Heidi Chu: Post No. 2

1. I feel that the Adidas logo does a fantastic job presenting the company. The classic three stripes played along white and black spaces are almost iconic, while the plant-like formation with the three leaves also leaves an impression. I think that the role of a logo is to relay an image to the company’s target audience so that they could immediately recognized and associate the logo to the company, and I feel like it does just that. If anyone were to pass by and see three solid, diagonal stripes, they would very likely recognize it as Adidas.

2. I think the the logo for the 2012 Olympics in London does not really fit well to its job. The image doesn’t seem to show any representation to London in anyway–the colors seem random and, since the “2”s do not show consistency, I feel that the overall logo is unorganized. I feel like the logo is presenting the Olympics to be a very childish subject, rather than the global event that affects almost everyone on Earth. Also, l think that the logo should present something that London is known for, something London is proud and unique of having. However, the logo presents nothing that promotes London as the country many people love and would like to experience.

Bonus: This is a business card of the company Ground Flight Inc., which sells pressure intensifiers for planes. Since the company’s main targets are plane companies, I found it very entertaining and fascinating that the business card resembled a plane ticket.

Kelsey Capobianco: Post No. 2

1. I feel that the Volkswagen logo is a perfect example of a well executed company design. The simple, organic shape eludes to the curves of the car while the inner portion can represent the ‘sharp’ interior. They do an excellent job incorporating the initials of the company into their logo while cleverly disguising them. The letters are very subtle and fit together well. The logo is visually appealing because of its simple design on paper and, when transferred to the cars, it becomes very classy and sleek. I think this logo is well designed not only because of the incorporation of the initials, but of the simple color scheme they chose to use. The white symbol stands out on the blue background without being too overpowering.

2. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Disney movies, but lets face it, the logo isn’t all that great. The only reason this logo has not undergone an image change is because it is already so well established with its target audience. Any change would just infuriate everyone, due to its timeless nature. However, I think this is a bad logo because, up until about age 10 (give or take a few years) I had absolutely NO idea that the first letter was a D. It gives off a cute and whimsical tone, but it is very hard to determine what it is; especially for the little kids which it is directed towards. Even to this day, I forget that the first symbol is a letter, because I spent so long assuming it was just a swirl. The logo is cute, but difficult to read.

3. This business card is so creative because, by tearing along perforated line, it becomes 2 separate cards with identical information. This is both creative and effective because, not only is a divorced couple is trying to separate from each other, but because the single card can function for both members of the divorce.

Brian Grove: Post 2

Why the Target logo works:

I picked the Target logo because it represents the store perfectly. The logo is simple, easy to understand, and there’s no underlying meaning of what it is. The logo is simply one big target made up of three circles. Anyone who’s been to target knows that the store isn’t flashy. It’s not supposed to dazzle you, it’s just a simple store where you can pick up whatever you need and be on your way. The logo and the store match perfectly: Quick. Easy. Simple.

 

      Why the Buffalo Sabres logo doesnt work:

First off, for the non-hockey fans in class, the Buffalo Sabres are a professional hockey team in the NHL. Now, I can see why they went with this logo, and I can see what they were going for. What they wanted to portray was a charging buffalo, what they created was a banana slug with horns at the end. The coloration of the buffalo does not help the whole “banana slug” reputation either. This legless charging buffalo is just too far off of what they had before the new design.

 

Cool Business Card Idea:

As an architect a big part of the job is creating drafts that are to scale, and that are professionally done to impress clients. What this architect did was incorporate the straight edge ruler, and the scale into his business card. He also kept the card very simple, which emphasizes his cool idea.

Sean Brech: Post 2

1. A personal favorite of mine, the Nike “swoosh” has become an icon in not only the sports world, but also mainstream society.  First designed by Caroline Davidson in 1971 for the then upstart shoe company, the “swoosh” is meant to be one of the wings of the greek goddess Nike. The “swoosh” is a great logo because it is simple and symbolic all at the same time. Every athlete, no matter the sport, wishes he had the wings of a god/goddess so that he may soar faster and higher than the competition.I am a fan of the saying, “less is more.”  There are other apparel lines that feel the need to plaster their name on all of their products. But not Nike.  The “swoosh” has made it so that Nike really never has to place its name on a product again.

 

 2. The search for a bad logo definetely brings more laughs than a search for a really good one. This logo pretty much speaks for itself as to why it is considered bad. The way the two figures are shaped makes it look like the adult is forcing the child to perform oral sex. I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure thats not the message a pediatricians office should be sending out. The design would not be bad at all if the two figures did not appear to be facing each other face to face. Then it could be considered a doctor or a parent with their child or patient.

