In July 2017, the Harvard Summer Residential Research Program known as BLISS underwent a rebranding effort. Though the program was established as the "behavioral laboratory in the social sciences," students in the program are no longer limited to pure behavioral research. Today, they work in the lab as well as the field and the archives. Their mentors hail from psychology, sociology, government, economics, gender studies, and anthropology.
Therefore, the program managers set forth two challenges:
1. Create a more inclusive backronym for BLISS
2. Design a new logo to represent a modern research program
I wasn't feeling like a particularly gifted or clever wordsmith, so I set out to tackle challenge #2. I played with several visual concepts related to more qualitative modes of research, like categorical data representations and abstract "building blocks." My final design ended up being a lineless color-block design which I felt would be visually distinct from other program logos, as well as readable at small sizes. Off the design went for consideration!
A few weeks later, the winners of the rebranding contest were announced. The backronym which won the contest was Build Learning through Inquiry in the Social Sciences, submitted both by fellow undergrad Ellen Zhang and Associate Director Sheila Reindl at the Bureau of Study Counsel. The logo which won... was the one I submitted!
I was so happy (and surprised, honestly!) to learn that my logo had been selected. Even better, there was a prize! Thanks to the generosity of the FAS Division Social Science, I received a Wacom Intuos Draw tablet in the mail a few weeks later. This tablet has been absolutely integral to all of my artistic endeavors and growth. Who would have thought such a simple contribution would make such a huge difference?
