MIND BODY DOJO
“Train your body, cultivate your mind.”
Many people are in search of a training that provides not just a sweaty workout, but also flexibility, control over their body, self-confidence, and a way to cope with the stressors of life. This is the goal of Sensei Mark Lewkowitz, someone who has devoted his life to teaching the real, authentic practice of karate and making it available to people of all ages with or without experience in martial arts. He has trained under the renowned Sensei Yoshio Kuba as well as many other teachers directly in Okinawa, Japan, the birthplace of karate.
Rooted in its traditional Okinawan style, Mind Body Dojo is a martial art school that evolves authentic practices of Goju-Ryu and Shotokan karate to create a multi-faceted blend. This dojo embodies its name, teaching how to forge a connection between the mind, body and spirit. With rigorous cardio, whole-body stretching, deep breathing, self-defense, and kata, MBD covers a widely diverse set of skills that improve each student’s physical health, mental coordination, and overall sense of well-being.
Year: 2023
Client: Mind Body Dojo
Role:
Brand Identity
Typography
Illustration
Animation
The Concept
With power and equanimity at the forefront of my mind, as well as the details provided in the brief, I designed this logo with the intention of making it impactful, grounding, and unifying. Every aspect of this design has a connection to Japanese culture and the spirit of karate.
The circular brush stroke, a symbol commonly used in Zen Buddhism, provides a psychological sense of unity and protection, in addition to the deep spiritual meanings associated with it. Encapsulated by the circle is the symbol of the dragon, a powerful figure held at high regard in Japanese culture, representing wisdom, strength and honor. Being the forefront of the logo, I wanted the dragon to have a similar calligraphic design that fits in with the brushed circle, but more solidified. The dragon holds the martial symbol (‘Bu’), an important character that represents the art of what is studied at this dojo.
The Type
I designed the official typeface for MBD with the idea of creating modern, san serif lettering that was reminiscent of Japanese kanji. Every corner is slightly rounded, with protruded angles added to certain letters, and a squared fit across the entire typeface. These characteristics allow the lettering to stand out when printed or used in digital content, as well as the seamless pairing with Japanese typography wherever needed. The result is a typeface that embodies the boldness of the brand, while also keeping a structured, minimalist design throughout.
The Colors
I chose this color palette with the idea of tying it to the roots of the dojo. The yellow green resembles the tropical island of Okinawa and provides a sense of the bright earthy tones found throughout the island where karate was born. The cardinal red ties back to the sense of power, energy, and courage that comes with training in karate, also creating a strong contrast with the rest of the colors, especially black. The two earthy tones of off-white and gray resemble the inside of the dojo: tatami mats, pinewood boards, and uniforms, while also giving a sense of calm and balance.
Illustrations
With MBD having a variety of symbols needed throughout the dojo’s educational material and merchandise, I designed four different illustrated assets to be used accordingly. Each one holds an important meaning to either the progression of karate, what the practice stands for, or the culture of which it derives from. I wanted them to have a rustic, handmade feel in order to match the official logo’s design and give the ability to seamlessly combine them in various ways.
