Adventures In Blogging!

Hey all...

2010-07-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering what has happened to this blog, and why I haven't been posting lately, I've actually started a new blog over at Posterous that I've been using in it's place. Experimenting with the format of Posterous and I must say, I really love it's ease in posting great links. It really is so convenient and time saving.

My new blog-- http://post-toasted.posterous.com/ Please check it out and subscribe.

Jeff

My Brush with a Super Hero.

2009-10-27T12:34:00.001-07:00

A while back I posted some photos on Facebook from a childhood visit with Burt Ward, Robin from the 60's Batman TV show. He'd come to town to make an appearance and sign autographs. I'd shared that my autographed photo I'd gotten that day had...... mysteriously disappeared. My sister and brother both still had theirs, but mine was gone.

After I posted that, I decided to see if I could find the photo online to replace it and came across Burt Ward's official website. They had photos available, but not the one I'd been looking for. So, I wrote the administrator of the site, Doug, and explained my situation. I even sent him the photos as proof. He wrote me back and offered to exchange a new autographed photo, exactly like one I'd lost, for my story and pictures which now appear on the site. Haven't received the new photo yet, but Doug assures me it's on it's way. Too cool!

Check it out!

Maschinen Leuchten

2009-08-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

Maschinen Leuchten is the whimsical and inspirational lighting series designed by the german artist Frank Buchwald. Frank is a designer and manufacturer of lights, furniture and objects.

"The individual models were not designed spontaneously in a moment of inspiration. It was rather a long groping for a hard to comprehend meaningful form. ... It took a long time until the moment was reached in which I could say that the designs were moving in the right direction. And it was long path until first prototypes were ready about which I could say: yes, now it is right. – It is a sublime moment when you realize: I have arrived and am no longer off target...

I have the feeling that the machine lights, the way they have now been made, come very close to what they portray. They have reached a level of completeness and perfection with which I would now like to present them to the public...."

Excerpts from a conversation with the philosopher Gerhard Schwarz, Berlin, in February 2006

They Came from the FRIDGE!

2009-06-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

Was delighted Thursday afternoon to come home to find that my magnets had arrived. A few months back I was asked to participate in a very special project inspired by the Traveling Roadshow thread on the HOW Design Forum. The HOW Design Forum is a fantastic resource for designers, I've attained a wealth of knowledge there and made a lot of treasured friends through my interactions with the other contributors. The Traveling Roadshow thread was started to offer designers, illustrators and other creatives a venue within the forum to show off and share their recent work.

Fellow HOWies Karma Savage and Amy Reyes have collaborated to produce a limited edition collection of fridge magnets to commemorate the threads third anniversary.

Soon to be released to the public, this set of 12 magnets features some of the best work seen in the fridge over the past 3 years. 100% of all proceeds from the sale of the magnets will be donated to benefit one of my favorite websites- Operation Nice.

List of Contributors:

Von Glitschka, Mickey Rat; Keith Bowman, The Lawbreaker; Janet Little Jeffers, Ampersand; Mary Ferguson, The Frog Prince, Jeope Wolfe, Jeope's Seal; Steph Doyle, Wulfpack on the Rabbit; Geoff McManus, Roller Skate; M, 'A' for Apple, Marco Echeverria, Mad Bomb; Joe Blend, Summer Travel; Jeff Andrews, Twitter in Blue; Judy Rozbicki, Autumn Rain.

My contribution, an illustration I'd just completed for the SFG Twitter Page - "Twitter in Blue". The illustration depicts a blue bird sitting on a branch exclaiming "SFG! SFG!"

I'll be sure to post a link to where you can purchase your own set of magnets once they become available to the general public. A big thanks to Karma and Amy for asking me to be a part of this great project. I'm honored, and my refrigerator has never looked so good.

Current Logo Trends - 2009

2009-06-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

As a logo designer, it is essential that I keep myself apprised of all of the trends within my industry. One of my most valuable resources is a website called LogoLounge. The creator of the site, Bill Gardner of Gardner Design does a great job each year of cultivating, recognizing and recording active trends in an annual article on the site called Logo Trends. I've taken the liberty of posting the current years findings below. An insightful, thought provoking read. Enjoy!

By Bill Gardner

These are austere times, but the logos recently loaded onto LogoLounge.com - nearly 35,000 since 2008 - certainly do not reflect it. And that is how it should continue to be. Wary homage may be paid to marketing in lean times, but not to identity design. This are two wholly different efforts with different goals. It should set a long-term course for clients, not fall into pits carved out by economic phases.

The most recent uploads to the site still have a vibrancy of color and energy that bucks what in past years might have been considered proper corporate behavior. They set a very optimistic course.

This seventh annual trend report, as always, is as much a forecast as it is a study of the past 12 months. The past informs the future, and the recent past has such momentum that designers would be well-advised to stay this course, even when clients are only maintaining the brands they have, not creating new ones. Business may be slow, but it does not have to be dull.

In preparation for the fifth LogoLounge book, we studied and organized thousands upon thousands of new designs. As always, it's exciting to see new directions emerging. These lead to even newer meanders and connections.

One such direction is that the use of type and text is clearly more critical. Words carry a more concise message. They convey specific rather than generic information.

The increased use of text in identity design takes several forms. A designer may choose to create a wordmark, but also include the mission statement or tagline in the design. Or, he may fill a shape or symbols with more words. People are busy; money is tight. Logos must be interpreted, and interpretation takes time. Words deliver their message immediately.

Another clear direction is the increased chroma of color. Everywhere, there is a brave use of hue, even in the most unexpected places, such as in the identities of very large and conservative clients.

There's another very small item on the horizon that may have a gigantic effect on logo design in the future. When Google introduced its new favicon at the start of 2009, it was a very visible reminder of how powerful that tiny piece of real estate really is. The favicon may turn out to be a measuring stick against which the success of any new logo design might be measured - as in, can this logo be made to fit in a 15 x 15-pixel square?

The 15 trends that follow are not instructions, rules or indeed any finite accounting of all of the logo trends currently in motion. Many trends shared in previous reports are indeed still in motion.

These trends are offered as an objective report of the newest, most relevant directions. They should serve as traction in moving you forward in identity design. Revisit the full collection of the past six years' worth of trends reports at LogoLounge.com for even more context.

PhotoFill

Photography is in no way new to visual branding, although traditionally images of this nature were iconic shots of a subject or a scene. Photo images have now partnered up and been hybridized with vector based images to create a new genre.

Technologically, this was an impractical union in years past. But the challenges of complicating an identity with a halftone image have for the most part now been put to rest. If AT&T and UPS can survive in the atmosphere of a halftone world, then why can't the rest of us breathe the same air?

Often the photo serves as a background or fill in a graphic icon, though some examples have vector elements that merge into the halftone image. Think about logos that for years have been pumped full with graphic pattern. This is just a different fuel-a photo-with a higher octane.

1. El Paso, Galeria de Comunicacion, Lazar Greenhouses 2. TOKY Branding+Design, The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts 3. APSITS, DIESEL 4. Big Communications, Joe Muggs Coffee

Concealed

Every generation has its own find-the-hidden-image puzzle, whether it's Highlights Magazine or "Where's Waldo?". There is a certain fascination and visceral excitement when the viewer suddenly finds an image he has been staring at for hours. Once you've found it, you can't wipe your mind clean of it. This aha! moment is what creates the sense of ownership for the anyone who discovers the hidden level of meaning in any logo.

Ronald J. Cala II has developed a reputation for crafting compelling silhouette images such as the two young girls running hand-in-hand, a white dove formed by their clasped hands. Or Duffy Partners' hidden gander and bass in the Tall Tales Cafe identity for Gander Mountain. Years ago, FedEx discovered that the hidden arrow in its logo caused consumers to become evangelical in pointing out the hidden imagery to others.

1. Calacampania Studios, Calagraphic Design 2. Duffy & Partners, Gander Mountain 3. The Bradfor Lawton Design Group, REOC 4. Felixsockwell.com, New York Times

VariDot

Spotting a logo composed of dots has never been an issue: There is no lack of marks that contain dots in rows or grids, or that blanket an image with a Benday halftone pattern. Finding a trend here means identifying dots with unique characteristics and understanding why they are carrying on the way they are. Last year's Colorblind trend was easy to spot, but hard to explain. It may well have served as a launching point for this year's trend.
Note that the dots in these logos rely on a high degree of randomness. They seem to revel in a lack of consistency of size or color. As opposed to previous years where the spots marched with conformity, these logos glorify individuality. But at the same time they still rely on linkage to create shape. Let the dots be roommates, just not good friends.

1. Alin Golfitescu, www.humanware360.com 2. Thread Design, Head Count Asia 3. Blue Sky Design, International Filter Solutions 4. Lippincott, Zonik

Candy Stripe

Like a stack of candy Necco Wafers or a row of crayons pushed together in no particular order, this trend has the scent of a fond childhood memory. Something playful and not terribly serious is taking place here. Multi-colored ribbons in broad hues are laid together to create a field that is highly vivid but which in no way approximates the orderly nature of a rainbow.

High chroma stripes serve as the backdrop, inserted in a vector-based silhouette, or they stand on their own as a cohesive group with a like mind and message. This riot of color seems to tweak its nose at the idea of a corporate color. Diversity reigns here. This is an all-out celebration of plurality, whether as an inspired political statement or just to promote a restaurant's highly varied menu.

1. ORFIK DESIGN, DVA SA 2. Liquid Pixel Studio, Delectable Chocolate 3. juancazu, camara de comercio de bogota 4.dache, Zipliner

Texting

Text and icon combined effectively in a lock-up are nothing new. But now there's a new breed afoot. A rash of logos have been launched with not only the name of an organization but at times, the mission statement, tag line, and even location knocked out of the background.

This simplified solution can make for an economy of space, but it can also create some challenges of scale. If the design is displayed large enough to read the type, will the icon become too horsy? If the icon is kept to appropriate scale, will the type disappear?

Copy is playing an even more important role than ever in several trends this year. There is a pleasant simplicity of message here that evokes an honest nature that borders on naive in a good way.

1. Chris Rooney Illustration/Design, Heavenly Ski Resort 2. Bryan Cooper Design, Tulsa Glassblowing Studio 3.Sussner Design Company, saint barts 4. GDNSS, cheapairlines.com

Encrust

"One of something ugly is ugly. Many of something ugly is beautiful." This long-standing design adage comes to life with this trend. Sometimes you can max out embellishment to the point where the viewer is simply stupefied. These marks certainly grab the consumer's eye with purposeful and symbolic texture that helps to finish the punch line of the logo.

Scale is critical to the success of this trend. Too small and textural messages will vanish, regardless of beauty. These are not filled with a traditional pattern but are often illustrated with a unique visual message that gives context and dimension to the shape. The eye can tell there is more than one layer to these marks and that always assures the second look.

1. Mattson Creative, Career Artist Management 2. cogu design, Yvonne Coutinho 3. Graphics & Designing Inc., MTK 4. Jobi, Sam and Shahir Ahmed

Monolgue

Words have new roles here, redefined as visuals that swim in neck-to-neck competition for consumers' attention. When Landor redefined the YWCA logo four years ago, mission took top billing over the organization' name and the whole affair was crafted from an inauspicious Helvetica with no adornment.

Powerful words carry great weight. When a democratic graphic vehicle can be used to allow the professionals and the layperson to create from the same system, the odds of the message effectively reaching the public are multiplied. Think of these systems as a series of parts and pieces designed to interlink in a relatively effortless manner. This unassuming solution removes the hands off nature that could thwart progress, especially in a public movement.

1. Airside, Airplot 2. Wolff Olins, Macmillan Cancer Support 3. Base, Greene Hill Food Co-op 4. Base, Greene Hill Food Co-op, Lockup Variation

Doily

Logos served up on a lace doily like delicate confections are the most recent variant on precious embellishment and floral tracery that have been sited in trends from years past. The fine fretwork serves to create a gentle cocoon around a typically hard graphic center. The core is usually a letter form or symbol, kept straightforward with an encapsulating explosion of silhouette lace.

The dichotomy of harsh and fine balance the message of a solid entity with an approachable personality. Though this is an extension of previous trends which also expressed human tenderness and fragility, the continued use of these dainty silhouette is growing thin. The difference here seems to be the marriage between geometric pattern and organic embellishment.

1. Iperdesign, Inc., splurge dessert 2. R&R Partners, Harrah's 3. Diagram, Eligiuz 4. Gesture Studio, Isaias Gil

Flip Flop

In a year with the cinematic release of Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons." expect an expanded appreciation and interest in inversion solutions. The veteran designer John Langston was contacted by the author and commissioned to create art for several words that would read the same right side up or upside down. This art was key to the storyline, and the bestseller has reintroduced this concept to the public.
There is an indefinable magic that occurs when a consumer sees art that only has to make half a rotation to apparently return to its point of origin. Some of these solutions work with a mirrored reflection, while others are only partial inversions. Whichever way they are designed, that rotating axis becomes the device that creates participation by the consumer and that builds an affinity with the brand.
1. MINEâ„¢, Scheyer/SF 2. Pearson Education Ltd, Pearson Education 3. NOT A CANNED HAM, Graco 4. Roy Smith Design, Shaun Saxon Photography

Mosaic

E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one." This motto helps define these brilliant color mosaics. They are like a roomful of diverse pixels pushed together so tightly that there is no room for a line of division. Adjacent colors simply merge together at their shared borders to fill a shape that helps define the visual message. Traditionally a problem for any logo that anticipated living in a black and white application, this challenge becomes a point of celebration.

Not so many years ago, in 2003, Altria's multi-colored square grid logo broke ground for this trend. At the time, much was made of the designs inability to be cost-effectively reproduced in diverse print applications. Technology changes and the increased importance of an RGB environment for many companies has led to a reevaluation of reproduction concerns and a resurgence of this concept.

1. Team Y&R, Khalid Bin Haider Group 2. Kommunikation & Design, Gartenwelt Manz 3. dache, webmynd 4. NATIONAL Public Relations, Greater Montreal

Sequential

Economies, governments, and individuals continue to call for "greater transparency" in society. No longer a cry limited to the financial sector, industry is Bristol-scrubbing themselves and their products in preparation for full-body inspections. Though this is not a literal request for visual transparency, for several years, designers have taken liberties with the concept to deliver metaphoric solutions that consumers understand.

Depicting motion in sequential steps combined with transparency is the latest iteration to branch out from this trend family. Stop-motion pictoral steps created in clear, shifting colors help define process in a single un-animated image. The introduction of sequential color steps help to further define the concept by demonstrating movement: time passage through seasons, temperature shifts, or just a rainbow-colored transition that demonstrates order and harmony, not chaos.

1. Gardner Design, BiTemp 2. RedBrand, LexPro 3. metaforma design, RACE research for an alternative and clean energy 4. Schwartzrock Graphic Arts, Design Center

Recycle

Sustainability is no longer a corporate mantra to appease customers or the public. For a decade or better, companies have professed an allegiance to the cause and made every attempt to keep policy and practice as green as possible. An ever greater segment of associations and industry are emerging with sustainability as the business, not just a byproduct.

The Universal Recycling Symbol, created 40 years ago for the Container Corporation of America, has graced products and corporate literature for years. Slowly these symbols have been on an upward pilgrimage from the bottom of a container to the priciest real estate on the package face.

This three arrow recycled symbol is in the public domain but now has graduated and is being redressed as the logo itself. Design varies as dramatically: The arrows might be filled with pattern relevant to the industry, or the arrows might be replaced with the environmentally conscious product. Reuse of this symbol as a logo proves the designers have truly mastered the art of recycling.

1 .rylander design, Refabric, Inc. 2. Tyme Inc., Office Depot 3. BrandBerry, non-commercial 4. Kevin France Design, Inc., VF corp

Dandelion

Though you may well curse and despise the dandelion, there is little denying the weed's prodigious ability to propagate. A single dandelion produces hundreds of parachute-wearing seeds just waiting for the slightest wisp of wind to launch a full -scale invasion. Despite understanding the insidious process all too well, who has never picked one of these tantalizing puffballs, blown and launched 100 more weeds.

