Professional Stone Skipping

Visual Brand Suite for Mackinac Island's Annual Competition

  • Visual Brand Identity
  • Illustration
  • Event Collateral
Did you know there's a professional Stone Skipping league? Well, there is–and we had a blast learning about the sport, its history, and the oldest stone skipping competition in the U.S. held annually on Mackinac Island, MI, during its famed Fourth of July celebration. When Max and Amanda, a couple who have generational ties to the league and even the world record holder himself, reached out for a simple banner redesign to freshen up the event signage, the work blossomed into a visual identity that incorporated a maximalist take bursting with Americana flair and a friendly, custom mascot.
A slightly vintage, Americana hero image reading "Mackinac Island Michigan, July 4th" in stylized, bold text. Below, a Stone Skipping rock mascot in over-the-top American themed apparel and star-shaped sunglasses holds a sparkler.

Making a Splash

^ Pun absolutely intended. Drawing huge crowds for Independence Day every year, Mackinac Islanders and visitors alike lean heavily into the extravagant celebration that takes place there. The island itself is already a bit of a blast from the past on a typical day, full of charming, vintage-style buildings and, even more noticeably, the fact that there are no cars to be found on the island, only horse-drawn transportation.

We were tasked with establishing a foundational brand that would complement the general feel of the Fourth–when most people see the sport in action–while simultaneously creating a tone that would stand out even amongst all the bright lights and firecracker booms. We landed on a set of visual marks, a character and accompanying imagery that would leave a memorable impression on visitors for the live event, as well as catch eyes on digital platforms (and on all the days when it isn't July 4th).

An excerpt of the "Colors" section of the Stone Skipping style guide featuring the color codes for the brand's red, white, and blue tones.
A collection of the logos and marks for the stone skipping league, one with only bold words that read "Stone Skipping", one with the Mascot hopping through water holding a sparkler and stone, and two simplified "SS" emblems, one dressed in patriotic gear, another without.

Anything catch your eye? 👀

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