Tanya Cardoza

Inkguard

More than a tool, this is where complex ideas are made clear, accessible, and actionable.

Overview

Originally developed as my UX design capstone, InkGuard has continued evolving as an early-stage concept exploring how design can make intellectual property processes more understandable and approachable for creatives. As I’ve continued learning about IP through research, classes, and conversations, I’ve been able to continued developing the project. It has become a way for me to explore how UX design can better support creatives as they navigate the intellectual property process.

Approach

Client:

Inkguard

My Role:

UX Designer, Brand Strategist

Year:

2026

Service Provided:

Branding, Website Design, Print Design

Challenge

Intellectual property is inherently complex, unfamiliar, and often intimidating for creatives. InkGuard needed a brand and digital presence that could communicate credibility and trust while making dense legal concepts feel clear and approachable. The challenge was to translate this complexity into a cohesive visual system and user experience that reduced friction, guided users confidently, and supported both digital and print touchpoints without oversimplifying the subject matter.

Design Process

Color palette Creation

InkGuard’s color palette was developed to reflect the dual reality of creation and protection. Soft blush tones and warm neutrals represent the early, vulnerable stages of ideation where concepts are fluid, personal, and emotionally driven. These are grounded by deeper ink-inspired hues and a deliberate blue chosen to closely align with the USPTO’s visual language, subtly linking InkGuard to formal patent infrastructure. Together, the palette forms a cohesive system that mirrors InkGuard’s process: honoring creativity while reinforcing structure, clarity, and long-term security for original work.

Font selection

InkGuard’s typography brings structure without feeling intimidating. Gate adds a sense of weight and trust, while Poppins keeps the experience clear, friendly, and easy to move through. Multiple font pairings were tested to find a balance that felt both supportive and dependable, reflecting InkGuard’s goal of protecting ideas without putting distance between creators and the process.

Deliverables

The final color selection was refined alongside the Gate typeface to create a logo system that feels confident, warm, and lasting in print. Each color was evaluated for clarity and consistency when reproduced as stickers, with matching Pantone values selected to ensure accurate color across materials. Together, the palette and typography translate InkGuard’s identity into a tactile form designed to travel with creators wherever their ideas go.

These are select pages from a mini zine created for tabling events, designed to explain why protecting creative work matters. The zine breaks down copyright, patents, and trademarks in clear, approachable language meeting creators where they are and giving them a starting point rather than overwhelming them. Its goal is simple: to make protection feel understandable, relevant, and worth engaging with before ideas leave the notebook.

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