Monday 25 April 2016

501- To what extent does aesthetic ‘style’ reflect the context, audience and/or function of contemporary graphic design/ illustration/ animation?

501- Evaluation

Book bind - To book bind, I bought a hard cardboard to make my 2 sets of book hard covers.

80 p for the cardboard.

With the equipment and space offered by the university, the process of book binding was quick and easy. After a few book binding workshops, I am now capable of doing it on my own and producing satisfactory final outcomes.

When measuring the size of the book, this time i made sure I had digitally printed my book pages to then know more or less how big or small the hard cover should be and to help guide me in the production. I believe the sizes of my hardcovers are appropriate for the size and format of my design.

The textile used to cover the hardcover was also bought,… p.

This was later stuck with PVA glue and left to dry.

Digital print pages - Some of the pages when digitally printed turned out to be bigger than the other pages, given that I had produced a big number of different pages with the use of different well-known logos, I decided to not use all of them.

The images don’t look pixellated, the only issue would be the white typeface on the black background that seems a bit hard to fully see. I could have made the text bigger, maybe that way the text would have been more visible. The text is readable and I like the effect of shadiness it has given the design when printed.

I believe my final products links to the essay question chosen, Some of the logos used were explored during research and then again during the production. The page format I believe to be a different style to what I usually use or explore.  Following the feedback obtained in class, I was able of making a few small changes/ arrangements to my design before the final production.

My aim within this essay question and production was to explore branding, marketing, logo design and the process of a company to make a logo known worldwide. I believe to have met my goals, I will continue to explore and learn more about branding which is an area that interests me.

My final production is informative, small and hardly space taking, easy to carry and could be left on display anywhere and cause a positive impact. My target audience would be any graphic students that know English and that want to know more about logo design, branding decisions and the message/ concept behind effective international logos.

I decided to produce a logo book when working on my essay because throughout my research, the majority of students who I asked did not know what some of the international logos meant.

As a Graphic designer, this essay has helped me learn more and be able to link Cop with other subjects such as PPP and Studio brief 504. The information obtained will help me and guide me in the following years. Localisation and branding strategies were some of the new aspects explored, which I found useful, creative and essential steps to follow.

When producing my final outcomes, The main initial idea had to be changed. The amount of logos I wanted to use and the fold did not work well together.The book had to be broken down in to two books and then I decided to present two different folds on each book design. These folds were explored previously to the brief, this was a way of improving my techniques and refreshing my memory. The final production communicates well, its simple, easy to read, and has a personal logo for my logo books ‘Effective International Logos’ the ‘E.I.L’.

Thursday 21 April 2016

501 - essay - continue working


Need final quotes from books and pages:
-quote about technology change and influence – generation x-y
-Quotes go logo page 164-165 //Wally Olins brand new -

Issues to look at:
-Why are these logos effective when people don’t understand the logo or the message behind it? Example - Starbucks coffee - "twin-tailed mermaid, or siren as she's known in Greek mythology"


*Simple patterns or designs can be very memorable even if the audience doesn’t understand the meaning behind it.

*With the logo being viewed many times, it means people become accustomed to it and recognize the company at first glance.

Have we seen every logo design in the world?

No because the average person only recognizes the world wide brands that are known by almost everyone, and the small companies in the surrounding area. Small companies cannot advertise on a large scale because of advertising costs, this means that people from the other side of the country would not become familiar with the logo. Social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. and other advertising websites have made it easier for the small businesses to advertise to a much larger group of people but still not many people will view the advertisements compared to the large corporation TV adverts.
Signs and symbols are very similar to logos, why? Because no matter in what country you are, or your intellectual level, if you were to need the use of a bathroom, you will most likely find it by following the eternal stick man or stickwoman symbol.

Exit signs
Red cross
Religions
Emergency
Majority driving signs on the road are the same 
Warning/ danger / toxic / radioactive

Is our brain in control of this, do we get educated to know this or is it common sense?
It can be argued that we are taught the religious symbols and you have to learn the road symbols before you pass your driving test, but at the same time a lot of health and safety symbols are taught to us throughout our lives when we have learnt to read we know what a lot of symbols mean, so it is split we learn just as many symbols in education as we do in everyday life. I believe the law decides what is shown in advertisements and what we should watch, so are we influenced by the government when deciding which logos work and which don’t. Have they decided what we like, find appropriate or functional?

