Take 5 Jazz Lounge Logo Design

CLIENT: Princess Cruises

ROLE: Lead Designer – Concept to Completion

THE BRIEF: Princess Cruises tasked me with designing a new logo for Take 5, their signature jazz lounge onboard the Sky and Enchanted Princess ships. The goal was to evolve the existing logo to better reflect Take 5’s identity as an immersive Jazz Theater experience, celebrating the history, storytelling, and vibrancy of jazz music within a sophisticated yet welcoming lounge atmosphere. The logo needed to embody this rich cultural narrative while feeling elegant, contemporary, and versatile for use across venue signage, digital displays, marketing collateral, and bar menus.

processthe work

Venue Inspiration & Visual References

To inform the design direction for the Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo, I reviewed a series of reference images provided in the project brief. These visuals captured the essence of jazz culture, historic venues, vibrant performances, and the sophisticated ambiance envisioned for the lounge. This inspiration guided my approach to integrating musical motifs, elegant typography, and a bold color palette that reflects the rich storytelling and immersive experience of Take 5 onboard Princess Cruises.
Mood board for Take 5 jazz lounge logo design showing neon signage, music-themed imagery, golden textures, and historic Cotton Club photography, capturing jazz heritage and vibrant branding inspiration.
Collage of jazz bar and music illustrations including bartenders in vintage attire, Harlem jazz posters, and dancers, reflecting the energetic, cultural, and historic roots of jazz for the Take 5 venue concept.
Black and white collage featuring jazz musicians performing, a man writing music next to a trumpet, and framed abstract artworks, highlighting jazz storytelling and cultural nostalgia for venue inspiration.
Close-up photograph of a shiny brass trumpet with warm ambient lighting and blurred jazz club background, emphasizing musical elements and atmosphere for the Take 5 jazz lounge branding.
Elegant jazz lounge interior for Princess Cruises’ Take 5 venue featuring plush seating, patterned wood flooring, chandeliers, and a grand piano, evoking a sophisticated and welcoming jazz club ambiance.

Creative Direction / Constraints

I was given creative freedom with the design, with the requirement that it lean into the era, storytelling, and cultural background of jazz as outlined in the venue inspiration deck and creative brief. Although this concept was not the final direction selected, it represented my strongest creative perspective for the project.

The Process

I approached this logo design by first researching the era of jazz that inspired the venue concept, exploring the atmosphere, storytelling themes, and musical heritage described in the venue inspiration deck and creative brief. My goal was to reflect the bold, sophisticated, and culturally rich ambiance of jazz lounges through visual elements that feel both timeless and vibrant.

Using Adobe Illustrator, I developed concepts that incorporated:
  • A stylized “5” with integrated piano keys, evoking the music central to the lounge experience.
  • A musical note within the tail of the “5”, inspired by stakeholder feedback suggesting this integration.
  • A warm gradient color palette of oranges, reminiscent of classic jazz club lighting, wood tones, and sunset hues that align with the intimate yet energetic vibe of jazz performances.
  • Bold, geometric typography for “Take” and “Five” in deep purple, grounding the logo with a sense of confidence and presence.

Concept Explorations

Throughout the design process, I developed a range of logo concepts exploring different ways to integrate the number “5” with the wordmark, testing variations that incorporated musical elements, bold typography, and balanced compositions. Some concepts leaned into simplified graphic approaches, while others explored symmetry with a full “TAKE 5” lockup. Each exploration aimed to capture the sophisticated, vibrant atmosphere of a jazz lounge while ensuring clarity and versatility across digital, print, and large-scale venue applications. This process allowed me to refine and select the concept direction showcased in this case study as the strongest creative solution aligned with the brand’s vision.
Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo concept featuring a dark purple circular design with a large white stylized number 5, the word “Take,” red musical notes, and flowing staff lines, evoking a vibrant and classic jazz aesthetic.
Logo exploration for Take 5 featuring an orange circular design with a large stylized white number 5, musical notes, and subtle wave staff lines to convey warmth and jazz ambiance.
Logo exploration for Take 5 Jazz Lounge featuring a blue circular design with a large stylized white number 5, the word “Take,” musical notes, and wave-like staff lines creating a classic jazz motif.
Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo variation in dark purple and red hues with a circular design, stylized white number 5, the word “Take,” and surrounding music notes and staff lines evoking jazz movement.
Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo variation using purple and orange gradient tones, featuring “Jazz at Take 5” with musical notes along staff lines emphasizing vibrancy and contemporary jazz energy.
Logo exploration for Take 5 featuring a blue and red color scheme, bold “Take” typography, large stylized number 5, and dynamic music staff with notes to evoke jazz rhythm and motion.
Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo concept featuring a bold red-orange stylized number 5 with integrated musical note tail, tan “Take” typography, and flowing music staff lines with notes, evoking dynamic jazz movement and a warm, vibrant brand aesthetic.
Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo variation with bright red and gold hues, stylized number 5 incorporating piano keys and a musical note tail, paired with geometric “Take Five” typography for an energetic brand identity.
Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo concept featuring muted purple and navy tones with bold “Take Five” typography framing a stylized number 5 that integrates piano keys and a music note tail within a circular design, reflecting an elegant and modern jazz branding aesthetic.
Take 5 Jazz Lounge logo exploration featuring a dark purple and muted gold theme with a stylized number 5 incorporating piano keys and a note tail, creating an elegant yet bold jazz branding aesthetic.
Final concept logo for Take 5 Jazz Lounge featuring bold purple “Take Five” typography with “Jazz At” in muted gold, and a stylized orange number 5 integrating piano keys and a music note tail within a circular design, reflecting an elegant and vibrant jazz lounge brand identity.

The work

Final concept logo for Take 5 Jazz Lounge featuring bold purple “Take Five” typography with “Jazz At” in muted gold, and a stylized orange number 5 integrating piano keys and a music note tail within a circular design, reflecting an elegant and vibrant jazz lounge brand identity.

programs used

Adobe Illustrator
© Neil Vilppu 2025