Top Five hosts Chris Paek and Liz Lin wanted to create the podcast they couldn’t find.
Top Five offers an analysis of pop culture and current events from two Asian-American perspectives. This may be the only podcast where, in the same episode, the hosts break down their top five moments at the Oscars and discuss why the new Mulan trailer was problematic. I worked with Chris and Liz to create podcast art and a simple yet flexible identity that is smart, professional, and fun.
Client:
Top Five
Year:
2019
SCOPE OF WORK:
Brand Identity
Logomark
Drawing inspiration from the podcast’s name, I used the number 5 as a starting point from which to build the brand’s identity. The logomark’s numerical form is constructed from simple blocks to represent the breaking down of complex topics through conversation.
Breaking down and rearranging the component shapes of the logo on a 5x5 grid—and then combining it with photography—creates a highly flexible system for episode art that still feels cohesive.
The logo’s shapes can be combined in an infinite number of ways and still create a seamless pattern. I felt this was a clever way to echo the unscripted nature of Top Five. The hosts come to the table with a discussion topic, but the resulting conversation could go down any number of paths.
These ideas are reinforced by the podcast’s tagline: Break down everything.
