ABC Students 2025
When the Ankeny Baptist Church Students chose Authentic as their yearly theme, my first thought was that it’s become a loaded, overused buzzword—everything today is branded “authentic.” So instead of ignoring that reality, I decided to acknowledge it and then subvert it. The result was a concept that says, yes, we know, and there’s more to this.
Year
2025
Scope
Crtv Dir / Branding / Illustration
There’s more to the story.
The defining mark of the Authentic theme is an oversized, hand-drawn asterisk. It’s playful and bold, but it also signals something deeper—whenever you see an asterisk, you know a footnote or explanation is coming. For students, that symbol becomes an invitation: the word “authentic” isn’t enough on its own. The asterisk points toward the bigger story of what it truly means to follow Jesus with honesty and depth. Every design element reinforces that message: Imperfection built in: The uneven, organic form of the asterisk reminds us that authenticity isn’t polished—it’s lived, messy, and real. Highlight & stamp: In applications, the asterisk works like a badge or seal—something that both draws attention and verifies. From hoodies and hats to slides and phone cases, the mark became a unifying visual language. It’s bold enough to stand alone and meaningful enough to spark conversation—an identity that invites curiosity and points students toward genuine faith.
