Whatcom business releases new logo for 7th time in over 75 years

Mt. Baker Ski Area, Inc. has released a new logo this year, officials announced.

The logo was designed by Graphic Designer Terra Johnston. The organization published the following recorded discussion regarding the design process and brand history featuring Johnston, Marketing Manager Amy Trowbridge, and Duncan Howat, who served as general manager from 1968 to 2019.

The new design incorporates Mount Shuksan and a raven with its wing extended in the shape of the mountain peak. The solid base version appears in black and white, with a full-color iteration planned for release.

According to Trowbridge, the ski area’s primary logo history includes:

• a 1960s design adapted from an image of Austrian ski school director Franz Gabl
• a three-panel design created by Howat in the 1970s featuring sun, winter, and fall elements
• a swoosh script logo introduced in the mid-1980s
• a ski star and Canadian maple leaf design developed by Howat and Steph Mills, used through 2000
• the 2001 raven logo designed by Ryan Roy and Gwen Howat, used for 25 years
• a 2016 secondary design created by Jamie Lynn

According to Johnston, the design process incorporated guidelines requiring the inclusion of the mountain, a raven, and cool-toned colors for the full-color edition. The raven design was adapted from video footage of a raven in flight.

According to Trowbridge, the new logo will first appear on Richardson brand patch hats distributed to season passholders, followed by apparel, enamel pins and other retail merchandise. Historic logo iterations will remain available on select retail merchandise.