Designing the DeAlba Reporting Service Logo - The Sketching Process

DeAlba Reporting Service is a court reporting firm. Per the initial meeting with Judy of DeAlba Reporting Service, I was to incorporate some form of legal icon (e.g., the scales of justice, pillars, the capitol dome).

While sketching out concepts and conducting research, I discovered that the stenograph keys look nothing like a standard keyboard. The keys are actually elongated and have a vertical layout. Immediately, I was drawn to incorporating the keys as a part of the capitol dome.

The concept was accepted well by D.R.S., however they felt that the capitol dome shape was not quite the imagery they were looking for. I also realized that the steno keys would be hard to distinguish at a smaller size (e.g., if it were on a business card).

"I LOVE the way you incorporated the steno keys into the capitol building, but the concensus is that that reminds people of Sacramento vs the bay area. Can we stick with the idea of the steno keys and incorporating that into the name DeAlba? Are there other legal icons (like a book/transcript) that can utilize the steno keys?"

-Judith DeAlba, DeAlba Reporting Service

Back to the drawing board. Literally. Another concept I had while sketching was a pillar, which easily represents a courthouse. The stenograph keys seemed to fit right into place. The final logo was praised!

Click here to see the final logo.