Logo design and design thinking is always evolving. Sometimes a look back can be useful, either to inspire something new or in some cases remind one what not to do.
A Feb. 2009 article in Ad Age “Kraft Latest Marketer to Cheer Up Its Logo” (sorry if you don’t have Ad Age subscription, it is locked up behind their wall now) about how so many brands are refreshing their logos to be “happier” got me thinking about the constant evolution of logo design and design thinking. For your viewing pleasure, consideration and retro-y inspiration:
A collection of vintage logos from a mid-70’s…
Question.
Is your form following your function?
Is your less really more?
Have you seen the big G-O-D lurking around in your details?
And the behemoth of all design questions, are you K.I.S.S.-ing?
For those of you that have been overloaded with design formulas–here, there, and everywhere–a book is coming that blows these rules out of the water, Never Use White Type on a Black Background: And 50 Other Ridiculous Design Rules by Anneloes van Gaalen.
I have a love affair with breaking rules, so this book gives me hard-core proof and comfort in this crazy “when in doubt–leave it out” laden design world.
Happy rule breaking!
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Jinean Robinson is…
A fact of our times, whether we admit it or not, is that we’ve all become a bit more…thrifty– perhaps looking for sales, indulging in the occasional garage sale stop, etc? Generics are products that, I believe, are often overlooked. Made to function like a brand name product but for a fraction of the price, can anything be better? Of course, we’d all like to have the 3 hour loading times of the Adobe Creative Suites programs, but can we afford the nearly $1,000 we have to part with to fix our “brand” habit? Not in 2009. So, what’s to…
Do you know how I know your business card is crap? Let me guess, it’s rectangular, probably Strathmore stock, can easily be torn, has your name and your title on it, and it’s as forgettable as every other business card much like the one in the picture (it’s mine).
Did you simply choose a template when deciding on a business card style or did you have some sort of creative input? (Did you see what I did there? I crossed out creative to further imply that (y)our business card is crap.) I recall when my creative director was designing the card you see…
For all those media doom and gloom reports about the economy and all of the woes you may be experiencing right now, there is still plenty to be done. Remember, readers, we are the keepers of our destiny and have the power to make it happen.
Peep these tips for all you creative folk out there.
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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO (Chief Creative Infections Officer) specializing in creative strategy and implementation, 360 branding communications, and brand development. Join her at http://twitter.com/germllc or her firm’s website at http://germonline.com/
Chicago – Dallas – Los Angeles – San Francisco – New York City – Seattle: These placement gurus have got some good work and clients brewing. Go get you some work and you are free to send all commission checks to me via Paypal 
Seriously, lots of great work and opportunity for freelance. Let me know how it goes!
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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO (Chief Creative Infections Officer) specializing in creative strategy and implementation, 360 branding communications, and brand development. Join her at http://twitter.com/germllc or her firm’s website at http://germonline.com/
This designer, Karl Kwasny, really knows how to do things his way. In designing, he creates his own world utilizing design and illustration. There is nothing generic about his work. And for all you out there who say, “having a style is wack,” with clients like Coca Cola, Hershey’s, and Target, their check books beg to differ.
Check’em out!
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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO (Chief Creative Infections Officer) who has been in the communications industry for over 8 years, specializing in creative strategy and implementation, 360 branding communications, and brand development. Join her at http://twitter.com/germllc or her firm’s website at http://germonline.com/
Good…
click for site
A very cool magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn from some innovative designers that have given a damn since 2006.
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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO (Chief Creative Infections Officer) who has been in the communications industry for over 8 years, specializing in creative strategy and implementation, 360 branding communications, and brand development. Join her at http://twitter.com/germllc or her firm’s website at http://germonline.com/
I love color. I think the right use of color can make a project. As a graphic designer my colors are all of the CMYK, RGB, and the Pantone variety. Who doesn’t love good ol’ 23C 0M 100Y 13B? Or PMS 806? Don’t know what those colors are? Most people probably wouldn’t know what you were talking about and I think you’d be hard pressed to find a designer who knows exactly what color that was without looking it up. However, when you’re out looking for a new paint color for your kitchen, do you walk in and say give…
Ever wonder, “what does it really take to develop great ideas?” I mean the big ones. The juicy, sloppy, wet ones that drench the culture and live soaked in society for decades. Well, there is a great Cannes Selection film, “Art & Copy,” that does just that. Or, shall I say instead of wondering, the filmmakers decided to Just Do It!
