Sharon came in with a clear color direction– blue and white, in line with her university colors at UMass Boston. I designed a first round of options honoring that palette, but also pitched an alternative in the second round: black and gold. Classic graduation colors with more warmth, better contrast across merch surfaces, and a timeless quality that would hold up beyond the day itself. After seeing both directions side by side, Sharon chose black and gold and it became the color palette for both the logo, merch and the entire event decor.
A full merch suite — tote bags, hoodies, pins, and hand fans — unified by a single custom identity that felt personal, celebratory, and considered. Sharon's reaction said it best:
"This is brilliant and cute. I love it." – Sharon