Jon Daly “likes it old school”. All of his works, from screen printed type to his oil painted illustrations, are 100% handmade (and 100% beautiful).
Archive for September, 2009
Forward Thinking
Calendars are a great way to add functional artwork to your home, and it’s almost that time of year to search for one that will suit your personal tastes and needs. Listed from top to bottom; animal cut-outs by Katsumi Tamura, re-usable letterpress calendar/postcards by Kate’s Paperie, printable ‘Keep Calm’ calendars from Little Brown Pen, linen ‘Under the Sea’ wall calendar by Linea Carta, illustration calendar by Catherine Campbell, letterpressed geometric calendar from See Saw Designs.
iStock controversy
It seems iStock is pushing their way into the grey area of logo design. Promoting a new logo design service coming this January, they state that “clients will be able to download a unique logo to brand their business or organization”. There are many of us that feel this is a very dangerous move. At $5 per “approved logo” plus a 50% sales fee (a one time maximum of $375), the payment for designers an insult. No less of an insult is providing companies the option of cheaply produced solutions for a minimum of $250.
This isn’t simply a question of dollars and cents, or a question of accessibility for clients and designers alike. It’s a question of values.
While I can appreciate the fact that freelance designers need to make income and not all clients have the funds to pay for good design, this formula has the potential to attract designers not necessarily looking to contribute to the landscape of good design. There are those of us who work very hard to educate our clients and spend countless hours working out not only a good design solution, but an ethical and beneficial solution.
How will originality be measured? What type of standards will be in place? What code ethics will be attached? Pre-designed logos run the risk of adding to the clutter that already exists in an over-branded world. The wrong solution may do more harm than good. We, as designers, need to make sure our services are understood. By selling our solutions cheaply and improperly we risk undercutting our own value.
The Impossible Cool
There are just some people on this Earth that are inherently cool. While I may not be one of them, I certainly agree with many of the subjects chosen for The Impossible Cool.
Stefan Kanchev
This project is based on the works of the late Stefan Kanchev (1915-2001) who designed more than 1000 trade marks and symbols, 650 stamps, posters, post cards and envelopes, book covers and packaging in his lifetime. All of his works are heavily influenced by his Bulgarian heritage and are beautifully intricate and illustrative.
Scandinavian Logos
I just had to post this. I often feel that 1960’s European logo design had some amazingly simple solutions. I’m extremely jealous (or as one of our Russian interviewees put it, “White Jealous”) of some of the solutions of the time. Here are some of my personal favourites, courtesy of iso50.
Branding the Centennial Concert Hall
When we began working with the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation in April of 2008, the organization needed help. They hadn’t had a proper brand in their 40 year history, and they needed to make sure that the Centennial Concert Hall remained relevant. There were many questions to be asked and answers to be obtained before we could begin the branding process. What were our overall goals and objectives? Were we addressing the venue or the corporation? How would each approach affect the other variables involved? What was the public perception, if any? After much discussion and debate, we resolved our first task: Create a world-class brand for the Centennial Concert Hall. We began what was to be many hours of research and development, and in the end, presented four separate solutions. After rigorous debate both internally and with their Board, we proceeded in one clear direction and began our development of their brand personality. We are ecstatic at the results of what was an oft difficult, but greatly rewarding process. We are now proud to present the summation of that process. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Take a Bite Out of History
Sometimes it’s great to reflect. Right now is one of those times. Take this interesting look at the evolution of Apple advertising for example. Many of these ads reflect the times they were created in, whereas others transcend the brand that we know today. Tell us which is your favourite. Come on, don’t be shy. We’ll even start:
A Wild Ride
I’m sure there are many of you out there feverishly anticipating Spike Jonze’s upcoming interpretation of “Where the Wild Things Are.” It’s OK, you’re not alone. If you’re a fellow designer, you can appreciate the process of creation no matter how large or small the project. Check out this interesting article on the director’s unique process to creature creation. And as a cherry on top, check out the making-of featurette over at Apple if you haven’t already.
Stick-ing to Your Brand
One of my well-known passions is hockey. Being a hockey fan I get to experience the pure adrenaline, ecstasy and frustration that comes with the sport. But being a designer, I get to take a closer look at the art of branding an organization. One might argue that an organization’s success is determined by the talent on the ice and the coaches behind the bench. However, it goes much further than that. Like every organization we work with, the success of a team starts with their brand. A team’s logo, colours and philosophy are a jumping-on point for not only the fans, but the players, coaches, management and staff. The most successful teams foster a culture that is embedded in the very jersey that represents them. The best logos, in their current forms much like their originals, do not follow any trends and therefore have authenticity and accessibility. I strongly believe in consistency, and in my opinion, very few organizations today respect this important element. Look no further than the examples presented below to see how those teams who stick to their brand have been some of the most successful. Coincidence? You tell me.