Check out a screening in your area: http://www.artandcopyfilm.com/screenings/
While in Atlanta, I’m gonna go to the screening on Wednesday, April 22nd as part of the Atlanta Film Festival. Tune in Thursday for my review–like you care what I think–but I’ll let you…
Don’t you just love a photographer that can show a portfolio with many sides? Don’t cha wish you could curl up with one? Allow their depth of focus to take your design to a whole other level? Don’t cha wish your photographer was hot like this guy…don’tcha (sorry couldn’t resist)! From still to portrait to fashion this dude is GOOD!!! With clients changing things at the last minute down to the camera click it’s good to know that someone out there can handle it. Harold Daniels is one of my back pocket goodies that I’m itchin’ to use.
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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO…
With the economy continuing in its downward spiral, last week’s start of baseball season saw the owner of Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers announce that prime signage locations that the automotive companies occupy at Comerica Park would be allowed to keep their billboards spots at NO CHARGE! Why? Mike Ilitch wanted to do something to help the Big Three and subsequently the city of Detroit.
Ok. Gonna tell you a little secret….
I know we can get caught in our rut of, “how much bigger do I have to make this logo,” “must EVERYTHING have to be sketched, comped, and spelled out to buy off on just the concept?,” or “do I have to work with the brand marketing all-star team from the 60’s?”
But on my way to meetings yesterday, I got a quick reminder of how lucky we are. I was riding on the interstate and saw a car on the freeway hit the guard rail only to be thrown into oncoming traffic. This reminded…
Recently I lost someone in my family whom I loved and was very fond of. At a time like this, it makes you think about what that person will be remembered for. Invariably you also think about what kind of legacy you’ll leave behind. When Paul Newman passed away last fall, he more than anyone defined how to both live life and leave a legacy behind that so many people will benefit from.
Arguably one of the greatest American actors of the past 50 years. From the early 1950s to this decade, Paul Newman repeatedly set the bar high for acting…
Ahh, now I know where awards are and the money to pay for entering can be found.
To those of you who dream of seeing your name grace the gold pencil, running in meadows with gold lions, or at least getting in the table of contents of design award annuals: get ready to pay up. I have been amazed at the fees participants must pay for entering design shows. Ok, ok, maybe I can understand the big bucks for Cannes, One Show, even CA, but all types of “award shows” are now asking for exorbitant amounts for just one entry in…
I stumbled upon this series of work by artist and writer Craig Damrauer and was particularly struck by this piece. How many times have you heard I could do that and how many times have you wanted to respond with yeah but you didn’t? I think this equation could also equal graphic design. Damrauer has a book available on Amazon with the rest of his word math or it can be viewed at morenewmath.com.
It is such a clever concept that stands out even more because of the simplicity of the typography and the quiet color scheme. Some are funny, some…
“After its package redesign, sales of the Tropicana Pure Premium line plummeted 20% between Jan. 1 and Feb. 22, costing the brand tens of millions of dollars. On Feb. 23, the company announced it would bow to consumer demand and scrap the new packaging, designed by Peter Arnell. It had been on the market less than two months.”
I studied all the facts and memorized the stats on the back on the cards. Then I dove even deeper. Baseball cards were uniquely responsible for me getting an “A” in geography my entire education because I was intrigued to go find out where places like Mobile, AL and Fresno, CA were. Remember, I was 8 when I started pouring all over my dad’s atlas’ and road maps to see where my favorite players came from. Needless to say, any geography teacher I shared this with was NOT impressed.
Some WWF ads that do a great job reiterating a very important cause. Global warming and the severe impact on animals! http://www.worldwildlife.org/home.html?sc=AWY0900WCG00&searchen=google&gclid=CLzll-7b2pkCFQu-GgodoUOvXA
Joel Kirstein is a Creative Director who has been in the ad agency trenches for 25 years, specializing in shopper marketing, branding, and retail. Contact him on Linked In and www.coroflot.com/joelkirstein
Last week the Detroit Lions, the NFL’s poster child for futility announced that they are finally up grading/refreshing their brand identity. If you’re not a foot ball fan, let me give you a bit of perspective on their plight. The Lions have not won an NFL Championship since Ike was president in 1957. They’ve never made it to a Super Bowl and in 52 seasons since then, they have only made the playoffs 9 times and and notched one post season victory. It gets worse. Last season the Lions became only the second team in NFL history to lose every game and the first to rack up an 0-16 record. Simply put the Detroit Lions have become the black hole of pro football.
