Client Overview

Real Axis Engineering (RAE) is an engineering services firm founded by Phillip Marks, a former NASA and Apple engineer with deep expertise in FPGA and embedded firmware development. Based in Seattle, RAE supports aerospace and defense organizations with highly specialized technical solutions designed to simplify complex engineering challenges.

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Beyond technical execution, RAE is defined by a service-first approach—listening closely, responding quickly, and delivering with precision. With plans to grow into adjacent areas such as PCB design and application software, the firm is establishing itself as a trusted partner for high-stakes, mission-critical projects.

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The Challenge

RAE came to us just weeks after launching, with Founder Phillip Marks preparing to attend the Small Satellite Conference—an important opportunity to establish credibility with peers, potential partners, and industry contacts. He needed a brand that felt polished, professional, and established enough to position RAE not as a one-person consultancy, but as a firm with long-term vision, depth, and technical authority.

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The challenge was to build a brand that would:

• Convey credibility within aerospace and defense

• Reflect precision, technical mastery, and clarity

• Scale with the company as it expanded services

• Make an immediate impact at an industry-leading conference

 

Timeline: fast.

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The Process

We began with a detailed discovery session to understand Phillip’s background, the story behind the Real Axis name, and the values that would anchor the brand—clarity, transparency, technical excellence, and a commitment to simplifying complexity.

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We then guided Phillip through a deep-dive questionnaire that helped crystallize the brand’s purpose and personality. With those insights in hand, we explored visual directions rooted in aerospace cues, signal processing, motion, and a clean, structured aesthetic.

 

Our concept development included:

• Mood boards

• Early logotype explorations

• Icon sketches

• Color palette studies

• Typography system options

 

These elements came together in a comprehensive brand board. Once approved, we refined the chosen direction into a complete identity system centered around a bold logotype with a distinctive split “X”—a subtle nod to the firm’s technical foundation.

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Throughout the process, we maintained an accelerated timeline to ensure RAE had polished, conference-ready materials without sacrificing strategy or quality.

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The Solution

The final brand identity positions Real Axis Engineering as both technically exceptional and accessible.

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At its core is an italicized, forward-leaning logotype featuring the signature split “X”—a symbol of signal processing and RAE’s mission to simplify engineering complexity. The design communicates momentum, precision, and trust at a glance.

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We supported the mark with the Signal Cascade palette: deep aerospace blues paired with refined neutrals to convey authority, clarity, and professionalism. Typography pairs Montserrat Bold for structure and confidence with Inter for legibility, while Fugaz One adds selective moments of personality.

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Deliverables included:

• Primary and secondary logo suites

• A standalone “X” icon for small-scale use

• Custom color system and names

• Typography guidelines

• Production specifications

• Real-world mockups across digital and print

 

The system was designed to scale with RAE, moving seamlessly from small-wave networking materials to future pitch decks, website applications, and expanded services.

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The Outcome

The completed identity gave RAE a polished, credible presence ahead of its first industry conference—allowing Phillip to show up with confidence and clarity. The brand strengthened networking conversations, supported professional presentation materials, and set the foundation for long-term growth.

Most importantly, the identity communicates what RAE stands for: simplifying complexity with precision, transparency, and thoughtful, engineering-driven service.