RTH Foundation
The RTH Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young student-athletes through education. Each year, the Foundation awards scholarships to one student from Southwestern High School and one student from Maple Grove High School who are pursuing college degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM). By combining support for athletics and academics, the RTH Foundation helps students unlock opportunities, achieve their goals, and prepare to make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
Client
Ryan Hetrick
DELIVERABLES
Visual Identity
Year
2025
Website
Design Process
Design Process
The design was built around the idea of connecting the foundation to both its mission and its local roots. The leaves at the base of the logo symbolize growth, opportunity, and education; core values of the RTH Foundation. They also reflect the leaf imagery found in Chautauqua County’s own identity, creating a visual bond with the community the foundation serves. Above the leaves, the rounded stripes represent the calm, flowing movement of water, a direct reference to Chautauqua Lake. At the same time, their rhythm and circular structure evoke the look of a running track, tying in the athletic spirit of the scholarship. This dual meaning allows the logo to embody both the natural and cultural landscape of the region, while clearly expressing the foundation’s role in supporting student-athletes and future leaders.
The design was built around the idea of connecting the foundation to both its mission and its local roots. The leaves at the base of the logo symbolize growth, opportunity, and education; core values of the RTH Foundation. They also reflect the leaf imagery found in Chautauqua County’s own identity, creating a visual bond with the community the foundation serves. Above the leaves, the rounded stripes represent the calm, flowing movement of water, a direct reference to Chautauqua Lake. At the same time, their rhythm and circular structure evoke the look of a running track, tying in the athletic spirit of the scholarship. This dual meaning allows the logo to embody both the natural and cultural landscape of the region, while clearly expressing the foundation’s role in supporting student-athletes and future leaders.
Color palette
The color palette for the RTH Foundation branding was chosen to convey clarity, professionalism, and a connection to nature. The blue #0050FF evokes trust, calmness, and the presence of Chautauqua Lake, making it a central color for the foundation’s visual identity. The dark tone #111113 communicates stability and strength, ideal for typography and key graphic elements. The light beige #EFEEE7 provides a neutral, clean background that allows other colors to stand out while maintaining a sense of warmth and approachability. Finally, the green #8DC99A is used as an accent to suggest growth, renewal, and balance, tying the branding to natural elements and giving a subtle vibrancy to the overall palette. Together, these colors create a cohesive identity that is both professional and inviting.
Color palette
The color palette for the RTH Foundation branding was chosen to convey clarity, professionalism, and a connection to nature. The blue #0050FF evokes trust, calmness, and the presence of Chautauqua Lake, making it a central color for the foundation’s visual identity. The dark tone #111113 communicates stability and strength, ideal for typography and key graphic elements. The light beige #EFEEE7 provides a neutral, clean background that allows other colors to stand out while maintaining a sense of warmth and approachability. Finally, the green #8DC99A is used as an accent to suggest growth, renewal, and balance, tying the branding to natural elements and giving a subtle vibrancy to the overall palette. Together, these colors create a cohesive identity that is both professional and inviting.
Typography
The typography chosen for the RTH Foundation identity is "Cabinet Grotesk" bold, modern, and easy to read. The strong letterforms reflect determination and resilience; qualities that mirror the student athletes the foundation supports. At the same time, the clean and simple structure of the type creates a professional tone, making the brand approachable to both students and the wider community. The balance between modernity and strength ensures that the RTH Foundation’s name leaves a lasting impression.
Typography
The typography chosen for the RTH Foundation identity is "Cabinet Grotesk" bold, modern, and easy to read. The strong letterforms reflect determination and resilience; qualities that mirror the student athletes the foundation supports. At the same time, the clean and simple structure of the type creates a professional tone, making the brand approachable to both students and the wider community. The balance between modernity and strength ensures that the RTH Foundation’s name leaves a lasting impression.
Brand direction
The brand direction was shaped collaboratively through moodboarding, where two distinct visual paths were explored. After review, the client resonated with the first direction, which guided the development of the visual identity moving forward.
Brand direction
The brand direction was shaped collaboratively through moodboarding, where two distinct visual paths were explored. After review, the client resonated with the first direction, which guided the development of the visual identity moving forward.
