International Mycorrhiza Society — logo

The new logo of the International Mycorrhiza Society, created in 2025, represents the society's mission to facilitate mycorrhizal research and its commitment to inclusivity, collaboration, and environmental sustainability.

The "pale blue dot" — a term coined by Carl Sagan after seeing the photograph of Earth taken by NASA's Voyager 1 as it left the solar system — sits atop the letter "i" and symbolizes the global scope of the society's work. It reflects the diverse geographies, ecosystems, cultures, and peoples united under the shared goal of advancing our understanding of mycorrhizal symbioses, and serves as a reminder of the urgency of sustainability.

Dominating the design is the letter "M," representing all types of mycorrhizas — the focus of the society. Its shape mirrors the intricate networks of fungal hyphae, and the emerging plant represents all mycorrhizal hosts. The root system is smaller than the hyphal network, highlighting the role of mycorrhizas in extending roots far beyond their natural capacity. The two shades of brown surrounding the network convey the depth and complexity of mycorrhizal interactions within the soil environment. Hyphae extending into the "I" and "S," along with the interconnected letterforms, signal the continuous growth of the IMS and the ever-expanding body of knowledge it fosters.

This was my first logo project. I began by interviewing every member of the IMS board to understand what the society wanted the mark to carry, then developed a narrative and iterated through versions with the board. The final refinements were completed in consultation with professional logo designer Kristin Gibson, from whom I learned a great deal.