Identity Designed #005

Jul 15, 2023

Identity Designed: The Process (coming soon)

That new book I mentioned last time out... Delighted to have partnered with Rockport to get my next title on the market, Identity Designed: The Process.

For my last book, ID, sixteen top studios were interviewed, with each sharing best-practices for working with clients and developing strong, enduring visual identities.

This one takes a different approach.

Divided into four sections — research, strategy, design, and implementation — The Process is filled with lessons from my almost two decades in business, as well as design advice and project insights from a number of the profession’s most respected designers. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s available.

As always, many thanks for reading. I appreciate you being here.

Latest from Identity Designed

HiRaw! is on a bold mission to transform the way raw pet food is perceived in Vietnam. They collaborated with M — N Associates to develop a strategy embodying their core values of compassion towards all dogs and cats.

Krayna provides sustainable, cruelty-free, 100% plant-based skincare cosmetics. “Nature speaks for Herself. That’s why we adopted a minimum-interference approach, seen throughout Krayna’s packaging.”

Pilo is a new generation youth hostel in Lyon, located on the slopes of the Croix Rousse. “We designed fluffy typography inspired by folding bolster, we sewed a slipper on a t-shirt, wrote messages on sheets, and made embroidered badges to indicate the rooms. In short, we used Pilo Hotel as a playground.”

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And from Logo Design Love

The development of the Guinness harp trademark is closely linked to the history of the brand’s packaging and advertising. The design is based on a famous 14th century Irish harp known as the O’Neill, or Brian Boru harp, preserved in the library of Trinity College Dublin.

Such a simple design for Vinyl Records. Bold, colourful, unmistakably vinyl. “Our ambition was to help revitalize a historic neighbourhood with the mass appeal of music. Our strategic approach was to create a brand that was universal, like music. Be the art gallery, not the art.”

At the Lyon Universal Exhibition in 1894, the Michelin brothers noticed an evocatively-shaped pile of tyres on their stand. Édouard said to André, “Look, with arms it would make a man.” André Michelin would remember this moment a few years later. Read more about the birth of Bibendum, the Michelin Man.

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Last, not least…

I’ve been on the Spinoza email list for some months now (found after David Carson designed the logo). Tempted by a psychedelic retreat.
Tony Anderson’s In the Distance is one for the headphones, eyes closed.
Two Questions that kill creativity “came from trying to write something good and not getting very far because I had forgotten that trying to write something good before I write anything at all is like refusing to give birth unless you know for sure it is going to be a very good baby.” Via Jocelyn.
SearchSystem is Julien Van Havere’s collection of design tools and resources. The index tab on the site shows the archive depth — guidelines, logotypes, covers, symbols, etc.
Matt Lamont’s archive of design history, Design Reviewed, is well overdue a mention.
Ever seen a firefly taking off?

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