Any sign or symbol can be understood without the use of any writing, as can logos. This works due to being able to be used and recognized anywhere and be used in any language. Every country has a different ‘name’ in their own language or dialect. The audience or clients can recognize the brand by the visual imagery and message behind the logo.

Self and safety follow the same signs/symbols internationally so everyone understands? When are we educated to understand these signs?


Do we get impressed or surprised anymore by new designs or does it all seem to be the same or similar?


Advertisements to make it international
* global campaigns only to find that their new slogan translates into something offensive in some obscure Far Eastern country. If organisations put in place a localisation strategy that identifies the cultural differences of target markets, they can boost brand value and even save money.

* We are all familiar with global brands such as Nike, McDonald’s and Apple. Brands that have one set of values to communicate. One vision. One logo. Wherever we travel in the world, their identity is instantly recognisable. But these companies don’t just wade into a foreign territory without thinking about their impact on the local culture. And the impact of the local culture on them.  In order to maintain their strong branding, they adopt a localisation strategy to ensure they communicate effectively with their local markets.

* “localisation is the process of adapting a product or content to a specific locale. The goal is to provide a product with the look and feel of having been created for the target market to eliminate or minimise local sensitivities”.
  • It would take 83 languages to reach 80% of all people in the world, and over 7,000 languages to reach everyone.
  • 56.2% of consumers say the ability to obtain information in their own language is more important than price.
  • 95% of Chinese online consumers indicate greater comfort level with websites in their language; only one percent of US-based online retailers offer sites specific to China.
*about preparing your product for a new location, culture and audience. - Take McDonald’s for example, they have mastered the subtle art of localisation with the creation of regional menu items for their international markets. Pop into a McDonald’s in New Zealand and you can get a Kiwi burger. In India you’ll find Chicken Maharaja-Macs on the menu. These products are individual to the local market, but they remain true to the brand promise, illustrating, as Idealog describe, how localisation“can actually boost the brand by making it relevant to a local market”.

*There are even some brands that deliberately side step localisation.

*It is however, important to remember that localisation can go wrong. By even considering creating a local offering you are dangling perilously close to a media backlash, or somewhat humorous miscalculation which manages to offend an entire country in one fell swoop.

* Spending the time and money to localise your marketing activity should be a priority for any organisation. If not, you take the risk of losing the money you spend on your global campaign – and to repair your image, you’ve got to add public relations spend to your budget.

* One of the most important things to remember is that getting localisation right doesn’t have to involve a big change to have a big effect. The impact achieved by simply taking the time to consider local sensitivities and adapting your brand appropriately can be huge.


* So the lesson is, when you take your beautifully crafted product or campaign to a new market, it is vital you first understand the cultural, religious and political impact it will have, and tailor your offer accordingly. A localisation strategy cannot guarantee success, but without one it will all but guarantee failure.

Saturday 9 April 2016

501 - book - final pages

I tried keeping my design simple and formal. 
The page with the information on the logo (on the page beside the logo page),
is black and white; the white and black boxes separate the one page into two halves making it look like its 2 pages. The logos or brands name weren't kept in there original colours. The information was placed on top of the black background with a white text font. The information pages contain the company founded year, the logo designers, the company founder and some history on the logo. Given that some of the logo information, in some cases, is a lot of text in one same page, i decided to make some more simple and short information pages with fun, interesting facts. The structure of the pages changes to make the audience connect with what they have in front. The colours are kept simple throughout the book and the logo page only contains the logo to resemble its importance.  











Friday 8 April 2016

501 - Design - Logo Book

After asking a group of people which logos they recognised out of the ones found and chosen in my research, these would be the most 'known' and 'appropriate' logos to use in my book to represent 'International effective logos/brands known today'.


501 - Planning Book

This will be the page format/ structure i will be using. 
I will be making a small constantina with 15-30 logos and some information about them.
The colours for this book are not decided yet, i'm unsure if to keep it simple and professional or eye catching and colourful.