 

      3. I enjoy this business card mainly because of the use of black and color. Also the company logo on the back of the card is a nice touch,  as it allows others an image to store in their minds.

Marwa Eltagouri: Post No. 2

1. This logo is extremely efficient. Apple Inc. took the idea of an apple (after the company’s name) and created a modern, innovative icon to represent a modern and innovative corporation. Firstly, the basic apple template is altered with a semi-circular hole in the edge, almost as if the apple was bitten from, which immediately attracts the eye’s attention. Secondly, the chrome color, rather than red, is associated with modernization, and gives the corporation a sleek, cutting edge look. The change of gradient from light at the top of the apple to dark towards the bottom additionally adds to Apple’s futuristic look. The stem, though not attached to the apple, puts the entire composition together, as the viewer uses the Gestalt Theory of Perception and views the entire piece as one figure. Finally, the cut-out and shadowed outline makes the apple look sharp and cutting edge, giving consumers the impression that their products, in turn, are sharp and cutting-edge as well.

2. This logo, though popular and easily-recognizable, is a weak composition. The “Capital” and “Bank” typeface is similar and work well, yet roughly contrast with the typeface of “One”. “One” is also slightly below “Capital” and creates an awkward alignment, and hangs loosely from the composition. “One” is also italicized and larger than the other two words, and so an emphasis is put on “One”, which slightly confusing. The leading between “Capital One” and “Bank” is too large, so that “Bank” appears to be flowing in midair rather than firmly stationed with the rest of the logo. The swoosh is a visually appealing aspect of the logo, yet is oddly broken up and separate into two pieces by the “O” in “One, creating a jarring break in the flow of the logo. The red and blue patriotic colors work well for an American bank and work together nicely, but poor alignment and typeface choice ultimately allow the logo to be inefficient.

 

3. These business cards have an innovative, modern design that advertise the cook as an artist or a designer rather than a cook, giving clients the impression that this particular cook’s food is prepared in a creative way, and that he is not the average cook. Such a different approach to a cooking business card allows people to be more inclined to do business with him. His black-and-chrome choice of colors is visually appealing, modern, and even mysterious — and his choice to use silverware as a graphic rather than food is clever and effective. My favorite aspect is his incorporation of type into the prongs of the fork, which puts the entire composition together. His wordmark is simple, like his design, allowing for a truly phenomenal result.

Devon Braunstein: Post No. 2

1. The Facebook logo is very effective. According to the Gestalt Theory of Perception, when we look at an image, we see it as a whole rather than as individual pieces. When you look closely, the Facebook logo is made up of a square, a half circle, a rectangle and an “f.”  As a whole, our eyes go toward the white “f”, relating to the figure/ground principle. The background of the logo is a few different shades of blue, so the negative white space used for the “f” makes it stick out as the main feature, letting the viewer know that the logo is for Facebook. The logo is also simple, as it is made out of basic shapes, yet creative, as it appropriately resembles a key from a key board. It also has a modern look to it from the rounded edges of the rectangles, a characteristic that embraces the innovative quality of social media.

2. I found this logo for a girls lacrosse trainer online. I don’t think it’s a good logo for a few reasons.  First, there is too much going on. The use of the shape of a rhino for the “R” is a creative concept, however, when matched with the word “lacrosse” going across the bottom of the word, plus the orange shape above the letter, it is way too busy. My eye doesn’t know where to look first and it isn’t clear to me what the orange shape actually is. Also, the colors are nice, however, they don’t come off as intense, sporty colors that I would think to use to create an image for a hardcore lacrosse training program. A rhino has the connotation of being tough, yet the colors used are light and peaceful, both qualities I wouldn’t relate to an aggressive sport like lacrosse.

Bonus:

I’m a big fan of this business card – it has a catchy logo that utilizes negative space, plus it uses a typeface that gives the business a distinct edgy  personality. The information is clear and easy to locate, and the bold words let the reader know which information is most important.

Caroline Castro: Post No. 2

I think this is an example of a great logo because it is simple and distinctive (the top larger type is the actual logo, the bottom is the actual brand: RVCA). This brand is targeted it apparel and gear for surfers, skateboarders, and other extreme sports. I think that most of the other competitors in the market try and incorporate waves and excessive images in their logos which can be overkill. The usage of just the V and the A, along with the fact that the A is somewhat abstract, give the logo something very clean in comparison to the other logos in the market, making it distinctive.

I think this is an example of a terrible logo. As an avid pasta buyer, I have actually not bought this brand of pasta subconsciously because this logo is so boring.  Nothing about the font or shape has any connection to pasta or appeals to the type of people that buy pasta. There is nothing distinctive–all it says to me is standard. It removes the sort of romanticism associated with pasta.  In my opinion, a company should make their product appear to be of the highest quality, not the boring alternative. A simple change of font could completely change the opinion of pasta buyers.

Roxanne Hesh: Post No. 2

A great logo:

Hugh Hefner’s logo for the Playboy Club and Magazine is original and still around 58 years after its creation (a quick Google search told me the logo was created in 1953), which is why I think it is a great logo. The logo depicts the bunny outfits worn by waitresses at the Playboy Club while simultaneously showing that the club is a gentlemen’s club by incorporating the bowtie around the bunny’s neck. Although the logo is very simple, it’s simplicity makes it appealing and memorable to one who sees it.

A bad logo:

Sherwin Williams’ logo shows a bucket of paint spilling all over a planet while “Cover the Earth” is spelled out within the circumference of the globe. This is probably the worst logo I have come across because with the hype over environmental preservation and need to be eco-friendly, Sherwin Williams’ logo promotes the exact opposite. In addition to sending out a bad message, the actual logo is crowded and too complex. When it is viewed on their website, it is difficult to read the text within the globe, and for some, the logo is so small that it may be hard to tell what is being shown. The logo could be better if it was simpler (if not simpler, at least a bit bigger), easier on a skimming eye, and most importantly, if it sent across a positive message.

A horrible business card:

Although we were challenged to find a great example of a business card, I decided to go the other way (just for fun) and found an example of a horrible one. This card is way too crowded, unorganized, and a little over-the-top (in my opinion) when it comes to design. For a business that I assume sells liquor and food (based off of the text on the card), this card is just too much to hand out to ordinary grocery shoppers who may not have the most creative minds.

Maddy Berner–Post No. 2

An example of a great logo:

This iconic logo from the Coca Cola Company has been around for decades, and without much change. It has a traditional look that helps set it apart from other more modern designs. The script typeface and flowing lines are much different than the stark, straight look of today’s logos. It stands out now because of this. I feel like the logo contains the history of the soda company within it. It has become a logo people all over the world see and remember. I feel like today, script typeface like this one would be seen as too hard to read and unconventional. Fortunately, Coca Cola’s logo will never be that.

An example of an awful logo:

This is an example of a script typeface that does not work in today’s market. Virgin Mobile has not had enough time to establish themselves with this logo so it comes off hard to read and unprofessional with its handwriting-eque typeface. The ‘R’ is not well defined and the ‘G’ looks like a Q. I feel like consumers who have never heard of the company would be confused over what is says and what it stands for. A red logo that reads ‘Virgin’ can be extremely misleading to some people. Because they are a cellphone service, I think a starker, more polished logo would better convey their message of reliable service.

Bonus:

I absolutely adore this business card because it’s different than the simple, white look you see every day. I think the bite mark on the corner makes it original while the color scheme is unique and modern. It makes me think the person on the card is forward-thinking and clever. It also reminds me of eating chocolate, and who wouldn’t want a business card that does that?

Brittany Fowler: Post No. 2

Example of a good logo:

I believe the Chanel logo is an example of a good logo because of its simplicity. The logo reflects all aspects of the brand. Chanel produces clothes and accessories that are timeless, chic, and polished. The company’s elegance and sophistication is reflected through the sleek and simple logo. A very simple, sans-serif typeface is used for the iconic Cs and the Chanel oftentimes printed underneath as opposed to a novelty or script typeface. This reflects the brand’s simple and timeless designs. On a more literal note, the two Cs represent the designer Coco Chanel, who helped change women’s fashion and designed the little black dress. The logo has become well known throughout the world and is easily recognizable. It doesn’t need any frills to stand out or be known, just like the clothes and accessories it represents.

 

Example of a mediocre logo:

Although this logo has become well known to many people, I do not believe it is a strong because of the typeface. I understand that by having the logo in a script typeface it adds a personal element, but I think it is too difficult to read. Also, there is not a lot of tracking between letters, making it harder to read. When I was younger I knew of Lord and Taylor and had been in the store, but didn’t realize that their logo actually said Lord and Taylor. If I were from a different country and was not familiar with the popular department store, I would have a difficult time figuring out what it was. Lord and Taylor could have made it more legible and easier to decipher.

 

 

 

Bonus:

This business card utilizes graphics, color, and continuation to successfully communicate the card’s information and instantly lets the viewer know the card deals with sewing. The thread leads the viewer’s eye to the actual school name while the tape measurer guides the eye to the contact information.