KAT SCHMIDT
SCHMIDT
HONEY FARMS
BRANDING - LOGO DESIGN
Schmidt family beekeeping traces its roots back to 1905, when Great-Grandpa Oscar received his first hive at just 15 years old. By the 1950s, Grandpa Don and his brothers had established The Schmidt Honey Farm in South Dakota, a family business that thrived for decades. Generations of us contributed to the work—whether in the fields or (in my case) awkwardly hammering together bee boxes during summer breaks.
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When my older brother prepared to launch his own honey crop, he wanted a logo that both honored this family legacy. His request was clear: preserve the spirit of the original hand-painted farm sign while also incorporating a nod to the family’s Michigan roots.
While sketching and drafting, I had to keep in mind the unique shape of the glass jars chosen for the honey harvest. The design needed to work seamlessly on curved packaging while still being versatile across print and digital applications.
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I aimed to respect the traditional, handcrafted look while introducing modern shapes and clean lines to create a fresh identity. Through several iterations and discussions, the design evolved to strike the right balance between heritage and modernity.
The final logo combines a classic, handcrafted feel inspired by the original farm sign with refined, contemporary elements. The color palette reflects natural tones rooted in beekeeping tradition—warm golds and deep blue—while subtle symbolic references tie back to the family’s Michigan heritage