It is our affinity with this process that makes this iconic symbol a perfect logo solution. The seed ball is visually striking and easily understood, especially with a few rogue parachutes in departure. The process is so analogous to the propagation of an idea that it can't be contained. The single drifting seed embodies the idea that every seed makes it's own unique journey and relies on the will of nature to determine where it will land and grow. Graphically, the ball is so ubiquitous that interpretation can be wide and, by no means, literal: It sells the idea of freedom.

1. Ulyanov Denis, linkeeper 2. RedBrand, Barberschool 3. LaMonica Design, Morningstar Communications 4. Courtney & Company, IMC Group

Circulate

Circles are simply the building blocks and mortar of design. Symbolically, they are the perfect multipurpose icon, representing everything from eternity, the cycle of life, the earth, centering and balance, perfection, the wheel and motion, and whatever else you may need to define. This utility player aspect also detracts from the pure circle: In attempting to mean everything to everyone, it can also mean nothing to anyone.

For these reasons, it is unusual to find the humble circle investigating new visual territory. These circles, however, are focused on the depiction of transition. Whether through the animated cycling of color rotation, as in the Moving Brands solution for MindShare, or as in the static color transition created for MTK, cycles and motion are the given here. But the star of this trend is that the process of evolution does not disturb the revolution.

1. Porkka & Kuutsa Oy, Central Union of Agricultural Producers & Forest Owners 2. FutureBrand, MasterCard Worldwide 3. Moving Brands, Mindshare 4.Gardner Design, PBA Architects

Gossamer

Evolution is perhaps most dramatic when two species jump the barriers and create a new line. Two previous trend categories, Transparent logos and Blur logos, have both been recorded and broken into subsets over the last several years as they have evolved. Here the two merge successfully to demonstrate motion or convey the blending of elements.

Transparency still delivers the dictum that a process is open to the public and nothing is obscured. It also continues to be novel enough to consumers that it plays a pretty important role as eye candy. The blur or out-of-focus edge in these marks works in a similar fashion as an optical illusion that is confrontational to the eye and has to be dealt with.

1. Michael Freimuth Creative, Tone Animation, LLC. 2. Roy Smith Design, Hooke Laboratories 3. Roman Kotikov, Soft cafe 4. Alin Golfitescu, mobilink pakistan

Minor Trends
Some categories emerged this year that did not qualify for their own lanes, but which are still worthy of mention.

Peepshow: Halftone imagery is increasingly being used for fill inside of vector images instead of solid color fill.

Wrijfhout, Clq.nl - City of Delft

Psychosis: Another new sort of fill is more psychedelic-crazy lines and patterns projected onto other shapes.
Valhalla | Design & Conquer , Adio Shoes

Embroidery: There's plenty of what could be called dotted line or stitching at work. Either approach produces a sense of the hand-made.
Squires and Company, Chico's

Stained Glass: Imagine a stained glass window, but turn the lead white: That sort of mosaic of color is taking shape.
R&R Partners, Harrah's

3D Curls: We're still seeing plenty of 3-D ribbons, although these are a departure from the "cause" ribbons that have been so prevalent of late. These ribbons take on new forms and shapes, like letters or a complete logo.
Gardner Design , Surency

Color Ring: Think of a series of brightly colored, transparent rings, loosely layered on each other to create porthole of many colors.
Martin Jordan , Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Brandenburg

Celtic: Highly geometric yet handcrafted forms are appearing. Like Celtic letterforms or knots, they have nodules and serifs that are unique and have flourish, but which are also refined. These have a wonderful balance between the manufactured and the man-made.
Karl Design Vienna, Burmahlife Austria

Bill Gardner is principal of Gardner Design and creator of LogoLounge.com, a unique web site where, in real-time, members can post their logo design work; study the work of others; search the database by designer's name, client type, and other attributes; learn from articles and news written expressly for logo designers; and much more. Bill can be contacted at bill@logolounge.com.

2009 Logolounge Inc.

Reprinted with permission by the author.

Coca-Cola Limited Edition Summer Cans

2009-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Coca-Cola’s has released five new ‘limited edition’ summer can designs. A beautiful iconic set of can designs proving once again that the design and marketing department at Coca-Cola recognizes the value of their brand equity. Each can sports the "classic" Coca-Cola logo as well as a bold "refreshing" graphic. A wonderful summer-time treat.

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/presscenter/imagebrands.html

New Book - 'Drip Dot Swirl' from Von Glitschka

2009-05-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

My buddy Von Glitschka just surprised me by dropping off a signed copy of his new book, Drip Dot Swirl. The book is chock full of beautifully detailed patterns along with great examples of the patterns in use by talented designers and illustrators. A follow-up to his 2007 texture related book, Crumble Crackle Burn. Like the first book, it comes with a DVD inset with all of the patterns and instructional tutorials.

Von reports that he's already working hard on the theme for the next book in the series. So stay tuned!

This book is an essential "must-have" addition to every graphic designer or illustrator's personal library.

100 Brands of Interest II

2009-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Recently my personal logo for my design business Jeff Andrews Design was included in a collection of logo designs compiled and displayed on the website of a talented designer, David Pache. The Collection of logos is entitled 100 Brands of Interest II and is his second installment of what I believe is an ongoing series. (100 Brands of Interest Part 1) I'd first become aware of David's work via Twitter and contacted him a while back to do a Design Inspiration Interview. It is a distinct pleasure to be recognized amongst some very talented designers and appreciate David for including me.

I've included the text below from the introduction of 100 Brands of Interest II but I encourage you to click on the link and peruse through the many great identities displayed there.

100 Brands of Interest II

This article is the sequel to 100 brands of interest, published on the dacheboard on December 4, 2008. After the last article and the feedback received, it was clear that another article of this nature was in order so, here it is! Over the past few months, I have been compiling another 100 brands of interest and have been very lucky to have such a selection to choose from. The standard really is very high.

Again, I feel it is important to mention that this article is not an assessment or critique of the logos. It is purely to create awareness within the community and provide some useful insight for any newcomers who may be struggling to create a brand for themselves. It can be the easiest thing to create a logo for a client but when it comes to assessing what style of identity can best represent yourself or your business, this is a different matter altogether. It is tempting to use your own brand as a showcase of all your best techniques and ideas but this must be balanced with modesty and professionalism to gain the correct tone for your business image.

In this second collection we see again the basic elements of design from geometry and linear imaging to the more creative and flamboyant techniques. No matter what the style, I think it can be said that all of the 100 brands below have been executed successfully to create effective, professional logos which communicate well to their audience. There is a whole mix of styles ranging from monograms to symbols or pictures but it is simplicity which is the common denominator.

I send a big thank you to all companies which are displayed here and I have included a link to each of their sites for your bookmarks. Enjoy and I look forward to your feedback, particularly any thoughts you may have on this topic and any brands which you would like to see in another article of this nature. -David Pache

The "I Can Read Movies" Series

2009-03-05T22:36:00.000-08:00

Recently came across a fantastic series of vintage "book covers" designed around popular cinema by designer spacesick. They're beautiful and clever....and really well done. I've enjoyed pouring over them and thought I'd share the experience. Be sure to click on over to the owner's site to see them up close and personal.

In the designer's own words:

"I don't know WHY I like making things look old. I'm weird.

This sucker was partly inspired by Moss's's totally ossom Movie Poster Remakes series, and all the musty old textbooks and digests that I used to love flipping through as a kid. Maybe there'll be more! Who knows! Nobody tells me nothin."

His Flickr Page

Your Work Selected for new LogoLounge Master Library

2009-02-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

Received an e-mail this afternoon informing me that one of the logos I'd submitted to the LogoLounge database has been selected for their first Master Library books. It is a distinct honor and great pleasure to have been selected.

The logo selected is one I did for Double R Manufacturing Inc. A powdercoating company in Roseburg, Oregon. The logo unfortunately was ultimately unused due to inhouse politics.

"Your work has been selected for a remarkable new LogoLounge project, the first book in the new Master Library series.

What is the Master Library series?

Like our existing (and continuing) LogoLounge book series, the new Master Library books will bring you plenty of exemplary logo design work from creatives around the world.

Unlike our original series, though, each book in the Master Library series will focus on a very specific logo design category, to wit:

• Initials & Crests
• Typography
• People
• Animals, Birds and Mythology
• Shapes and Symbols
• Nature and Food
• Arts and Culture (including transportation, sports and architecture)

We’d like to include your work in the inaugural book, Initials & Crests."

The Bureau Loves You

2009-02-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

My friend and fellow designer Keith Bowman, the principle over at The Design Bureau of Amerika™ has launched the official Design Bureau Blog.

Here you will find all the latest news regarding The Bureau’s projects. To show our gratitude for those who have supported us over the years, we are making available for download many of the assets that we use to create our work. There also will be content created exclusively for this site. All content will be FREE.

Keith is an enormously inspirational design talent and good friend. Yes, that is him in the painful photo above. Check out the print he did recently for local singer / songwriter, Joe D’Amico. For Joe’s CD, “Something in the Silence” as part of the Bureau's screen printing studio, Amerikan Made Prints™. And check back often to Keith's new blog. I know I will be.

New Pepsi Logo Spouts Controversy

2009-02-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

www.pepsi.com

Pepsi has recently modified their logo again to a barrage of criticism. The recognizable Pepsi wave, which has been a staple of the logo since the 60's has been turned on it's ear in this latest consideration. The logo retains the colors of it's predecessor but little else. Gone is the familiar symmetrical wave, it's been replaced with a skewed, barely recognizable version accompanied by a much lighter, airy typeface. The result is a distorted, watered down mutate of its former self, that in my opinion devalues years of brand equity.

Some excerpts and links from across the web exploring the reaction the logo has had upon it's debut.

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- How long does it take to remake an icon? Try five months.

That's the amount of time Pepsi took to revamp its famous logo, after top executives Indra Nooyi and Massimo d'Amore called for a "quantum leap" forward in transforming the soft-drink category and defining Pepsi as a cultural leader, said Frank Cooper, Pepsi's VP-portfolio brands.

"We felt like, as we move out of this traditional mass marketing and mass distribution era into today's culture, there's an opportunity to bring humanity back, both in terms of the design but also in the way we engage consumers," he said. "By making the logo more dynamic and more alive ... [it is] absolutely a huge step in the right direction."

And a costly one. Pepsi would not discuss what it's paying for the revamp, but experts estimate the cost for a top firm to work five months at north of $1 million. But that's just the beginning. The real cost, said an expert, is in removing the old logo everywhere it appears and putting new material up. For Coke or Pepsi, when you add up all the trucks, vending machines, stadium signage, point-of-sale materials and more around the world, it could easily tally several hundred million dollars, the expert said.

The new logo is a white band in the middle of Pepsi's circle that loosely forms a series of smiles: A smile will characterize brand Pepsi, while a grin is used for Diet Pepsi and a laugh is used for Pepsi Max. The new logo is Pepsi's 11th in its 110-year history. Five logos have been introduced in the past 21 years, with the last update in 2002. http://adage.com

Before & After: Does Pepsi’s new logo work?
Before & After: Old Pepsi, New Pepsi
Pic: Evolution of the Pepsi Logo
Brand New: In Brief: Pepsi Gets Official
Brand New: In Brief: The Wrong Kind of Breathtaking
Brand New: Pepsi, New Bottles
AdRants: Pepsi Unveils Packaging to 'Digital and Social Media Influencers'
Typophile: New Pepsi Logo: What Grade Do You Give It?
Fast Company: Pepsi Logo Design Brief: Branding Lunacy to the Max

Personally, I'll stick with a Coke!

Design Inspiration: Carlos Araujo

2009-02-13T19:31:00.000-08:00

I've just posted a great new interview with Brazilian illustrator and long-time SFG member Carlos Araujo. Be sure to click on over and check it out, and leave Carlos some love!

http://diinterviews.com/

Obama Image: Copyright Infringement?

2009-02-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

Apparently the now famous poster designed by artist Shepard Fairey is being alleged by the Associated Press to be copyright infringement based on the 2006 file photo of then-Sen. Barack Obama by Associated Press photographer Manny Garcia at the National Press Club in Washington. What are your thoughts on this issue?

The full story can be found here -AP alleges copyright infringement of Obama image.

Jeff Andrews Design: Logo Design Roundup - Over 50 Ways Designers Promote & Brand Themselves

2009-02-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

The latest installment of Logo Design Roundup - Over 50 Ways Designers Promote & Brand Themselves includes the logo for Jeff Andrews Design.

From the website: This is the fourth part in a series showcasing a collection of logos and brand marks, self submitted by a bunch of designers and creative folk in many creative areas. These designers use the logos to sell, promote, brand and market their various skills.

Logo Design Roundup Part 1
Logo Design Roundup Part 2
Logo Design Roundup Part 3

Special thanks to Graham Smith

Forbes Magazine: Graphic Design is a Snooty Business

2009-02-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

A disappointing turn of events today as a recent article published in Forbes Magazine comes to light. Dated February 16th, 2009, it's entitled The Creativity of Crowds, and states, "CrowdSpring aims to slash the cost of graphic design work--and democratize a snooty business."

The article proves to be poorly researched and irresponsible, and in my opinion serves as little more than an advertisement for Crowdspring. Crowdspring, in simplest terms, is a contest site. Would be designers can post an image (logo, stationery, website design) in the hopes of winning a prize. No guarantees however. Crowdspring's own user agreement clearly states:

We have no control over and do not guarantee the quality, safety or legality of Creative Services, the truth or accuracy of project listings or member information, the qualifications, background, or abilities of members, the ability of creatives to deliver Creative Services, or that members will complete a transaction.

This type of business plan, would be considered spec work. Spec work is clearly defined on the NO!SPEC website as "Any work done on a speculative basis. In other words, any requested work for which a fair and reasonable fee has not been agreed upon, preferably in writing. In a nutshell, spec requires the designer to invest time and resources with no guarantee of payment."

To say that this is dangerous business model would be an understatement. The most obvious reason is that, as a consumer looking to benefit from this model and get some design work on the cheap, you're most likely trusting your design work to someone with very little actual design experience, and no guarantee that the design you choose is original. In fact, the article even states:

"The beauty of our site is that it doesn't matter if you have a degree from the Rhode Island School of Design or if you're a grandma in Tennessee with a bunch of free time and Adobe Illustrator," says Samson. "If the client likes the grandma's work better, then she's going to get the job."

Keep your fingers crossed that Grandma hasn't swiped that design from the most recent Design Annual, or from Ladies Home Journal for that matter. Some would argue that you're not guaranteed originality even from the most seasoned veteran designer. My reply to that argument is that, "In that event you have a face to place to the blame." As clearly stated in the quote above, Crowdspring will take no blame if this were to occur. Scary.

My friends Cat Morley and Jeff Fisher and designer Debbie Millman have reported having been contacted to contribute to this article, but despite numerous attempts to connect with the author, nothing became of it. It would seem that an opposing point of view wasn't really necessary to post this advertisement.

Jeff Fisher said: "A couple weeks ago Cat Morley emailed me with a request from Forbes magazine for someone to discuss NO!SPEC and the crowdsourcing (spec work in disguise) of a certain company. I contacted the reporter and set up a phone interview time with him. I never heard from him at the appointed time. I emailed him the next morning. He said he'd been tied up at the appointment time and he'd call me immediately - and I never received a call. I also gave him the contact info for Sean Adams and Debbie Millman of AIGA as possible sources for the article. He said he appreciated the information as he had tried to call the AIGA office the day before. Debbie emailed the reporter to let him know she was available - and never heard from him."

Additional insight can be found at the following links:

Brian Yerkes - Why CrowdSpring Owners Should Be Ashamed of Their Business
David Airey - Forbes calls designers snooty
Steve Douglas - Design is a 'snooty' business: Forbes
Steph Doyle's - Forbes Promotes Graphic Design Kitsch
NO!SPEC - Forbes Says Designers are Snooty
AIGA - Position on Spec Work

Watch the '09 Super Bowl Ads Right Here

2009-02-01T15:56:00.000-08:00

I found a great widget on Hulu.com where you can add the Super Bowl Commercials right to your blog or website. They'll be updating and adding commercials continuously throughout the game. Pretty sweet!

