Who is Sean Heisler?

In the creative world of design, Sean Heisler is a familiar name. Heโ€™s one of the most prolific logo designer you can find on the internet. Google โ€œtypographic logoโ€ and youโ€™ll inevitably encounter one of his many ingenious creations. And if you havenโ€™t guessed already, the reason Iโ€™m featuring him is because heโ€™s the genius who conceived theย wanderlass logo!

wanderlass logo

Logo Quest

Iโ€™ve been in search of a clever logo for my clever name for the longest time. At first I tried designing one myself experimenting with several fonts, but was never happy with them. So I resolved to just use regular Arial font in my blog title. But since I decided to makeover my blog, I find myself again on a logo quest. I racked my brain, bugged my sister and artist friends. I was even referred to a Manila based graphic artist whose work I really like, but unfortunately, I donโ€™t find myself connecting with the studies sent to me. I was really embarrassed but I had to reject all of them despite suggesting few revisions.

I want a โ€œthatโ€™s it!โ€ feeling.ย I donโ€™t want to be convinced with an explanation. After all, a logo should be a representation and not be represented.

One time I was discussing my logo dilemma with designer friend, Denise. I told her I wanted to do away with clichรฉ icons such as earth, airplane, or luggage that have been used again and again by the whole travel industry.

To be simpler, I wanted just the word wanderlass as logo, thinking of the distinct images of Coca-Cola, IBM, and Google. Or maybe with a small marking is fine, thinking of Citibank and Nike. ย And she introduced me to the term โ€œtypographic logoโ€.

When I googled this term for the first time, a whole new world opened up! ย Googling โ€œlogoโ€ and โ€œtypographic logoโ€ brought different results. Try it! ย I was overwhelmed with all the beautiful creative logos but what struck me most is a logo for certainย Killed Production. Itโ€™s so simple using an Helvetica Bold type with the letter i lying horizontally. It was so brilliant I almost died.

sean heisler logo design killed

Then I poured in hours upon hours browsing logopond.com, typeface.com, and such sites hoping to find inspiration for my own logo. But I decided itโ€™s a job for professional. I email the logo designer Sean Heisler, the inventive creator of Killed Production. Within 3 days, I received the Wanderlass Logo Rationaleย from Sean. And just like that, at first try, I got it โ€“ my Thatโ€™s It! moment.

I knew it! I wasnโ€™t looking for something that cannot exist.
I knew it! I would know when I see it!

I was stunned for many minutes. I didnโ€™t even write so much when I asked for quotation, only mentioned that Killed Production logo killed me and gave him my blog URL.

Brain Picking

I was stunned. Then I celebrated. And then finally thanked Sean for his brilliance. I told him I wanted to pick his brain if heโ€™d allow me and feature him in an article. And Iโ€™m so happy that he agreed. ย So here, not a travel related article, but totally relevant to my website.

Without much further ado, may I present to you,ย Omaha, Nebraska based design genius, the Excellent Sean Heisler.

sean heisler logo design

1. How did you become a logo designer? Has this always been your path as an artist?

I have a degree in Graphic Design and so I acquired the skills to do logo design through my education. I have worked in the field for about 15 years now, working on all kinds of graphic communications, and have had the opportunity to do a lot of logo design over the years. I realized early on that logo design was something I really liked.

2. What is it about identity development that interests you?

I love the challenge of trying to summarize or tell a story in just a small little mark. There is something really great about evaluating a company and trying to get the heart of who they are or how they are different from everyone else, and then capturing that in a mark that is their face or identity.

3. Do you have a work flow in designing a logo?ย  What are your inspirations?

The most important thing for me is gathering as much information as I can about the company or individual I am doing the mark for, because the biggest pieces to the puzzle are then right there in front of you. I tend to let that kind of simmer in my brain for some time, jot down spontaneous notes when I can and try to soak it all in without forcing it. Sometimes things will hit you and you have a moment, but then other times it takes a lot of chin scratching, pencil and paper. I canโ€™t recall a particular unique moment of inspiration, but I can recall many times laying in bed trying to sleep when I will suddenly jump up out of bed to find the nearest piece of paper and a pencil to get down a word or a quick sketch so that I donโ€™t forget it!

4. What is the first logo you ever made? Which one is the first logo you created as a professional.

First logo I ever made was in an early graphic design college course. I recall it was for a fictional home audio speaker manufacturer I named Ambience Acoustics. The company name was flying around an illuminated object in the center of the type. It was fun!

The first professional logo I designed was for an arts and crafts department of a home and lifestyle magazine. I recall it was a stitched star shape holding together colorful shapes that filled the star, in a loose and misaligned fashion. I was interning at the time and when they picked my design, I couldnโ€™t believe it!

 

5. Which one do you consider your most brilliant logo? Which is your favorite logo by another artist?

Well, I designed a logo called Killed Productions, which was really a creative exploration for me at the time, not for a particular client or paying job. I shared the design with some friends on a couple web sites and people loved it. Itโ€™s the most simple logo I have ever created. Itโ€™s really taken off, people seem to love it. That logo will hopefully come to life in a full brand very soon.ย One of my all time favorite logos designed by another artist that comes to mind is a logo by Josiah Jost called Horror Films. The logo is pure genius and so simple. Itโ€™s those simple logos that are so memorable to me. There are so many though, I have about 500 favorites.

6. Who do you design for mostly? Do you get your clients locally or do they usually find you online? Is there a specific industry that you consider youโ€™re an expert in? Alcohol perhaps?

Ha ha, who doesnโ€™t love beer? I get nearly all my work from online. People will typically find me through the various logo inspiration and portfolio web sites and then contact me through there. I canโ€™t say I really focus my work on any one particular industry. One thing I am proud of in my work is the diversity of industries I have done work for, which is broad. I like any kind of challenge that comes my way.

7. How has the internet affected you as a designer? What are your aspirations, future plans, as a designer (if any)?

The internet has affected me profoundly as a designer. The internet is obviously a great research tool which helps you in solving problems and gaining knowledge. The other big thing that has affected me is social web sites centered around logo design where I can interact with other designers, get feedback from them on my designs and see how other designers are solving problems. Obviously the internet is a great way to get your work out there and to get noticed. As I have said before, the internet is also where I get work, that clearly affects me profoundly! I see logo design as a big part of my future. I have always taken logo design seriously, but it wasnโ€™t until only the past few years that I have started to really push my skills and exploration hard, so I see myself still in an infancy stage as far as where I hope to go with logo design.

sean heisler beer garden logo

8. Anything else you would like to add? ย Favorite beer?

Well, as of right now, my favorite beer is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Mmmmm, itโ€™s so good. :) I like spicy food a lot too! No, but seriously, I would like to say thank you for having the interest in interviewing me, I appreciate it. I am very pleased that you like your new logo and I had a fun time developing it.

Lilliane came to me wanting a very simple yet clever logo and I think you referenced the Killed logo if I am not mistaken? (Lillianeโ€™s note: yes i did, i said it killed me!)

Those simple and clever logos can be so hard to do at times. Often times itโ€™s simply a movement of a letter, covering up a part of a letter, overlapping a couple letters, those little things that suddenly reveal a message in a clever way. It was one of those moments that just hit me, I saw that joining the two Sโ€™s in Wanderlass formed a winding path which was a perfect way to symbolize you and your quest to lead a life not ordinary โ€” a winding path. And that was it, I knew that was it!ย Iโ€™m so glad it worked for you! Thanks again and good luck on your journeys!

 

Contact Sean through the following
website: http://seanheislerdesign.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sean_heisler/
dribble: https://dribbble.com/seanheisler