idApostle is Steve Zelle, an Ottawa-based award-winning graphic designer with over 20 years of experience developing logos and branding with clients around the globe. This experience has resulted in a Logo and Brand Identity Creative Process and graphic design portfolio that ensures the best possible chance of success for my clients.

In addition to my work as idApostle, I write about the creative process, branding, and logo design. I also created and run Processed Identity, a website where graphic designers share the creative processes used when defining and refining brand identities, and Ottawa Logo Design, a site focussed on curating brand identity resources for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profits in Ottawa, Canada.

How I got here

After graduating from college with a certificate in graphic design, I worked for several Ottawa studios before starting up Ricochet Creative Thinking in 1990. Ricochet quickly became recognized as one the top studios in Ottawa, winning dozens of design awards. Our clients ranged from the Canadian government, to the high-tech sector. After closing Ricochet to spend 4 years at home with my daughter, I launched idApostle focussing on my passion for brand identities. The increased use of  “stock” logos inspired me to launch Processed Identity, a vehicle to explore the value of the creative process with graphic designers around the world.

My branding work appears in:

Logolicious
Design DNA: Logos
Signs, Symbols and Pictograms
International Trade Marks and Logos 4
Letterhead and Logo Design 9
LogoNest 01
LogoLounge Shapes and Symbols (not yet published)
LogoLounge Typography and Enclosures (not yet published)
LogoLounge Volume 6
Advertising and Design Association of Ottawa
Summit Creative Awards
Web Design Basics: Ideas & Inspiration for Working with Type, Color, & Navigation
Web Site Graphics: Flash Animation & DHTML: The Best Works on the Web

My logo, brand identity design and ethics articles are on:

Many of my articles are available on the idApostle site
A number of articles can also be seen at Processed Identity
Armed with a Purpose, Kyoorius Magazine Issue 9 (India)
Logo Warehouses, Crowdsourcing and a Lack of Understanding on Logo Design Love
Creativity and the Written Word posted on Applied Arts Magazine
Pan American Games Logo by Committee posted on Applied Arts Magazine
The Value of a Logo posted on More Than A Logo
The Role of Sketching in the Creative Process in the Logo Nest Book
How to Choose a Logo Designer on Ottawa Logo Design

Interviews and articles about idApostle/Steve Zelle:

Profiles of the Canadian Creative Community: Steve Zelle Applied Arts Magazine
Logo Designer Interviews: Steve Zelle LogoBird
Processed Identity goes beyond the logo Design Edge Canada
Does Sharing Suck? .net Magazine, March 2011

Contact idApostle:

Arrange a chat about your business and how I may be able to help.
Send an email to steve@idapostle.com
Request a quotation by filling out the online form.

Twitter: @idapostle
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/idApostle
Linkedin: Steve Zelle
Google+: Steve Zelle