..:: SNEAK OF THE WEEK ::..

Its been awhile since I did a Sneak of the Week, mainly because I have been wearing the same shoes for awhile now, buying new ones,
but just new ones of these.
but now I have found a new one! The Nike Windrunners.
Super classic look, retro feel, but super comfy looking.

I have discovered that these puppies are hard to find.

I really don't even need this color, I just want this model. Any tips on how to get me some would be much appreciated!

..:: iWant ::..

I don't have an iPad, or really want one.
But this is maybe the only reason I would get one.

Word on the street is that its an April Fools joke. If not, it will be sweet!

Via Core 77

..:: THOUGHTS? ::..

Via Logo Design Love

Simon Manchipp, one of three creative directors and partners at London-based studio SomeOne, said on Twitter yesterday:

“Logos are dead. Yet we have been featured in the new book Logo Design Love as an example of how to do Logos.

“They are a hangover from old-school thinking about branding. There is no desire by the public for a new logo. They are simply an old-fashioned approach to differentiating products or services.”

Upon questioning, Manchipp explicitly meant, “…that symbols invented to accompany brand names are a waste of time, money and effort.”

I asked David Law, Manchipp’s partner at SomeOne (and the man who kindly submitted SomeOne’s designs for inclusion in my book), what he thought of his colleague’s statement:

“It’s something we have been debating internally for quite a while.

“When you look at brands like O2, its success lies in the richness and depth of its brand world (bubbles, blue grad etc.). This forms a flexible branded platform that is instantly recognisable — you could remove the logo and still know the brand. The logo in itself is not the ‘hero’.

“In the past, brands like IBM and FedEx traded on the logo as the ‘hero’. We see it even today.

“So while we all acknowledge that the logo is not about to disappear — and that it is still an important part of any brand toolkit — there is a case for applying more emphasis on brand worlds.

“The ‘favicon’ or ‘twibbon’ is now the equivalent of the ‘black and white fax’ that we all learnt (years ago) was the minimum requirement for a logo to be recognisable as. These are much smaller applications than we have ever had to deal with, and ones where traditional logos are struggling.

“Brands now ‘move’ as standard — being ‘Apple‘ implies all sorts of physics that lend attributes to the brand and do not rely on the logo to do everything.

“Lastly, the amount of platforms, media, applications (and now ‘experiences’) that need to be branded has multiplied significantly with technology. People simply get bored quicker and brand worlds allow the conversation to ‘flow’.

“Yes, the logo is the ultimate ‘rechargeable battery’ of the brand and is the final distillation of all the brand’s attributes BUT what we are debating (and we haven’t reached any conclusion) is that if the brand world is powerful enough, could the ‘logo’ simply be the company name designed in a simple, ownable way? Possibly, dare I say it, with no symbol to sit alongside it?”

Symbol or no symbol is a valid question, and one I talk about in my book:

“Sometimes your client just needs a professional logotype to identity its business. Use of a symbol can be an unnecessary addition.

“This is something you want to determine at the outset of the project. Ask your client if she has a preference one way or another. If the company is entertaining ideas about future expansion into other markets, it might be better to opt for a distinctive logotype, because an identifying mark or symbol might prove restrictive.”

Quoted from chapter 11 of Logo Design Love.

So while Manchipp’s initial “Logos are dead” quote might be over the top, it does raise an interesting debate.

..:: DIG THIS ::..

I know I just did a Pantone post recently, but this is big news.
(If your a design nerd like me anyway.)

Pantone just released the Color of the year.

PANTONE 3258 C

I have to say, I almost called it early on in the year with this post.

Just sayin'!


Have a great weekend everyone.

..:: iLIKE ::..

Not sure if its the Holiday season getting to me already or what! But, I am really digging this red!

I have been seeing it on some really great pieces and I have used it recently with great results.

Its kinda like the go to standard of the Pantone system really.

Go get it!

..:: SNEAK OF THE WEEK ::..

So I have received a few emails asking if I was still doing the sneak of the week.

I am, sorry, just been busy.

So lets get back to it!

This weeks SOTW I am doing yet another classic that is getting reissued.

I remember saving up all my allowance just so I could buy these monsters! And when finally got them I was about 12 years old. I remember never wanting to wear them,
to play basketball, or to the mall, or over to my friends house because I had worked so hard to get them, and I didnt want to ruin them.

Via Hypebeast:
Aside from all of the collaborations within Reebok’s PUMP 20 program, the historic sportswear brand looks to bring back a couple of original colorways as part of its 20th PUMP Anniversary. Two colorways will be made available to each participating retailer, each individually numbered and tagged with the respective shops name. All retailers will only receive 29 pairs in each color, releasing along with its own design.

..:: THOUGHTS ::..

The Sunday times reports

This could be huge!

I cant believe that the Love Irish Food people are actually claiming that they don't think they look like the same logo!

This could be a huge financial blunder on the parts of the responsible party.

