Background
WITR 89.7 is RIT's college radio station. Not only have they been blasting tunes for decades, they've also been making efforts in building a strong community. Collaborating with local artists, and DJs has provided incredible influence on what the station produces. Each year members have made strides in improving the quality and strength of their sound. New antenna, hardware, website, recording studio, you name it, it's been fixed or will be. Stay tuned for the stations growth to Rochester's source of Modern Music & More.
Photo: @witr897 on IG
Out with the old, In with the new
As new members enter the ranks, a cycle of every 4 or so years brings in a new expectation for the brand. The previous WITR 89.7 branding started in 2014 and ran till 2022. The bright yellow/blue design was an energetically bold mark for the station. After 2021 new officers and members switched gears in a different direction for the style. They were making efforts to become more professionally recognized and desired a logo that could reflect that.
Sketches
As Graphics Director, I was hired initially to take on the task of designing their new look. I was faced with an array of challenges with this project that made for a wonderful learning experience. Color palette was open to exploration, and every other aspect for making the brand stand out. I presented ranges of ideas with sample palettes to gauge what officers were looking for and enjoyed. Designing for a group-based client was no easy task when everyone has an opinion.
New Directions
While success was with a few of my initial concepts, they didn't satisfy the group as a whole. A few members gave me examples of what they liked about other radio station logos and assisted my research from there. I worked with the General Manager to figure out the final type face and general look of brand concepts. This made the process much easier since it pulled back on the overwhelming amount of feedback and opinions that can come from a large group.
Sound bars that reference the Rochester skyline were a key element to this phase of development, but would later be removed from the logo revisions due to the similarities it created with the WGSU logo of Suny Geneseo's station. I found ways to implement it as an asset for backgrounds.
The Reveal
Many revisions later, a logo is finally approved. The officers were very involved in choices made in the creation of this logo, especially with the new color palette. This mark emphasizes the professional quality of the new brand. Bai Jamjuree, a sturdy, sans-serif type face is chosen that feels both modern and reputable. Manrope is chosen for the body copy and other brand material text due to its breadth of weight options and ease of legibility.
Social Media
Whenever there are events or shows going on related to WITR 89.7, it is my duty to make sure their requested graphics are ready. This is accomplished with a mix of programs and frequent use of illustration for unique material.
DJ Shows
