Posted February 25, 2013

The Eighth World Meeting of Families
Philadelphia, PA

Overview of logo development:
In undertaking logo development for the Eighth World Meeting of Families, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia sought a design that would reflect family unity, the city itself and also, the city’s role as the birthplace of religious freedom in the United States thanks to William Penn, for whom the Commonwealth is named.

The above logo is a strong execution of this vision. The bell, while certainly a nod to the countless bells calling families to church around the world, is The Liberty Bell, an iconic Philadelphia landmark. Known internationally for its historic “crack,” the small white sliver intersecting the child figure within the bell depicts the reason for The Liberty Bell’s fame.

A family is represented through five distinct figures within the bell, all different heights and ages, in an effort to illustrate the many roles family members play – father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, etc.

As part of the bell’s yoke, the designer incorporated the Cross as an eye-catching and central part of the image to convey the role of Christ in the family. The font selected for “World Meeting of Families” is strong, elegant and versatile. A warm color palette is also employed so as to be inclusive of the international audience Philadelphia will welcome in September 2015.