How I Created My Logo and What It Means
Beyond Design: Crafting a Logo with Intention
Let’s be real — a logo is so much more than just a cool image you slap on your website or merch. At least, that’s how I see it! For me, a logo is like the heart and soul of a brand, squeezed into a single symbol. It’s your first impression, your silent ambassador, and the anchor that holds everything together.
When I started dreaming up the logo for LRY8.Art, I knew it couldn’t just be something trendy or eye-catching. I wanted every single detail — every line, every shape, every color — to mean something. I wanted it to tell a story, to reflect the deeper journey and intentions behind this whole project. A great logo isn’t just about looking good; it’s about sharing who you are and what you stand for, without even saying a word.
Shapes, colors, and symbols? They’re not just design choices — they’re ways to connect. The right mix can make people feel something, spark their curiosity, and invite them to dig deeper into what your brand is all about. But honestly, the real magic happens when you open up and share the story behind your logo. When people know the meaning woven into each part, the logo becomes more than just a mark — it becomes a message, a symbol of your values and dreams.
I truly believe a logo should be a beacon, guiding people to a deeper understanding of what you’re building. It should start conversations, make you proud, and remind everyone (including yourself!) of the journey you’re on. So, in the next part, I’ll spill all the details about how the LRY8.Art logo came to life, what each piece means, and why it matters so much to our community.
Buckle up, grab some coffe and snacks — this is a long ride. Not to brag, but you will really be surprise at how much can be packed into a simple logo!
The full logo with texts
Finding Inspiration: Ikigai
On my journey of self-discovery and searching for meaning, I’ve come across all sorts of ideas and philosophies. But there’s one concept that really stuck with me and changed the way I look at life: the Japanese idea of Ikigai.
Ikigai - 生き甲斐 (pronounced “ee-kee-guy”) is such a beautiful word. It basically means “a reason for being” — that special something that gets you out of bed in the morning, excited for the day ahead. The idea comes from Okinawa, Japan, a place famous for its happy, long-living people and their strong sense of community. What’s cool about Ikigai is that it’s all about finding the sweet spot where what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for all come together. When you find that balance, life just feels more meaningful and joyful (García & Miralles, 2017).
What I love about Ikigai is that it’s not about chasing money or status. It’s about feeling fulfilled, making a difference, and belonging to something bigger than yourself. The book “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles explains it in such a relatable way — it’s about waking up with purpose, not just chasing a paycheck.
And get this: studies have shown that people who feel they’ve found their Ikigai actually live longer and healthier lives (Sone et al., 2008). How awesome is that?
For me, discovering Ikigai was a real turning point. It made me rethink my values and what I want LRY8.Art to stand for. So, how did Ikigai influenced the LRY8.Art lgo design?
Sources:
García, H., & Miralles, F. (2017). Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.
Sone, T., Nakaya, N., Ohmori, K., et al. (2008). Sense of life worth living (ikigai) and mortality in Japan: Ohsaki Study. BMJ, 337, a364.
This image is one that’s often used to represent the concept of Ikigai. You’ll see four circles, each standing for a different sphere of life: what the world needs, what you can be paid for, what you’re good at, and what you love. Where these circles overlap, you find different aspects of fulfillment—but it’s that sweet spot in the very center, where all four come together, that represents your Ikigai: your reason for being.
Funny enough, you might have seen this diagram before (look at the LRY8.Art logo)! It’s become a popular way to visualize Ikigai, especially outside Japan. While the original Japanese idea is a bit broader, this image is a great starting point for thinking about how purpose, passion, and contribution can all intersect in your life.
Graphical representation of Ikigai
So, as you can see, the foundation for our logo draws directly from that familiar Ikigai diagram. I took the popular visual representation and wrapped it inside a diamond shape, intentionally symbolizing how the brand is built around and encapsulates the concept of Ikigai. From there, I layered in initials and number element to complete the final design. And trust me, none of those details are random! Every part has a purpose and a story behind it, which I’ll share with you soon.
