Dry Bones
![Dry Bones Featured Image](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/DB_Header_Dore.jpg)
Dry Bones is a long-standing community of support among Denver’s unhoused teens and young adults. They have the simple but radical belief that companionship itself can be profoundly transformative. So alongside helping to meet emotional, spiritual, and physical needs, their real work is building ongoing relationships that remind the invisible among us of their immeasurable worth.
We created an edgy yet sophisticated visual identity that breaths new life into their provocative name. Inspired by Gustave Dore's gothic etching depicting God bringing dead bones back to life, we created a custom wordmark that literally grows from a smattering of typographic shards.
Disciplines
- Visual Identity
- Copywriting & Brand Voice
- Illustration
- Motion Graphics
- Web Design & Development
![DB Logo Round 2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1920_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Logo_Round_2.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1440_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Logo_Round_2.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x1200_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Logo_Round_2.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x992_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Logo_Round_2.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x768_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Logo_Round_2.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x576_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Logo_Round_2.jpg 576w)
![DB Motion Pile](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/DB_Motion_Pile.gif)
We created a custom wordmark that grows from a smattering of typographic bone shards.
![DB LOGO R3 BIZCARD](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1280_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_BIZCARD.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x960_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_BIZCARD.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x800_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_BIZCARD.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x661_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_BIZCARD.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x512_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_LOGO_R3_BIZCARD.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x384_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_LOGO_R3_BIZCARD.jpg 576w)
![DB Primary Logo](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1920_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Primary_Logo.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1440_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Primary_Logo.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x1200_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Primary_Logo.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x992_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Primary_Logo.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x768_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Primary_Logo.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x576_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Primary_Logo.jpg 576w)
The brand needed to speak without pandering to two very different worlds: Teens living on the streets, but also legal officials and church donors.
![DB Dore Pattern](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1080_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Dore_Pattern.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x810_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Dore_Pattern.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x675_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Dore_Pattern.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x558_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Dore_Pattern.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x432_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Dore_Pattern.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x324_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Dore_Pattern.jpg 576w)
So we created an identity that could shapeshift between edgy and sophisticated...
![DB LOGO R3 Hoodie2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1680_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_Hoodie2.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1260_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_Hoodie2.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x1050_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_Hoodie2.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x868_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_Hoodie2.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x672_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_LOGO_R3_Hoodie2.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x504_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_LOGO_R3_Hoodie2.jpg 576w)
Worn with pride on a street kid's hoodie,
...yet taken seriously on letterhead to a judge.
![DB LOGO R3 LETTERHEAD](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1080_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_LETTERHEAD.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x810_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_LETTERHEAD.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x675_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_LETTERHEAD.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x558_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_LOGO_R3_LETTERHEAD.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x432_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_LOGO_R3_LETTERHEAD.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x324_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_LOGO_R3_LETTERHEAD.jpg 576w)
![DB You Belong 3](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1080_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_YouBelong_3.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x810_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_YouBelong_3.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x675_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_YouBelong_3.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x558_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_YouBelong_3.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x432_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_YouBelong_3.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x324_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_YouBelong_3.jpg 576w)
We used motion to convey the brand story of new life emerging from death.
![DB Triangle](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1080_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Triangle.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x810_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Triangle.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x675_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Triangle.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x558_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Triangle.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x432_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Triangle.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x324_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Triangle.jpg 576w)
Finally we documented the identity, strategy, and messaging in a useful guide to empower both old hands and new volunteers to use the new identity effectively on their own.
![DB Brand Book2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1293_crop_center-center_82_line/DB__BrandBook2.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x969_crop_center-center_82_line/DB__BrandBook2.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x808_crop_center-center_82_line/DB__BrandBook2.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x668_crop_center-center_82_line/DB__BrandBook2.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x517_crop_center-center_60_line/DB__BrandBook2.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x387_crop_center-center_60_line/DB__BrandBook2.jpg 576w)
![DB Pile](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1080_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Pile.png 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x810_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Pile.png 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x675_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Pile.png 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x558_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_Pile.png 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x432_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Pile.png 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x324_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_Pile.png 576w)
Visit drybonesdenver.org to donate or volunteer.
![DB End2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x470_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_End2.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x352_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_End2.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x293_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_End2.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x242_crop_center-center_82_line/DB_End2.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x188_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_End2.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x141_crop_center-center_60_line/DB_End2.jpg 576w)
Credits
- Creative Direction & Strategy
Marke Johnson & Adam Blake
- Design
Kyle Huninghake
- Illustration
Michelle Merlin
- Messaging & Copywriting
Marke Johnson & Adam Blake
- Project Management
Kimberly Johnson
- Motion Graphics
Marke Johnson
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Matt Wallace, Nikki Wallace, Robbie Goldman, Tami Bonner, and all the crew at Dry Bones Denver who took us around the city to meet your friends, educating us about your vital work, and embracing our work with excitement.