The Order of the Watch

As a hypothetical design exercise in branding and storytelling for the Maryland Institute College of Art Graphic Design MA (GDMA) program, I was tasked with creating a conceptual identity for an organization which honors or uplifts any creature of my choice from myth or legend. For my take on this project, I chose an esoteric muse, the Kyrkogrim, and sought to comment on a cause close to my own heart: the sanctity of death and preservation of burial spaces.

Based in old Christian belief, the Kyrkogrim (alternatively Church Grim or Kirkegrim) is an entity believed to guard burial grounds from vandalism and wayward spirits. Evoking the Kyrkogrim’s protective role, I created The Order of the Watch: an alliance of individuals dedicated to preserving the sanctity of the dead and their places of rest. 

This project was completed in 2021 under the guidance of Sandra Maxa and Brockett Horne as part of the Graphic Design MA program at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Collateral materials I created for The Watch include custom illustrated bandanas — used to distinguish Watch members from mourners visiting their grounds — as well as stationery and packaging, including postcards and custom wax seals, and The Watchers’ Logbook, a journal for members of The Watch to track their activities and duties.

Harking back to the Kyrkogrim’s folklore origins, the identity of The Order of the Watch is decidedly analogue, with a heavy emphasis on handwritten records and screen-free methods of communication. In particular, I drew tactile and textural inspiration from the Grim’s religious roots: the palm-sized, tabbed logbook echoes the designs of pocket-friendly bibles; the sigil on the bandana evokes the angular cuts used to represent rays of light in stained glass windows. Custom wax seals and intentionally opaque flavor text nod toward the identity of The Watchers themselves, a secretive group well suited for late nights and silent watches.