Its no secret that some companies will do just about anything they can to improve their sales and establish their brands. The question I’d like to ask is “do they sometimes go too far?”. After reading an article by the “Business Insider”, which detailed a few of these dirty brandwashing tricks toward children, I’m starting to think that the answer may be yes. You be the judge:

A Philippine candy company by the name of Kopiko seems to have found one way to boost product sales. Apparently, getting pregnant women hooked on coffee flavored candy results in caffeinated children. A study done by the University of Colorado School of Medicine seems to support this idea that kids acquire many of the same tastes in food as their mothers when pregnant.

It’s pretty obvious that tobacco companies aren’t very concerned with the youth getting hooked on their products. Yes, certain laws have made their efforts a bit more difficult, but creative packaging, iconic mascots like Camel Joe, and strong brand targeting toward teens once they turn 18 seem to illustrate that money trumps morality with many of these companies.

Cereal and junk food companies have known for a long time that things like colorful mascots, toys and games are a great way to build strong brand loyalty (i.e. cracker jack toys). The industry’s latest marketing efforts include the use of cell phone apps and computer games, many of which go viral and turn young kids into loyal brand ambassadors.

With each generation there seems to be an increasingly overwhelming amount of peer pressure for young girls to feel pretty. The influence is especially apparent on television. Popular clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch created controversy when they apparently marketed “push up” bras to young girls.

Tesco, a toy making company marketed their “Peekaboo Pole Dancing Kit, to girls under the age of 10. An advertisement for the age inappropriate toy read the following:

“The Tesco Direct site advertises the kit with the words, “Unleash the sex kitten inside…simply extend the Peekaboo pole inside the tube, slip on the sexy tunes and away you go! Soon you’ll be flaunting it to the world and earning a fortune in Peekaboo Dance Dollars”.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Do you think these branding and marketing efforts targeted toward young children have crossed the moral line? Please comment below.

Are you a graphic designer? Do you like radio? If you answered yes to both of these questions then you may find the following new design related radio program of some interest.

The Deeply Graphic DesignCast is a newly launched bi-weekly radio podcast aimed directly at graphic artists. The new program was launched by Los Angeles design studio “The Deep End”. At the time of this writing 5 episodes have aired so far.

The concept for the show is simple; explore a new graphic design related topic in every episode. Show topics have included: designer experiences in the field, improving online portfolios, and finding inspiration.

I have yet to listen to the radio program but it’s definitely something I’m going to check out very soon. With a current 5 star rating, a diverse hosting cast, and a free subscription through iTunes, it would be foolish for any info hungry designer not to give it a go. Especially with the rave reviews the show is getting:

(jayfray84) says: Wes’ “Deeply Graphic DesignCast” is an awesome little tidbit of industry insider goodies! It’s refreshing to hear about tips, trends and general working methodology direct from fellow creatives, who explore issues from all angles, including client, business and creative. Definitely check it out.”

(plasmic steve) says: “What a great new podcast. I’ve really enjoyed the first four episodes. The hosts have a nice mix of viewpoints and experience, and they cover their topics in a friendly but fun way. Looking forward to hearing more from the Deeply Graphic crew.”

Update: Ok, I just watched the first episode of this podcast and it’s pretty damn good. It’s great to hear other designer’s hardships, lessons learned, and helpful tips.

Are you a graphic designer who has listened to any of these radio episodes? Any other design related radio program recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Please comment below.

Graphic designer Adam Ladd decided to videotape his own 5 year old daughter’s reaction to a slideshow of world famous logos by some of today’s popular brands. The little girl’s analysis is quite interesting and often times pretty funny.

Feel free to comment on the video below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Here are 40 tips to take into consideration when creating a logo design. These aren’t a set of rules, but more or less recommendations toward effective logo creation.

• To maintain versatility, avoid designs that rely too much on color to achieve their effect.
• If you are going to use thin lines or thin fonts, make sure they are visible at relatively smaller sizes.
• Designs that are too wide or too tall may have limitations on where they can be used.
• For branding and print cost purposes, it’s usually best to keep color usage to a minimum.
• Always view logo creations from various angles, or unfortunate logo mishaps could result.
• Almost always, it’s best to use no more than one or two font types in a design.
• Make sure logo evokes a proper feeling for what it’s being created for.
• Not all logos have to be literal representations of the company they represent. Ambiguity is ok.
• Simple is good, but too simple may accidentally result in a copycat design.
• Avoid trendy elements. What’s in today will probably not be in 5 years.
• Be sure that logo works over both dark and light backgrounds.
• Make sure font choice is fitting of the rest of the logo. A bold and thin font say 2 different things.
• Before starting on designing, make sure you know what applications the logo will be used on.
• Of course, make sure all elements of logo are vector. Raster images should never be used.
• Not all logos must have a graphic/symbol alongside a company name. Explore various options.
• If you are going to include overused imagery in a design, make sure it’s done in an original fashion.

