I know I’m late to the party here, seeing as this video was posted originally 6 years ago, but it’s so darn good, it’s worth posting even now. If you’ve already seen it, watch it again. This is a humorous look at how packaging design can go, oh, so wrong. Of course it also applies to all sorts of design as well.

Tags:   ipod · microsoft · videoNo Comments.

Over the past year I have written a book called “The Designer’s Guide to Logos.” One of the things that I want to include in the book are stories of logo designs in progress, from start to finish; pencil sketches, rough ideas, concepts, mind-maps, those sorts of things, shown next to the finished logo design. This way the reader can really see what goes into designing a logo. Instead of featuring exclusively my own work, I am opening the book up for submissions here so that other designers can be included and get their work featured as well.

The main text is roughly 40,000 words and takes the reader through the logo design process from before the project begins, to the first meetings, through research, into the design phase, past revisions, and ends with support after the logo “goes live.” There is a section on how to figure out what to charge and it also features logo evolution stories from some of the worlds most recognizable brands like Word Wildlife Fund, BP, YMCA, Chanel, IBM, and the London Underground (among others).

Twenty-five logo design progress stories will be featured, seven have already been chosen, which leaves eighteen available spaces. Each process story will include five images of a logo design along the process from pencil sketches to refined concepts and ending with the finished logo. This is where I need you.

If you have a logo that you want featured in the book please send four hi-res images of the design process, and one hi-res image of the final logo, along with supporting text for each image (a sentence or two) to logos@jameskurtz.com and you will be considered for inclusion. Or, if you have any questions you can contact me here.

Obviously not everyone can be included, so this is a bit of a “contest” (although I hate that word). Please do not create work specifically for this book, this is not a spec-job. Only send a submission if the work is already complete and is a real world logo (no concept only stuff).

Looking forward to seeing all of your amazing work. Good luck!

Tags:   book · designer's guide to logos · graphic design · logo contest · logo design · logo design evolution · publishing · submissions5 Comments

TED is an organization committed to “ideas worth spreading.” The main annual conference is in California, but smaller independently organized satellite meetings, designated by the x in the title, take place all over the world. TED has become widely known because of the vast amount of excellent video content that they offer for free on their website.

Last Friday I was lucky enough to attend TEDxCLE. The event was held at The Capitol Theater in Cleveland which has been beautifully renovated. Upon entering the theater I was greeted with several striking graphic posters, branded as TED, but clearly unique to Cleveland. The main image on the poster and featured throughout the event’s visual communications, featured a Shepard Fairey-esque interpretation of the sculptures that can be seen on Cleveland’s Hope Memorial Bridge. The figures on the bridge are guardians of traffic, the figure at TED was a “Guardian of the Evolution.”

The stage was set with the TED logo in glowing red letters in front of what appeared to be a Rube Goldberg machine, which unfortunately was not functional (at least we didn’t see it work). Then, Ari Maron kicked off the day with an uplifting speech about turning Cleveland into a world class city. It set the tone for an optimistic day with a focus on what is good about Cleveland and how that can be built upon.

The second speaker, and my personal favorite of the day, was The Greenhouse Tavern chef, Jonathon Sawyer. He spoke barefoot and passionately about sustainable restaurants. He was entertaining, funny, and shed an insiders light on a topic that is often discussed in my household. After the event we headed over to his restaurant and ate an absolutely delicious late lunch.

From here the morning was in full-swing and we learned about rapid prototyping as well as spent a good deal of time discussing historical preservation within the context of development and especially in regards to Cleveland.

Next up was Dr. David Franklin, Director of The Cleveland Museum of Art. Dr. Franklin was an eloquent speaker and he shocked the audience by first showing a slide of a 10,000 year old art object and then pulled the very same object out of his pocket. His point was that seeing something on a screen cannot be compared to seeing something in person. His clever jokes and idiosyncrasies clearly won over the audience.

John Zitzner told his story of how he came to start and run high-performing Cleveland charter schools. He ended with a clearly passionate and frustrated plea to figure out better ways to fund public schools.

Best known for her appearance on Project Runway, Valerie Mayen gave a heartfelt talk about letting people into your life.

Next up, Ted Howard, showed us all how “The Cleveland Model” is allowing hard working Clevelanders to own their jobs. The Evergreen Co-Op is generating jobs, creating wealth, and strengthening neighborhoods, all by focusing on worker owned small businesses that serve Cleveland’s large institutions.

Then, thunderous drumming from the back of the room began and two drummers walked forward through the aisles to introduce Paul Hill Jr. Mr Hill’s talk focused on the importance of ritual and culture, especially in regards to african american youth.

Wrapping up the talks, Chris Clark told a dramatic story about the struggles of solar energy and how he has developed a device that brings the cost of solar power down to the point where it can be installed and used in the world’s most remote locations, bringing power to those off the grid. Gaining power, he said is not just literal power of electricity, but the greater social powers that come from having access to what he considered to be a fundamental human right.

When you watch a TED video online the closing of the talk is punctuated by a signature crescendo that quite often can add a level of importance and drama to the speech. Of course, in person, this audio isn’t there, and for some odd reason it felt missing. At the end of every talk I wanted badly to hear the closing chime, maybe next year they’ll bring a sound board.

It was a great way to spend a day, I was thrilled to be there, and I look forward to attending again for years to come.

Tags:   cleveland · TED · tedxcle1 Comment

Although more and more awareness about what a graphic designer does is becoming prevalent, there are still many people that have no idea what a graphic designer actually does. A few years ago I put together a post defining what a graphic designer does. Now, Design Council UK has put together an excellent video on on the subject.

In addition to the video you can view more of what Design Council UK has to say here.

via

Tags:   define · Graphic designer · typography · videoNo Comments.

Tobias Bergdahl has put together 12 designs based on Adrian Shaughnessy’s “12 paradoxes of graphic design.” Have a look here.

Adrian Shaugnhnessy is a graphic designer and writer based in London. In 1989 he co-founded the design company Intro. Today he runs ShaughnessyWorks, a consultancy combining design and editorial direction.

Found via Quipsologies.

Tags:   Adrian Shaughnessy · graphic design · humor · paradox · typographyNo Comments.