New Site Launch: Card Observer

2009-01-28T19:57:00.000-08:00

The guys over at Web Design Ledger have launched a new site that showcases only the best and most beautiful business card designs.

"We do this for a couple of reasons: to shine the spotlight on the talented designers who create these beautiful cards, and to inspire you."

http://cardobserver.com/

A few more great links for business card design can be found here. If you're a fan of business card design, or, you're just looking for some inspiration. These are some great sites to explore.

Enjoy!

SFG Updates on Twitter

2009-01-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

Been a while, this is an image I did a few nights ago for the SFG Updates page on Twitter.

If you're on Twitter and would like to add me: http://twitter.com/jeffandrews
And/or add the new SFG Updates on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sfgupdates

Best List of Links

2008-12-29T12:00:00.000-08:00

Recently ran across a fantastic list of links that are a must have for designers, web designers, tech heads etc. The list boasts one of the most extensive compilations of valuable links I've seen. I've shared the list with my Twitter-folk a few times but thought I should post it here as well. A valuable resource, a bookmark must! Enjoy!

http://www.lrwv.com/

LogoLounge Book 5 Surprise!

2008-09-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

Today I was thumbing through e-mails on my Blackberry as I sat in the parking lot at my wife's work, waiting for her to get off work. To my surprise, I received an e-mail today from LogoLounge stating that one of the logos that I'd submitted had been selected to be published in their latest book.For those that don't know, LogoLounge is one of the premier logo related resources and publications and I'm distinctly honored to be included. The surprise in this announcement comes with the assumption on my part that the final judging had already been completed in early September, and the winners had already been contacted via e-mail. A pleasant and welcome surprise to be sure. My theories regarding a personal LogoLounge curse were quelled. ;-)

A little information regarding LogoLounge:

How do you get your work in an upcoming LogoLounge book?
It's simple: Become a LogoLounge member, and your work will be considered for a future book. Becoming a LogoLounge member also means you become a member of a larger community of designers who, like you, are vitally interested in logo design, its history and future. In addition, you receive the full functionality of the site, including enhanced search powers, a personal lightbox, and rating and commenting capabilities.

How do you select the firms you feature in the books?
The projects in the book are selected for their quality, timeliness, and relevance, and inspirational nature. We aim to form an effective mix of large and smaller firms, geographies, budgets, and client types.

Over 33,000 logos were entered for consideration and evaluated by an international panel of judges. This years panel included, Andreas Karl of Karl Design, Von Glitschka of Glitschka Studios, Michelle Sonderegger of Design Ranch, Sarah Moffat of Turner Duckworth, Jamie Koval of VSA Partners, Vince Frost of Frost Design, Bronwen Rautenbach of The Brand Union, and Alex de Janosi of Lippincott.

LogoLounge Volume 5 has a release date of June 2009.

Logo Trends 2008

2008-09-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Reproduced with permission...

By Bill Gardner

Trend-watching, until recently, has largely been an exercise in watching connections form between direct associations. Photoshop releases a new filter, and voila - entire raft of logos take on that effect. A particular illustration style is featured in a successful advertising campaign or movie, and in what seems like minutes, the flavor of that art starts to enhance corporate identities.

Periodically, something truly surprising and unexpected pops up. Finding those little treasures are one of the great perks of categorizing 27,000 logos, as LogoLounge and a talented panel of judges just did in preparation for our fourth book. But there's always that natural undercurrent of influence that touches this design and that, a drift of scent, a faint change in air temperature. It's there, but almost not.

This year, however, it seems as though there has been a change in the nature of trends themselves. Instead of a hub-to-spoke relationship in which trends fan out from a central source, prevailing tendencies in logo design now seem to send out long underground runners that poke through the dirt in unrelated, unexpected places, anywhere in the world. It's harder and harder to trace the rhizomatous spread of ideas anymore - which truly is a good thing.

What follows are 15 trends that have indeed popped up all over the world. Overcasting them all are prevailing winds that are worth noting first:

We saw less emphasis on sustainability or general "greenness" in logo design. There's plenty of natural imagery, but being "green" doesn't seem all that unique anymore.

Colors are becoming more vivid. Desaturation has drained away, and the chroma factor pumped up.

There's an overall move toward cleanliness - in type, in line, in color - as if ideas are getting more and more succinct. It may be an indication of the degree of seriousness with which branding is now regarded.

Less is more common: less calligraphy, less Photoshop tricks, less artificial highlights.

Found pattern and illustration hang on and on and on. With a bottomless treasure chest of visual history constantly at the ready through retail collections and over the internet, it's a direction that's not likely to run its course soon, if ever.

And now, the trends. Please remember that they are gathered here to chart long-term movement or change, not to offer design suggestions. It's a living history. The key is to study the trends, then evolve forward - as far forward as you can leap - from them.

Supernova

Imagine what astrophysicists would label a supernova or the eruption and attendant explosion of a star. In a light show reminiscent of the jump to hyperdrive in the original Star Wars, these logos attack the challenge of motion head on. For years we've seen marks that have created the impression of motion from a profile perspective using streaks or blurs to signify speed.

These examples drive a field of elements toward or away from the viewer using a variety of methods. The LodgeNet logo (by Jerry Kuyper) advertises the company's in-room movie service by flying a picture at you with a smart explosive technique. This blast is simple in construction and void of halftone - particularly interesting considering the product is an online commodity that could easily have justified overboard solutions replete with RGB trickery.

1. Jerry Kuyper for LodgeNet 2. Gabi Toth for Halo Consulting 3. Crave Inc. for IQ Beverage Group 4. Mirko Ilic Corp. for Dr. Zoran Djindjic Fund

Fine Line

Consistency of line weight is one of the tenants of good logo design. It builds rhythm and ensures legibility at first glance. Forget this rule for this category. Turn your line weight down to hairline and start drawing. Most of these logos live on two levels: first glance, and then second glance, with reader glasses. Typically, a heavier image with message one serves as a background field. The more profound message two is generally encrypted over the top of or knocked out of the heavier image.

Fine strokes weights may read as no more than pattern initially, but they can also carry the dichotomy of a counter message. A variation on this is the use of linear art en masse to create enough weight to define a message as in the PULSE logo. This yin yang process tends to captivate the viewer and lends a sense of intelligence to a mark that doesn't require a hammer to impart a subtle message.

1. Louis Fili for The Mermaid Inn 2. Hula + Hula for Cartoon Network Lainamerica 3. Unit for Artists for Peace 4. Point Blank Collection for Pulse

FoldOver

Imagine being asked to design a logo with a long strip of paper as your only tool. These quasi origami style solutions craft out a sense of dimensionality despite staying relatively flat. The material from which these are created range from (but are not limited to) transparent film, metal, and paper. There seems to be a message of cleverness and economy of stroke in many of these.

Sometimes the simplicity of the folds takes on additional meaning when the substrates demonstrate unique properties. Note how the opposite side of the material changes to a different color at every fold in the TURN logo. Or see how transparency enforces the visual overlap of material. In some ways, this technique creates a bit of a puzzle effect. It engages the viewer as it tempts them into tracing out the path of the mark or trying to determine if the folds could really occur as offered.

1. PMKFA for Yes King 2. Gardner Design for Liberty Capital 3. A3 Design for Urban Architectural Group 4. Addis Creson for Turn

Global Expansion

What a refreshing outlook this trend presents. Time was that any company involved in international commerce gave some passing consideration to a globe as their logo. It's a solution that has become terribly challenging to address with an original perspective. These logos at least have the honesty to step back and say, "Hey, we may not be fully global yet, but give us time." All of these marks rely on a centric pattern that diminishes at the edge and then warps out to wrap the sphere in symbolic expansion.

Cato Purnell Partner's diverse group of solutions for Dubai Airport succinctly communicates a key message. Commerce, travel, and tourism have made Dubai a true crossroad for international travelers, and this world-class logo has found a unique way to express the point. Using the Islamic sacred symbol of an octagram, or eight-pointed star, the logo starts to envelope the global sphere with its spreading tile mosaic. The dissemination of a culture is no accidental message in this mark.

1. Lippincott for XOHM 2. Cato Purnell Partners for Dubai International 3. Futurebrand BC&H for Transpiratininga 4. FIRON for Novatel

Loops

Continuous bands, yes, but not all of these marks have that certain mojo of the Mobius strip. Moving away from the universal sign of infinity, this group of logos seems to celebrate the flow of a closed cycle. No doubt more than a few rubber bands were called into action for their modeling services, but a ribbon-like figure was not mandatory.

There is something personal about the lack of perfect symmetry displayed here. The flexible nature of these logos signifies the ability to transform to meet the needs of the moment. Some appear to be snapshots of motion captured in a millisecond, of an object tense with energy.

The Peugeot 307 loop reflects the profile of that specific car but also seems to hover weightlessly above the ground. The chromed appearance of the mark takes on a surrealistic quality while conveying a certain technical prowess as well.

1. Lippincott for IBM & Freescale 2. Angelini Design for Peugeot International 3. Miriello Grafico, Inc. for Qualcomm 4. Double Brand for Long term car rent

Jawbreakers

Anyone who's ever torn up his or her mouth grazing on a jawbreaker or Gobstopper can attest to the concentric rainbow displayed on a perfect cross-section of the confection. There is a certain childhood joy associated with the perfect cleaving of these orbs that is akin to discovering hidden treasure. The 70's op-art quality of these marks is accomplished with little regard for a reserved palette. Generally, brilliant color is a must and often cross-sections are as unique as Technicolor snowflakes.

There is a youthfulness to these logos that addresses a certain vitality in the market. You can't help but smile at the visual joy they seem to capture. Influences could include Target's inventive use of its own logo in marketing efforts, although the red and white of their mark seems sedate in comparison to examples shown here.

1. Form for Dazed & Confused/Topshop 2. MacLaren McCann Calgary for Telphonic 3. Volatile for Antidote 4. Volatile for Pod

Strobe

Animation in the static environment of print is challenging at best, but with some sequential stop-motion images, a solution is at hand. Remember those flip-books that with a riffle played out a short animation? Now, take the images, place them on a single surface, and this is the result. These marks have a slinky-like, fluid nature that lends a graceful aesthetic to their associated companies.

The Nikon logo crafted by Interbrand some years ago may have signaled the introduction of this process with a major brand. Sprint's adoption of Lippincott's logo, a representation of the stop-motion animation of pin dropping, opened the gates for deeper exploration and solutions in a similar vein. Nokia Siemens' new animated logo, created by Moving Brands, successfully plays out the strobe concept when adapted to print.

1. Interbrand for Nikon 2. Moving Brands for Nokia Siemens Networks 3. Lippincott for UMW 4. Lippincott for Sprint

Nimbus

Shield your eyes and pull out the 30 spf sunblock. It's not a sunburn you'll fear, but you may need to protect yourself from overly bright ideas. There is a certain glorification associated with all of these marks. The central core of the image is usually a bright tunnel out of which great light emanates. If this sounds a bit like the parting of clouds and the appearance of deities, you may not be far off.

Dissemination of light or energy by the use of rays is far more than an astral aura. This indicates a central subject or capability and the prospect that it holds the key or the solution to whatever the question is. Light also connotes knowledge and guidance. Even distribution of these spokes ensures a fairness of distribution and equality of access. As a moth will attest, there is an attracting radiance to these logos, regardless of color.

1. Gardner Design for Catalyst 2. Glitschka Studios for Proctor & Gamble 3. Circulodiseno, SC fr New Venturees 4. Chris Herron Design for Marimon Inc. & Kelly Swofford Roy

Stitch

Over the last several years, designers have taken refuge with a variety of appropriated patterns. Design backgrounds have become shrines for wallpaper swatches, Victorian patterns, organic flora, faux wood grains and any other rococo-retro surface that is not nailed down or otherwise copyrighted.

Houndstooth and herringbone aside, designers on more boutique projects are dipping into their grandmothers' baskets of sundries and notions. This is often not as much about textile patterns as it is about the elements that hold a garment together. Zig zag, whip, and cross-stitch are a few of the strokes in the sewing arsenal. Bric-a-brac, fishnet, fringe, and tassels are also working their way into these solutions. This common language of mundane elements takes on a refreshing, often feminine beauty when layered together with great taste. Just remember that the difference between a tablecloth and a haute couture gown is not the material, but knowing what to do with it.

1. The Woodbine Agency for Lamp 2. tenn_do_ten for chico 3. The Pink Pear Design Company for Rummage 4. Hammerpress for Natasha's Mulberry & Mott

Colorblind

Sometimes clusters of a logo technique surface with little if any rationale. For this bracket, it's as if National Geographic just reported the recent unearthing of a series of Ishihara color plates for color blind testing. The influence is obvious but the timing is unexplained. You have to admire the chutzpah of a client willing to adopt a logo that 7% of the male population and 0.4% of women won't be able to understand.

Maybe this is exactly the point. These marks represent a quirkiness associated with entities that only a certain percent of the population will be able to really appreciate. Even for individuals without color blindness, these visuals can be a bit challenging to decipher. But that adds to their mystique and helps to build affinity for the logos when the viewer realizes he has passed the test. Either way, there is a joyful, reminiscent charm at work here - either that or this report is entirely wrong and these companies all sell Dippin' Dots ice cream.

1. Colorblind Chameleon - Self Promotion 2. Range for Dennis Murphy 3. Pearpod for Razoo 4. Cricket Design Works for Creme Cafe

Amoeba

These are soft, inflated blobs without any sharp corners to fall and hurt yourself on. Their friendly shapes are generally unstructured and much like an amoeba under the lens of an electron microscope, fluid and in motion. Amoeba comes from the Greek word amoibe, meaning to change, and this trend is about flux. The elements that compose these logos are anything but static. You can imagine a relationship between the parts of a logo as if they have just divided from one another.

This process of morphing and motion give us a clue about the structure and processes of the businesses represented here. Flexibility and an agile nature allow businesses to adapt in mercurial industries. These are entities that embrace the value of evolution. If you're evolving, chances are you're a living organism, and there aren't too many of those with corners.

1. Tactix Creative for DJ Eddie Amador 2. Double Brand for Poza Showroom 3. Mola for EDP 4. Yaroslav Zheleznyakov for Promotion

Facets

Ali Baba and the 40 thieves knew what mattered in a cavern laden with jewel-encrusted treasure. In these precious gems, there is an intrinsic value of which legends are crafted. Whose eyes are not stopped by the alluring refractions of a precious bobble? What a perfect substance from which to carve an identity.

To create the greatest value in a material as base as a stone, one has to first recognize potential worth. With exacting efforts, a trained eye can cut away the precise amount that will best maximize value. All of this is done with the looming specter of complete failure if the action is not correct. With great risk comes great reward.

These logos can also address the multifaceted nature of a business. By arranging these facets in their optimal positions you create the greatest clarity and light. Or maybe it's not that deep and we just like bright and shiny things.

1. Kitsh for Clay Saphire 2. Thomas Manss & Company for VCC Perfect Pictures 3. Gardner Design for Lavish 4. BFive for Solo Company

Doodles

There is a base honesty to an image that has never been shoved in one side of a computer and back out the other. There is still some soul attached to the mark and even a little sweat and blood from the originator. No attempt is being made to deceive the consumer and certainly there was no upper level management committee to quash the innocence of the humbly crafted logo.

Immediacy is an important justifier for these marks as well. The Rebuild logo, developed after Hurricane Katrina sends the message, these people need your help now. There is no time to finesse a corporate solution to the problem here: We need the help and response of everyone, and we need it now.

Personal messages and a sense of humanity are associated with these marks. It is the assurance the middleman has been cut out, and that this message is between me and you and no one else.

1. Steve's Portfolio for www.thehurricaneposterproject.com 2. Stubborn Sideburns for Hipposchemes 3. Fifth Letter for Shawn Lynch 4. Studio Oscar for Levi Strauss

Flourish

Take a piece of relatively unassuming typography, water and fertilize with insane pixie dust, and let it grow. These logos could be relatives of the Flora and Embellish trend identified over the last two years, but they are definitely about type on steroids. Imagine type with hair that has been coiffed for fashion week in a Fellini movie.

