On the drawing board! From Issue 162

Seriously Strange: Redefining the Anomalous Through Thoughtful Design. 

For years, “Seriously Strange” has been a hallmark phrase of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena. It’s more than a catchy tagline; it encapsulates our mission to take the Strange seriously. This ethos underpins our magazine, our annual conference, and now, our audio venture too, a podcast. Created a new series of graphics. Embracing the familiar name and font style was a natural choice.

Yet, translating “Seriously Strange” into artwork and graphics posed a challenge. The paranormal space is crowded with clichés: spooky houses, misty forests, and Ouija boards. While evocative, these tropes didn’t align with ASSAP’s distinct approach. Need to create visuals that were striking yet sophisticated, reflecting the organizations intent to explore the variety of anomalous phenomena, the design has to match those aims and stand out from the crowd. To get there, I went back to the drawing board—literally—soul-searching through motifs, slogans, and finding the essence of our brand.

The breakthrough came from visiting ASSAP’s own “Who We Are” webpage, where there is an outline of the four broad domains of anomalous phenomena, that ASSAP are interested in.

Psi Phenomena: Ghosts, telepathy, remote viewing, and the mysteries of consciousness. 
Forteana: Cryptids, bizarre events—like fish falling from the sky—and other oddities. 
Earth Mysteries: Ley lines, archaeoastronomy, and monumental works like Stonehenge. 
UFOlogy: Unidentified aerial phenomena and their cultural significance
 
These pillars became the foundation of our visual identity. The goal was clear: create a graphic that tells this story, reflects these elements, and remains instantly recognizable. After careful consideration, I settled on using five icons to embody the podcast’s story and scope.

(Some early sketches previews - No not a lamppost! A thought to include Nessie curving up the left side)

A Microphone: Symbolizing the podcast itself, our platform for discussion and discovery. 
A Mind Projecting Outward: Representing psi phenomena and the exploration of consciousness. 
Bigfoot’s Iconic Stride: A nod to Forteana and the enigmatic world of cryptids. 
A Dolmen from Stonehenge: Echoing Earth Mysteries and humanity’s ancient, mysterious achievements. 
A Sport-Model UFO Outline: Capturing UFOlogy and the enduring intrigue of the skies. 

Together, these icons weave a narrative, like hieroglyphics or emoji. They signal that ASSAP isn't just about one topic or one area, there is a connection to all the anomalous phenomena. “Seriously Strange” isn’t just another paranormal podcast—it’s a space where diverse, often perplexing topics are presented and dissected with thoughtfulness and clarity. The design is visually pleasing yet purposeful, balancing accessibility with the depths of topics up for presentation. This final graphic isn’t just a logo; it’s a declaration. It reflects who we are and what we discuss—an invitation to listeners to join us in taking the strange, seriously.
 

Left: An early inclination before the addition of the iconic glyphs
Right: The glyphs and ASSAP logo 
Bottom Centre: Seriously Strange and glyphs