Ok, this cat has been able to leap the design industry in a single bound. Look! Up in the purple-bluish-pink-yellow sky! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Chuck Anderson!
I mean this design machine took over the industry in only 5 years-no formal training-just a lil tenacity and hard work.
No more excuses–work hard ya’ll and MAKE-IT-HAPPEN!!!
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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO (Chief Creative Infections Officer) who has been in the communications industry for over 8 years, specializing in creative strategy and implementation, 360 branding communications, and brand development. Join her at http://twitter.com/germllc or her firm’s website at http://germonline.com/
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I love billboards. The sheer magnitude of their size always invigorated me. The challenges. The possibilities. These are some examples of the best that’s out there, coming to a field of vision near you. http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/01/05/clever-and-creative-billboard-advertising/ 
Joel Kirstein is a Creative Director who has been in the ad agency trenches for 25, specializing in shopper marketing, branding, and retail. Contact him on Linked In and www.coroflot.com/joelkirstein
One of the oldest forms of OUT-OF-HOME advertising is the public bench. Here are some top shelf examples: http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/12/04/clever-and-creative-bench-advertisements/
Joel Kirstein is a Creative Director who has been in the ad agency trenches for 25, specializing in shopper marketing, branding, and retail. Contact him on Linked In and www.coroflot.com/joelkirstein
Ok, pencils down!
For all you organic, Juno-ish typeface lovers out there, a hand drawn typeface has been developed to save your day and sketchpads.
Have fun! And make sure to send me what you make!
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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO (Chief Creative Infections Officer) who has been in the communications industry for over 8 years, specializing in creative strategy and implementation, 360 branding communications, and brand development. Join her at http://twitter.com/germllc or her firm’s website at http://germonline.com/
So, what is the answer?
In a world of competing designers where everyone with Arial and a Sharpie are now the next Paula Scher, how do you compete for work? Is spec the answer?
Well, as lines have been drawn, there are two sides to the work-for-free war and boy oh boy are the jump drives flying.
One side believes that designers must take a united stand to not give free labor and belittle our purpose and industry. The other side says that in this overcrowded, over-saturated, and any other “over” word you can think of, it is just part of the evolving world…
I hear you….I hear you over there!
“I have mad skillz…I mean I’m a design machine.”
“No one can touch me!”
“Just wish someone other than my mac, cat, and mamma knew how ill I am!”
Well there is an answer to your prayers a great way to promote your work! Facebook has a new group called “Artists Group” utilizing FB new iSnap application.
iSnapChat is a new Facebook application. It is a sophisticated visual communication tool to enable artists, photographers, designers and others to and promote their work. To find out more and learn about the launch join this group or click image:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76846695232
EXCUSES ARE…
So when in doubt, Keep On Smiling! If Pepsi and Kraft are smiling, they must be right. Right?
QSR chain JACK IN THE BOX with 2,100 quick-serve restaurants in 18 states and a pioneer of the drive-thru concept just launched their re-branded identity.The work was done by Duffy & Partners http://www.duffy.com of Minneapolis and the reaction has been mixed. I opine this way…
I like the look but feel that it is too clean in the sense that this is for a fast food chain and it comes across as more befitting a toy product than anything having to do with food. My first reaction I had was “MATTEL” because of the choice of red, more that fun, food and frivolity.
JACK…
Episode Six of TRUST ME struck an especially resonating chord being about partners and pitches. They are often mutually exclusive and one can often make or break each other. Both inside and outside the advertising business. That can become an Olympic Decathlon of another sort.
Mason McGuire (Eric McCormack) still stinging from the ARC Mobile fallout with GCD Tony Mink (Griffin Dunne) for shooting a commercial the client loved and now there are NOT a client any more, finds out that his group’s agency rival Simon Corcoran is working on a pitch for the 2016 Chicago Olympic Games pitch. Mason convinces Tony to ask RGM big cheese Denise…
Joel 
