V (isual) - DAY

YOU CAN'T MISS: the shelf life of a logo

http://voice.aiga.org/content.cfm?ContentAlias=%5Fgetfullarticle&aid=2523078

This article begins by talking about “Jack” the logo for now-defunct Cingular. He was, indeed a great piece of design: easily recognizable, scaleable (i.e. Jack works at a variey of sizes.), and modern. The author ponders what happens to these poor discarded logos, of companies that have merged or gone the way of the dinosaur. It’s a shame to lose them when they’ve been well designed.

Jack, although a logo infant, will be replaced by a more streamlined version of the at&t logo - recognizable from the past, but brought up to date. It would have been nice to see the two somehow merge together. It’s silly to throw away a whole visual identity just for a name change.


RESPONSE: Communicating with Color

I have to admit, I don't always take into account the significance of color. Truly, I'd rarely thought about it. Reading the Pantone book, though, the connections made sense. There is so much minutia that goes into design that I had previously taken for granted. The level that it can go into for every aspect of design - white space, typography, color, etc. can be intimidating and overwhelming.

Although each part is has its significance, I am a firm believer in the effect of the design as a whole. I think it's more about how each part works together than what it does alone, although knowing what each does is important. Each aspect is more meaningful played againt the others.



CRITIQUE: Boom er Bust?

For the publication project I am working with the Boomer group, the baby boomer magazine. They've asked for what amounts to a modern publication with nostalgic touches. What does that MEAN? In attempts to please them, or at least prove to them that I've considered their wishes before going my own merry way, I downloaded a few fonts from the '50s and '60s. Some of them I really like. Although evocative of the time period, I worry that most of them aren't bold enough to carry a masthead and might even be TOO nostalgic.

The biggest name we would be competing against is AARP. They've handled the "problem" by avoiding nostalgia all together. Is this a good move on their part?