Logo on the go

Deirdre Newman

When the thousand-plus participants in Newport Harbor High School’s

Heritage Run take to the streets next weekend, their official race

T-shirts will be adorned with the design of senior Brittany Johnson.

Johnson’s logo features the sun, a wave and people running within a

circular design. The picturesque race course meanders through Newport

Heights and features ocean and bay views.

The 15th annual Harbor Heritage Run will take place Oct. 6, and it

raises money for school programs such as technology and counseling.

The design contest enables students to participate in a real-world

experience that tests their abilities to express themselves within

certain guidelines.

“It gives them the opportunity to think in real terms,” said art

teacher Virginia Spencer, whose students participated in the contest.

“There is life after high school with people doing art things and having

art careers.”

The design contest started five years ago as a way to reduce costs

when professional design firms became too expensive. Having the art

students try their hand at designing the logo seemed to be a natural

transition.

So Susan Rinek, a local graphic artist whose children attended Newport

Harbor, started coming to Spencer’s class to present the project as if

she were a client.

Between 75 and 80 students participate in the contest each year. The

winner is determined by a committee of administrators, parents and

teachers.

The design must reflect the race as a friendly, neighborhood event and

be flexible enough to be plastered on brochures, T-shirts, sweatshirts

and posters.

Johnson’s design accomplished these goals.

“It reminds me of Matisse -- stylized, simple cutouts that when put

together have a sophisticated look overall,” Rinek said.

Johnson has been drawing since early childhood and has already

received accolades for her work. When she was 10, she won a first-place

award through the Orange County Fair for an oil painting.

Johnson said she entertained some other design ideas before settling

on the final one.

“I thought of circles as universal,” Johnson said. “I wanted to do

something that would make it easy to overlap colors.”

She said she would like to eventually find a career that will enable

her to use her artistic ability.

“I believe that using your talents in something you enjoy, you can

succeed in anything,” she said.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .