The Law and Society Association ran an international design competition for the logo of their next conference in Mexico City. I entered the competition with a logo that drew on many Mexican influences and combined these with symbology related to maps, social groups, urban territories, connections and divides. My design was selected as the winning entry for the competition. A brief text explaining my submission is as follows:

“The relationship between law and society is complex and layered. Law is constantly in evolution and development. It both controls and enables. It also thins or frays, is open to interpretation, speculation and uncertainty. Similarly, societies are diverse and heterogeneous, both overt and elusive.

The entwined relationship between law and society is forever changing, tightening and unravelling. For example, in time some societies fall outside of traditional notions of the law, while others might adhere more rigidly to its rules, but this is never fixed nor constant through history.

This logo entry conceptually represents law as a grid, rigid at the centre while expanding and fraying outwards. Various social groupings are then constructed through a patchwork of colour. Some falling into the rational grid of the law, and others on the fringes or the frontier, where it includes and excludes, and is shaped and built. The logo also draws on a multitude of contemporary and historical Mexican references.

Most importantly, the eagle motif used in the logo is drawn from both the Mexican flag, and traditional Mexica symbology. The colours are drawn from the vibrant hues of Mexico as seen in festivals, fabrics and buildings. The diagonal lines and diamond patterns also reflect a strong weaving tradition and also represent a vibrant city street grid. The logo is highly graphic, completely scalable, powerful in black and white, and works in a variety of applications. Its various elements can also be used independently, in different formats.“