TEAM POOM IDENTITY DESIGN

PROJECT SUMMARY

A visual identity project for Team POOM (Pray Over Our Mongolia), combining cultural symbolism and faith-based storytelling through design. The project included creating a logo, prayer cards, and team T-shirts that visually expressed the theme of embrace, unity, and prayer for the 2023 mission trip to Mongolia.

When the original professional designer unexpectedly stepped away, I was asked to lead the full design and production process for the team’s 2023 mission trip to Mongolia. The scope included creating a team logo, prayer cards, and team T-shirts that expressed both the heart of the mission and the identity of the country.

The challenge was to design visuals that were artistic, memorable, and cross-generationally engaging — something more meaningful than the plain, functional layouts used in previous years. The result was a cohesive visual identity that combined faith, culture, and design thinking.

TIMELINE

June 2023 (13 days in total)

TOOLS

Procreate, Adobe Photoshop

TEAM

Solo responsibility

MY ROLE

Design Lead, Photographer, Production Coordinator

WHAT THIS PROJECT DEMONSTRATES

Creative leadership under time constraints – Taking full ownership of design and production after the original designer’s departure, balancing creativity with urgency.
Symbolic visual storytelling – Translating faith and emotion (“embrace,” “heart,” “prayer”) into a minimal, universally recognizable logo system.
Cross-cultural sensitivity – Using Mongolian national colors and symbolic elements to create resonance beyond language or culture.
End-to-end design execution – Managing the full workflow from concept to print: design, photography, vendor negotiation, and quality control.
Community impact through design – Turning a small visual identity into a meaningful medium that inspired connection, prayer, and continued use across mission teams.

Link to Design

PROBLEM CONTEXT

Previous designs from past years were functional but forgettable — typically static compositions with plain fonts and group photos. The team lead and I agreed the new design needed to be:

More creative, modern, and visually engaging
Something people would want to keep, like an art postcard
Intuitive enough for older audiences to connect with at first glance

The challenge was balancing artistry with approachability: making a meaningful, visually bold identity that reflected both faith and culture.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

The team name POOM comes from the Korean verb “품다 (poom-da)”, meaning to embrace or hold close to the heart.

The acronym Pray Over Our Mongolia was built around this meaning — inspiring a visual identity centered on embrace, heart, and connection.

The project’s core challenge was to transform what was traditionally seen as a simple mission flyer into something artistic, intentional, and emotionally resonant. Rather than producing another disposable handout, the goal was to design prayer cards that people would want to keep, display, or gift — like a small art card from a museum shop.

Design Goals:

Convey warmth and prayer through symbolic, emotive form
Use the Mongolian flag colors (red, blue, yellow) for cultural authenticity and visual identity
Blend Keith Haring’s expressive, human-centered style with minimalist faith symbolism
Create cohesion across all materials — logo, prayer cards, and team apparel — forming a unified artistic system

This approach positioned the project not as promotional design, but as an act of gratitude and artistry, where every visual element carried emotional weight and cultural care.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

LOGO DESIGN

The POOM logo visually represents embrace and interconnection through two abstract arms forming a heart shape. Inspired by Keith Haring’s bold, human-centered lines, the logo evokes movement, warmth, and inclusivity — echoing the team’s mission of love and prayer.

Design Elements:

Symbolism: Heart formed by two embracing figures
Color Palette: Red, blue, and yellow (from the Mongolian flag)
Form: Rounded, continuous lines for approachability and emotional resonance
Application: Scalable for print, fabric, and digital use

This mark became the foundation of all other visuals — setting both tone and structure for the team’s prayer card and T-shirt designs.

CARD DESIGN

Front Design:

The front features a team photograph (shot by me) against a dark starry background, referencing Mongolia’s night sky — famous for its vast openness and visible constellations. The word POOM appears prominently with its full acronym, framed by the heart logo.

Back Design:

The back integrates Keith Haring–inspired typography and outlines of Mongolia’s grasslands and horses — a subtle cultural cue for older audiences. The design balanced artistry and clarity, blending abstract visuals with recognizable local elements.

Quantity: 500 cards printed and distributed for prayer and awareness
Purpose: Encourage others to pray for the country and mission effort
Medium: Gloss-finish cardstock with full-color double-sided print

TSHIRT DESIGN

The T-shirt extended the same visual language as the prayer cards — artistic yet functional, unifying yet personal. It needed to be easily recognizable during outreach while remaining understated in one-on-one interactions.

Front Design:

Small embracing-heart logo placed over the left chest — symbolizing “carrying the mission in your heart.”
Kept minimal to direct attention to faces and conversations rather than graphics.
Represented humility and sincerity, aligning with the team’s purpose of serving and connecting.

Back Design:

Featured a larger POOM logo with the full phrase “Pray Over Our Mongolia.”
Provided visibility and identification during children’s camps and community events.
Created cohesion and recognizability across the team in large group settings.

TIMELINE

The process required rapid decision-making and cross-team coordination to move from concept to completion within less than two weeks. Each stage—design, approval, negotiation, and production—was handled sequentially but efficiently to ensure both creative integrity and timely delivery before the mission trip.

Days 2-3: Team Approval

Presented concept; refined color and text balance

Days 6-13: Production & Delivery

Oversaw proofing and received final printed materials

Day 1: Concept & Design

Sketched, refined, and finalized logo and layout

Days 4-5: Print Coordination

Negotiated with vendor for print quality and timeline

OUTCOMES

500 prayer cards were printed and distributed before the trip within 2 weeks
Custom team T-shirts printed and worn during the mission
Two other mission teams (for different countries) requested design collaborations after seeing the result
The POOM logo was reused for the 2024 mission, establishing long-term identity continuity

REFLECTION

Overall, this project reaffirmed that design can serve as a bridge between culture, faith, and community — transforming visual identity into a shared expression of empathy and purpose.

Creative Adaptation Under Pressure

- Stepping in mid-process taught me to manage multiple creative and logistical responsibilities while maintaining design integrity.
Visual Storytelling Through Symbolism
- Simplifying emotional concepts — faith, embrace, and unity — into one graphic mark reinforced the power of symbolic design.
Cultural Context in Faith-Based Design
- Integrating national colors and Mongolian visual cues helped make the design feel both personal and locally grounded.

If I Had More Time

Deeper Cultural Integration:
- Incorporate an art style inspired by a Mongolian artist, adding local motifs or hand-rendered typography to strengthen the cultural authenticity of the design.
Enhanced Material Expression:
- Explore printing techniques such as matte finishes or embossing to create a more tactile, artful experience that elevates the prayer cards beyond simple handouts.
Improved Garment Quality:
- Use thicker T-shirt material to prevent logo wear after multiple washes and enhance longevity, though material options were limited due to tight printing schedules.