But before we dive into the meaning behind each shape and number, let’s talk about another key ingredient: color. The colors in the LRY8.Art logo weren’t chosen by accident — they each play a special role in expressing the brand’s spirit and message.
Conveing Intent Thru Color: The Leanguage of Color
Let’s talk about color — one of the most powerful tools in any artist’s or designer’s toolkit. Colors aren’t just about making things look pretty; they’re a language all their own, packed with emotion, symbolism, and meaning. The colors you choose can instantly set the mood, tell a story, and even shape how people feel about your brand.
Think about it: red often brings to mind energy, passion, or urgency. That’s why you’ll see it in everything from stop signs to sale banners. Blue, on the other hand, is calming and trustworthy — no wonder it’s a favorite for tech companies and banks (Cherry, 2023). Yellow radiates optimism and warmth, while green is all about growth, balance, and renewal. Even black and white have their own voices: black can feel elegant or mysterious, while white is clean, simple, and pure (Morton, 2015).
But here’s the thing — color meanings can shift depending on culture, context, and even personal experience. For example, while white is often associated with weddings and purity in Western cultures, it’s a color of mourning in some Eastern traditions (Cherry, 2023).
When I was choosing the colors for the LRY8.Art logo, I thought carefully about what each shade would communicate. I wanted every color to reflect a piece of the brand’s spirit — creativity, growth, harmony, and inspiration.
First, the dark color in the logo isn’t actually “black black,” you know? It’s got a bit more green and blue (0% red, 5.1% green, and 14.1% blue for my fellow RGB nerds—the hex is #000D24). It’s called Black Pearl or Rich Black (fancy, right?). I picked it to add a subtle elegance and a sense of mystery, like the universe itself — because art, to me, is a lot about exploring and contemplating those cosmic mysteries.
Then, besides this prominent background, we have five colorful spheres:
Pomegranate (#EF4023): This one stands for “what you love.” I didn’t go with classic red because it felt too loud and overused. Pomegranate is softer but still bold — representing love, passion, and even resurrection (finding what you love can bring you back to life!). In Jewish tradition, it’s a color associated with righteousness and abundance. Perfect, right?
Jade (#00A76D): Green like money! But also like jade stones, which symbolize harmony, prosperity, and wisdom. Jade is about luck, well-being, and inner peace. Plus, it’s a nod to the brand’s message of financial independence and shared prosperity. (And yes, having money does bring a certain calm — just saying!)
Golden Yellow (#FFDE00): This color represents “what the world needs.” It’s vibrant, joyful, and optimistic — exactly what I wish for the world. It’s also tied to the sun, spreading warmth and positivity. Golden Yellow is about sharing wealth, enlightenment, and true value with everyone.
Dark Purple (#92278F): This one’s for “what you’re good at.” Dark Purple is all about royalty, creativity, and spiritual depth. It’s mysterious and exclusive — just like our unique talents. Our gifts are a key part of our individuality and, when used well, can truly benefit the world.
Vivid Cyan (#0DABC5): Last but not least, I chose vivid cyan to represent the core aspect of Ikigai — reason for being. Vivid cyan is often associated with freshness and tranquility, but because of its vibrancy, it really has that “I am alive” feeling. It can also represent clarity, calmness, and rejuvenation, reminiscent of clear skies and tropical waves. For me, this color represents my reason for being and clarity of purpose on a deep level.
Let me open a parenthesis here and tell you about the moment I truly understood my Ikigai. I’ll never forget the day — December 31, 2019. I can’t tell you the exact time because I was already on the fifth day of the Universo Paralello 19/20 festival, an electronic music festival on a paradise beach in Brazil. At that point, time didn’t matter.
But I remember exactly who was playing — Nate Raubenheimer with his prog psy project, Shadow Chronicles. I’d been waiting to hear his track “Everything is Everything,” a song that’s always touched me in ways I can’t explain. That day, it became the anchor for a truly special moment — the moment I found myself and glimpsed my reason for being. There’s a vocal in the song that goes:
“So now, everything is clear, like a new person had emerged from me, I can see myself in a perspective that I’ve never seen before, no inhibition, no worries. For the first time I knew where I belong and nothing could stop me from being there. Nothing and everything felt real. The world was underneath me, around me, above me. I can see everything and everything can see me.”