Thursday 7 April 2016

501 - logos + info = book

http://www.ddesignerr.com/25-world-famous-company-logos/
ADIDAS:
Founded by Adolf (Adi) Dassler, Adidas is the world’s leading sports equipment and accessories brand. Adi’s aim was to provide all the athletes with the best and the most comfortable equipments. He followed three guiding principles: design the best for specific requirements, protection from injury and durability. The clothing and shoe logo designs of the company exhibit three parallel stripes. This is the current official logo of Adidas. This logo replaced the initial trefoil logo design which symbolized the spirit of the Olympic Games as well as the history, legacy and heritage of the brand. In January 1996, the three stripes became the brand marks for Adidas worldwide. The logo symbolizes the excellent performance and future of the brand. Over time, it has become synonymous with Adidas and its will to manufacture high quality products for athletes worldwide.

APPLE :
The owners of Apple Inc. selected an apple as their main form of branding. The initial logo depicted a small apple silhouette sitting under a tree with a computer from the company. It is this apple which has been used continually. The first logo was perceived as complex and typical to view. The bite mark was introduced by Regis McKenna for symbolizing the seduction of customers as well as the marketplace. This monochrome version was later replaced with a rainbow colored symbol. This depicted the apple tree in the story of Adam and Eve which symbolizes the Tree of Knowledge. It inspires people to pursue their wishes. Not a deliberate goal in the beginning, but it boosted the business and made the consumers consider Apple Inc.

AUDI:
The usage of the four rings as the logo generates back to Claus Detlof from Oertzen. He described the concept as coming together of groups and related to Olympiad and the Olympia. It is in sync with the fusion of the four Audi companies- Audi, Horch, DKW and the Wanderer.

BACARDI:
This famous brand was started in 1862 by the Cuban wine merchant Facundo Bacardi. Having origins in Spain, he acquired a distillery in Santiago de Cuba. He refined sugar and liquor to white, mild rum. The logo was inspired by the large colony of bats residing under the distillery roof. Ironically, the fruit bats are considered auspicious and good luck harbours in Cuba.

BMW:
The BMW company logo represents as well as is derived from the Bavarian components for engines which first constituted the company strata in 1917. This is also evident in the Bavarian national colours of while, blue and black. The internal and external enclosed rings and the adjoining black ring represent the previous enterprise “bayerische flugzeug-werke (BFW)”. It later formed the BMW company. The shining disks, the engine shades, the bright blue gleams and the two silver divides represent the sky in the logo.

BURGER KING:
Established by David Edgerton and James McLamore in 1954, the Burger King was christened Insta Burger King. It was rebranded as the Burger King in the 1980s. Gaining reputation internationally very fast, the company’s logo was first modernized in 1994. It constituted smoother fonts with round edges. In 1999, the logo was again updated which was the stylized version of “bun-halves” logo. This new look had a blue coloured swirl which made the logo look more contemporary.

CHANEL:
The house of Chanel was established in 1910 by Gabrielle Bonheur “coco” Chanel; one of the prominent fashion designers of the time. She revolutionized women’s wear and set forth new standards for the contemporary style. With time, Chanel as the corporate name became the symbol of elegance and synonymous with wealth and elitism. It set the standards for international fashion industry. The log was designed by Coco herself in 1925 and has remained unchanged ever since. It is one of the most recognised symbols in the fashion industry and is frequently visible on purses, shoes, accessories and perfumes.

NIKE:
Founded in the 60s by Phil Knight, Nike was called The Blue Ribbon Sports at that time. The trademark Swoosh sign and the name Nike were brought around later. The name Nike is derived from the Greek mythology after the goddess of victory. The name suggested the company a strong association and brand image which was appropriate for a sports company. The swoosh sigh along with its just do it tag, presents the essence of the brand and its philosophies. The swoosh logo has become synonymous with the company name and the brand. It inspires the consumers to be determined and ambition for desired goals in their athletic activities. It not only expressed the high ambition and will for triumph but also made the company a part of its brand and corporate culture.

COCACOLA:
This international soft drink brand defies those who say one needs a dash of romance to achieve success. Ironically, coca cola was invented as a patent medicine by John Pemberton, a pharmacist. The logo is accounted to have been created by John’s bookkeeper Frank Mason Robinson in 1885. The script is believed to be cursive but is actually Spencerian typeface, a predominant writing form adopted by the era’s bookkeepers. The icon carries legacy because of its white letters against the bright red background, the curvy, cursive letters, and rollout names and last but not the least, the seductive hobble skirt bottle of the fuzzy drink. Moreover, the two Cs stand out which make the logo all the more appealing.
DOVE:
Unilever is the world’s most widely used and accepted skin care brand today. However, it initially developed its products as an aid to the military personnel in the 1950s. During that time, the navy needed washing soaps and detergents to assist cleansing in the inconsistent saline seawater and sand exposure as both these elements removed the nourishment and moisture from the skin. The dove symbolizes peace and harmony. The logo evidently honors the memory of the original cause for which the brand was established.

