A logo isn’t just a mark—it’s a story. The Chase Design logo is a testament to dedication, mentorship, and craftsmanship. Created during a typography workshop led by the legendary Doyald Young, it was refined by his expert hand and gifted as a symbol of guidance. This defining moment reflects our passion, persistence, and pursuit of design excellence.
The Chase Design logo was born in a logo and branding class taught by Doyald Young, a legendary figure in typography and design. The class took place at Y6, an annual AIGA San Diego design conference, while Chris Chase, now Creative Director and Principal of Chase Design, was studying graphic design at San Diego State University.
When Chris arrived, the class was already full, but his determination kept him from walking away. Instead, he took a seat on the floor, eager to learn from Doyald. Amused, Doyald approached and asked, “Young man, what are you doing on the floor?” Chris replied, “I really want to be in your class, and I’m willing to sit on the floor if that’s what it takes.” Impressed by his persistence, Doyald made room for Chris at the front of the class.
One of the exercises was to create a personal company logo. By the end of the class, Chris had sketched ten logo marks. Doyald reviewed them and selected the one he felt had the most potential, taking it home to refine. A month later, a package arrived in the mail—a finalized version of the Chase Design logo, accompanied by a letter from Doyald himself. He praised Chris’s original design, noting that he had simply “cleaned it up a bit to make it mathematically correct.”
For Chris, this experience made the logo deeply meaningful. It wasn’t just a mark—it was a symbol of mentorship, craftsmanship, and the power of showing up.
The takeaway? If you want something, be present, be persistent, and don’t be afraid to ask.
From his Wikipedia page:
Work
The typefaces designed by Doyald Young include Young Baroque, ITC Éclat, Home Run, and the formal script Young Gallant.
Commissions for logotypes and trademarks include the industrial design firm of Henry Dreyfuss Associates, California Institute of Technology, University of California at Los Angeles, exhibition catalogs for UCLA’s Clark Memorial Library, The Music Center of Los Angeles County, Mattel Toys, Max Factor, Vidal Sassoon and Prudential Insurance. With Don Bartels, designed the font for General Electric Company’s corporate identity program. His life story and working method is profiled in the Lynda.com “Creative Inspirations” video Doyald Young: Logotype Designer.
His entertainment credits include: Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra specials, Disney’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, Harry Connick Jr., k.d. lang, Bette Midler, Prince, The Grand Reopening of Carnegie Hall, The Grammy Awards, The Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, The Golden Globe Awards, and The Tony Awards, and most recently, the Art Directors Guild logo.
Teaching
Young was a teacher at Art Center College of Design, where he taught lettering, logo design, and typographic basics from 1955 to 1978, and again from 1998 until his death in 2011.
Honors
His book Fonts and Logos was awarded a Silver Medal by the Western Art Directors Club, November 2000. In 2001 Art Center College of Design named him Inaugural Master of the School for teaching and his contribution to the field of art and design. In 2009 AIGA awarded him the prestigious AIGA Medal for his contributions to the field of graphic design. On December 18, 2010 Art Center College of Design bestowed on him an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
The Chase Design logo represents more than a visual identity—it embodies the values of persistence, mentorship, and craftsmanship. Just as Doyald Young took the time to refine and perfect it, we bring the same level of care and dedication to every project we undertake. Whether designing a brand identity, crafting a logotype, or developing a website, we believe that great design is built on strategy, precision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Our logo serves as a reminder that when creativity meets craftsmanship, timeless design follows.