Lyra Interactive was envisioned as a modern web development and digital solutions company. I created the company in September of 2025 around the time that my contract with NASA was ending. While the business itself never really grew out of the startup phase, I wanted the branding to communicate precision, craftsmanship, and technical excellence. The name “Lyra” comes from the constellation and the ancient stringed instrument, making it a natural fit for an agency focused on bringing creativity and technology together with the potential to gain aeronautic related companies as clients.
The Direction
Every logo begins with exploration rather than execution. Before focusing on shapes or typography, I spent time considering what the name “Lyra” communicated. The constellation carries ideas of navigation, discovery, and precision, while the historical lyre instrument evokes creativity and craftsmanship. My challenge was finding a visual language that captured these themes without becoming overly literal. I spent some time looking at various concepts trying to get some ideas. Here are some of the things that stuck out to me in the process:
Avoiding Clichés
One of my goals was to avoid creating a logo that relied on obvious visual metaphors. Rather than illustrating a harp or drawing a collection of stars, I explored ways to hint at those ideas through abstraction. This allowed the final mark to feel more contemporary while remaining connected to the inspiration behind the name.
Looking for Versatility
A logo has to work almost everywhere. During the sketch phase I wasn’t simply looking for the most attractive design—I was looking for the most adaptable one. Every concept was evaluated by asking whether it could work as a favicon, scale to large signage, reproduce in a single color, and remain recognizable across both print and digital applications. It was a tough process. I tinkered with several ideas once I got some concepts into the computer.
Refining the Color Palette
With the overall direction established, I turned my attention to color. Although typography and iconography form the foundation of a brand, color often becomes the first emotional connection someone makes with it. My goal was to choose a palette that reflected innovation and technical expertise while remaining approachable and memorable.
I explored several directions, including vibrant blues, energetic purples, and modern teal tones. Each palette brought its own personality to the identity. Blue communicated trust and stability, purple emphasized creativity and imagination, while teal offered a balance between both worlds. In the end, the teal palette best represented the vision for Lyra Interactive—a company focused on building thoughtful, modern digital experiences with both creativity and precision.
The Final Touch
Rather than simply shrinking the full logo, I isolated the star icon and refined it into a standalone mark. This allowed the favicon to retain the visual identity of the brand while remaining clean and legible at extremely small sizes. The result is a simple but distinctive icon that complements the primary logo across digital platforms.
I used the Favicomatic website to mass create the files for each size, and it came out pretty well.
Project Summary
Looking back, what I appreciate most about this project isn’t simply the finished logo—it’s the process that led there. Strong design rarely appears in a single moment of inspiration. It evolves through research, sketching, experimentation, refinement, and countless small decisions. Lyra Interactive represents that journey, and it continues to influence the way I approach branding projects today.