• Don’t even think about copying an existing creation. Changing a color or two doesn’t count.
• Make sure you know what your client wants before starting. Communication is crucial.
• Always start design process with keyword mapping and sketching before using the computer.
• Researching your client and their field will better ensure a more fitting and original logo.
• Rather than submitting all your concepts to client, use your expertise and only submit the best.
• While this sounds obvious, always check for spelling errors. Now wouldn’t that be embarrassing.
• Double check letter spacing, color accuracy, loose ends on vector paths, etc before sending off.
• Don’t use stock art. Borrowing ideas is fine, but simply copy and pasting should be avoided.
• If your logo includes line drawn art, be careful not to use copyrighted material as your source.
• Temping as it may be, design for the client and not for yourself. Check the ego at the door.
• No company wants to replace their business identity every few years, so create timeless pieces.
• Avoid overly complex designs that include very intricate elements or lines with too little spacing.
• Create with aesthetics in mind. A good looking logo will attract a lot more attention than an ugly.
• Remember that negative space (white space) can be just as important as the created portion.
• Especially true for ever growing company’s; allow for future adaptability with your design.
• Create memorable logos that will embed themselves into the viewers subconscious. Easy right?

• Try to choose the proper colors. It’s good to know a bit about color psychology.
• Don’t try to cram too much text into a design. Does that tag-line really have to be there?
• Color should come secondary. The logo should be able to work in black, white, grey if necessary.
• While it’s nice to try to include a hidden meaning in a design, it shouldn’t be a puzzle.
• Having a good collection of fonts to chose from will better your chance of finding a proper one.
• Don’t forget to either outline fonts or include them in folder before sending off printable files.
• Using a font cataloging software for quick viewing is a must if you want to find the perfect font.
• Don’t forget to take breaks. Working with a sore back or stale mindset is not good for creativity.

Am I missing any tips? Please add to the list by leaving a comment below.

Is it just me or does there seem to be a whole lot of re-branding going on in the corporate world these days? JCPenney is the latest to unveil a new logo design in effort to boost sales and modernize their image. It is their 3rd logo in just a few years.

JCPenney's Soon To Be Phased Out Logo Design

Not only has JCPenney unveiled their new identity, they plan on doing a complete overhaul of their product line and marketing strategy. It appears the company’s rebrand may be contributing to their recent and projected success.

Just last year the company was experiencing sluggish sales and store closings. This year they are seeing rising stock share prices and an upbeat outlook for 2012. Maybe JCPenney’s hiring of Ron Johnson, a former Apple and Target executive, is paying off.

According to the popular retail outlet, their new logo is meant to evoke the American Flag, a move likely to resonate with today’s shoppers and set it apart from the rest of the retail pack. CEO Myron E. “Mike” Ullman III had this to say: “Our new logo reflects the modern retailer we’ve become while continuing to honor our rich legacy”.

With so many people voicing their opinion online these days, even the slightest change to a company’s brand or image can result in a firestorm of angry customers or a boost in brand loyalty. In the case of Tropicana and Gap; their re-branding efforts resulted in some undesirable customer backlash.

Here’s what some are saying about the rebranding of JCPenney:

Forbes (popular business news source) on the changes overall:

“J.C. Penney Will Be The Most Interesting Retailer Of 2012″

Matt (blog comment about the logo design):

“Are they looking to capitalize on the publicity that the aborted Gap logo got? Why not just pay $15 and get a better one from 99designs.com? Awful.”

Ex JCP Shopper (blog comment about the logo design):

“Well, it’s good to finally see the company admit that their last logo change (which was a year ago, mind you) was terrible. Many of my friends who work there hated the last logo too, though management loved it. As a side note, the last logo was designed by an intern.”

Nader (blog comment about the logo design):

“I don’t hate the logo…it puts a rather youthful, fresh spin on what many consider your mom’s department store.”

My personal take on the logo specifically:

I must say that that the logo initially struck me as a little visually boring and a bit cliche, however when seeing it displayed in store and product mock-ups it becomes a bit more appealing.

The red white and blue color scheme does give off an American vibe as intended. The ironic thing is that 98% of the products sold at the store are most likely made over seas.

I like the idea of utilizing the square element of the design on it’s own (as shown in the preview below), as it will allow for a bit of versatility while still maintaining the theme of the logo.

I find it a bit surprising that this is the best design that they could come up with considering a company of their size must have an endless budget. I’m guessing a heck of a lot of man hours were put into the creation process as well, as this seems to be the case with larger companies who often spend months or years trying to establish the proper identity.

Regardless of my dislikes, I think the new identity can still work well. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you think the logo and/or re-brand was a move in the right direction or a step backwards? 

DC Comics just unveiled a new logo design as part of their effort to modernize their legendary brand. Along with the new logo, the company has a new website and updated character designs that were revealed last year.

Apparently this redesign also comes as a result of DC trying to appeal to newer audiences. The success of their rival Marvel in both the comic book world and Hollywood apparently had something to do with this overhaul as well.

Here’s what Nicolas Aparicio of Landor & Associates (the design agency who created the new logo) had to say about the new DC identity design:

“the new identity is built for the digital age, and can easily be animated and customized to take full advantage of the interactivity offered across all media platforms.”

