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Olivia: a name and logo for a family clinic in Dubai

Olivia is a family clinic in Dubai: dentistry, pediatric dentistry, gynecology and cosmetology. The clinic chose five name options and ordered a visualization of each: I designed a logo for all five. In the end the clinic settled on Olivia and now works under that name, logo and sign.

In 30 seconds

Key point

The clinic will keep adding new specialties, so the logo has to fit each of them rather than mainly reflect one.

Client: family clinic, Dubai
Patients: expats and locals
Task: bring pediatric dentistry and gynecology together in one mark, harmoniously and with meaning behind it
What I did: logos for the 5 names the clinic chose; final logo with Olivia Clinic and Olivia Dental versions, logobook, sign
Process: competitor research · spotting unwanted clichés · studying the symbolism of Arab culture

Task

The clinic combines pediatric dentistry and gynecology and already plans new specialties. The task: bring them together in one mark, harmoniously and with meaning behind it.

The clinic chose five name options and paid for a visualization of each. I designed a full logo for all five, so the choice was made by a finished image rather than a word on paper.

What I studied

Competitors. Which visual images are already taken and associated with other clinics.
Cultural code. Which symbols in Dubai and Arab culture are linked to health, fertility and wisdom. In this region the olive and olive oil are closely linked to blessing and long life. The olive is a symbol of health and longevity that both locals and expats understand.
Patients. Expats and locals. Both groups should read the name and mark the same way, without translation.

What Dubai clinics repeat

cross
stethoscope
open hands
heart
turquoise

Options

The clinic chose five names and paid for a visualization of each. Each has its own logo and idea. Scroll through:

Lovelle
not chosen
A mother elephant and calf. Elephants are among the most caring animals in the world: their bonds are strong and their care for the young is unconditional. Mother and calf are a visual image of safety, and in Arab culture elephants stand for strength, wisdom and status.
LOOK
not chosen
A monogram of two interlaced “O”s in a circle, like an attentive gaze: a clinic that sees what matters.
ÉCLAT
not chosen
French for “radiance”: health you can see. A strict typeface with an open “A” and gold foil on light paper.
The LOVA
not chosen
A calligraphic “The” and a star inside the “O”. A soft, personal tone, like a family doctor people trust.
Olivia
Olivia direction
An olive tree in an arch with a rising sun, like a family seal.
Olivia
Olivia direction
A gold olive tree in an oval frame, foil on black. An old tree with a strong trunk stands for long life and deep roots.
Olivia
Olivia direction
A stylized tree in a circle, warm natural colors.
Olivia
client's choice
A strict wordmark with a gold “O”. The clinic chose this one.

1 / 8

I showed Olivia in four versions: an olive tree in an arch with a rising sun; a gold olive tree in an oval frame; a stylized tree in a circle; a strict wordmark with a gold “O”.

The choice

The clinic chose Olivia in its strictest version: the wordmark with a gold “O”.

System

Mark. The “O” refers to the outline of an olive fruit. The other letters use a strict typeface with sharp serifs. The olive is hinted at, not drawn in full, so the logo doesn’t look like eco cosmetics.
Colors. Gold on graphite, and warm milk instead of hospital white.
Versions. Olivia, Olivia Clinic and Olivia Dental: one logo for different departments.
Handed over to the client: a logobook with clear space and colors, a sign mockup.

#E9C579gold

#212220graphite

#FBF8F1warm milk