Credit the stunning work of Si Scott and the unbridled design of Marian Bantjes as primary influences on this work. Scott specifically has developed a signature look that is being emulated a bit too close for comfort, in some instances.

Decorative flourishes gone wild identify these entities: They give more than you anticipate and are conscious of the frills and excesses necessary to carry you to satisfaction. These designs are exoticand unexpected but with enough whimsy to avoid being overtly feminine.

1. Lucero Design for Project 240 Apparel 2. United* for Bar Carrera NY 3. Team Manila Graphic Design Studio for Neu Media 4. Distrubancy Graphic Treatment for Eclipse Streetwear

Fibrous

Twisting threads travel in tandem or are spun together to form a twine with even greater strength. Or you see the tendrils of a vine traveling outward from a single source. Maybe it's the ebb and flow of a rhythmic group of fine fibers acting in concert to create the illusion of a solid mass. These are just of few of the descriptions that help define this category.

A collective acting in unison to maximize action and create strength in numbers is at the heart of these logos. These are not lines in perfect step with one and other. Unlike the grooves of a record, these elements show a degree of independence and celebrate the diversity of the components as they unite.

Uniting elements for a common good has become a prevalent theme of late. This trend transcends the corporate world and is seen in social efforts as well. Respect of individuality and honor of uniqueness are admirable pursuits.

1. Guillermo Brea & Associates for Argentina 2. Najlon for Town RIJEKA 3. Mattson Creative for The Collective 4. AtomicasStudio for 2 excite

Minor Trends

Some categories emerged this year that did not qualify for their own lanes, but which are still worthy of mention.

	Animotion: What makes these designs unique is that they are designed to be in motion. They are not static designs that were juiced up later. You can view some excellent examples in action at www.LogoLounge.com. Moving Brands for Swisscom
	Braille Words: Imagine words, numbers, or letters formed out of Braille-like dots. Pearpod for Plus 3
	Stacks: These logos are like transparent sandwiches that have shape stacked upon shape upon shape. Bukka Design for Neven Vision
	Contact Drop: If a contact lens dropped on top of a logo, you'd have the same effect that these logos have. They are generally lens- or circular in shape with a hard outer edge and a soft inner edge. Think of the Barrack Obama logo. FutureBrand for MasterCard Worldwide
	Psyche Type: If you want to know what is going to happen in any kind of design, look back to what was happening 30 years ago. It's a never-ending merry-go-round of style. Witness the groovin' psychedelic type treatments that are so popular today. It's Haight-Ashbury all over again. Yaroslav Zheleznyakov for Lemonades from Arbuzov
	Pathways: There are also plenty of motion lines to be seen, going up and down, back and forth, or around and around. These are like tracers â€” sometimes transparent like light, bouncing around or bending in space. The Tennis Australia logo is an excellent example. Where the ball goes, the logo goes. FutureBrand (UK) for Lakshmi N. Mittal
	Warped: If you take a gridded piece of paper and start to fold or twist it, the printed grid will begin to conform to whatever motion you're applying. But in this category of logos, the substrate is more pliable, more flexible than paper. There's more give and stretch, so that lines on the x and y axis become contorted. thackway+mccord for FINRA

Finally, it's worth noting that there's a reasonably reliable place to look every day for the very latest in logo design (in addition, to LogoLounge.com, that is): television promo graphics for any of the major "style" channels â€” Food Network, Discovery, HGTV, the Travel Channel, and more. Because they have the money and the ability to get work out there quickly, the channels tend to be progressive forecasters and trendsetters. And designers, just like the rest of the unwashed masses, are home on the couch, watching.

Bill Gardner is principal of Gardner Design and creator of LogoLounge.com, a unique web site where, in real-time, members can post their logo design work; study the work of others; search the database by designer's name, client type, and other attributes; learn from articles and news written expressly for logo designers; and much more. Bill can be contacted at bill@logolounge.com.

2008 Logolounge Inc.

3rd Floor Teeter

2008-09-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

Ever once in a while a project comes along that you're just glad to be a part of. I worked with a youth group for quite a few years and developed some great relationships with the kids that I worked with back then. A lot of those kids I'm still in contact with today. They're mostly grown up now, some are in college, some are getting married, some are even starting families of their own. When I do hear from one of them, it's a great day. They all hold such a special place in my heart.

Recently I received an e-mail from one of those kids. Stephanie was about 11 years old the first time we met, and since she was also the Pastor's daughter, I saw a lot of her during my time with the youth. Stephanie has a fantastic, bubbly personality and was always so much fun to be around. A truly great kid who has grown into a truly great young woman. Stephanie e-mailed me and asked me if I could design a one-color tee shirt design for the floor she was going to be an RA for at her college in Texas. Of course I couldn't say no.

Below is the design we settled on, and with some calculated begging I've also managed to get a photo of the lovely Stephanie for this blog entry as well. That's her on the right with her younger sister Jennifer. Both wonderful girls, I'm really blessed to know them.

Operation Nice: A Refreshing New Site

2008-08-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

Recently a designer buddy of mine Melissa Ivone introduced a refreshing new site devoted to...Nice. Now Melissa is easily one of the nicest people I know so I trust her to have an informed and educated opinion on the subject.

An introduction from the website and in Melissa's own words...

The other day I was waiting for an elevator in my building with one other gentleman. As the elevator arrived, I hesitated. I usually let others enter first, as a courtesy. But this gentleman held out his hand, motioning me to the door. As I walked through, he said with a chuckle, "You didn't really think I was going to walk in here first, did you?" I responded, "Well, I don't like to take anything for granted nowadays."

That one minor gesture brightened my day! I started to think, "What a great world this would be if everyone had consideration for others." It's a shame that that's not the case currently. It's obvious that common courtesy is lacking in society today. Just drive down a major highway and you'll see that.

What we all need is a little NICE.

Operation NICE is an encouragement to spread a little NICE to others. Stop by to read some positive, upbeat news stories (yes, they exist) about nice people. Download some tools (coming soon!) to help you in your quest to communicate the concept of niceness. Share a story or two about how someone made your day.

It is not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game ever starts.
- Addison Walker

It is a truly encouraging site and I urge you to visit it and peruse through every anecdote and comment. It will brighten your day.

http://www.operationnice.com/

A Little Logo Design Love

2008-07-22T23:24:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered that the logo I designed for this blog was included in a post on David Airey's Logo Design Love site entitled, "30 Logos from 30 Design Blogs." An interesting post with a lot of great logos, good company to be in. Thanks for the mention David!

LogoLounge Call for Entries

2008-07-14T22:43:00.001-07:00

The recent LogoLounge Call for Entries ended on June 30th. The anticipation associated with the opportunity to be published in the LogoLounge books is tangible. Despite the fact that none of my logos were chosen last year I was determined to submit more work and not be too disheartened. I'm hopeful! I've posted an image showcasing the majority of the logos I've submitted this year and plan to continue to submit throughout the coming year in anticipation of the next Call for Entries.

Wish me luck!

The New Face of Jeff Andrews Design

2008-06-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

After a lamentably grueling four year process, I've quietly and without ceremony unveiled the new face of Jeff Andrews Design. The new logo and website placeholder are in place. Business cards are on the drawing board as we speak and a new direction and energy are evident. The new logo and feel evokes a simpler, cleaner, more mature aesthetic that I hope is mirrored in my current work. As I begin work on the final website design, I feel pleased with the new vibe and I hope that you will be too. Much thanks to my compatriot Kelly Gifford, a fellow designer, for implementing my design so masterfully. Kelly is a true gem and a good friend!

http://www.jeffandrewsdesign.com/

Check it out, and please, feel free to let me know what you think.

-Jeff

This Certainly Takes Me Back...

2008-05-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

My brother sent me this link this evening. A series of goofy commercials, but my younger brother and I loved these Star Trek action figures and the Enterprise Bridge Set when we were kids.

Click Here!

Really Good Logos, Explained

2008-05-21T21:37:00.001-07:00

A number of my logos were included in the recently released publication, Really Good Logos, Explained.

In “Really Good Logos, Explained”, some of today’s top creative minds critique and appraise over 500 examples of truly exceptional logos, and explain what makes them work.

The insight provided by the four contributing authors will be - like the logos themselves - succinct, specific and effective. Comments will range from explaining what makes each logo especially effective, to offering ideas on how the design might be further enhanced. The result will be a rare and insightful glimpse inside the mind of top creatives.

By understanding the logistics of good design, we are better prepared to create it. This book helps explain those logistics, by asking:

* What elements do truly effective logos have that others are lacking?
* What makes one logo more powerful - more attention-getting - than others?
* What tips and strategies can be captured from these examples, and used to improve current projects?

By providing short, specific and to-the-point observations from top creatives, "Really Good Logos, Explained" answers these questions and more.

The Judges:

Margo Chase - Founder and Creative Director, Chase Design Group, Los Angeles, CA. -
Since founding Chase Design Group in 1986, Margo has consistently produced and led award-winning work in many areas of design. Recognized worldwide for her skill with custom typography and identity development, Margo is dedicated to creating client success through high-quality, intelligent creative. Her vision provides the fuel for Chase Design Group's growth and achievement.

Ron Miriello - Founder and Creative Director, Miriello Grafico, San Diego, CA. -
Founded in 1982, Ron's graphic communication's firm, Miriello Grafico Inc. (MGI, miriellografico.com), has created world-class, award-winning communications for a growing national client base using its oneVoiceT branding approach. Inspired by old world traditions of craftsmanship and modern business ingenuity, MGI strives to blend beauty and function in everything it creates. From print and Web to multimedia and beyond, MGI delivers finely honed communications through designs that are tailored to meet clients' needs and contribute to the strategic growth of their bottom line.

Alex White - Alex W. White is the author of four books, including Thinking in Type and The Elements of Graphic Design, and numerous articles on typography and visual communication. He has completed his fifth book, Advertising Design and Typography, which will be released later this year. Alex placed two fonts among the fourteen winners in TDC2 2001. He was the senior faculty member in the Hartford Art School's graphic design program for 15 years and is an adjunct at Parsons, City College of NY, and FIT. White, who lives in Manhattan, has served on the boards of several arts and civic organizations.

Rian Hughes - Rian Hughes (devicefonts.co.uk), award-winning graphic designer, comic artist and typographer, has produced designs for watches, CDs, animated films and Hawaiian shirts for clients from Tokyo to New York. He is the founder of Device, a London advertising agency that provides design, custom type and illustration for advertising campaigns, record sleeves, book jackets, graphic novels and television. He has a cabinet of Thunderbirds memorabilia, a fridge full of vodka, and a stack of easy listening albums which he plays very quietly.

The Process:

Step 1: Only Really Good Logos allowed.

Our four esteemed authors will first judge all submissions and select approximately 500 logos to appear within the book. Only logos fitting of the book's title will be chosen (i.e. really good ones).

Step 2: Then they are explained.

Logos selected to appear in the book will then be critiqued by at least three of the four contributing authors. Their comments will appear next to each logo, as will the name of the creative firm and client.

Comments will be honest and to-the-point, ranging from 2 to 5 sentences.

Author remarks will range from explaining what makes each logo especially effective to offering ideas on how the design might be further enhanced (see sample page design for examples).

While it is true that, in order to appear within the book, each logo must be judged to be of above-average quality, it is also true that design is subjective. Therefore, comments may range from high praise from one author, to gentle criticism from another, resulting in a book that provides an insightful exchange of ideas, as well as a rare glimpse inside the mind of top creatives.

My work appearing in the book:

http://www.reallygoodlogos.com

The Votes Are In!

2008-04-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today the results were posted from the Logo Design Love Awards that I'd acted as judge for, and had posted about earlier. The aim was to uncover the most effective blog logos, and to raise awareness of lesser-known logo designers.

We the judges were also asked to vote on our favorites from each individual blog category. The category winners are listed below:

Business blogs (winner = Joe Urban)
Design and photography blogs (winner = BrandBerry)
Entertainment blogs (winner = Vulture)
Environmental blogs (winner = EcoGeek)
Health and self-development blogs (winner = CalorieLab)
Marketing and PR blogs (winner = Idea Sandbox)
Personal blogs (winner = Dooce)
Political blogs (winner = Democracy Now!)
Technology blogs (winner = Uncrate)
Miscellaneous (winner = Simply Recipes)

We were asked to choose our top three logos from all 10 blog categories. I've listed my top three favorites below with my comments. If you'd like to read all of the judges comments, click here to be routed to the Logo Design Love website.

“This logo was probably my favorite overall. It has a particularly simple yet memorable aesthetic that I found most appealing. And definitely stands out as a diamond in the rough amongst it’s competition.” Jeff Andrews (3 points awarded)

“I’m always drawn to typography based logos or wordmarks. This logo stands out for me because of it’s elegant simplicity. It’s not easy to pull off a compelling wordmark, but the designer of this logo has succeeded impressively.” Jeff Andrews (2 points awarded)

“This logo wins in my opinion because it’s warm color palette and clean yet evocative style made me hungry! Though the icon doesn’t denote “food” or “recipes”, I still find the mark a success overall.” Jeff Andrews (1 point awarded)

Logo Design Love

Current Logo Trends 2008

2008-04-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

Reproduced with permission...

By Bill Gardner

What follows are 15 trends that have indeed popped up all over the world. Overcasting them all are prevailing winds that are worth noting first:

We saw less emphasis on sustainability or general "greenness" in logo design. There's plenty of natural imagery, but being "green" doesn't seem all that unique anymore.

Colors are becoming more vivid. Desaturation has drained away, and the chroma factor pumped up.

There's an overall move toward cleanliness - in type, in line, in color - as if ideas are getting more and more succinct. It may be an indication of the degree of seriousness with which branding is now regarded.

Less is more common: less calligraphy, less Photoshop tricks, less artificial highlights.

Found pattern and illustration hang on and on and on. With a bottomless treasure chest of visual history constantly at the ready through retail collections and over the internet, it's a direction that's not likely to run its course soon, if ever.

Supernova

1. Jerry Kuyper for LodgeNet 2. Gabi Toth for Halo Consulting 3. Crave Inc. for IQ Beverage Group 4. Mirko Ilic Corp. for Dr. Zoran Djindjic Fund

Fine Line

1. Louis Fili for The Mermaid Inn 2. Hula + Hula for Cartoon Network Lainamerica 3. Unit for Artists for Peace 4. Point Blank Collection for Pulse

FoldOver

1. PMKFA for Yes King 2. Gardner Design for Liberty Capital 3. A3 Design for Urban Architectural Group 4. Addis Creson for Turn

Global Expansion

1. Lippincott for XOHM 2. Cato Purnell Partners for Dubai International 3. Futurebrand BC&H for Transpiratininga 4. FIRON for Novatel

Loops

1. Lippincott for IBM & Freescale 2. Angelini Design for Peugeot International 3. Miriello Grafico, Inc. for Qualcomm 4. Double Brand for Long term car rent

Jawbreakers

1. Form for Dazed & Confused/Topshop 2. MacLaren McCann Calgary for Telphonic 3. Volatile for Antidote 4. Volatile for Pod

Strobe

1. Interbrand for Nikon 2. Moving Brands for Nokia Siemens Networks 3. Lippincott for UMW 4. Lippincott for Sprint

Nimbus

1. Gardner Design for Catalyst 2. Glitschka Studios for Proctor & Gamble 3. Circulodiseno, SC fr New Venturees 4. Chris Herron Design for Marimon Inc. & Kelly Swofford Roy

Stitch

1. The Woodbine Agency for Lamp 2. tenn_do_ten for chico 3. The Pink Pear Design Company for Rummage 4. Hammerpress for Natasha's Mulberry & Mott

Colorblind

1. Colorblind Chameleon - Self Promotion 2. Range for Dennis Murphy 3. Pearpod for Razoo 4. Cricket Design Works for Creme Cafe

Amoeba

1. Tactix Creative for DJ Eddie Amador 2. Double Brand for Poza Showroom 3. Mola for EDP 4. Yaroslav Zheleznyakov for Promotion

Facets

1. Kitsh for Clay Saphire 2. Thomas Manss & Company for VCC Perfect Pictures 3. Gardner Design for Lavish 4. BFive for Solo Company

Doodles

Personal messages and a sense of humanity are associated with these marks. It is the assurance the middleman has been cut out, and that this message is between me and you and no one else.

