Trinity United Methodist Church Logo

The Challenge

Trinity is my own church. The congregation knew me and my work, and when the church decided it needed a true logo, the communications committee asked me to design it.

Until then, Trinity had used its name set in type, with no symbol. The church wanted a mark that felt clean and modern, signaled a progressive and growing congregation, and still respected its history.

The Approach

I presented several concepts to the committee. With a name like Trinity, the strongest direction was a trinity symbol, representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I built the symbol from three fish, inspired by Matthew 4:19: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” The heads of the three fish join into one, sharing a single eye that represents a unified vision. The fish sit inside a circle that suggests a stained glass window, like the one in Trinity’s sanctuary.

The name is set in classic serif capitals, with “United Methodist Church” in spaced capitals below.

The System

To keep the logo consistent as different people used it, I produced a graphic standards manual covering:

• Logo versions: a primary vertical logo, a horizontal version, and a casual “Three Points” version without the circle
• Color: PMS 200 red as the primary color, with purple, a liturgical color, for a more reserved secondary version
• Usage rules: a clearance area based on the proportions of the fish, plus examples of incorrect usage
• Typography: Gotham as the primary typeface and Minion Pro as the secondary
• Stationery: specifications for the letterhead, envelope, and business card

The Result

Trinity has used the logo since 2008, and it now identifies the church across all three of its campuses, including on its signage.

Need a logo and the standards to keep it consistent? Learn more about Brand Identity Design.