resulting gap between the asymmetric halves, was neatened into an elongated "S" shape. Et voila!

Logos used by other organisations
with the Saint Martin name.

Left to right: Diakkonie-Kropp, Germany/ Choir : Schola St Martin, France / Logo : Germany / School : Touraine, France
Church : Des Plaines Illinois / School : Ecole Saint Martin, Pontoise, France / Church : St Martin Lutheran, USA /
School : Germany / Badge : Patron Saint of the Police, Paris