1. Steve's Portfolio for www.thehurricaneposterproject.com 2. Stubborn Sideburns for Hipposchemes 3. Fifth Letter for Shawn Lynch 4. Studio Oscar for Levi Strauss

Flourish

1. Lucero Design for Project 240 Apparel 2. United* for Bar Carrera NY 3. Team Manila Graphic Design Studio for Neu Media 4. Distrubancy Graphic Treatment for Eclipse Streetwear

Fibrous

1. Guillermo Brea & Associates for Argentina 2. Najlon for Town RIJEKA 3. Mattson Creative for The Collective 4. AtomicasStudio for 2 excite

Minor Trends

Some categories emerged this year that did not qualify for their own lanes, but which are still worthy of mention.

	Animotion: What makes these designs unique is that they are designed to be in motion. They are not static designs that were juiced up later. You can view some excellent examples in action at www.LogoLounge.com. Moving Brands for Swisscom
	Braille Words: Imagine words, numbers, or letters formed out of Braille-like dots. Pearpod for Plus 3
	Stacks: These logos are like transparent sandwiches that have shape stacked upon shape upon shape. Bukka Design for Neven Vision
	Contact Drop: If a contact lens dropped on top of a logo, you'd have the same effect that these logos have. They are generally lens- or circular in shape with a hard outer edge and a soft inner edge. Think of the Barrack Obama logo. FutureBrand for MasterCard Worldwide
	Psyche Type: If you want to know what is going to happen in any kind of design, look back to what was happening 30 years ago. It's a never-ending merry-go-round of style. Witness the groovin' psychedelic type treatments that are so popular today. It's Haight-Ashbury all over again. Yaroslav Zheleznyakov for Lemonades from Arbuzov
	Pathways: There are also plenty of motion lines to be seen, going up and down, back and forth, or around and around. These are like tracers â€” sometimes transparent like light, bouncing around or bending in space. The Tennis Australia logo is an excellent example. Where the ball goes, the logo goes. FutureBrand (UK) for Lakshmi N. Mittal
	Warped: If you take a gridded piece of paper and start to fold or twist it, the printed grid will begin to conform to whatever motion you're applying. But in this category of logos, the substrate is more pliable, more flexible than paper. There's more give and stretch, so that lines on the x and y axis become contorted. thackway+mccord for FINRA

2008 Logolounge Inc.

Colorful Illustrations 93°C - Please DO NOT buy this book!

2008-04-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

I'm posting, with the author's consent, a blog entry by Darren Di Lieto, the guy behind the LCS, MailMeArt and others. This is an issue that directly involves a number of SFG'ers as their work is published in this book without their consent. Check it out!

Darren has also posted a gallery of photographs of each page of the book. Is your work in there?

http://apefluff.com/ci93/main.php

Last week a British illustrator called Jonathan Edwards informed me that he had come across a book that contained his illustrations along with other illustrators work. He contacted me because the book is also riddled with interviews that he recognized as being the interviews I conducted for the LCS.

Today I received a copy of the book (costing me $100) and to my horror it has plagiarized the art blog. This has left me deeply upset!

This has not only hurt me… The book is available online and in book stores and every image in it has been stolen from my community website and the websites of the illustrators featured - with the interviews being the backbone of the publication. Before anyone asks - the internet is publicly accessible not public domain, copyright still applies.

“The worrying thing is all images are included on a CD in the back. This seems to give the impression that all the featured images are clip-art or copyright free which is certainly not the case.” - Jonathan Edwards

The images file-names on the CD have not even been renamed in anyway, so you can see exactly where they were taken from. The interviews are word for word with all the typos and switching between English and American grammar. Also according to the Book the interviews were produced by the Art Director Bernadette • J with no reference to the LCS.

Personally this has hurt me as I’ve spent the last three years building the archive of Artist interviews on the LCS. But what has really made me angry is that all that work included in the book has been stolen from the illustrators involved with some of them even being credited for work that is not their own. I am sure some of them won’t care much, but others will and will want retribution. Someone has made a lot of money from this book and it wasn’t me or the unknowing contributors. So please do not buy it!

If you think you can help here is some additional information.
Art Director/Producer: Bernadette J
Graphic Design: Malcolm Lee
published by Great Creativity organization
ISBN 978-988-98142-0-5
12/F Chinachem Johnston Plaza Wan
178-186 Johnston Road
chia, Hong Kong
T:+85281324106
F:+85281324105

I’m currently in the process of contacting the included illustrators, to let them know they’ve been ripped-off. Please note I’ve already tried to find the publishers via the internet and even called them to find out the number is for a company called Lucky Enterprise Co., Ltd. who make air filters. Also I’ve tried to contact the retailers, but I don’t think any of them will get back to me as they’re all only sales people. Index Book were helpful enough to give me the website of the place they purchased the books from for resale - Azur. But when I’ve tried phoning them on +81-3-3292-7601 I hit a brick wall because I don’t speak Japanese (maybe someone can help me with that).

I’ve been in contact with the AOI to get legal advice, but I think at the end of the day I or the illustrators who have had their copy-stolen will not be able to do much about this situation without major backing or support. So if you’re a major organization or copyright lawyer email me… darren at lcsv4 dot com.

Logo Design Love Awards

2008-02-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

Recently I was approached by David Airey about sitting on the judging panel for the upcoming Logo Design Love Awards on his new website, Logo Design Love. Today I see that I'm among friends and colleagues that I highly admire in doing so. I'm stoked to be a part of this new venture and am looking forward to adding my two cents to the mix. Thanks David!

http://www.logodesignlove.com/logo-design-love-awards-now-open

The judging panel-

Megan Patrick, Senior Editor at HOW magazine
Armin Vit of UnderConsideration LLC
Cat Morley of Creatlive Latitude, NO!SPEC and Business of Design Online
Adrian Hanft of Be A Design Group
David Pache of dache
Steve Delahoyde, Co-Editor of UnBeige
Alissa Walker, previously of UnBeige, and now Gelatobaby
Jeff Andrews of Design Inspiration and Sugar Frosted Goodness
John Martz of Drawn!

Sometimes I Miss Colorado

2008-01-28T15:26:00.001-08:00

Six inches of accumulation a half hour South of me, Four to six inches just fifteen minutes East of me, why do I feel like we live in the Twilight Zone? My parents even reported 4-6 inches down their way...where it never snows!!! This is what Father Winter decided to sprinkle on Salem.

Squint real hard you might be able to see it.

We want some freakin' snow already!!!! Is that really too much to ask?

Digg the Candidates!

2008-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

Interesting take on the upcoming election. From the website:

You can now check out the 2008 presidential candidates profiles on Digg! Add your favorite candidates as a friend to show support, and to see all their Digging activity in your friends' activity feed. Many of them will be Digging, commenting and even submitting content.

On the Digg the Candidate's main page you will see a star next to each article by each candidate's name, this article is the candidate's most recent favorite. When you add a candidate as a friend, a box will also be created on your profile showing which candidates you have added.

So get started and Digg the Candidates.

Been a while...

2008-01-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

Today Xerox unveiled their new logo to mixed reviews. "Please by all that's holy don't think copiers when you think the name Xerox!" God forbid. Though the design in itself isn't the worst I've seen ( I like the typography) come down the pike recently, (think London Olympics Logo 2012) it is definitely lackluster and simply leaves me questioning their motivation for change. It seems like large corporations have all jumped on the bandwagon when it comes to brand equity and global position. Step back a moment people and smell the coffee. You're being sold a bill of goods if the advice you're being given destroys close to a 100 years of already established equity.

This particular brand was the work of the people over there at Interbrand.

Here is a good timeline of the Xerox brand over the years and more info about the new logo.

Personally, the first thing that came to mind for me was the big blue marble.

Somebody somewhere is playing marbles with all of these new logos. Edit: It looks like great minds think alike. My friend Von, a fellow designer had the saaaaame idea. Too funny!

There are some great reviews/comments of the new logo over at Brand New.

Hmmmm...suddenly my Laser printer seems unpolished and out of date....

The Superest

2007-10-29T20:50:00.001-07:00

http://thesuperest.com/

This is a cool site, and a very clever concept. The Superest is a continually running game of My Team, Your Team. The rules are simple: Player 1 draws a character with a power. Player 2 then draws a character whose power cancels the power of that previous character. Repeat.

Holiday Inn Plans Company Brand Relaunch

2007-10-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Came across this tidbit of info this morning perusing Brand New. Brand New post logo rebrands, often finds the behind the scenes background info on the redesign and allows designers around the world to chime in with their opinions. One of my favorite sites.

Get the skinny regarding the relaunch here. IMO, one designer said it best, "typographic genocide".

Make My Logo BIGGER Cream

2007-10-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Now this is funny. Should be required viewing for all clients. Enjoy!

http://www.makemylogobiggercream.com/

My New Forum Avatar...

2007-10-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Vintage Halloween artwork I found on Flickr.

Birthday today...

2007-10-16T23:44:00.001-07:00

Yeah....so I turned 40 today. Yipee! I'm gonna hang onto my childhood for a bit longer I think. Among other things, my wife bought me this for my birthday, she's the greatest. It's a 13" Shazam Collectible Figure. Very cool!

You can check them out here. Strangely enough, my buddy Von got this Flash figure the same day.

Halloween

2007-10-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

Came upon this great photo of my brother and myself, Halloween of about '76-'77 I'd say. Yes, that's me the overly happy clown on the right wearing lipstick. I think I was ticked because I wanted to wear the Shazam! costume. ;)

Getting a little mileage....

2007-10-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

out an older illustration. I whipped this up for the rotating banner over on SFG. Go check it out!

http://www.sugarfrostedgoodness.com/

Stay tuned for more holiday inspired artwork. ;)

Leisure Suit on Aisle Eleven!!!

2007-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

I found a time machine. A veritable feast for the eyes of all things "vintage". A term that's bantered about a lot these days. Personally, I just think this stuff is cool. What can I say, I'm probably a bit too nostalgic for my own good.

The website is called Wishbook Web. A website dedicated to the Wish Book. In my household these were the best form of entertainment available come about October-November or so. Who am I kidding? Back then I'd never even have noticed the image above. This page below is way more me back then.

http://www.wishbookweb.com/

My website is soooo olllld.....

2007-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

How old is ittttt???

Funny no? No.

Truth is...my website had seen better day, it was outdated and out of touch. It was time for a change. I recently took down the site which had served me so well and put up a great splash page with pertinent info regarding me and my business until I finish the new site redesign. Short, sweet and sooo long overdue.

Whatya think?

http://www.jeffandrewsdesign.com/

Bad Design Kills

2007-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, Von Glitschka of Vonster.com, Glitshka Studios and a plethora of other sites on the web, quietly opened a unassuming little website which effectively took the design world by storm! Well kinda. The concept behind the site was simple, provide propaganda to aid in the graphic designer's fight against all things "bad design". As it happened, inexplicably the site went the way of the Dodo bird. Many speculate as to the reasons behind the website's peculiar and early demise. But until that particular book is written, you can quelch your BDK thirst and check out this link. It seems Von recently opened a Zazzle Shop to bring back his popular Bad Design Kills shirts. A great opportunity to get your hands on a mighty fine looking shirt.

I say....get 'em while you can. ;)

Click here to view and order your shirt.

Surgery

2007-09-04T22:18:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning I'm going into surgery for a hernia that's been bothering me for a few years now.

My hernia is larger than normal, it's called an abdominal incisional hernia and has gradually gotten worse over the past few years. It's in the area I had an emergency appendectomy over ten years ago. Because my appendix had burst the doctor had to leave the wound open back then to drain properly and heal on it's own. The result of that is that the abdominal wall was never at full strength again.

I'm not asking for sympathy, just asking for prayers and positive thoughts tomorrow. For my wife especially as she's feeling a lot more anxiety over the whole ordeal than I am.

Thanks my friends.

Jeff

Update: I'm home now, recovering from the surgery, which went well. Still not 100%, but getting better every day. Thanks to all of you for your concern, prayers and well-wishes. Much appreciated!

Surfer Boy

2007-08-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

Designosaur

2007-08-28T17:22:00.001-07:00

Golden Flashback...

2007-08-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

SFG Blank Book Project

2007-08-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

I've been completely remiss in posting about a brand new project we've started over at SFG! The Blank Book Project is a collaborative effort with my good buddy and colleague Steph Doyle.

For 500 days, a traveling sketchbook will be sent from Washington DC, headed west to 50 illustrators around the world. Once the book arrives, each illustrator has 7 days to complete a sketch and send the book on to the next illustrator. The book will reach its final destination approximately mid-December, 2008.

Check it out at http://sfgblankbook.com

Pictobrowser Tryout: Monsters

2007-08-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd try out a new feature I discovered that allows you to post numerous photos to your blog or website via your Flickr account. I did have to adjust the width of the application to work correctly within the confines of my blog but...very cool! Looks like it works great!

Lucas in Love!

2007-08-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

This is hilarious!

Ever Wonder?

2007-08-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I was contemplating song lyrics. Often times during the day I'll find myself listening to an oldies station. The songs I've grown up listening to...even singing along on occasion. Today a realization hit me...I'm probably not singing the correct lyrics to a number of the songs I've known since childhood. Case in point: Manfred Mann's Earth Band: Blinded By the Light. I'll spare you my rendition. I was surprised to find out the real lyrics after having looked them up online. Too funny really. This ever happen to you?

For your enjoyment--

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Madman drummers bummers,
Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older,
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin,
the calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground
But she was...
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Some silicone sister with a manager mister told me I go what it takes
She said "I'll turn you on sonny to something strong,
play the song with the funky break"
And go-cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather chart to see if it was safe outside
And little Early-Pearly came by in his curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride
Asked me if I needed a ride
But she was...
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tired
She's gonna make it through the night
She's gonna make it through the night
But mama, that's where the fun is
But mama, that's where the fun is
Mama always told me not to look into the eye's of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is
Some brimstone baritone anticyclone rolling stone preacher from the east
Says, "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in it's funny bone,
that's where they expect it least"
And some new-mown chaperone was standin' in the corner,
watching the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone was messin' with his frozen zone, reminding him of romance
The calliope crashed to the ground
But she was...
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Madman drummers bummers, Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older,
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin,
the calliope crashed to the ground
Now Scott with a slingshot finially found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand
And some bloodshot forget-me-not said daddy's within earshot save the buckshot, turn up the band
Some silicone sister with a manager mister told me I go what it takes
She said "I'll turn you on sonny to something strong"

And I found it here by the way.

So my newest addictions...

2007-07-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

My newest addictions are a couple of internet based networking utilities. The first, Facebook describes itself as...

a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

The second, LinkedIn says this of itself...

LinkedIn is an online network of more than 12 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.

When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.

Needless to say, the two...along with Twitter have kept me entertained of late. It's been fun networking with old friends and new acquaintances alike.

Here are my respective profiles....

Facebook
LinkedIn

12 Breeds of Clients and How to Work with Them

2007-07-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

Ran across this article recently and really appreciated it. I hope they don't mind that I've reposted it here, but I believe something like this deserves the biggest audience it can get.

Enjoy!

There are loads of different types of clients out there and chances are at some point you’ll get to meet all of them. So let’s take a look through some typical clients and see if you recognise a few of your own in there!

Client Breed #1

The Low-Tech Client

How to spot one:
Looks confused and disoriented when discussing anything high-tech, calls rather than emails, wants everything to be faxed. The Low-tech client needs to go through everything twice to get it, but will then happily take your advice.

The Highs:
The Low-tech client will rely solely on your sage wisdom for all things technology related. They will look to you as your technology saviour and will stroke your ego with their reverence of your knowledge and advice.

