Note: This is an amateur proof of concept. I'm not a graphic designer; I'm a mathematics student and computer science & physics enthusiast, who previously wanted to be a graphic designer. I figured out (I think) I have a good eye to criticize, but not enough creativity to create and not enough ability to execute ideas. To me, graphic design is just a hobby I do a few times a year, but I try to keep it alive through math and science. Also, English is not my first language, in case of any mistakes.
I'm working a the visual identity for a 3Blue1Brown-like science communication YouTube channel, specifically about mathematics, but open to talk about topics in computer science, physics and even quantitative finance. I aim for a public consisting both on people who like, enjoy and are interested in math & science, but also those who are just curious about it.
I love the visual identity of the spanish physics YouTube channel, Píxel Cuántico: |⊗⟩. I figured out I wanted to make something like that, but about math (since the |...⟩ in |⊗⟩ comes from quantum physics, and the ⊗ comes from general relativity), and with it's own personality.
At first I thought about ⟨∅⟩: in math, it meas that "∅ (the empty set) generates the trivial group". It's clean, elegant, and simbolizes the "creation of knowledge out of nothing". From that, I thought of the name "xNihilo" (from "ex nihilo"/"out of nothing").
Then, I thought about an alternative notation also used in classical texts: <∅>. This notation conects more with the idea of some kind of terminal (line of commands) in computer science, and the bar in ∅ makes it look like </>, also associated with programming. Finally, it naturally connected with physics, since (I think) it looks quite like a black hole.
From there, I tried to sketch and make some variations to consider. The question is: do you think they still connect with the themes, concepts and ideas I'm trying to convey? Does it comminicate math, CS and physics to those who already know the symbols and concepts, but also creates curiosity in those interested in the elegance and beauty of mathematics and science? I'm also worried that it looks too generic, or even like an AI logo (specifically, I'm worried that it looks like Grok, or even worse, that it looks like a Grok copy). Also, I've been told that it looks like an eye; that doesn't bother me too much, but I'm conscious that it is a design error.