Sometime after entering college at Sheridan, I realized the importance of having your own personal identity and design style that can be easily recognizable. We had taken a class that showcased the importance of branding, and I took it upon myself to create a visual identity for myself for the times when I would do freelance work outside of school. That motivation turned into the logo, showcased for one of the hardest clients I’ve ever worked for: myself.
A little about me
I'm William Jay St Holl, a passionate and hardworking interaction designer from Ontario, Canada. I specialize in motion design, UX/UI, and branding. Collaborating with others and working on initiatives that have the potential to positively impact people's lives is something I aim for with every project I do.
I used to love computers and sketching when I was younger, but I didn't like using erasers and ruining my drawings. I made the decision to use digital media to express my creativity, and thus far it proved to be a wise one. In addition to exploring colour palettes and design ideas, I like to play video games, watch sports, and take pictures with just about any camera I can find.
Moodboard & Inspirations
My style has been inspired by a lot of works that are minimal in nature, but have a lot of busy line work. I attempted to mix cyberpunk-esq visuals with some of the shapes, colours and hobbies that I like in order to make my process more personalized.
Thought Process
There was a lot of subtle meaning within the Logo that I created pertaining to a lot of things that my late father would teach me. He gave me values that I try to follow in my life, like always having fun and working hard for the people around me to share that happiness with. Hence why I attempted to emulate a crown for the inspiration for the Logo itself using the letter W. This letter is symbolic in my family as everyone in it has their name start with W or an M, and I think the subtle meaning of continuing to aim for a “W” no matter what happens is something that has kept me going even in the situation where I have lost someone dearly. This logo represents my resolve as a multidisciplinary designer. The crown representing my tradition and commitment to being better for the people around me, while the W represents my family and our togetherness.
Colour & Typography
The primary colours for my brand was orange, followed by black and white as the supplementary colours. Orange has been my favourite colour for a very long time, probably due to the fact that I like to play basketball, and it can blend well with natural colours. It is also a colour associated with creativity, energy and fun. Values that resonate with me very well.
