Logo | Social Media University, Global (SMUG)

Ruth LaGue, Associate Professor of Graphic Arts – SMUG

In July and August we held a contest, inviting SMUGgles to create a new official seal for SMUG, and then asking the “student body” to select the winner. In addition to the undying gratitude of SMUGgles everywhere (and there are now more than 800 of us representing every continent except Antarctica), I said the winner would be designated an Associate Professor of Graphic Arts. Today, I’m glad to introduce you to that new professor, Ruth LaGue. Here’s her bio:

Ruth LaGue – Creative Consultant/ Art Director

Ruth is an Internet marketing consultant with 20 years of design experience. She excels at translating brands into visually engaging, integrated online experiences.

Ruth formerly worked as a senior art director at AGENCY.com: Boston. During that time, she was the creative lead on CIGNA.com, a multi-million dollar Web site that translated CIGNA’s brand online. She also was one of the creative leads working on projects for Liberty Mutual’s South American operations.

Her interactive career began at THINK New Ideas, where she was a senior designer and then an art director, creating Web sites and CD-ROM projects. Her clients included Fidelity, Evergreen and Progress.com.

Ruth’s graphic design career started at WHDH-TV, Boston ‘s NBC affiliate. As assistant art director, she developed branding and visual solutions for local programming, news and public affairs campaigns.

Her awards include a Gold award from Broadcast Designers Association, a Bronze award from Broadcast Designers Association and a MIMC award.

Ruth received a bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island School of Design, and an MBA from Simmons College School of Management.

Contact Ruth on Twitter at @RuthLague, or see her portfolio.

Thanks to everyone who was involved in the SMUG seal contest, whether it was in submitting candidate seals or helping to select the finalists and eventual winner.

Wanted: Professor of Graphic Arts

Update 6/13/09: Please read all the way through for the update at the bottom of this post.

As we approach the four-month anniversary of the founding of Social Media University, Global, your Chancellor is still looking for a creative logo to replace this wordmark:

I’m thinking something that resembles a coat of arms or a crest, like all of those “real” universities…such as:

Harvard

Yale

Or maybe something round, like these:

Stanford

Carleton College

Or some blending of the two, like this one from the University of St. Thomas:

Given that many college seals are in a circular shape, and that part of our school’s name is “Global” it would seem to make sense to have a representation of the Earth as part of the SMUG seal’s framework.

If you wanted to include Latin in your design, maybe you could use fragments of the “Lorem ipsum” text traditionally used for placeholders in mock-ups. Or if anyone can translate our University motto — It’s Not That Hard — into Latin, that would be even better. The year of our founding, 2008, should be included in the seal, too.

My artistic skills are limited to drawing word pictures, so I would appreciate it if students who are more graphically talented would contribute their artistry to good ol’ SMUG U. Please let me know if you’re interested in working on this.

Speaking of word pictures, one project I will be working on myself is a school song. It’ll be coming soon. But to do a really cool recruitment music video, we need a better logo.

Whoever submits the best logo will of course be compensated in links and salutations, and will earn tenured professorship in the SMUG Department of Fine Art.

Update 6/13/09: I’m working on a project for which it would be really great to have a new SMUG seal. And an official seal would be a nice addition to my presentations. As you can see from the banner at the top of this page (and the comments below) we’ve got our school motto translated as Suus Non Ut Difficile, which ideally would be incorporated into the seal design. If you’re up for the challenge (or know someone who might be able to help) please get in touch with me by email (see the contact form) or by Twitter @LeeAase. I’m open to providing financial remuneration if necessary in addition to the fame and glory referenced above.

Cast your vote now!