Chopped by Lee Brand Identity

Brand Guidelines
Logo Design
Graphic Design

When my childhood friend, Liam, told me he was ready to pursue his dream of opening a barbershop and wanted me to create the logo, I was ecstatic.

This is what it is all about: creating an identity and story to help others reach their dreams. Safe to say I was happy to take this on pro bono (still waiting on my lifetime supply of free haircuts).

There was only one must-have for this logo: that it included a barber pole in the iconography. The rest was free rein.

After going back and forth with Liam on various designs, it became clear he wanted something bold. Something different. Growing up with Liam, I know he is a big fan of ’90s hip-hop and rap, specifically from the West Coast. You can catch him listening to Dr. Dre, Tupac, or Snoop any day that ends in Y.

After some research and experimentation, I came across an Angeleno-inspired typeface, and immediately it all clicked. Adding a chop and the barber pole, I knew he would love it, as well as a sleek brandmark with the scissors balancing the C & L. We had something here.

I sent over a bunch of logos and mockups and eagerly waited for his reply, including merch mockups and storefront images—as much as I could to make the dream as real as possible for him. Sure enough, he too fell in love with that logo, and the rest was history.

This was such a fun project for me. Understanding where the “client” is coming from and what they are looking for is one of the best parts of the job - especially when they end up loving the final product as much as you do.

Thanks for letting me help you realize your dream, buddy.