Loving this logo design for Martin Newcombe property maintenance.

The FontFeed have reported on a new product placement logo, introduced by TV, radio and production company RTL.

Was there really any need for so many iterations on this Firefox logo before and after? I think not.

Nissan Cube vs Moodgadget logo, on ISO50 Blog. Check out those wheels (one giant leap for moon buggies).

Tony Spaeth of Identity Works has launched an accompanying blog, Identity Forum. It kicked off with an insightful post by Jerry Kuyper, The Bug, the Worm and the Death Star, discussing logos and their names.

Save Your Logo is a novel idea. (via Quipsologies)

“Many species of flora and fauna can be found in the logos of companies, universities and organisations…

Save Your Logo provides an opportunity to invest in the conservation of the species seen in these logos.”

Finally, I’ll leave you with what is probably the most useless logo design tutorial I’ve had the misfortune of witnessing. It’s too bad not to share.

You can thank @logoholik for the pleasure.

Do you have any logo links you can recommend?

It’s interesting to see the recent appearance of Spec Watch, a venture that educates about the very real risks of design contest websites and “their so-called communities”.

Spec Watch has been cataloging unpaid and refunded projects, and those terminated due to copyright violation.

In their own words:

“We’re not going to debate the morality and / or ethics of participating in design contests and calls for crowdsourced design. We’re not going to debate whether these kinds of services are an effective way for buyers and clients to obtain design services. We’re not even going to debate how good, or bad, the work produced by design contests is or isn’t. Those arguments are raging elsewhere. Our main purpose is the look at the actual logistics of design contests and crowdsourcing to present the facts behind same. We’re not going to comment. We’re not going to editorialize. We’re simply going to present the facts as we discover them…”

Here are just a few examples of what’s going on.

“The winner of this contest was unawarded as she has used so much clipart we have had to suspend her permanently”

According to the “suspended” designer’s profile, they had entered 711 contests and won 37 before being suspended “permanently”. Their portfolio still features the ‘unawarded entry’ as an example of a 99designs “product”.

No comment necessary.

Crowdspring vs. 99designs “Logo Smackdown”

Two design contests, for the same logo, were run simultaneously on 99designs and Crowdspring by a Texas Startup Blog who wrote about their “Logo Smackdown”.

As if these contests weren’t wasting enough of designers’ time, one project was never going to be awarded from the outset. And this certainly isn’t the only case where no winner was selected.

“How do I know when buyers are trying to trick me?”

“A guy posted a project for $1000, after the project ends, seems like Crowdspring gives him his money back (even though there were more than 25 entries), and after that he sends me a message saying that the prize was to attract designers only, and offers $200 for my design. I’m okay to losing projects to other creatives, but this sucks, now how do I know when buyers are trying to trick me?”

Nasty. And it’s not an isolated incident.

How about this one, where yet another prohibited iStockphoto image wins a contest?

One of the contest holders on 99designs had this to say about the process after unknowingly selecting a copied logo as their “winner”:

“We are considering holding another contest, but currently questioning the value, considering the time investment of several people in our company policing designs, vs. just hiring someone directly whom we can then hold accountable for any infringements.”

You can read the whole sorry tale of plagiarism via Spec Watch.

Have you had any similar contest experiences?

This appears to be a regular occurrence on Crowdspring and 99designs, and to see for yourself you should follow Spec Watch on Twitter.

How the Google Chrome logo was made, from 9GAG. (Google Chrome is a new web browser for Windows. Has anyone out there given it a shot? The Mac version is apparently in development.)

I found this brief advert for Chrome, via creativebits.

A great piece of digital graphics, no doubt, but am I the only one who finds this video creepy? It’s like some corporate robot trained to spy on us, which doesn’t give an impression I’d want from a web browser.

Wonderfully decorative monogram gallery, via Randa Clay, who also shares some of her designs from back in the day.

When starting a project many designers will inevitably experiment with monograms. The combining of two or more letters appears like an easy way out, and in most cases it is, but the most imaginative interpretations leave us with some appropriate and distinctive logos. A few I like:

• 10 creative monograms

Microsoft biffs the Bing logotype, via DesignNotes.

The Brand New readers have been fairly vocal about the horizontal scaling, with 220+ comments last I checked.

Perhaps — a little like my cat allergy — search engine teams are just as reluctant to get close to graphic designers (my other half is again talking about adopting a cat after our previous attempt lasted just two months).

Does the Chrome logo spin your cogs? And has Bing outdone Google in the iconic logo department?

