Dale Broman

The official logo of the 173rd Air community, hosting plenty sub-divisions that honor military service in organized professional gaming. Many genres of video games call for a variety of design. One of the longest-standing groups that still exists today, the 173rd says their success lies in their mission, values, and fellowship. They needed something that hinted combat with bold character in a retro remembrance. Bullet trails in a big block of "173" that continues in the R's and a bright red border and text draw attention as well as creating that hint of combat. While not entirely "retro," the shape of the border in an older rounded-corner television that compliments the letter forms. Despite being based on the 173rd Air Brigade, they intended to have an identity all of their own.

Enlistment poster for public web forums that are uploaded by 173rd officers. Poster #1 of the 71st Fleet division's recruitment order for Star Trek Online. For this to be powerful, several contrasting elements came into play: serene but impending darkness, alien Borg invaders in a familiar place, and a mysterious fear of the unknown. And always add laser beams for effect in sci-fi posters. Always.

The 173rd Air's naval branch expanded officially into Star Trek Online and needed a designer to create a name and logo (with a hint of makeshift virtual fashion designer for the uniforms too). Unlike other divisions of the community, the 71st Fleet Operations has its own structure and methods of gameplay in a new front of more science fiction and less of a first-person shooter the 173rd had not yet experienced before. Logo constraints were based only to what is available in the game, so the freedom was drastically reduced than any previous insignia. Directional tension in the wings, arms, and outer blue flares separate the fleet from the rest in a video game world full of shabby designs. Furthermore, the logo for the 71st "Avenging Angels" needed to be flexible for future subdivisions and needed to be adaptable with a limited palette and clean, recognizable forms.

Alpha Squadron, also known as the "Black Knights," is another team of ace gamers in the post-zombie-apocalypse hit Killing Floor. The "V" shapes surrounding the center are a reminder of being surrounded by undead on all sides. Negative space created by the five multiple fronts create a military star, a ghost of civilization, but still holds merit of organization. Alpha Squadron was assigned by the leading General of the 173rd as his best-of-the-best team of 6 players due to the limitations of Killing Floor's gameplay. Hence, the 5 "V" wings take double meaning as guardians of their leader in the insignia, serving as both doom-like and a symbol of protection.

12th MAGTF (Marine Air-Ground Task Force) "Ravens" division of elite fighters that are strict in drills that are unique only to this 173rd team of aces. Naturally, they picked the raven due to the association of ill omens and creatures of haunting death. The organic lines of the head/torso take the shape of the raven silhouette and gradually spans to be sharp, blade-like wings. Being graceful yet smooth in movement only to quickly dispatch another team silently but efficiently is what the 12th excelled at tremendously and needed an insignia to reflect it. Where the wings break the form of the diamond, the counterbalance of the beak and claws create a calm, cold danger.

173rd's 4th Armored "Hammerheads" division for the popular online multiplayer game World of Tanks.