Professor Chae Lee Design Workshop Helps Create New Identity Logo for PlayBuilders!

Last year, the PlayBuilders Board of Directors decided that it would be a good idea to mark our 10th anniversary by having a fresh new logo created. Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak contacted ​Professor Chae Ho Lee, Chair of the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoaʻs Department of Art and Art History, for help. Chae told us about a design worship he runs in the spring where the senior design students work on projects for non-profits, and after some vetting on his part, he chose PlayBuilders to be part of it.  He said, "Non-profits often do not have the money to pay for good design, but they deserve good design."  He chose us because he believed our mission would be meaningful to his students. We were thrilled when offered us the opportunity to have them design the logo for us.

The process was an amazing experience for us. The workshop was set up as a competitive experience for the students. Each had to interview the client. In this case, Terri Madden of PlayBuilders. They had to research our history, what we do, design the logos, and then present the logos in a business like manner with the goal of obtaining the commission. About 30 students competed against each other.  Just like real life.   Terri Madden says, "Being on the receiving end of those presentation was overwhelming. Each student understood our history and mission on a very deep level. It was like they were becoming an important part of who we are.  The passion, thought and talent that went into each design was beautiful and affirming."  Finally, each student did a final presentation of their finished logo to several board, and soon after, the class was notified of the selection.

It was not an easy decision to make. All of the logos were excellent, and we could have proudly chosen several of them, but it was Abbey Drew's that drew us in because although it is modern, it has so much aloha. Each component of the design can be used as a teaching tool to help explain our methodology in community-based playmaking. We appreciate Professor Chae Ho Lee and all the students who put so much into the creation of amazing designs. Thank you for helping us and for  serving hardworking non-profits of Hawaiʻi in this way. Mahalo nui to everyone and congratulations to Abbey Drew for being selected.