Pentagram partner Kit Hinrichs talks about his experiences in a recent interview for the One Club.

Chronicle photo by Eric Luse

“People often assume the brand is the logo or symbol—and there’s no doubt that if that’s done well, it can give you a flavor for who the company is, whether they’re contemporary or traditional, and so forth. But I really see the brand as more than that logo or mark—it’s the totality of the way in which the company talks to its public.”

For the unaware, Kit helped design logos such as Luckyfish, CultureBus and California Academy of Sciences.

About companies looking for digital design as opposed to print:

“Obviously a change has taken place and is continuing to take place. Now, as we get involved with brands for companies, we’re showing them how it works in print and digitally—and really, in all media, not even just limited to print or the web. Is the idea something you can make 3-dimensional, can you animate it?”

More Kit Hinrichs

• Kit Hinrichs, on the Pentagram website
• Pentagram’s Kit Hinrichs talks about good design, on CreativePro.com (from 2004)
• Photo slideshow, on SF Gate

A quick mention of a favourite blog, Logolog by Denis Radenkovic, and a great logo by Nancy Wu, for Tenth.

Nancy is a very talented designer who has kindly agreed to contribute to the upcoming Logo Design Love book, so you’ll have the pleasure of seeing more of her process explained.

The Vancouver-based designer’s website, Nancy Wu Design, was worth my time — the “identity” section in particular — and here’s a small sample of Nancy’s preliminary work for the Tenth logo (more to follow in the book, with some intriguing unused concepts).

I previously asked if you knew of any good church logos, and the discussion that ensued was quite deep, with strong opinions being voiced.

Denis, I applaud your design taste. Please do keep up the good work.

Feedback from other designers

When you don’t receive constructive criticism, it’s all too easy to believe your work’s the best thing since Doritos and hot dip. Clients are normally the first to open your eyes, but it’s always good when a fellow designer gives it to you straight prior to any client communication.

There’s an excellent community of logo designers on Twitter, and if you ask nicely, they’re more than happy to offer advice. You’ll also find collections of talented web designers / developers who tweet, though I’m not too sure why you find me via that second link.

Unless you genuinely respect the designer giving feedback, take comments with a pinch of salt, because not everyone’s as competent as you, and not everyone will have time to familiarise themselves with your design brief.

Help with client concerns

There are ways to address this, and there are ways to avoid. I don’t recommend naming your clients (feathers can easily be ruffled), but if you mention the important points of your concerns, we’re a friendly bunch, and it’s likely that one of us has experienced the same issue.

Twitter can also help you out of a website fix.

General chat

Especially when working from home, on your Todd (like me), Twitter can act as a welcome break from work. One of the things I miss most about an office environment is the regular interaction with colleagues, so it’s nice to see what’s happening, real-time, in the lives of people in know.

Image copyright: Overthinking it

Sharing resources

How many of you still use del.icio.us? For me, it’s not nearly as much as I used to, and I’m sure the site has taken a hit with more and more of us sharing (and collecting) our bookmarks via Twitter.

Twitter’s like del.icio.us with conversations.

Driving traffic

I’m guilty too. Via swissmiss. Image by Danny Jones.

How are you using Twitter?

With deadlines to meet, I don’t use it too often — though it’s all relative, as I still tweet almost every day. I’m sure I could make more use of the resource when a question crops up, but it’s a (bad?) habit of mine to try helping myself before asking others.

Actually, the search tool is an excellent way to find answers, or to find feedback on a particular product or service before buying anything, so Twitter does help even if I don’t take up your time by posting a question.

Have you been guided through a fix on Twitter?

Are you borderline obsessive? ;)

Share your Twitter tales of wonderment.

Ps. Thanks so much to you kind folk who continue helping me on Twitter (find me @DavidAirey and @LogoDesignLove).

I’ve learned from quite a few mistakes during my time as a designer, and to save you from doing likewise, here are 10 logo design tips I picked up.

1. A logo doesn’t need to say what a company does


Restaurant logos don’t need to show food, dentist logos don’t need to show teeth, furniture store logos don’t need to show furniture. Just because it’s relevant, doesn’t mean you can’t do better.

The Mercedes logo isn’t a car. The Virgin Atlantic logo isn’t an aeroplane. The Apple logo isn’t a computer. Etc. Etc.

2. Not every logo needs a mark


Sometimes a client just needs a professional logotype to identify their business. Don’t be afraid to ask what they think.

