IDA and Pentagram recreate Pangaea

The International Design Alliance (IDA) has unveiled a new visual identity for its biennial IDA Congress, “the primary event for dialogue between designers and stakeholders of design in a summit format.”

It’s a window, not a flag

Windows 8 logo designed by Pentagram

That’s how Sam Moreau, principal director of user experience for Windows, felt when Paula Scher of Pentagram showed him her sketches for the new Windows logo.
“Paula asked us a simple question, ‘Your name is Windows. Why are you a flag?’”

Volvo logo background

Much of the following info is from The Volvo Owners Club.

When the decision was taken to start producing Volvo cars in August 1926, financial backer Svenska Kullagerfabriken – SKF – reactivated a company that had been idle since 1920 for the purpose. The name of that company was Volvo — formed in 1915 for the manufacture and marketing of bearings for the automotive industry.

Building a Small Business Brand : Why Your Logo Matters ?

A logo helps in identifying a business or organization in its simplest form through use of a mark or icon. Logo should not be confused as a brand. Branding is the whole corporate image of an organization or business. Logo design and branding have different roles to build a perceived image of an organization, product or business. Let us have a quick look at the concept of branding.

How To Redesign A Logo ?

No matter how small a logo might seem, it plays a great part in making a brand; the influence a logo has online is huge. Redesigning a logo is even more complicated than creating it. Even if a good logo is a logo that never gets outdated, sometimes a change in it can be a good thing, an improvement. Redesigning a logo is a part of a company’s attempt to revitalize its activity from time to time.

Combined logos

Via Ray Vellest.
Reminiscent of johnson banks’ logo mash-ups.

On the 2012 US election campaign logos

Steven Heller, Debbie Millman, and Alice Twemlow gave their thoughts on the 2012 US election campaign logos. Here’s a snippet from the post on SVA’s Visual Arts Briefs.

Kodak logo evolution

Sad news today that 131-year-old Kodak has filed for bankruptcy.
As good a time as any to take a quick look at the Kodak logo evolution.

Early 1900′s
Kodak is the first company to integrate its name and look into a symbol.
1930′s
Focus moved to the Kodak name and the red and yellow “trade dress” color.
1960′s
The corner curl was introduced.
1970′s
The mark retained the red and yellow colors and the Kodak name, but a box and graphic “K” element were added.
1980′s
A more contemporary type font streamlined the Kodak name within the existing logo.
Today
The box is gone, simplifying the logo. The rounded type font and distinctive “a” give the name a more contemporary look.

Why A Great Logo Design Is All In The Metaphor ?

Whether you are after a logo for your business, website or perhaps just a personal blog, coming up with a great design is not as simple as most would think.  The process of moving from concept to finished design is time consuming and requires the consideration of many different elements before the final result is ready to be unveiled.

A good logo design will rely on you being able to produce a logo that says everything you want it to about your business or website or blog.  Whether it is for business or personal use, it should convey to those who see it what you do as well as a sense of trust and credibility.  Trying to incorporate all of these things into one single image may sound complex, but it is really about creating a logo design that will get people’s attention and tell them what they want to know in an instant.

What Makes An Effective Logo ?

Logos are the single most important entity that make your company recognizable to people. This small design is used to identify a brand and set it apart from competitors.

The main purpose of a logo is to leave a mark in the viewers mind and make it unforgettable. Logos must evoke a sense of trust and respect in the viewer. It is important to remember that a logo is merely a signature or a sign to help consumers identify a particular name. Logos do not sell products, they only create an identity

CAUTION : 5 Harmful Things a Logo Should NEVER HAVE

     The correct blend of elements is vital in crafting an effective logo design. Nowadays, the prime objective of a logo design is to stand out and magnetize its intended target audience. With the increasing number of logo design companies being formulated and the resultant amount of logo designs being made, it’s hard to make your company logo memorable for your clients.

      New theory for logo design these days is…simple attracts, complex detracts. This is because too many elements spoil the logo design. We have numerous examples in front of us that validate this point. One must realize that a logo does not necessarily state each and every aspect of the business.
Most of us are aware of what elements make a successful logo design but seldom are cognizant of the things that should never be added in your logo. Today I would like to enlighten you with 5 things that surely must NOT be included in a logo design.