The Lows:
The low-tech client will need to be handheld through everything from setting up their email to opening up PDFs. Charge accordingly. They can also be particularly frustrating if they decide to ‘work it out themselves’. A Low-tech client’s idea of how a website should work for example is often not pretty.

How To Work With One:
The low-tech client needs to be handheld. Make sure everything technical about a job is in writing for them to reread at their leisure. This will save you a lot of time explaining things repeatedly. It’s also best to just accept that you will not be using a lot of the technology that makes our lives easier these days (email, online project management etc) and should instead budget in time for phone calls, faxes and face to face meetings.

It is very easy to start to patronize your low-tech client unintentionally. As you can imagine, this can damage your relationship and even worse hurt their feelings. Make sure you balance the playing field by asking for their input in the areas they know about – their business. This will keep them happy stop them feeling the need to weigh in on your area of expertise – which can waste everybody’s time.

Finally if you work in technology, make sure that your Low-tech client knows how to use whatever product you give them!

Client Breed #2

The Uninterested Client

Thanks to one of our commenters for pointing out my negligence in writing ‘disinterested’ rather than ‘unintererested’ which would have been correct! It is now fixed.

How To Spot One:
The uninterested client is a strange beast – where most clients can’t wait to get involved in your work, the uninterested client just wants things done with as little effort from them as possible. You’ll spot an uninterested client on first meeting when you ask them questions about their business and are met with the minimal response. The uninterested client will rarely provide requested information or materials and will often ask you to complete tasks outside your area of expertise because they “don’t have time”.

The Highs:
An uninterested client will give you a lot of creative freedom, mostly because they have no interest in being involved. Their insistence that you “take care of it” may broaden your skill set and your ability to delegate to outside contractors. You may also gain experience making it work when you don’t have the information or materials you need.

The Lows:
The uninterested client will ask you to take care of everything from copywriting (when you’re a web designer) to flyer design (when you’re a copywriter). Sadly they will often not realize that this should incur extra cost. The uninterested client sometimes marries their lack of interest with wanting things done a certain way producing a very hard to deal with client.

How To Work With One:
It is best to get into good habits early with your uninterested client. A freelancer must be pushy with an uninterested client, so get used to calling and emailing repeatedly. A friendly and humorous tone is a great help when trying to push them along. An uninterested client generally isn’t trying to be rude and unpleasant, most of the time they’re very stressed and crying out for a little help. If you can be straight with them that extra work costs extra money, either take on that extra work if you can or use it as an opportunity to outsource.

A uninterested client is a tricky client, but if you manage to take care of them they often become very loyal, happy to have someone that ‘takes care of business’. Just make sure you are straight about costs, and be clear with yourself that nagging is unavoidable.

Client Breed #3

The Hands-On Client

How To Spot One:
The hands-On client is a frustrated artist, as soon as they walk in the door they will be telling you about their skill as an artist, illustrator, photographer or writer. The hands-on client already has a very specific idea about what they want and usually has very little interest in your thoughts on the matter.

The Highs:
If you’re happy to just do exactly as they ask no matter what you might think of it, a hands-on client can be a good little earner. Almost always there is little confusion as to what the client wants to see and this can make these jobs easy.

The Lows:
If you feel you have an ethical responsibility to point out the flaws in your hands-on client’s directions, you are headed for conflict. Hands-on client’s secretly believe that they could do their job much better than you and that there is little or no specialist knowledge you could possibly impart.

One oddity about working with a hands-on client sometimes occurs when you give in your creative ambitions and agree to do it their way. All of a sudden your hands-on client may accuse you of making them do all the work or not doing your job. This can go as far as baulking on payment. Naturally this is highly infuriating.

How To Work With One:
When you find a hands-on client, the best thing to do is go with the flow. If you try to fight it you usually lose and the job winds up a lot harder than it needed to be. If your hands-on client knows exactly what they want, then power to them, recognise that and give it to them.

Often its a good idea to explicitly tell them that they seem to have a very specific idea of what they want and that you will be following their direction, however make it clear that if they would prefer; you are more than capable of doing it without their input.

Client Breed #4

The Paranoid Client

How To Spot One:
The legal papers come out almost immediately and are elaborate to say the least. A paranoid client will often not want to even discuss their project without getting you to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and be prepared for drafted agreement to be heavily pitched in their favour.

The Highs:
If you work with a paranoid client, any legal agreement you sign should also be protecting you. So as long as you don’t breach any part the agreements you sign you should get paid.

The Lows:
You MUST get any major legal agreements looked at by a lawyer (and not the lawyer that works for them). As you would imagine, this can cost a lot of money that your client may not be willing to pay. Often within these documents are a whole list of grounds for the client dismissing you without payment. Grounds might be that you miss a deadline for whatever reason (even if the paranoid client is at fault).

From personal experience, I have always found the most paranoid clients are the ones who seem to have the most problems as well. This happens because they are always on the lookout for evidence that they are being ripped off or taken advantage of. Needless to say this means that you can easily wind up trying to straighten our points of legality with them rather than doing your job.

How To Work With One:
It is not worth working with a paranoid client for a small or low paying job. The risks far outweigh any possible gains. Besides, a personalized legal agreement is very expensive, so if they’re willing to spend a large sum on protecting their interests they should be paying you equally well.

For a large job with a big client you may wish to consider going for it, but even then factor lawyer’s fees into your quote. Most companies have legal agreements because they want to protect themselves or sensitive projects, but some paranoid clients use them in a predatory way. Remember that the paranoid client paid more to be protected, so you should quote more to make sure you get a fair deal.

Client Breed #5

The Appreciative Client

How To Spot One:
The appreciative client will shower you with praise and make you feel special – gosh I love an appreciative client!

The Highs:
The appreciative client will make your life very easy as they’ll often pick the first version of the first draft and declare it perfect. They’re very enthusiastic and generally a delight to work with.

Even when the appreciative client does not like something they often word things in ways that make you happy to continue work on the project to get it pitch perfect.

The Lows:
They’ll make the rest of your clients look bad.

How To Work With One:
Sit back and enjoy the glory. Make sure you get them a very nice Christmas gift and throw in a freebie every now and then. An appreciative client is like gold to a freelancer, so do your best work and make them feel like a VIP.

Client Breed #6

The Get-a- Good-Deal Client

How To Spot One:
The get-a-good-deal client is a wheeler-dealer and believes that the price you first give is just a starting point for negotiations. You’ll know you have a get-a-good-deal client on your hands because agreeing on a price and job description always involves a bit of to and fro. Often times get-a-good-deal clients are successful entrepreneurial types who have haggled their way to wealth.

The Highs:
Get-a-good-deal clients are often great for getting repeat and referral work having their fingers in lots of pies and you can sometimes make deals that payoff well for you as well as them.

The Lows:
If you aren’t a good negotiator or you don’t recognise a get-a-good-deal client soon enough you can wind up feeling taken advantage of as they take whatever there is to be had. Unethical get-a-good-deal client’s are usually up for ‘no harm trying’ mentality that can see them trying to get out of paying for certain things or at their worst bullying you for more work or discounts.

How To Work With One:
The best way to deal with a get-a-good-deal client is to fight fire with fire so to speak. Taking a get-a-good-deal approach back on them usually negates their strengths and ensures that you cut a fair deal. This means coming in high and then lowering your prices and being very assertive on points of payment and workload.

Client Breed #7

The I’ll-Know-It -When-I-See-It Client

How To Spot One:
The I’ll-Know-It-When-I-See-It client shares much in common with the uninterested client except in a more frustrating way. Their indecisiveness and inability to articulate what they are after makes them one of the few clients that it is generally best to steer clear of.

The Highs:
If you can produce the “It” for this type of client you can possibly win them over and turn the I’ll-Know-It-When-I-See-It client into a very appreciative and trusting client who rejoices in having found someone who has their same ‘vision’.

The Lows:
If you don’t produce the “It” this type of client can quickly become highly frustrating as you stab franticly in the dark while worrying about blowing your budget and timeframe.

To make matters worse the I’ll-Know-It-When-I-See-It client often becomes agitated or unhappy with you if you don’t magically produce “It” leading to strained relations and a project that rapidly goes south.

How To Work With One:
In order to work with a I’ll-Know-It-When-I-See-It Client you need to remember two things:

- First be VERY clear with how much revisions cost. If you don’t do this you WILL blow your budget
- Second unless you can produce “It” you could be in for a rough project, accept this fact.

Client Breed #8

The Always-Urgent Client

How To Spot One:
All their emails are ‘highest priority’ and their couriers are always red-hot. They work on weekends and late into the night and think that everyone else does too. Additionally the always-urgent client often seems to think they are your only client and that their job should therefore be your highest priority as well as theirs.

The Highs:
Since there is never any room for prolonging a job the always-urgent client will usually okay jobs relatively quickly. They often won’t have time to okay a quote so you end up charging by the hour.

The always-urgent client generally knows when they are being unreasonable and will do their best to pay you quickly, which is handy for cash flow.

The Lows:
The always-urgent client adds stress to your life, and if you want to keep them you may need to work late nights or over the weekend. You may also endure repeat late night phone calls and nonchalant requests that you build websites, organise photoshoots and produce detailed illustrations in oh… say a few hours!

How To Work With One:
The always-urgent client must be taken with a grain of salt. Everything will be desperate so you must decide when it is worth the inconvenience to yourself and your other clients. You must make it clear to the always-urgent client when their requests are unreasonable, right from the beginning. As always, keeping this light-hearted and jokey is the way to go, thereby defusing situations where you might otherwise come off as aggressive.

The always-urgent client is similar to the disinterested client in that they both require extra care. You may need to chase up the always-urgent client if you know a job is coming up in order to give yourself more time and as with the disinterested client, if you take care of them when it counts they will be loyal to you.

A word of warning though, having multiple always-urgent clients can lead to severely stressful situations as everything is needed now, now, now! So unless you thrive on pressure, you are advised to limit the number of this type of client you engage.

Client Breed #9

The Decision-By- Committee Client

How To Spot One:
Usually inhabiting the world of large corporate clients, the decision-by-committee client can still be found in smaller operations where they share their decision making with a spouse, neighbour or dog. The decision-by-committee client is one who lacks a single point of authority and for which every decision must be approved by many people.

The Highs:
Since decision-by-committee clients don’t have anyone making firm decisions it is sometimes possible to just do whatever you think and sneak it through under the radar. This can easily backfire though, so be careful.

The Lows:
The decision-by-committee client at its worst is achingly slow to work with and when many people have thier pet peeves you can wind up with a highly inferior product to show for the work. Decision-by-committee client almost always reduce to the lowest common denominator and if there is one person who dominates they are usually the one person you wish *didn’t* dominate.

How To Work With One:
Unfortunately decision-by-committee clients are a fact of life when it comes to working with large corporate clients and this is one reason why it is important to charge high when dealing with the big guys.

It helps to be firm and quickly identify the stronger members of the committee and target them for responses while trying to win them over by conceding lesser points and sticking to your main guns.

Client Breed #10

The Doormat Client

How To Spot One:
The doormat client is the client who puts up with anything and just keeps coming back. They are usually very unassertive and seem to be content waiting for ages for you to get back to them or accepting less than perfect work.

The Highs:
The doormat client is often also very appreciative which is always nice. Its also relaxing to have a client who doesn’t mind waiting around.

The Lows:
Unfortunately doormat clients often bring out the worst in freelancers. Without the pressure of a potentially angry client a freelancer can easily become laissez-faire about their work and wind up taking advantage of the client’s passive nature.

How To Work With One:
The doormat client requires great discipline to make sure that you stick to your timeframes and deliver the goods. If your client doesn’t protect themselves then it is up to you to do so for them.

While you may wish to take advantage of their generous nature on occasions when you are stressed, you should try your best to treat them the same as every other client.

Client Breed #11

The Budget Client

How To Spot One:
Every client is on a budget, but some clients just seem that much tighter than the others. The budget client can be the result of doing a friend or relative a favour, or equally just a regular client who never has any cash.

The Highs:
Budget clients are sometimes appreciative of the work they are getting done so cheaply - though unfortunately this isn’t always the case.

The Lows:
Budget clients are cheap and at their worst still expect the same service and workload as their higher paying brethren. This makes them both annoying and bad for business.

Budget clients are at their worst when they exhibit traits from other clients such as ‘Always-Urgent’ or ‘Paranoid’, in which case its just not worth it.

How To Work With One:
Make sure your budget client realises they are on a budget and that therefore their work may not always be first priority and that you probably can’t get those extra changes or revisions in because it simply doesn’t make good business sense. If your budget client gets aggressive or manifests other negative traits, accept that they aren’t worth it and let them go.

Client Breed #12

The You-Should- Be-So-Lucky Client

How To Spot One:
The you-should-be-so-lucky client is much cooler than you and they know it. They generally have a cool but low paying project for you and are in an industry everyone wants to work in…think music, film and fashion industries in particular.

The Highs:
The right you-should-be-so-lucky client looks great in your portfolio, and your friends will think you’re cool. You’ll make some handy contacts and your professional credibility will probably benefit. You’ll also be hanging out with the cool kids – TAKE THAT HIGH SCHOOL!

The Lows:
You won’t be paid much and the you-should-be-so-lucky client will act like they’re doing you the favour, not the other way around. If you do enough jobs for a you-should-be-so-lucky client you will start getting jaded about the industry and feel mistreated for your efforts.

How To Work With One:
The you-should-be-so-lucky client can be a great asset to your portfolio, but that will be the main reason to do the job. Because everybody wants this type of job (until they’ve actually got some) there are many talented but green freelancers more than happy to work for almost nothing. If you are a student this can be a great thing to do, but for a seasoned freelancer it can impact your cash flow. So pick your you-should-be-so-lucky clients carefully and use them sparingly to impact your portfolio or break up the monotony of corporate jobs. And of course, make sure you enjoy being that damn cool!

Logo Book Submissions

2007-07-03T23:59:00.000-07:00

I've been collecting and submitting logos to this book, Really Good Logos the past few days or so. It would be great to get a submission or two accepted, but I've learned not to get my hopes up. A lot of disappointment this past year or so regarding this subject.

From the website--

In “Really Good Logos, Explained”, some of today’s top creative minds critique and appraise over 500 examples of truly exceptional logos, and explain what makes them work.

The insight provided by the four contributing authors will be - like the logos themselves - succinct, specific and effective. Comments will range from explaining what makes each logo especially effective, to offering ideas on how the design might be further enhanced. The result will be a rare and insightful glimpse inside the mind of top creatives.

By understanding the logistics of good design, we are better prepared to create it. This book helps explain those logistics, by asking:

What elements do truly effective logos have that others are lacking?
What makes one logo more powerful - more attention-getting - than others?
What tips and strategies can be captured from these examples, and used to improve current projects?

By providing short, specific and to-the-point observations from top creatives, "Really Good Logos, Explained" answers these questions and more.

Speedtest.net

2007-06-20T00:35:00.001-07:00

Great site, with a great interface. Check it out.

http://www.speedtest.net

Nice Father's Day Present....

2007-06-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, my mother calls me up and says she has something to tell me. She proceeds to tell me how she's bought this motorcycle for my dad on the spur of the moment. She bought it from the father of a girl she works with. He was a mechanic so it's very well preserved and cared for. Anyway, if you knew my parents, it's totally not what you'd expect. My dad hasn't owned a motorcycle since I was really young. Needless to say he was reportedly in shock when he got it.

Here are some pictures of the new acquisition...

And here's a picture of my mom and my sister on the motorcycle he had back in the day. Guess he's sticking with the red theme. lol

London Olympic Logo Unveiled to Mixed Reviews

2007-06-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

June 4th, 2007

The logo (pictured above) for the London Olympic Games of 2012 was unveiled Monday, June 4th 2007 to what one could only describe as "less than desirable" reviews. Designed by Wolff Olins with a pricetag of almost $800,000 US, the buzz surrounding this logo is so intense in fact that there is now a petition to either redesign or replace the logo with the bid logo.

