What is Congruence?
The meaning
Congruence text and logo were designed by Katie Krause.
“Congruence” means agreement, harmony, and compatibility. People suffer when they are out of balance. To live congruently means to bring the way you actually want to live in line with your values. It means reconciling the parts of yourself that seem in conflict. Through our work, we hope to create that kind of harmony within and between people.
The symbol
The symbol for congruence is borrowed from the field of Mathematics. In geometry, figures are congruent when they completely coincide with one another or can be superimposed because they are the same size and shape. This is what we try to do at Congruence: help people bring all of the varied parts of themselves into alignment. That’s why the designer of our logo found a way to incorporate this special symbol (in green) into the text.
The font
Omnes typeface, designed by James Darden.
When enlisting a designer to create the Congruence logo, we asked that she use a font created by a person of color. We settled on the Omnes font by one of the first, and certainly most prolific, African American typeface designers: Joshua Darden. We believe in giving voice to those who have not always been respected, seen, or heard.
The colors
The colors of Congruence — blue, brown, and green — were deliberately selected from the LGBTQ Pride Flag. The LGBTQ+ community has been traditionally marginalized, especially among those with intersectional identities, such as LGBTQ+ People of Color (POC). We can all learn something from the strength and resilience the community has demonstrated in light of the tribulations they have suffered. Congruence honors that history by promoting colors from the flag that are in line with our mission and values. Blue represents harmony, a word that is synonymous with congruence. Brown represents inclusion, which symbolizes our commitment to racial justice and lifting up Black and Indigenous POC. Green represents nature and symbolizes the renewal, healing, and growth that we hope to engender in those who seek our services.
The logo
The Congruence logo encapsulates all of the values that are embodied in our mission. The congruence symbol is embedded in the circular design, demonstrating our commitment to universal peace and harmony. The logo also contains the colors (see above) that signify our desire for individuals and communities to experience congruence, celebrate inclusion and diversity, and find renewal and transformation.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced”
— James Baldwin, New York Times essay, 1962