The Linkdown: Booyakasha!

1. Talk about a good f*cking cause.

2. I know times are hard in the Raptors camp, but this is the GAYEST thing I have ever seen.

3. Love this idea. I might do it in my own home.

4. That elevator is making me hungry.

5. Ladies, would you say yes to this marriage proposal? It was either you or Bulbasaur.

6. Bieber winning.

7. Holy sugar hill gange...I love this shoe.

8. This is really how the cosmos was made. And it makes perfect sense to me.

9. Gross tattos. Leave it to a girl to go above and beyond.

Rio has got themselves a BIEN Olympic logo.

So people are talking sh*t about the new Olympic logo for Rio in 2016. But I find it...very appealing.

There is a whole lotta hoopla on this site, about how the interlocking hands are drafted from the outline of the most famous mountains in RioRio de Janeiro...whap, whap, whap whap. I think this accurately describes it the best

In contrast to the much debated/hated Wolff Olins identity of the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics, the Rio 2016 emblem is a traditional take on Olympic identity: a single icon that represents all kinds of Olympic spirit goodness while somehow representing the local visual culture.

And that's that people. Our business is all about opinion and you may not like the simplicity/unoriginality of the idea that is "people holding hands", but in the long run the icon is basically the very definition of what makes a logo. One visual, that has multiple different meanings. It's thought out, well executed, clean, balanced and...looks like it came from Rio (which is the point I believe). I'm not even gonna bring up what london did (ok, I lied), but this....is like 85 times better. I just hope their mascots somehow depicts drug smuggling and kidnapping. I know...I ask for alot.

In other logo related news....Starbucks has a new logo. They have FREED THE SIREN. I really do love talking about the Olympics.

Shaun. Out.

Design Minimalism.

So, I have been holding on to this one for awhile. Over at the website A2591, designers did a little project rooted in design simplicity. They took a few packaged products of today and stripped them down to thier design undies.

"...is about simplicity and we try to find alternate simple versions for some package samples of the international brands. We think almost every product needs some review for minimal feeling.

What is your choice in these 3 different variations?
1. Original variation
2. Simple variation
3. More simple variation"

The designers, whose work prose is "New Formulas, For a Better Tomorrow" think they have something here. And I'll admit, it's interesting. The redesign works for alot of the packaging. I don't want to get into a whole design theory class here on this blog, but some would say minimalism...at it's best, is where lack of talent shines. I don't completely agree with that, but picture if every item on the shelf was just a knock-out logo on a solid. I think alot of products would go out of business. Never underestimate the power of brand recognition.

Anyway...check out more here.

VIA a2591

Branding Santa.

Pretty funny. Find out more...

or just see the pdf

VIA swissmiss

The Linkdown.

1. Underwear that lets the boys hang out free (cause that's exactly what all men want).

2. Comedy Central has got themselves a new logo.

3. The preview shots to Kanye's new video are a little spooky. Dead girls lying all over the place. Fingers crossed for for zombie dance scenes.

4. No...fur real!

5. I find myself incredibly lucky that both of my parents are computer illiterate....but in the case that you need a flow chart to tell you whether you should accept your parents on facebbok, this is it.

6. Live animals at church nativity reenactments are NOT a good idea.

7. The truth about facebook. This is like the Disney phallic covers scandals all over again. Except completely expected.

8. Oh please, please, please.....I cant wait to get this cry baby as the speaker of the house. The world leaders will indeed gain even more respect for us (sarcasm).

9. Paper Fashion.

10. Fourteen actors acting!

Stationary of Horror.

How awesome is this sh*t? Makes us creative types re-elavuate sh*t. This sh*t is so cool that I can't even forms words. I either need a new job....or I need more time. Damn....I'm jealous.

Agency: Jung von Matt AG, Germany

VIA behance

"The Slick Seed of Life Logo."

The Gravity Defyer shoe. It has a sperm for a logo. It also uses little sperm letter to make up the "g" and the "d" in it's name...just incase you missed the sperm on the side of the shoe. It's ummmm super bouncy due to ummmmm, trampoline technology in the heal. And that's it.

Unless ofcourse you want to talk about the one and only press release they have titled "Gravity Defyer Logo Causes Pull Out." And then there's the full page ad below, which either shows how sperm-in-a-can proof the shoe is or....well, that's all I can think of it really meaning.

And walahhhhhh, The sperm shoe. Yeah...that's it.

VIA adfreak

I'm thankful for Fun Promos.

"The latest collaboration between illustrator/director Nathan Love and NBC to wish their viewing audience a Happy Thanksgiving holiday is this 30 second promo which starts airing today."

I'm glad to see things like this start making it back to tv. It reminds me of the late 80s early 90s...when people had fun with thier brands. It's cute.


VIA ifitshipitshere

Mr Peanut talks?