Should be interesting to see how this develops.

Read more here.

..:: DIG THIS ::..

I am a Font nerd! I love everything that has to do with fonts.
That's just one reason why I love this!

FONTCAPTURE

Make a font out of your own handwriting! Super easy to do. And it is wild seeing your own handwriting in a font.

Worth the 5 minutes it takes to get it all said and done!

Thanks to @inspiredmag for tweeting it! :)

..:: DIG THIS ::..

Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc. from Chris Cairns on Vimeo.

INSANE!
Happy Friday!

Props to Derek for sending this my way!

..:: THOUGHTS? ::..

After fifty years of Futura, IKEA will be changing its catalog typeface to Verdana.

Via idsgn:
The font will replace IKEA Sans (a customized version of Futura by Robin Nicholas), and IKEA Serif (based on Century Schoolbook). In an interview with the Swedish design magazine Cap & Design, IKEA’s Ivana Hrdlickova says the main reason for the switch was to allow the company to use the same typeface in all countries (current IKEA typefaces do not contain Asian characters, for example). Being that Verdana was designed for the web, it also allows the company’s image to remain consistent online and in print.

Read the full story here.

Of all the choices, Verdana!? Really!?

..:: THOUGHTS ::..

For over 20 years Freshjive has been a mainstay in the street wear game. And its identifiable logo has been there for the whole ride.

But, things change.

"Freshjive embarks upon one of the world's first anti-branding campaigns, in which they will be stripping their logos from not just the outside of their garments, but from the labels themselves."

In an exclusive interview with the Hundreds streetwear blog, Klotz states:

"Throughout the years I've become uncomfortable with this business of branding and brand identity. I'm not the type of person that buys something for the brand name. I've also never done a very good job at creating a captivating identity to our own brand logo. Also, within the streetwear culture, the promotion of a company's brand has become downright silly to me. What's amusing is I still really enjoy designing gear, graphics, and even logos. But when I see kids wearing company logos it reminds of people who are trying to be a part of a "tribe" or "gang", as if they need to be part of something, which seems to go against the idea of individualism in style."

Not sure how I feel about it. I mean, me, I wear a plain white or black shirt everyday, so I may actually wear it, but is it really a smart move for business?
Will younger kids spend the money when nothing really distinguishes the brand?

Thoughts?

Huffington Post

..:: iLIKE ::..

I'm a baseball fan, been my whole life. I love the heritage of the game, the classic tales and classic stadiums.

I am also a huge of the classic imagery of the game. Logos, uniforms, hats, all of that!

So, no surprise that I am loving this font!

Fenway Park

So many fun uses, not just the old baseball stuff, but others as well.

..:: DIG THIS ::..

Shepard Fairey from Arkitip on Vimeo.

A great video of Shepard Fairey, and his creative process.

..:: DIG THIS ::..

Inspired by the potential of design to "incite playful curiosity" Pete Oyler has created the Stretch shelves: giant, colorful rubber bands that can be stretched around aluminum pegs into any shape you want.

I have to say, as someone that spent the weekend putting up shelves, I love this idea.

..:: iWANT ::..

This is a really great idea, not yet available, but the more orders they get for it, they will start to produce it! Its only $19.99, so go get one!

The Split Stick

Keeping business and pleasure separate! With a flick of the switch, you can go from work files to personal files. Just don't forget which is which!

Love the concept! So much I went and got one.

..:: iLIKE ::..

To promote the new Resident Evil game by Capcom, for the Wii console, the developers did a promotional T-shirt that actually doesn't suck!

When worn normally, it just says “LET YOUR DARKSIDE OUT”. But when you flip it inside out, over your head, it has a great looking zombie face! Great shirt in a market where the T shirts are usually some of the worst out there! I mean really.

..:: INSPIRATION ::..

Super busy today, but wanted to post this site that I found.

Have you ever struggled to find the perfect colorways for designs?
Well, this website should help you out.

dailycolorscheme

All the schemes have an inspiration behind them, this one here was inspired by Epitaph Records Website. (Grunge School)

I have yet to use it in my designs. Key word, YET.



Enjoy.

..:: SNEAK OF THE WEEK ::..

Now I will admit, this weeks SOTW may not be the best eye candy for some of you. But the idea is down right brilliant!

These shoes, made by SeaVees are a celebration of the PANTONE color matching system. These pictured above are pms 322.

They have a full collection, and are releasing more and more based on the success of these.

If your a designer/shoe freak, these are a must have.

..:: BRILLIANT ::..

Watch this, it pretty much sums it all up!

Thanks Ramon.

..:: DIG THIS ::..

Super busy today everybody, but I wanted to post this great resource for some really good tutorials.

One thing about me, I have a love affair with illustrator, its such a perfect program, nothing against the other bunch of CS4 programs, (which I love as well!) but for me, I am loving illustrator.

Smashing Magazine, put together this list of some nice 3-D Adobe Illustrator tutorials.

Go on, get to learning!