Based on the feedback I’ve gathered from various comic book forums and blog comment threads, the new logo receives more negative reviews than positive. A common complaint is that the logo seems too corporate. Another is that the “D” doesn’t really resemble a letter “D”.

Those in favor of the logo redesign seemed to be attracted to the more enhanced mock-ups which show variations of particle effects and 3-dimensional elements (see below image).

My personal thoughts on the logo are mixed. I think the overlapping “D” idea is quite creative, but I agree with what many are saying; it’s a little difficult to recognize the overlapping part of the design as a letter “D”. I also think the logo looks a little too corporate when shown in plain form, but when displayed in more fancy styling; becomes a bit more appealing.

The logo, regardless of what DC fans think of it, will be the new face of the brand and will be seen by millions of movie goers this summer when the new Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises” appears on theatre screens worldwide.

So what are your thoughts on the logo design? A move in the right direction or a step backwards?

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of having a couple of my art pieces published in the “peer pressure” section of my favorite design magazine, “Advanced Photoshop”. Along with the published art work was a brief bio about me.

If you are a designer or creative, I highly recommend you check out the publication. It has some of the best Photoshop tutorials around, as well as some great artist/designer interviews, reviews, and more.

If you’d like to get your own work in the magazine, visit the Advanced Photoshop website and create an artist profile. If the publishers like your work they may contact you asking to print your work in one of their issues. Below are the two pieces of mine that were printed in the #48 issue. Warning: artistic nudity in the lower image.

Towards the end of 2011, Interbrand released their list of the top 100 brands of the world. The list compiles the world’s top money making companies based on their brand value. The list itself, is quite interesting, but equally intriguing are the similarities the logo designs of these top brands share.

The folks over at the LogoFactory decided to analyze these brands from a logo design point of view. Here is what they determined:

Color usage amongst the logo designs:

33% of the top brand’s logos use the color blue.
29% of the top brand’s logos use the color red.
28% of the top brand’s logos use black or grayscale colors.
13% of the top brand’s logos use yellow or gold colors.
05% of the top brand’s logos use more than two colors.
95% of the top brand’s logos use one or two colors.

Other Similarities these logo designs share:

41% of the logos use text only (stylized type).
09% of the logos don’t feature the company name at all.
93% of the logos are simple enough to be viewable in smaller sizes.
03% of the logos feature people in their designs.
67% of the logos have a more horizontal aspect ratio.
13% of the logos use the brand’s initials in their design.

So what can be made from these logo stats?

In regards to the color choices, it’s not too surprising to see that the colors red and blue were used in the majority of the logos. Blue is a commonly used business color because it’s been shown to convey trust and professionalism. Blue is also considered to be the safest global color. Red is often associated with intensity, passion and strength…and has the benefit of being one of the more eye catching colors. Read more on color psychology here.

The fact that about 93% of the logo designs are relatively simple in form, is not a result of coincidence. Simple logos are unquestionably more versatile than their more intricate and detailed counterparts. While less simple logos have their place (web only designs for example), most brands will benefit from having a relatively simple logo. These benefits can be explored further in my article: The Key Elements Of Good Logo Design.

What are your thoughts on these findings? Please add to the discussion by commenting below.

I’m not a Buddhist, I’m just a graphic designer who appreciates good advice. Compiled below are some quotes that you may also find insightful.

• Follow the three R’s: respect yourself, respect others, & have responsibility for your actions.
• Practicing compassion will benefit both yourself and others.
• Judge your level of success by what you had to give up in order to achieve it.
• The mind is everything. What you think you become.
• The greatest action is not conforming with the world’s ways.
• The best relationships are the ones where admiration for each other exceeds the need for each other.
• Share the knowledge you have acquired. It is a way to achieve immortality.
• During disagreements, it’s best to only deal with the current situation rather than bringing up the past.
• Living an honorable life will allow you to look back when you are older, and enjoy it a second time.
• Spend some time alone every day. It will help you clear your mind.
• When you realize you’ve made a mistake, it’s best to take immediate steps to correct it.
• Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
• He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.
• You only loose what you cling to.
• Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.
• Foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
• Practicing compassion will result in happiness for you and others.
• Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who’ll get burned.

If you have something to add, please do so below.

If you’ve never seen the now somewhat infamous logo creation by London design group FHD, have a look below. When viewed in normal left to right fashion, the design looks like your average company logo, but this all changes when tipped on it’s side. A more inappropriate image appears. While humorous to many, you would think Britain’s “Office of Government Commerce” (the recipients of the logo back in 2008) would have found the mistake somewhat less amusing. Especially since they paid a whopping £14,000 for the logo and had already furnished their offices with the new graphic prior to discovering the unintended hidden visual.

But, luckily for the design agency who created the logo, their client OGC was able to look past the “hidden surprise” and continue on with their new creation. It turned out that the majority of people responded well to the new company identity. A big sigh of relieve I’m sure for FHD.

So, what are your thoughts? Is the post title a bit harsh in assuming the design firm rushed their logo inspection process, or is this something they should have caught before sending off to their client? To be fair, it’s not like designers are trained to be able to spot horny stick men in their creations.