Yes, for the record, I was a tad bit high at the time. But that vocal resonated with me so deeply, and the serenity and calmness that flooded me in that moment — like all my questions had been answered, like the fog had lifted and I could finally see the clear sky — was indescribable. I felt reborn, like I’d broken free from a cocoon. That flood of awareness and realization that I am alive, truly alive … there are honestly no words that can fully capture it. But one thing I know for sure: I felt peace, the serenity that comes from knowing what I must do. Actually, the seed for LRY8.Art germinated right then and there.
And now, back to our colors, that’s why vivid cyan represents the core of Ikigai so strongly to me.
Oh… and here’s a fun little anecdote for anyone who, like me, believes in synchronicity and those mystical things that just seem to happen. And trust me, this isn’t me making things up! When I picked the colors, I started with a vague idea — reddish for love, green for money, yellow for positivity, purple for spirituality, and cyan for calm — and then just tweaked the hues until they felt right to me. Only after that did I actually look up the deeper meanings each color can convey, and I was honestly amazed at how perfectly everything fit together. It felt kind of mystical, like the universe was giving me a little nod of approval.
So, every color in the LRY8.Art logo has a story and a purpose — just like every one of us. Next the letters and the number 8!
Sources:
Cherry, K. (2023). Color Psychology: Does It Affect How You Feel? Verywell Mind.
Morton, J. (2015). The Meaning of Colours in Branding. The Logo Creative.
Letters are Boring, Now Numbers … A Bit Into Numerology
Honestly, there’s not a huge mystery behind the letters in the logo. The “L” is just the first letter of my name, Lucas — this is my personal brand, after all (even though everything here is really for you). The “R” and “Y” come from my family name, Ryoo. And to be real, my family name means even more to me than my given name. Without the love and support of my family — my dad, my mom, and my two sisters — I wouldn’t be here today. I was blessed with a beautiful, caring family, and their presence is one of the main reasons I made it through some of my darkest days. My family and close friends are among the greatest blessings in my life (thank you for existing, fam!). (One day, I’ll share more about my journey with depression in a future post about lifestyle and mindset — so stay tuned, and maybe subscribe to the newsletter if you want to follow along!)
Now, the “8” is where things get a little more playful — and meaningful. My family name is Ryoo, and the double “oo” at the end? Yep, I turned them into an 8. Tada! I know, it’s a bit quirky, but there’s actually a deeper reason for choosing the number 8, and it shaped a lot of the design process for the logo. The idea was to use the number 8 not just as a nod to my name, but also because it echoes the Ikigai diagram (which, if you look at it, kind of has an 8 shape), and especially because of its meaning in numerology.
For anyone new to numerology, it’s basically the study of the deeper, sometimes mystical significance of numbers and how they show up in our lives. The number 8 is a big deal — it’s all about abundance, balance, power, and achievement. It’s also the symbol of infinity, representing cycles, renewal, and the endless flow of energy. In many cultures, 8 is considered super lucky, tied to prosperity and success. For me, weaving the number 8 into the logo was a way to infuse it with all those positive, powerful vibes — and to remind myself (and hopefully you) that life is about growth, balance, and infinite possibility.
Here’s a little more on the symbolism of 8, adapted from Copilot’s Search:
“The core meaning of the number 8, often called the achiever in numerology, reflects a strong drive for success, leadership, and material accomplishment while maintaining balance and fairness in life. Its shape resembles the infinity symbol, symbolizing continuous flow, balance, and the cyclical nature of giving and receiving.
The number 8 is deeply tied to karma and Saturn, the planet of discipline, justice, and responsibility. It teaches that rewards come through resilience, patience, and ethical action, emphasizing that what you give to the world returns to you. This karmic aspect encourages individuals to balance personal ambition with generosity and integrity.”
