A logo is more than a visual marker of recognition. For a research lab, like the VIR (Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning) Lab, a logo can reveal the group’s values. It can also create a shared sense of identity among members and help make the lab’s work more recognizable. At VIR Lab, we believe collaboration is essential in making progress in education. Collaboration is not only the foundation of our team, but of our logo, which is easily identifiable through the interaction of two individuals surrounding the team’s logo. Inside the logo, is the abbreviation of our lab name: VIR. In the following, we share the process behind the creation of our team’s logo.
Exploring Ideas and Inspiration
The need for a logo was first introduced by one of our team members, Kristen Stecher. This introduction led to the creation of a lab logo committee, where our responsibilities included researching and collaboratively creating the VIR Lab logo. Our committee consisted of Kristen, Isabel Chen, Maria-Josée Bran Lopez, and all of us (the authors of this article). First, to understand what a research lab logo should look like, we identified commonalities among logos in other research labs. Through our research, we noticed that there is a vast range in logo design choices among other research teams. For example, some research groups opted for a more simplistic, clear-cut visual, while others aimed for a more detailed, complex image. Some logos included a drawing with their research team’s acronym, while others opted for it to only contain the acronym. Seeing these different approaches helped us consider how we could balance meaning, clarity, and simplicity.
Developing the Design
With this inspiration, we began focusing on the letters VIR. We explored how the letters might communicate the identity of the lab and our focus on communication and how they could be arranged in a way that felt both distinctive and easy to recognize. We then identified how we could represent these elements visually. After members developed a number of sketches using different fonts, layouts, and visual arrangements, we all pitched in our ideas of what we preferred or wished to change. Some ideas emerged based on readability, while others focused on making the logo more simplistic. Importantly, we aimed to find a colour scheme that was complementary to McGill’s visual identity, yet still established a recognizable look for VIR Lab. Throughout the discussions, we had a common goal of developing a logo that best represented our team. Our initial sketches of logos were created using either PowerPoint or Canva.
The process involved several rounds of discussion, revision, and voting. We also used a survey to invite feedback from VIR Lab’s members outside the smaller logo committee to see what designs and color schemes they preferred (shown below). They also provided suggestions for refining the designs. These conversations helped us narrow down the options and better understand which designs felt clear, meaningful, and versatile.
Selecting the Final Logo & What the Process Meant for Us
After reviewing the different versions, we selected a final design and developed several variations for different uses. These included formats with just letters, as well as color variations that could be used across presentations, posters, websites, and other materials.
What makes a logo “perfect” is when a team feels proud to feel represented by it. The final logo reflects the central ideas of VIR Lab while remaining simple and flexible. Just as importantly, it reflects the collaborative process through which it was created. The process reminded us that collaboration is about making space for different ideas and ensuring that people feel their contributions are valued, even when not every suggestion appears in the final design. Our logo represents not only who we are as a research lab, but also how we work together as a community.