I was tasked with reimagining the visual identity of LA’s historic and mysterious Philosophical Research Society. I wanted to honor its almost 100-year-old legacy by pulling visual elements from Manly P. Hall’s literature and the many mystical, religious, and esoteric traditions tied to the foundation. The identity system is rooted in analog design—everything from color palette and type choices to grid systems and paper stock was chosen to reflect the organization’s depth and history.
The PRS insignia was created to honor the organization’s historic visual language. An eye within a hand sits at the center—its pupil forming the logotype—framed by a triangular shape that nods to the Eye of Providence, with a halo referencing its spiritual roots. The mark evokes mysticism, wisdom, and the feeling of a secret society, drawing inspiration from symbols like the Freemasons and Illuminati. The typography was produced through letterpress using early 1900s wood-slab serif type, similar to what appeared in Manly P. Hall’s original journals—paying tribute to analog production and PRS’ print history.
For the physical deliverables, I focused on production as a way to define the color palette. Inspired by Horizons, PRS’ journal from the 1940s–70s, I selected paper stock that mirrored the muted “office paper” tones of the originals. Ink colors were chosen to match the letterpress hues used in those early prints. While I opted for risograph printing instead of traditional letterpress, the analog texture remains central. The palette—green and pink paper with red and blue ink—was carried through both the printed and digital components of the system.
Physical display of risographed deliverables, and promotional bumper.
Visual identity system guidelines deck.
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To honor both the analog roots of PRS and the dense symbology in Hall’s writings, I created a stop-motion animation using paper cutouts. Starting in black and white allowed me to reflect the visual tone of the overall system, with color and texture added in post. The piece features a voice clip of Manly P. Hall himself—bringing a sense of mystery and the feeling of being initiated into something larger and unseen.