Matilde Melanotte and I met while we were living in Seville, Spain. She is an Italian flamenco dancer and psychologist who started FlamencaMente - a workshop and organization that uses flamenco as a tool for therapeutic self expression.
I started out making minor changes to her existing logo and ended up designing a new logo, helping with translations, redesigning her website, and giving her tips on how to effectively use social media.
Flamenco is a style of music, singing, and dance that was created by the disenfranchised gypsies of southern Spain as a form of self expression. As a flamenco dancer and psychology student, Matilde saw an opportunity to combine flamenco and psychology and help others with physical, mental, or emotional obstacles express their emotions in a healthy way.
When Matilde approached me, she was trying to trademark the above logo another friend had made. Her lawyer had expressed concerns and suggested she try to differentiate it as much as possible from other dance/flamenco studios.
As I worked on the logo, I started thinking about what inspires me personally about flamenco: the dramatic and powerful facial expressions. FlamencaMente is about self expression, inclusion, and diversity. What could be more fitting and inclusive than a profile?