Personally, I subscribe to the camp calling for a recall. I don't see anything particularly inviting or intriguing in the new mark. it doesn't evoke anything in me except puzzlement and quite frankly disgust. It's horrible! I think the designer, in an effort to be avant garde and trend setting, gypped the Olympic committee and citizens of Great Britain. If it represented me, and my country I'd be outraged.

There are a number of great reads online regarding the logo and the public unrest. Here are just a few of the links I rounded up. Enjoy!

http://www.london2012.com/

Calls for new 2012 logo rejected

MPs call for Olympic logo rethink

and of course...

Speak Up

A few recent jobs....

2007-06-06T18:31:00.001-07:00

These are a couple of jobs I've done recently for my "day job." we do a lot of logos for local sports teams, school and businesses, and then the screen printing or embroidery department will implement the designs as well. I'm learning a lot about that part of the business, which is cool.

Jeff Andrews: Action Hero!

2007-05-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

Thought this was fun. My buddy Tommy Kane had posted a hilarious one here, so of course I had to try my hand.

Enjoy!

Design Inspiration mention on Drawn!

2007-05-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

It dawned on me after seeing several new comments on Design Inspiration that there must have been some press somewhere I hadn't been aware of to drive people to the site. A little covert detective work quickly turned up the explanation. My buddy Ward, one of the contributors over at Drawn! had posted a quick mention. Very cool! Ward and his family just moved from Georgia to Portland, which is about an hour north of me. Sounds like it might be time to take the man out to lunch in repayment.

Thanks again Ward!

More Charlie...

2007-05-30T06:38:00.002-07:00

Definitely a Charlie theme going the past few posts eh? Be on the lookout for some new business card designs soon, and hopefully a nailed down website design soon after.

Thanks!

A couple of new things I can share...

2007-05-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

The first is just an illustration I threw together on my lunch hour a few days ago. Maybe I'll finish him up sometime.

The second is the last logo comp I completed for Fusion Juice. They ended up going with a different color scheme, but this is the one I liked the most.

I can really identify with Charlie Brown...

2007-05-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

You'll probably have to click on the comic strip image to see it larger. Story of my life Charlie Brown.

http://www.snoopy.com

SFG Tee Photo Shoot

2007-05-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we met with Ashli, the new official face of SFG's clothing line, “Wearable Goodness.” Here are a few of the results. Ashli was a pleasure to work with and could not have had a better disposition the entire time. We all had a lot of fun.

Meet the Newest Member of our Household...

2007-05-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

Meet Charlie.

We brought him home from the local Humane Society last night. He's very loving and mellow and curious, a real cool cat. My wife has always had cats and has been wanting to do this for a while now, she's really excited. He really likes to be where we are too, it's great. When I'm in the office, if he's not on that window sill he's stretched out on the floor at my feet or on Michelle's lap at her desk. I guess he likes us!

LOGOLOUNGE : Trends 2007

2007-05-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

With permission, I've copied a great article about logo design trends here that I found on the Logo Lounge website. Logo Lounge guru Bill Gardner has been putting these out for quite a few years now and I always find them fascinating. Check it out below.

http://logolounge.com

At LogoLounge.com we look at A LOT of logos and see plenty of trends: Some are aesthetic, some conceptual, and some cultural. As the internet's largest database of logos – over 50,000 to date – you can't help notice the evolution of design – and trends.

For instance, we have seen many more 3-D logos that are designed to be in motion, never still or flat. These designs have completely shaken the earthly bonds of CMYK and exist only in ethereal RGB: The old logo design rules just don't apply to them.

Another development: Today, for many trends there is now a countertrend – and this is not only the case for logo design. The public and its likes and dislikes have become fragmented across the spectrum. Companies who need logos and designer who create logos are forced to respond accordingly. It has become increasingly difficult to simply look in one direction or the other.

It is also becoming disturbingly clear that logo design has become a public sport. As the public controls their own media more and more–Tivo-ing this, blogging that, YouTube-ing and Googling everything else–people are no longer satisfied to simply consume what is placed before them: They have opinions they want to share. So when a large corporation reveals its new identity, there are hundreds of internet sites flinging their opinions back at it. Even when the village board of Remote votes on a new logo for its two police cars, citizens take to the streets waving pitchforks and copies of their own designs. Committeecide seems to be rampant.

The full 2007 trend report follows. Whether we are noting social, conceptual or aesthetic trends, remember that none of them exist in a vacuum or in a single moment in time. They are results of many trends before them and are developing taproots as we speak.

Also, you will note some amount of aesthetic crossover between trends. For instance, the Dos Helix and Ribbon trends do show similarities. But with these categories and all others, we are more interested in the difference between their fundamental concepts. Our observations are just that–observations. They are not recommendations. Finally, they are presented in no particular order.

Dos Helix

Deoxyribonucleic acid really sounds like the last thing that could influence design until you knock it down to the initials DNA. It's the root of life and the code responsible for the past and the future of any living entity. The double helix strand has now transcended the field of science and, over the last generation, moved comfortably into the field of pop culture.

Hollywood has turned DNA into the glow-in-the-dark plot twist of CSI "insert city here". The design community has latched onto the twisting double helix structure as the public now sees this shape as a spark of life or the signature of an individual. Representing the genus or the seed of life, health and longevity, a family tree, a code, a mystery, or an unbroken sequence, these strands have a certain symbolic power that can be agreed upon by science or religion alike.

1.Design Firm: lwdgraphics Client: Chillosophy 2.Design Firm: Sumo Client: Science City 3.Design Firm: Demasi Jones Client: RCRH 4.Design Firm: Gibson Client: Women for Women

Rubber Bands

Invista, one of the world's largest integrated fiber businesses, most succinctly laid claim to this look in 2003 with "the rings of innovation" designed by Enterprise IG. It's easy to imagine the global aspect of the company and the interlinking products and efforts with the bisecting fiber like rings. (though to the public or an untrained eye, this may well look like a random assembly of rubber bands in your top desk drawer).This is a trend that connects directly to directions from previous years–Natural Spirals and Cave Rings, specifically. This is chaos and geometry coming together.

These linking rings tend to express the concept of a collective of product, employees, companies, or divisions that work together as a larger whole. They may appear to have varying degrees of autonomy or flexibility based on the tightness or shape of their configurations. Color is generally the marker that defines individuality, but it also helps us grasp the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

1.Design Firm: Koch Creative Group Client: MBM Study 5 2.Design Firm: Substrate Client: Zilo 3.Design Firm: Grafikonline Client: Guba 4.Design Firm: Enterprise IG Client: Invista

Radiance

Not since the introduction of day-glow ink has there been this kind of illumination in the design industry. The brilliance of light is pervasive, and it seems to have found new ways to manifest itself. Radiance comes from the sun, but it is also beaming from water, pearls, books, and even the X-Box in an alien sort of way. The diversity of application ranges broadly from transparent overlays, gradients, and reflections, to lens flares, and animation.

These marks have a certain warmth that conveys comfort not to dissimilar from the light at the end of the tunnel. This glow may become more prevalent as we try to convey optimism, purity, warmth or escape. But the fallback position for this much wattage is still a guiding light or source of knowledge.

1.Design Firm: Cato Purnell Partners Client: Skywest Airlines 2.Design Firm: Gardner Design Client: The Center 3.Design Firm: LandDesign Client: Sunhaven 4.Design Firm: Siegel+Gale Client: SunTrust

Eco Smart

The loudest drum for the corporate world to stay in step with continues to be sustainability. In one form or another, our ecological welfare has been the crux of a trend in every report LogoLounge has released. The fact that we are still reporting its influence is not an agenda but is testament to the sustainability of sustainability.

These Eco Smart identities are simply getting smarter. Trees and leaves are still there, but the application has taken a more intelligent approach. It could be that some prior adopters of green identities were merely giving lip service to the cause. It's not just about adopting the color green. These logos are blended with an application and an ethos, more sensitive to the environment. The marks have grown up and seem to be telling stories with a softer voice, not with a piercing shrill.

1.Design Firm: Gardner Design Client: Dandurand 2.Design Firm: Ulrichpinciotti Design Group Client: Resources for Healthy Living 3.Design Firm: Eggnerd Client: Greenhill Academy 4.Design Firm: Steve's Portfolio Client: Small Planet

Lit

Designers continue to play havoc with the remnants of the rules set forth years ago for logo design. Production limitations are no longer relevant as marks vault into CMYK. In addition, many designers and clients have figured out that they will never, ever print their logos in the Yellow Pages – so producing at least one version that is 2-D and one-color is not necessary at all.

Over the last several years, we've seen logos crystal capped, light pinged, and puffed up like a silicone implant. The concept is simple: Create a degree of reality that allows an image to lift off of the page. This dimensionality lets the logo play on a different field than the world of flat one- and two-tone marks. Not subtle, but effective.

Now enters subtlety via the well-lit logo. Actors have been told for ions to step into the lights, and now logos are doing the same. It's little more than intelligent stage craft. These logos are not necessarily dimensional; in fact, most are relatively unassuming. The primary difference is the illusion of good lighting. It's an understated effect that pays off well in capturing the consumer's eye.

1.Design Firm: Zed+Zed+Eye Creative Communications Client: Ebert Pool Construction 2.Design Firm: FutureBrand Client: Pure Tasmania 3.Design Firm: Sebastiany Branding Client: Café ao Lar 4.Design Firm: Cato Purnell Partners Client: Flower Factory

Pseudo Crest

Mix a little nose-in-the-air, overly stodgy, family coat of arms with a sharp tongue-in-the-cheek, Napoleon Dynamite liger, and you have something that approximates a Pseudo Crest. These are fun, and packed with detail that sticks it to the man at every opportunity. For the high school and college market, Jason Schulte's firm, Office, built a best-of-class brand for Target with the Independent Studies line.

At first glance, most of these look like they've been lifted from a heraldry 101 style book, until you scrutinize the composition elements. Only at this point are you likely to see wrenches, guitars, penguins, shoes, cell phones and anything else you'd never expect to find in Camelot. This is a youth anthem; and designers have identified this as a source language for fashion culture and the music industry. In fact, this is a modern trend you will see everywhere, despite its roots in heraldry and even other intricate patterning like Victorian wallpaper.

1.Design Firm: Office Client: Independent Studies/Target 2.Design Firm: Reaves Design Client: JCPenny Nation 3.Design Firm: Miles Design Client: 12 Gauge Wakeskates 4.Design Firm: Launchpad Creative Client: Astonish Entertainment

Urban Vinyl

Charlie the Tuna and the Jolly Green Giant, these are not. Advertising characters have danced the line between logos and mascot for years. Even the Cingular Jack was a bit of a hybrid with a personality that animation played out beyond the printed page. Urban vinyl is a subculture that is starting to cross over into logo design. These small vinyl characters are ubiquitous shelf clutter, enshrined in nearly every designerís desk collection.

First made popular in Hong Kong by Michael Lau in the 90's, these imaginative imps have become highly collectable and have entire stores, KidRobot and magazines, Super 7, dedicated to their notoriety. The art of Tim Biskup may start on canvas but it soon translates to designer vinyl characters. Usually they can be as mundane as fire breathers to as outlandish as slimy cyclops ghost aliens. Though not a serious influence on Fortune 500 identities, urban vinyl has its place in pop culture, and that has translated to two-dimensional applications in logo design.

1.Design Firm: San Markos Client: webpublica 2.Design Firm: Innfusion Studios Client: Innfusor 3.Design Firm: Glitschka Studios Client: Fire Squad 4.Design Firm: Tactix Creative Client: Cyclops

Hubs

Last year, Apurba Sen from India contacted LogoLounge after he had taken a few hundred Web 2.0 logos and arranged them based on the trends recognized in LogoLounge reports over the last 3 years. It was an interesting experiment and served to confirm several of our previous categories. But one abundant group of these logos that found no harbor with previous trends was the Hub. These logos have a central element that serves as the core with many satellite elements, often orbiting symmetrically.

These logos could serve as the model of a communication structure for any online community. There is a central hub that serves as the dissemination point for information. Without the hub, the satellites lose their ability to make contact with the other members of the group. So whether these logos are for a communication tool or not, the distribution from a central point is usually key to the concept. The other aspect of this technique is many elements coming together for a greater common good. As prolific a theme as this has become, designers continue to build unique visual concepts.

1.Design Firm: Selikoff+Co Client: Pomology 2.Design Firm: Starlight Studio Client: RM Custom Creations 3. Design Firm: Brent Leland Design Client: Haciendo 4. Design Firm: Demasi Jones Client: Fibre Optic Australia

Descending Dots

Once you've started looking for this concept, you will see it everywhere–including in other categories within this report. With very few exceptions, these logos are made out of a series of dots either ascending or descending in scale consecutively. Most of these logos depict motion to help advance their message. Imagine using this language as a shorthand for static animation. It's basically the Eadweard Muybridge stop-motion freeze-frames-turned-logo, except each earlier frame is a bit dimmer or smaller than the next.

As we feel more compelled to explain motion-related concepts in a unique fashion, we will discover new visual language that will help us achieve this. In previous reports, we discussed the use of less traditional techniques to define motion, including, Blur, Dot Fuzz, and Blow out. Descending Dots rely on vector edge graphics to achieve their effect, much as Robert Miles Runyon used stripes to help define his Stars in Motion for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The fallout of this era was a decade or more of logos that, by virtue of their sweeping stripes, all declared loudly, "I am moving."

1.Design Firm: Ardoise Design Client: Raymond Engineering 2.Design Firm: Aron Creative Client: Springboard 3. Design Firm: Glitschka Studios Client: Windows Gaming 4. Design Firm: Brand Bird Client: Arby's Franchise Association

Flora

Let's just make the assumption if you water a logo and give it adequate sunlight, it will start to grow a rhythmic crop of vines, buds, blooms and other fantasies of a botanical nature. These may be further evolution of last year's Embellish trend, or they could just be another subset of a larger trend. This would be a direction that uses borrowed remnants of a patterned, Victorian era to attach a delicate human quality to the hard outer shell of an other wise sterile logo. Detail of this nature is inherently engaging and asks the consumer to participate visually in a non-confrontational fashion.

A number of designers have been responsible for this tracery-like visual language, but the pioneering work of the Netherlands's Tord Boontje has probably gained the greatest notoriety. Tord was responsible for the delicate, and intricately diecut POP materials used for the 2006 Holiday presentation at Target. This layering of highly embellished organic lace has influenced identity design, especially in retail application.

1.Design Firm: Shift Design Client: Charme 2.Design Firm: Doug Beatty Client: Art for Aid 3.Design Firm: Gardner Design Client: Holly Root Massage 4. Design Firm: Entermotion Design Studio Client: Marshmallow Kisses

Half

An optimistic outlook will assure us these logos are half full. Engaging the public to participate with the identity has always been a strong method of building a tie to a logo. That "aha!" moment, when clever information assimilates and comes into focus, is the moment we take ownership in an entity. The secret here is not to bury the punch line so deeply that the consumer never gets to it. Here, the missing half of a visual element tells the story.

Where is the other half and why? Has it been chopped off, is it just over the edge, or is it submerging, or emerging? Simple word play or, in some events, image play allows the consumer to associate the product with an action. Cutting off part of an image can in some cases become confrontational, however, and cutting a perfectly good number or letter in half is tantamount to heresy in some cases. Letters are sacred to consumers: Altering them is one thing, but removing their better half makes people look.

1.Design Firm: Fresh Oil Client: Spats Logo Concept 2.Design Firm: Thomas Manss & Company Client: Cutcost.com 3. Design Firm: Meme Design Client: Edge 4. Design Firm: Miles Design Client: Urban Forward

Overlap

In some respects, this is an evolution of last yearís Overlay trend and a definite continuation of the strong transparency genre in logo design. While still relying on relatively flat color overlay–like so many layers of colored lighting gels–this direction is more concerned with linkage. These logos describe sets and subsets as an analogy for the literal connections within a corporation. Remember that transparency is a strong buzzword in the corporate world: The need to be fiscally and otherwise transparent to the public, employees, and investors is an essential trait.

