Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion Office Sports New Look with Updated Logo
The Exchange’s Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion Office (EEODI) is sporting a new look after updating its logo. The move reflects a wider effort to update and modernize logos across the Exchange’s special emphasis programs.
“During a meeting with the special emphasis program executive champions, we realized the logo had been in place for some time,” said Anna Jeffries, the EEODI office’s associate officer. “We had an opportunity to further develop awareness, appreciation and allyship for diversity and inclusion, and to bring associates together to drive change.”
The EEODI office reached out to visual merchandising managers for help with the redesign, getting associates involved in the effort.
Designed by Ray Conner, visual merchandiser at the KMC Consolidated Exchange, the new logo represents all associates at the Exchange.
The red peak symbolizes the success and potential all associates can achieve at the Exchange. The letters of the EEODI acronym are connected to symbolize a harmonious and inclusive workplace.
Conner said he was happy to work on the logo because he enjoys working on projects outside of his usual duties.
“When Ms. Jeffries asked if I could assist with creating a new logo, I was happy to jump in,” he said.
He took a mechanical and detached approach in coming up with a concept. “I approach each design as a task with rules rather than as an artistic endeavor,” he said.
He follows four general steps when he creates: Define the concept in three to five words; create multiple rough drafts; take a break and come back with fresh eyes; then draft a write-up and submit for approval and feedback.
“Acronyms are cheat sheets,” Conner said. “I had ‘opportunity,’ ‘diversity,’ and ‘inclusion’ to work with right off the bat. From there, each word was expanded. Ultimately, the process during that step is just ‘this’ means ‘that’ until I had something that works.”
Conner also said the peak was originally intended to be a path to signify a “path of opportunity,” but decided to allude to the Exchange’s current logo—red and blue chevrons coming together— instead.
Design competitions for special emphasis programs logos, including AAFES Asian Pacific Exchange Group’s (AAPEX) contest that will end May 3, will take place throughout the fiscal year as part of a wider effort to modernize logos.
