Jun 27
Books
A logo, more often than not, is the culmination of a complex process of discovery, interpretation, experimentation, and refinement. The problem, from the design student’s perspective, is we often see the result but are rarely privy to the course of action that produced it.
Macnab has set out to reveal that process. She theorizes that the most successful designs are rooted in natural patterns such as spirals and branching. The book presents those patterns and seeks to define the underlying meaning behind them.
What most interested me were the many logo design case studies. In addition to the author’s own studied insights are discussions by design heavyweights such as Woody Pirtle and Tim Girvin in which they explain some of the underlying meaning of their work.
In the end, the quality of a logo is dependant on how clearly it’s verbal and visual elements define the purpose and style of the entity it represents. But those who want to grow flowers know that the key to learning is in understanding the mysteries of working the soil. For that, Decoding Design is well worth a look.
The Decoding Design site...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Moleskine Notebooks...
Oct 31
Books
Rare because so many graphic design books rely so heavily on “creampuff” projects—stuff for multi-billion dollar corporations and skateboard park coffee houses. The former have design budgets equal to the GNP of mid-sized countries, the latter award extra points for the pseudo-extreme.
In reality, most graphic designers work with clients who simply want a smart solution at a reasonable price. (I found out early on that most of my clients were not as interested in my quest for self expression as they were their own quest for remaining solvent.) Identity Crisis is a book about real organizations and realistic solutions.
Author Jeff Fisher is a designer who has been in the trenches (if don’t believe me, check out his portfolio). In Identity Crisis he presents case studies of organizations with established identities that need refreshing. He tells us the story of each, shows a logo before and after, provides examples of how the new identity is implemented on brochures, web sites, packaging, and so on, and reveals interesting insights and project details about and by both client and designer.
If you are a graphic designer who has real-world clients—I suggest you add this book to your toolbox. If you are a business owner or marketer who wants to see how others make over and leverage their identity—Jeff Fisher’s Identity Crisis is a good place to start.
Jeff Fisher's Identity Crisis...
An excerpt from the publisher, HOW (2mb)...