Elements coming together with nothing to hide help to extol the depth or diversity of an institution. The overlapping subsets can often be used to help tell a story or explain the architectural structure of the organization. Advances in software have made the process of designing transparent imagery much more inviting. Adobe Illustrator, for example, allows a designer to experiment and see transparent techniques in real time as opposed to the arduous steps that Photoshop would require to achieve the same result.

1.Design Firm: Fitting Group Client: i-Squared 2.Design Firm: Cacao Design Client: Renza Morello 3. Design Firm: Matthew Schwart Design Studio Client: Agency Access 4. Design Firm: Gillen's Army Client: The Electric Company

3D

For years, logos have been taking on more dimensional characteristics as they have become puffier, reflective, or glassine. But in general, these are more of an affected surface treatment, as opposed to an all-out "Here's what my backside looks like." As soon as a logo takes on full three-dimensional qualities, unanticipated questions start to arise. If I spin the logo a quarter turn, is it still my logo? If I zoom in on it from an angle that obscures, is it still my logo? If I turn the lights down on it, is it still my logo? If I go through traditional trademark channels, can I register this dimensional object from any perspective?

Miles Newlyn is the London designer responsible for the proposed B logo for a major telecommunications company. Additionally, he is one of the premiere go-to designers if you need a breakout concept, such as his identities for 3 or ish. Miles attributes one of his inspirations for three-dimensional logos as the Jaguar hood ornament which is immediately recognizable from any angle. The challenge with a true 3-D logo is that a company must have the media resources necessary to convey the identity in its full spectrum of dimension. This is why many of these logos settle for the appearance of great dimensionality from a single perspective, not the real thing.

Miles remains a leader in this emerging direction: He notes that being able to create a 3-D logo is not as important as is knowing which clients need them. But more and more, businesses are requesting them just to be stylish.

1.Design Firm: Wolff Olins Client: djuice 2. Design Firm: Miles Newlyn Client: B 3. Design Firm: GrafikOnline Client: Aramova 4. Design Firm: Substrate Client: Palio

OpticaLine

Who doesn't stop mid-step when confronted by an optical illusion? We just feel compelled to give it a second look and evaluate it. Whether we look at these as a challenge or an amusement, they demand our attention. Optical illusions are generally linear in nature and have an M. C. Escher quality to them that challenge the laws of physics. Or they may seem innocent enough until they rotate on you, or dip into a new perspective on your second glance.

The idea of the possible impossibility is a very attractive concept as designers describe a niche for a client. The clever thinking of the illusion speaks to the "we can do what no other can, because we're smarter that way." Initials delivered through this magical context seem to be a natural application. Because of the dimensional nature of these marks, it is not uncommon to see them in use with architects or products that define an environment through a new perspective.

1.Design Firm: MINE Client: Paradox 2.Design Firm: Face Client: Institute of Cancer Therapeutics 3.Design Firm: JDK Design Client: Zune 4.Design Firm: Elixer Design Client: Perspecta, Inc.

Ribbons

There are surely entire cities in China that owe their existence to the export of magnetic cause ribbons. When did cause ribbon become a punch line? Yes, we want to show we care, but the literal rainbow of causes have become so diluted with this icon that its soul is on the verge of extinction. There is not a lack of concern for these causes as much as a recognition that we have been gorging ourselves at the ribbon trough too long and maybe it's time to purge.

Fortunately, there are designers who have stepped in to offer CPR to this flagging icon. Many of the best logos that base themselves on the ribbon were created at the early end of this trend. There are still novel opportunities and unique application to be found with the ribbons, but they will be fewer and farther between. It will be interesting to see if the sustainability trend crosses paths with this trend. Then we'll figure out a great recycling plan for the ribbons so our landfills aren't knee deep in magnetic rubbish.

1.Design Firm: Seamer Design Client: Motek Trading 2.Design Firm: Ty Wilkins Client: Tulsa AIDS Walk 3. Design Firm: Square One Client: Cinema Fighting Cancer 4. Design Firm: Felix Sockwell Client: AIDS National Quality Center

Other trends that are here and emerging:

Animotion: Noted at the start of this article, these logos are designed to be in motion as opposed to logos that are designed flat and then animated.

Wreaths: Lots of elements, sometimes so delicate that they would not have previously been considered to be part of a logo design, assembled into a patterned whole.

Rainbows: Possibly growing from the buzzword “inclusiveness,” likely emerging from clients’ greater tolerance for brighter colors, but definitely fed by RGB.

Numbers: Inserting a numeral into a word in place of a letter, ideally to further the meaning of a wordmark. Text messaging and IM-speak is everywhere.

Holes: Designers are playing with the apparent surface of the paper. Designs appear to disappear into or emerge from sinkholes or cuts.

Dragons: Lots and lots of dragons.

Big benday: Hyper close-ups of benday dots. These dots overlap and randomize.

Cartouches: Look for more and more shapes that are bracketed in one way or another.

Thank you to Marita Wesely-Clough, trends manager, Hallmark, and designer Miles Newlyn for the insights they provided for this article.Bill Gardner is principal of Gardner Design and creator of LogoLounge.com, a unique web site where, in real-time, members can post their logo design work; study the work of others; search the database by designer’s name, client type, and other attributes; learn from articles and news written expressly for logo designers; and much more. Bill can be contacted at bill@logolounge.com.

Great Site: Brand New

2007-05-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

Have an interest or opinion on corporate or brand identity? This is one of my favorite sites: Brand New, which is a division or spin-off of another favorite, Under Consideration. There's a lot of useful information and opinion. Check it out.

Mark My Words....

2007-04-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

It's gonna hit the fan now!

In what is sure to be a blow to legitimate designers across the world, HP announced yesterday, plans to acquire the pariah of the design world (see Logoworks saga) Logoworks. Small business owners should take heed, the advantage of hiring a legitimate, well trained graphic designer is being snatched from your hands and you don't even know it. With the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood movie, HP will convince you that a logo is something as easily attained as your lunch from a fast food menu. No personal attention, no integrated long term marketing strategy, and most importantly no unique or original creative work. Just press a few buttons and voila! With the ease of an ATM, you will be able to secure yourself a logo that, with any luck at all, won't be chosen by all of your major competitors as well. That's the catch see, no originality and a cookie cutter template shared by everyone means that, the sterilization of true original conceptualization has begun.

There's a dark cloud on the horizon.

HP to Acquire Logoworks, a Web-based Design Service Company for Small Businesses

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 24, 2007

HP today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arteis, a privately held company that operates Logoworks, a leading distributed web-based graphic design service provider.

HP plans to leverage Logoworks’ technologies and services to provide small businesses with access to professional design solutions at a fraction of market cost. Supported by hundreds of graphic designers worldwide, Logoworks’ affordable packages range from simple logo design to the development of a full suite of marketing collateral.

“Today’s small businesses are increasingly turning to the web for marketing tools and services that strike a balance between affordability and quality,” said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “By adding Logoworks’ web-based graphic design service to our portfolio, HP can now provide the right mix of cost savings, flexibility and professional quality to help make a small business look big.”

Arteis, based in Lindon, Utah, also owns LogoMaker, a do-it-yourself design application for customers with a more limited budget. HP plans to greatly expand and enhance both Logoworks (www.logoworks.com) and LogoMaker’s (www.logomaker.com) simple-to-use web-based design services and use independent print service providers to help deliver a great value to customers.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in HP’s third fiscal quarter. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $94.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2007/070424b.html

New SFG T-Shirts On Sale Now!!!

2007-04-15T00:17:00.000-07:00

The first SFG brand tee illustrated by the incredibly talented Von Glitschka of Vonster.com

The shirt is a quality preshrunk heavyweight, 100% cotton tee screenprinted with a front center design and back design near the yoke. No heat transfer! This is the highest quality work you can find, done by the leading screenprinter in my area.

Pre-orders are being taken now until 05/07/07 at the special sale price of $15.00 with FREE shipping & handling!

Regular price after the sale - $20.00

Take advantage of this low, low rate to get your hands on what is sure to be a collector's item! ORDER YOURS TODAY!

View Larger Image Here

Also, as an added bonus, once you've purchased and received your SFG tee, photograph yourself wearing it. Submit your humorous or creative photos wearing the t-shirt to this E-mail address for an opportunity to win a $50 American Express gift card.

Click Here to Order Your SFG T-Shirt!

Shark Boy!

2007-03-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

Another submission to Threadless. This time I re-worked an existing illustration of one of my favorite characters. It's "Pending Approval", but...would you buy it? What do ya think?

Don't Turn Around!

2007-03-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

Had a little free time early this morning...this was kinda fun! I've submitted this design to Threadless too, so I'll let you know if it's chosen.

Jeff

Jeff Andrews has gone...Threadless.

2007-03-19T23:42:00.001-07:00

Well, I've taken the plunge and submitted my first design to Threadless. You can check it all out by clicking on the smaller image above. If you'd like to sign-up, vote, and leave me a comment, that would be great!

Thanks!

experimentation

2007-03-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I just like to doodle and see where the doodle takes me. I thought this was a little fun!

Yeehaw!

2007-03-04T12:37:00.000-08:00

SFG: Self Portrait

2007-03-03T01:14:00.001-08:00

Night Time Is The Right Time....

2007-03-01T23:12:00.001-08:00

More Monsters....in Color!

2007-02-28T10:45:00.001-08:00

More Monsters....

2007-02-28T07:14:00.001-08:00

Missin' those Monsters?

2007-02-27T22:03:00.001-08:00

DI - Onno Knuvers

2007-02-27T01:35:00.000-08:00

I've just posted a great interview with SFG member Onno Knuvers over at Design Inspiration. What a very cool and inspirational interview and what a great guy! I totally wanna go on a ice cream picnic with Onno and his friends! Check it out!

Thanks Onno!

Oh, and Design Inspiration has a new URL, www.DIInterviews.com. Take note!

butthead

2007-02-23T14:02:00.001-08:00

My wife's name for me when she's mad. ;)

Big Head....

2007-02-22T06:36:00.001-08:00

Ever Have One Of Those Days?

2007-02-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

BOREDOM SET IN.......

2007-02-21T05:50:00.001-08:00

One-Eyed Monsters

2007-02-19T00:15:00.001-08:00

This was done in a couple of minutes. All fourth grade sexual innuendo aside, what is it with me and one-eyed monsters lately?

Recently Seen: Ward Jenkins

2007-02-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

Same magazine, different page! Page 176 to be exact.

That's right folks, as I've made my way through the April 2007 issue of HOW Magazine, I've come across yet another SFG'er.

This time it's another long-time SFG contributor, Ward Jenkins. Ward was the character designer and animator of the 2006 show reel for his employer, Primal Screen, which was deemed Outstanding for the category of Motion Design. The April issue of HOW Magazine is the International Design Annual.

Congratulations Ward!

I interviewed Ward Jenkins for Design Inspiration back in July of '06. Check it out here.

RECENTLY SEEN: JOSH COCHRAN

2007-02-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I've decided to add a new feature to SFG called Recently Seen. Recently Seen is where I'll post examples of work by SFG members seen or found outside of the SFG site.

For example, while thumbing through my latest issue of HOW magazine today I came across some work I recognized instantly. Having been doing this for a while now, I've become quite familiar with the style and work of a large number of the SFG regulars.

Josh Cochran is a long time contributor to the site, and while he doesn't make it over as much as I would like, he does pop his head in from time to time to share some of his awesome work with us.

This piece is on page 80 of the April 2007 issue of HOW magazine. Check it out!

And, if you come across the work of one of your SFG compatriots out there in the (gasp) real world, let me know or send it to me and I'll feature it here.

Thanks!

Jeff

I interviewed Josh back in January of 2006 for Design Inspiration. Check it out here.

Cleo

2007-02-12T22:47:00.000-08:00

Bob&Bob

2007-02-11T21:37:00.001-08:00

DI - John Uibel

2007-02-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

I've just posted a brand new interview with SFG member John Uibel over at Design Inspiration. John is a hugely talented illustrator with some great stuff to say. Be sure to stop by and check it out. A fantastic interview!

Thanks John!

http://designinspiration.blogspot.com/2007/02/john-uibel.html

Whatyoulookinat?

2007-02-09T08:24:00.001-08:00

You Know You're Becoming A Design Geek When:

2007-02-07T22:06:00.000-08:00

Saw this online today and thought it was funny. Design is a sickness, know the warning signs!

Learn to spot the warning signs in time
– you know you're becoming a design geek when:

You giggle whenever you use the colors F0CCED, EFF0FF and 44DDDD
You’re in the sun and you look around for a Drop Shadow to sit under.
You give your relatives a lecture about color spaces and profiles when you email them your vacation photos.
Seing someone use Lens Flare or Comic Sans adversely affects your blood-pressure
You maintain a grid system for your refrigerator magnets.
You organise your CD collection according to the Pantone chart.
You sit at work for eight hours straight just looking at your monitor, waiting for a spark of inspiration that doesn't come.
You're up 'til 5am because you came up with the best idea ever while brushing your teeth.
The hottest dream you ever had was "Trace contour... Find Edges... Pinch... Extrude... Smudge Stick... Motion Blur.... Sprayed Strokes..."
You know Lorem Ipsum by heart.
Your kid knows Lorem Ipsum by heart.
The preschool teacher complains your child won't color inside or outside the lines – only indicate colors on a separate sheet.
Activating your entire font collection makes your computer crash – and you're running OSX.
You deliberately butcher your perfectly cross browser compatible site in IE by placing a “Too Cool for IE” banner on it.
You prefer a Layer Style of 50% Opacity (or less) on your wife’s Satin.
You spend $200 on a font for your personal website because "it's the only one where the lower-case g is just right..."
Looking at a menu make you go "hmmm, ITC Baskerville italic" rather than "mmmm, lunch!"
And when you finally order, you go for Layer Based Slices with Grain Texture...
You use words about fonts you dislike that ~~other~~ normal people reserve for fascist dictators and serial killers.
Apple+Z is the first thing that goes through your mind if you drop and break something.
You refer to colleagues as Strict, Transitional, Loose and the Future Unemployed.
You refer to your privates as "the Magic Wand".
You actually understand this post and pass it on to your friends.

Here is the link to the original post.

Piper

2007-02-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

DI - Christopher Cisneros "Choper Nawers"

2007-02-05T06:53:00.001-08:00

The latest Design Inspiration interview has recently been posted. This time I've interviewed SFG's own "Choper Nawers", otherwise known as Christopher Cisneros.

Christopher is an extremely talented illustrator, one of our most prolific SFG contributors, and is always eager to leave a positive comment or ten. He's a good guy too! It's a great read, check it out...and say hi to Choper!

Related Link: http://www.isme53.com/

Percival

2007-02-05T06:29:00.001-08:00

Percival is sooo much happier these days since he got his contact lenses.

Charlotte

2007-02-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

Sweet, sweet Charlotte.

Gilbert

2007-02-02T21:16:00.001-08:00

Good ol' Gilbert, he's a gentle soul.

- Jeff

	Peepshow: Halftone imagery is increasingly being used for fill inside of vector images instead of solid color fill. Wrijfhout, Clq.nl - City of Delft
	Psychosis: Another new sort of fill is more psychedelic-crazy lines and patterns projected onto other shapes. Valhalla \| Design & Conquer , Adio Shoes
	Embroidery: There's plenty of what could be called dotted line or stitching at work. Either approach produces a sense of the hand-made. Squires and Company, Chico's
	Stained Glass: Imagine a stained glass window, but turn the lead white: That sort of mosaic of color is taking shape. R&R Partners, Harrah's
	3D Curls: We're still seeing plenty of 3-D ribbons, although these are a departure from the "cause" ribbons that have been so prevalent of late. These ribbons take on new forms and shapes, like letters or a complete logo. Gardner Design , Surency
	Color Ring: Think of a series of brightly colored, transparent rings, loosely layered on each other to create porthole of many colors. Martin Jordan , Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Brandenburg
	Celtic: Highly geometric yet handcrafted forms are appearing. Like Celtic letterforms or knots, they have nodules and serifs that are unique and have flourish, but which are also refined. These have a wonderful balance between the manufactured and the man-made. Karl Design Vienna, Burmahlife Austria