Duluth Forest Kinderhaus provide resources for early childhood nature-based learning. They believe that all young children should have access to play and authentic inquiry in nature. They credit young learners engaging with the natural world as a strong way for them to build respect for themselves, others, and the environment around us. With this ethos established, they were in need of a brand and logo design that would represent their mission.

Working on the logo for the Duluth Forest Kinderhaus felt a little self-serving. Allow us to explain. At the time of this project, Šek owner, Mike Smíšek, had just recently become a parent for the first time and he seized the opportunity to dream about the experiences he’d want for his daughter. As a fresh parent, images of baby animals are an everyday occurrence. They're found on toys, blankets, commercials and even diapers. With that much saturation, it was just a matter of channeling the correct cues on his journey to completing the Kinderhaus logo.

By combining a black bear cub with a textbook and the utilization of a friendly lowercase typeface, we were able to bring the school’s brand to life. “Play. Explore. Learn.” What parent could resist such a beautiful mission paired with that adorable logo?