Once again...Mr. Peanut has been revamped. This time....he's got cloths, got a little work done on his nose and he sounds like Ironman.




VIA Adfreak

The Linkdown: Halloween Edition.

1. Oprah has a new logo.

2. Creepy Fashion. Just in time for Halloween.

3. Rubber bands that make shapes....for grown ups. Wait, so the dinosaur one i wear on my risk is for whom exactly?

4. The Obamarator. Yes...that just happened to the current President of the United States.

5. You may have thought you were a loser when you lost your job because of face books Farmville. But atleast you arent shaking your baby to death.

6. Not even Jimmy Choo can un-ugly Uggs.

7. The airbag helment.

8. Being a wine prick gets you nowhere. Isn't that right JC?

9. The Black Panther Coloring Book (this is real).

MSNBC. Learn Forward.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
MSNBC Left Behind
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

Haha....as much of a branding fail this is, they can always just "pull up thier pants and, do the rock-a-way..."

How do you know your logo is bad?

When you are forced to make a microsite, inviting everyone and thier grandmother to redesign it. Shouldn't have touched it in the first place. Especially if you where just gonna spin a wheel, land on a sans-serif and but a gradient box behind the "p". I'm just saying. Whamp whamp.

Or maybe you figure out it was bad whe a third party creates a website that mocks your attempts at rebranding.....

VIA adfreak

The Democrats have a new logo.: Holy Uselessness.

I mean....clearly I need to be a graphic designer is politics, cause this sht*t is weak as hell. It's basically a registered mark, that kinda reminds me of a donut, and simultaneously makes me me think about...not a goddamn thing. In this case, "Change", looks a little bit like 1984.

VIA theweek

The Linkdown.

1. Cool lego wedding rings. I want to do this.

2. Justin Bieber doll.

3. Really? 27.5 million to replace all caps to initial caps. Ridiculous NY.

4. Awesome statue in Italy.

5. Ok, I'm officially a 40 yr old black woman, I just watched all of dancing with the stars (to see what the Situation did). And I was really entertained. But the cast is completely random and really close to being stars (and we get to visit the Palin family's household).

6. Google hates lesbians.

7. Genius reality mix up, "You won, no wait...you won." Ty Ty would have never......

8. How to create shitty brands.

9. I hate you Crispin, Porter + Bogusky.

10. **Jaw Drop** The Body quits Victoria secret. **Jaw Drop**

11. Katie Perry gets back at Sesame street. Cause those muppets totally deserved it.

12. Friday Night Cock...tail.

13. Sorry ladies...no nakey Jakey this time.

Cool Business Card.

VIA lukeelliot

Baby carrots...the comercial: Opinion Time.

Remeber when I wrote that post about branding baby carrots? Well...check out the spots. It's supposedly targeted to teens, to make them give up junk food. Oh yeah...and it's done by the almighty Crispin (bow down, bitches).

Oh...and then there's a website.

Ok, so I'm not a teenager anymore. Infact, Ive passed the time when I can even relate to them. I'm also not saying that this little campaign wont work. But I am saying..."how can it possibly work?"

I'm not sure what their research told them....but this...no, that....is not what teenage boys are about these days. Perhaps....for 5 year old who need something to watch on Saturday morning inbetween Zack and Cody and That's So Raven (I just busted myself, I know). But 5 year olds dont go to microsites. FACT. If I was Tim Gunn on Project Runway I would say that these look...at best, dated and matronly.

I'm sure they will win tons of awards though. Cause this work is "totally gnarly."

VIA thedenveregoist

Gorgeous Branding.

VIA mememe

Junkfood vs. Baby Carrots.

"Just in time for the battle over what's gonna be in millions of back-to-school lunches, Bolthouse Farms and nearly 50 other carrot growers today will unveil plans for the industry's first-ever marketing campaign. The $25 million effort sets its sights on a giant, big-spending rival: junk food."

I personally cant wait for the outcome of this. As my gf said this morning when she saw the packaging shots...."Ewwww look at that crazy carrot eating bunny...makes me want to eat some baby carrots."

VIA usatoday

The "Y" Rebranding.

I'm into it. Not to sure about the vibrancy of the color palletes. I get it....just not sure it is right. Agency to blame, I mean credit with the change...Siegel + Gale.

What do you guys think? Does it make you want to join? I used the Y once. I needed thier pools to practice swimming laps back in high school to pass a life guard test. Besides the changing rooms, I had a positive experience. Lol.

VIA KMBA

Ghetto Film School...B-B-B-Branding.

"Ghetto Film School (GFS) is a non profit institution in the South Bronx that provides high school students with the unique resources and opportunities to create their own narrative films. Attack designed a new, comprehensive identity and fully integrated branding system for GFS. www.ghettofilm.org."

I like it.

VIA KMBA