The Lotus Education & Arts Foundation is pleased to share the news of a wonderful collaboration with the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design at Indiana University (SOAAD). In the fall of 2019, Jenny El-Shamy, a senior lecturer in graphic design at SOAAD and students from her senior-level Design for Social Impact course worked together with Lotus to create a special 25thanniversary Lotus Blossoms logo.
Jenny El-Shamy, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design; Graphic Design Area Coordinator; Co-Director, ServeDesign Center at IU Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design.
El-Shamy said students started the design process by meeting with Loraine Martin, Lotus community & arts engagement director, to gather information about the organization. From there students collected research, created mood boards, sketches, and color palettes to create preliminary logo designs, and then final logo designs and usage guidelines. “The collaboration was a great success and a wonderful experience for everyone involved,” El-Shamy expressed.
Lauren Gronek, the student designer whose final design was selected by the organization’s staff and board president, said she felt honored to have her work represent Lotus. “I wanted to capture the main mission of Lotus Blossoms with a globe that represents the educational and global influences of the program, as well as a primary color scheme to remain celebratory and to appeal not only to children but adults as well,” Gronek said.
Lauren Gronek, IU student seeking a BFA in Graphic Design and a certificate in Liberal Arts and Management.
According to Loraine Martin, Lotus embraces opportunities that have mutual benefit for creative engagement. “Our long relationship with the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design has brought together campus and community with real-world learning experiences for students, reaching far beyond the classroom, and we welcome the opportunity to work with such talented students and faculty. The team at Lotus was not only impressed with the final design by Lauren Gronek but absolutely fell in love with it. Our new logo invokes the beauty and curiosity that Lotus Blossoms sparks in our schools and beyond, as well as a way to celebrate this special 25thanniversary.”