But here’s the thing: LRY8.Art may have started as my personal vision, but it’s truly a collective journey. Every person who joins, shares, and contributes helps shape what this community becomes. This isn’t just about my story — it’s about all of us, growing, creating, and inspiring each other. Together, we’re building something bigger than any one individual: a movement where everyone’s dreams, talents, and voices matter.
If you haven’t read the “About” page yet, I just want to reinforce how much the text above resonates with my vision for the LRY8.Art brand: this brand is about achieving success and leading by inspiring and sharing. It’s about material accomplishment — mine and yours. I want you to be inspired, to learn, and to achieve your own success in all areas. This brand is about receiving and giving even more, about keeping energy flowing, ideas flowing, life flowing. It’s proof that we can reach our peak and build something that transcends our own limitations — to touch infinity.
I may have kickstarted all of this, but my dream is for this brand to grow into something much bigger than myself — to be one of many standards representing people who believe, like I do, that we can be more, we have the power to be more, and we should be more. I want LRY8.Art to be a foundation and a safe haven for dreamers who can envision a better world. That’s a core principle of this brand and the reason why the number 8 is so important to our logo.
Before we wrap up, there’s one last element in the logo’s composition that I want to highlight: motion. For me, motion is essential. It’s not just about the shapes or the colors — it’s about the energy, the sense of movement, and the feeling that something is always evolving. I wanted the logo to capture that sense of flow, because art, at its core, is alive. It’s always moving, always inspiring, always pushing us forward.
Luckily, everything came together perfectly with my name to form LRY8 — and that’s how the final form of LRY8.Art took shape: because of art, and because of motion. To me, art is anything created by people that has the power to move and inspire others — things made out of love and a sincere wish to do better. That, in its purest form, is art to me. That’s the LRY8.Art definition of art: a living, moving force that connects us, inspires us, and helps us grow — together.
I Like to Move It, Move It … I Like to … Move It!
To wrap up everything that went into our logo, let’s talk about movement — and how you can add a sense of motion to something that’s meant to be static. Sure, with today’s video tools, it’s easy to animate a logo and make it spin or bounce (and yes, I’ve had some fun with that myself!). But that’s not the kind of movement I mean.
I’m talking about creating a feeling of motion through the design itself. One of the coolest tricks is to use the way we naturally read Western letters — left to right, top to bottom — to guide the eye and create flow. When you look at the LRY8 symbol, you move from L to R to Y to 8, almost in a circular path. And if you pay attention to the Ikigai-inspired part of the symbol, it’s like the “oo” in my last name is spinning, or there’s a number 8 in motion at the heart of the logo.
But there’s more! I took some creative liberties and rearranged the elements of the Ikigai diagram to better fit our brand’s story:
My journey started when I found what I love — that’s why the pomegranate sphere is on the right. Discovering my passion was the spark that set everything in motion for LRY8.Art.
Next comes Jade, representing “what you can be paid for.” It follows love, symbolizing my wish to earn a living doing what I love. Placing it at the bottom makes it both a foundation and a reminder that money isn’t the top priority.
Then comes Golden Yellow, representing sharing what I have to offer — the fruits of my labor made with love, which help me earn my keep.
Finally, Dark Purple stands for “what you’re good at.” By offering what I love to the world, I can polish my talents and elevate my spirit. That’s why purple sits at the top, or “north,” position.
And at the center of it all, everything revolves around my reason for being — my Ikigai.
This is how I created a sense of motion: by using the natural flow of reading and by weaving in the journey that led me to establish LRY8.Art.
And here we are at the end of our post. I truly hope you enjoyed the read and that it’s inspired you to see logos — and maybe even yourself — in a new light. More than anything, I hope this article encourages you to create your own logo, your own brand, and to share your story and message with the world. Express yourself! If we don’t tell our stories, if we don’t show our worth, if we don’t express ourselves to provoke and inspire, nothing will ever change. So go out there — shout to the world, show them who you are, and let your logo be your banner announcing a new player ready to fight!
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to see you again soon.
With gratitude,
Lucas Ryoo
P.S. Psst … don’t miss any of my new blog post! Subscribe to my newsletter below 😘
The full logo once again, do you feel that it is just a cool logo after reading everything in this post?
