When I started on ACME, I kept coming back to one idea: convergence. It's an AI/DevOps brand, and I wanted to skip the usual circuit-board clichés and find something that felt smart without overexplaining itself.

I started sketching with triangles — sharp, directional, technical. Arranging six of them together created a hidden six-pointed star in the negative space. That was the moment it clicked.

I built the mark on a tight grid so it'd hold up at any size, then landed on a deep teal paired with electric lime — grounded but energetic, and different from the usual SaaS blue.

For the wordmark, I flattened the top of the "A" to echo the triangles, tying the logo and lettering together.

Last step was just living with it — dropping it onto a phone home screen, a social profile, a landing page — to see it work in the real world, not just on a mood board.

Hiding the six-pointed star in the negative space between six triangles rewards a second look without needing a caption, and flattening the A's apex to echo them is what actually ties the wordmark to the mark instead of just sitting next to it.

I’ve been taking on new projects for less than half of what I usually charge on Contra. Why? Because I’ve been trying to understand the dynamics of the platform, especially the fundamental logic behind its “discovery score.” For a long time, I turned down projects & inbound invites because they felt like an underpay. But I’m starting to look at it differently. I’m essentially starting from 0 here on Contra. I have to build my way up, earn visibility, establish trust, collect the right kind of work, and eventually get back to the level I’m used to operating at. I’ve done that before in my professional life. This time, I’m just learning how to do it on a new platform.

I'd only count the lower rate as an investment if those projects create something Contra actually scores, like a review or verified project. If they don't, half the fee is gone and the Discovery Score may stay right where it is.