Posts Tagged ‘logo theory’

  • 03September
    Back to Work: Labor Day Related Logos

    In honor of Labor Day it seems fitting to examine some “labor” related logos. Unfortunately, Google did not grace us with one of their many creative holiday designs, but luckily other designers didn’t all take the day off.

    Labor unions are known for a lot of things, but not necessarily their design expertise. While unions may exist to represent their workers legally, the logos they choose represent them visually. If you will notice with the logos below, there are some clear similarities:

    Take for example the general shape. In my research I have come across a vast majority of circular shapes in this genre of logo design. This simple circle is in my opinion too canned and plain. I understand that these organizations are not light hearted, but I believe that any branding solution should have some sort of creativity or originality.

    Not all Union logos follow this template exactly. Take for instance the following logos:

    While there is still a clear uniform circular shape, these logos incorporate more creative elements than most. By adding images related to the line of work in which they represent, the logos better define the workers they stand for. In addition, the use of simple colors and slogans provide elements lost in the previous designs. These logos are still simple designs, but set themselves apart from their bland counterparts.

    Even rarer are the illustrative logos like the Pittsburgh Local 373. This is a logo I would want to represent me. In this example a simple color scheme combined with an interesting logo and clear text forms a great logo. Even though there is an illustrative image, none of the professionalism nor legitimacy of the organization is lost. Of all the union logos I have seen, groups that can effectively capture my attention while still communicating their culture, have in my opinion, branded themselves the best.

    Of all the union logos I have seen, groups that can effectively capture my attention while still communicating their culture, have in my opinion, branded themselves the best.

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    Posted in Graphic Design, Logo Design News | No Comments »
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  • 15August
    Paul Rand’s vs New Brands:Has Logo Design Changed Forever?

    Everyone in the design community knows Paul Rand. Everyone in almost any community knows Paul Rand. If you have seen the logos for Abc, Enron, Westinghouse, IBM, or UPS, you know his work. In his passing, logo designers lost one of their most innovative and dedicated leaders. Along with the loss of a great artist, the logo design world also seems to have let go of a certain way of doing things.

    As a student of design theory, typography, and art history, Rand offered organizations a deeper branding solution. Logical and witty designs allowed Rand to express a company’s image in a manner that made sense. New trends seem to be moving farther away from these practices however. Designs are no longer so strongly based on simplicity and logic, but often feature the personality of the company in which they represent.

    Young entrepreneurs and organizations have begun to focus on the ever growing and prominent youth market. The teen generations of today are a far greater consumer group than that of the past. Clothing, jewelry, and video games are no longer just presents, but regular purchases for youthful buyers. This emphasis on reaching a more sporadic and random group of people has changed some branding strategies.

    This change comes in the form of new and edgy styles that will catch the eye of this already over stimulated generation. With the amount of media young adults are exposed to daily, companies need more than just a logical pattern or clean color scheme to reach them. The logos of today are increasingly complicated and colorful.

    Some say this is just a popular trend that in time will pass. Even Paul Rand went through a period of more elaborate logos that challenged design standards. But it is hard to imagine that the youth market will eventually be less stimulated than it is today. What will companies be forced to do to stand out in the future? Which do you like, “old school” simple and logical designs, or the ever increasing number of “new school” edgy graphics?

    Old School

    Old School Logos

    New School

    New-School Logos

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    Posted in Logo Design News, Logo Designers, Logo Inspiration | 3 Comments »
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