The Arras Foundation was formerly named J. Marion Sims Foundation, the leading philanthropic organization in Lancaster, North Carolina. Arras (AIR-us) is a Middle English word meaning diverse tapestry. The new name reflects the foundation's spirit and the importance of serving all the individuals in the area together.
The logo is a green thread shaped like an A, designed by Yaxi. The Arras Foundation launched its new logo in July 2020. The logo artwork and guideline was created by Yaxi Xiao and was delivered via Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv studio in New York, U.S.
The logo of the Arras Foundation is created one single dynamic stroke that constructs a soft but firm "A." The stroke "A" is a hopeful gesture that starts with a progressive change and ends with a continuous rising movement. The handwritten form of the big "A" gives it a less mechanic feeling. Instead, it keeps a warm sense of human and nostalgia, reflecting the fundamental characteristic of the Arras Foundation. The texture of arras inspires me of the variation of thickness and thinness of the stroke, to demonstrate the arras' distinctive magic--high flexibility, yet with strength, and consistency. When it comes to the lettering, Arras Foundation is put in lowercase and a light font so it can balance off the weight of the hero symbol. The lettering sits slightly above the bottom horizon of the symbol to flow with the movement of the end. The color is a fresh green that strongly associates with hope and energy. Overall, I try to make the logo approachable, highly recognizable, and, most importantly, seamlessly compatible with The Arras Foundation.
