apparel, branding

Team Shard

Overview

The ML Alignment & Theory Scholars (MATS) Program is an AI safety mentorship hosted in Berkeley, California. Within this program exists Team Shard, a group consisting of Alex Cloud and other researchers focused on exploring Shard Theory.

Objective

Alex needed a shirt design that his team could wear during their upcoming presentation about Shard Theory. This design should convey their team identity and broadly represent the concepts of their research topic.

Understanding Shard Theory

"currently-vibes-based approach"

“understanding neural networks & human motivations as being made up of different ‘shards’”

“shards independently contribute to the behavior of the system”

Initial Sketches

Keeping these keywords in mind, I used crystal shards as the foundation of each concept. Early sketches explored the reinforcement of these shards, as if interconnected and contributing to the structure of a larger system.

Refining Concepts

This fluid design originates and ends in a single point while highlighting the role of each individual shard within the network.

Further Iterations

This rigid, angular design conveys a sense of energy and impact as each individual shard is reinforced.

Final Design

The final design combines elements from both iterations: the impact of the angular bolts with the unity of a shared origin point. The core concepts behind Shard Theory are implied in an abstract and memorable manner.

The final design combines elements from both iterations: the impact of the angular bolts with the unity of a common origin point. The core concepts behind Shard Theory are implied in a striking and memorable manner.

Expanding the Scope

Beyond the shirt, I was interested in how I could translate the same concept into the beginnings of a brand identity. The resulting logo simplifies and condenses these ideas, yet still emphasizes the most important qualities: the "shard" and the "reinforcement." Transforming the design into something scalable allows Alex's team to implement their team identity in slideshow presentations and other similar applications.