FEDEX:
The original corporate logo for federal express was designed in 1973 by Richard Runyan. Due to the company’s global presence, its logo is one of the most recognized logos all around the world. At first glimpse, the logo appears quite plain and simple. However, on observing minutely, there is one tiny detail which changes the perception of the emblem: there is a right pointing arrow situated in the negative space between the E and X. This arrow subtly points out to a soft marketing strategy by symbolizing forward thinking and movement.
FERRARI:
Ferrari Company was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929. It is an Italian car manufacturing company dominantly involved in the F-1 championships. The infamous insignia of the brand is a black, galloping horse on a yellow background with the letters SF for Scuderia Ferrari. The prancing black horse is Rampante Cavallo. It honours an Italian flying ace Francesco Baracca, a martyr in World War I. The magnificent black silhouette of the horse also recognizes the popular belief that a horse on the top of a car would guide its driver victorious to the destination. The yellow background honours the city Modena’s historic colour-yellow.

FORD:
The oval trademark of the Ford company is one of the best known symbols in the corporate worlds. The symbol used today is a blue oval shape with Ford written in flowing cursive font. The oval appeared around 1928. Over years it has been modernized into a Centennial version which was released on Ford’s 100thanniversary in 2003. The symbol gives the company a powerful brand image and is recognized and honoured by the world as the leading manufacturer of great products.

GOOGLE:
Google is the pioneer of web search industry. It aims at providing relevant information to the worldwide web users. Started as a research project by Sergey Brin and Larry Page of Stanford University, Google is a multibillion empire now. The official logo represents the name Google Inc on catull typeface. It was created by Ruth Kedar. It is significant historically because of its amateurish simplicity which is synonymous with the simplicity of the search engine.

NESTLE:
The Nestle Company was set up by pharmacist Heinrich Nestle in 1867. Nestle started from selling milk products for the mothers and started manufacturing and selling milk chocolates in 1904. The bird in the logo is symbolic and dates back to the family coat of arms. It symbolizes the nestle name: a small, little nest.

PLAYBOY:
This popular gentleman’s magazine was first introduced by Hugh Hefner. Running since 1953, the magazine has become an international brand today. The logo displays the image of a hare due to its funny and seductive connotation. The bowtie gives it a playful look. Hugh was of the belief that the tuxedo on the hare was both charming and amusing.

MCDONALD'S:
The largest and the best known food joint in the world today, McDonald’s is everyone’s first choice. The two golden arches on the logo’s M are the most recognizable and strongest symbols of our day. The traditional yellow and red and the simplicity of the letter M depicts the powerful business traits. The logo was created in 1962 by Jim Schindler. The idea behind the logo was from the investor’s point of view rather than the consumer. It signifies that the franchise of McDonald’s is similar to owning a gold mine. The arches also depict a place to offer recluse, an escape; ideal for a break.

FORMULA 1:
At first, this logo might not make much sense. But if you look closely, you’ll see the number 1 in the negative space between the F and the red stripes. I also love how this logo communicates a feeling of speed.

CARREFOUR:
Carrefour is the name of a French international hypermarket chain. It means “intersection” in English. If you look at the logo you would see two arrows pointing at opposite directions, but notice closely, the white space in between the two logos actually makes a big “C”. Cool, right?

LG:
Can you see any resemblance with Pac Man? Just simply do a little tilting and shift the “nose” upwards. South Koreans are amazing.

AMAZON:
Amazon logo is not only smiling but notice that the arrow goes from “a” to “z”. Yup, Amazon has everything from A to Z.

TOBLERONE:
We all know that Toblerone was started in the city of Bern, Switzerland. But what most of us don’t know is that city is famously associated with bears. But why am I telling you all this? Just simply look closely at Matterhorn Mountain and you’ll know why? You found the bear, right?

ROXY:
When Quicksilver started Roxy it wanted to break into the untapped market for female surfers. So you can see the Roxy logo is actually made from two back to back Quicksilver logos.

http://smashinghub.com/27-popular-logos-with-hidden-meanings.htm