The Making of the Mt. Tam Astronomy Programs Logo

I’ve really enjoyed the Mt. Tam Astronomy Programs this summer. It’s a volunteer event featuring free lectures by Bay Area scientists and night sky viewing. Sitting in the huge, stone amphitheater on Mt. Tamalpais with other enthusiasts as the sky darkens is a nice community experience.

After contacting the organizers with questions about night photography during the programs, they let me know that they were looking for volunteers to design a new logo. Since the programs are offered to the public at no cost, I thought submitting a logo would be a nice way to give back.

The original logo is actually kind of cool, if a bit dated. Things I like about it include its minimalism; the sunset color gradient; and the circular elements that are suggestive of both star trails, the amphitheater, and maybe even the Voyager spacecraft’s golden record. The font reflects a 70’s/80’s sensibility, but in my opinion, a retro sci-fi nod isn’t out of place for a science-focused organization.

Most of my sketches featured circular and oval shapes. The color gradient is a nice expression of the transition between day and night. I decided to offer a black and white version without the gradient in cases where it might pose a problem for printing. I also updated the font, choosing to emphasize the word “Astronomy.”

Making the sweeping amphitheater steps a primary element along with a stylized Mt. Tam ridge line gave the logo a sense of place. I used Stellarium to check which recognizable constellations might be in the western sky during September and October (Boötes was the winner). A shooting star element breaks up the edge of the oval, with the star positioned above Mt. Tam’s iconic east peak. My favorite thing about this design is how the overall shape evokes a speech balloon that references the content of the programs.

I think the organizers appreciated my approach, because they selected my design and it will be featured on everything from the website to hoodies. It’ll be strange but exciting to see my work displayed so prominently!