3. Two-way process


Remember, things might not always pan out as you hope. Your client might request something you disagree with. If that happens, try giving them what they want, then show them what you believe is an improvement, and why. They’re less likely to be so resistant if they already see how their thoughts pan out.

4. Picasso started somewhere


You don’t need to be an artist to realise the benefits of logo sketching. Ideas can flow much faster between a pen and paper than they can a mouse and monitor.

5. Under-promise, over-deliver


If you’re unsure how long a task will take to complete, estimate longer. Design projects are like construction work — you piece lots of little elements together to form a greater whole, and setbacks can crop up at any time.

6. Leave trends to the fashion industry


Trends come and go, and when you’re talking about changing a pair of jeans, or buying a new dress, that’s fine, but where your brand identity is concerned, longevity is key.



Don’t follow the pack.


Stand out.

7. Work in black first
By leaving colour to the end of the process, you focus on the idea. No amount of gradient or colour will rescue a poorly designed mark.

8. Keep it appropriate


Designing for a lawyer? Ditch the fun approach. Designing for a kid’s TV show? Nothing too serious. I could go on, but you get the picture.

9. A simple logo aids recognition


Keeping the design simple allows for flexibility in size. Ideally, your design should work at a minimum of around one inch without loss of detail. Look at the logos of large corporations like Mitsubishi, Samsung, FedEx, BBC etc. Their logos look simple and are easier to recognise because of it.

10. One thing to remember


That’s it. Leave your client with just one thing to remember about the design. All strong logos have one single feature to help them stand out.



Not two, three, or four.



One.

More logo design tips

This is just a snippet of what will follow in the Logo Design Love book. Plenty more to come, but I’m always interested to learn from you too.

Do you have any additional tips to share? Have you had a problem in a project that was eventually overcome (or not)? I’d love to know.

The making of PlayStation. Via DesignNotes.

Who says a logo can’t change a lot and still maintain its “brand equity”?

I’m by no means a keen gamer, but I do play a bit of Pro Evolution from time-to-time, and I have a PlayStation. I don’t remember any of the older logos shown above. Just the most recent styling. Have you seen the others before? Are they simply concepts before the original launch?

Just a quick image post whilst I catch up on emails, prepare a client logo revision, and work towards a book-writing deadline.

It’s been a bit quiet from me around here lately due to an excursion to one of the beautiful Balearic islands (a few of my photos through the link). I wanted to mention the break before leaving, but given what happened last time I publicised a holiday, I thought it best not to.

I trust you’ve all been keeping well? Hope so.

International Red Cross
Designed by Henri Dunant, 1863

Bayer
Designed by Hans Schneider, circa 1900

Rehabilitation Hospital Corporation of America
Designed by John Langdon

Swissair
Designer unknown

Australian Wildlife Hospital
Designed by Coast Design, 2005

Lifelink
Designed by Beveridge Seay, Inc.

Film Aid International
Designed by Eric Baker Design Associates

Swiss National Exhibition Expo, Lausanne 1964
Designed by Armin Hofmann, 1964

Crossroads Films
Designed by Pentagram

Hermann Hospital
Designed by Pentagram

Rhode Island Department of Health
Designed by Malcolm Grear Designers

New Horizon
Designed by Gardner Design

Medical City
Designed by Richard Brock Miller Mitchell & Associates

Legacy Hospital Partners, Inc.
Designed by Prejean Creative

Espresso Rescue
Designed by Mindspike Design

Christian cross

More crosses

The Wikipedia page for “cross” shows many other examples, such as the skull and crossbones, Maltese cross, and flag of Denmark etc.

When countries use both flags and logos, the distinction can easily blur. For instance, Italy’s tourism market is promoted using Landor’s happy pickle, but surely the flag would be more effective (flags and copyright — I’d like to know more about that).

Green Cross Code

Those of you in the UK will remember the Green Cross Code Man. If you’re like me, however, you won’t know that the actor who played him was none other than David Prowse MBE of Darth Vader fame.

Just thought I’d throw that out there.

Your favourites

If you have a favourite from the above selection, or if you know of any other cross logos worth mentioning, do leave a comment.

In 1994, Paula Scher was commissioned to create a new identity and promotional graphics system for The Public Theater. 15 years on, and the design has been honoured by the Art Directors Club.

Pentagram squeezed 300 pieces of Public design work into a 45 second video collage (shown above).

More of The Public Theater work on the Pentagram website.

I’ve always admired The Public Theater logo. The clean, minimal design appeals to my taste, and It’s a pleasure to feature the work here.