Publication Design, page layout and typography vintage handbook on design

What would we do as graphic designers without the computer? Before the ease of Photoshop and Illustrator, and before the ease of transferring our design sketches onto our computer screens, graphic designers copied, pasted and stripped. Past greats worked this way before 1984 and created some of the most iconic logo designs of all time. That year marked the introduction of apple’s first ever Mac with a GUI (Graphic User Interface) and a mouse.

Apple revolutionized the industry and made graphic design much more common and widespread. Pretty much anyone can get their hands on computer design software, but that doesn’t mean they know what true design is. Graphic design is actually a true profession, as opposed to what people think. We work hard to develop design sketches into working concepts and create original ideas from nothing. Just putting that out there.

Now back to the process of layout and stripping.

Before using the computer as a tool for design, graphic designers used scalpels, drawing boards, typesetting machines and darkrooms. Each element that belonged on the final page of the design concept was either illustrated or cut out from actual pictures. If the sizing wasn’t correct, back to the darkroom. Once the final design layout was placed correctly, large cameras were required to create negative film of the final design for the stripping process. Stripping is the process of arranging the film negatives into a pattern to create an order of pages. Each color requires it’s own negative when using a printing press. These processes are rarely done anymore, as they are too time consuming.

New graphic design software allows us to skip the old “copy and paste” and stripping process, allowing us to do the work in a quarter of the time. Let’s be thankful.

NBA teams will sport new jersey designs in 2010

I’m a big sports fan, especially NBA and NFL. If you guys haven’t had a chance to read my profile, I’m from Chicago. So I’m a die hard Bears and Bulls fan. I also follow the leagues to find out new trades, acquisitions and whatever might be going on. Latest new is adidas unveil of 2010′s jersey desigs. It’s design related.

I designed a logo for a sports apparel company, see that here. Although the jerseys that are showcased on my portfolio have not been designed by me, the logo and identity were. So I can somewhat relate to the new jersey designs the NBA players will be wearing this year.

Believe it or not, adidas worked with the nba for over 4 years on these new designs. 200 nba and d-league players participated in the research to make the jerseys as good as possible. With over 4 years of research and development, the new jerseys dry twice as fast as the old ones and are made of 60% recycled materials.

Another branding piece for adidas and the NBA.

Print design I created for the Dounia brand & identity system

Here is some identity design work I created for Dounia, Mediterranean food. I also designed their logo over a year ago and have been given the opportunity to extend my design work for the identity design system I created. Follow the provided link to view the entire Dounia identity design project.

The project required me to, create a logo and identity that separated the Dounia brand from more traditional Mediterranean offerings found here in the states. With one special requirement; to include the earth into the logo design. The word ‘Dounia’ means world and it was my task to design around it. I love a good challenge, and set forth to solve this design related problem.

It was important to demonstrate the earth in the logo, but I believed that the strength of the brand was hiding behind the concept of connecting the brandmark with their product offerings of earth grown, natural food.

Breezy Creative Design visual identity design

Like my last post, I am giving you guys a heads up about my updated graphic design portfolio.

I have only selected 6 of my latest projects, including my own personal identity design project so you can see my branding materials that I present to clients. Along with the visual feel of my design business, as you have only had a chance to see my company colors of light blue, black, white and grey on the BCD website. You can follow this link to my portfolio, or check out my individual logo and identity design projects below.

Dounia/

Breezy Creative Design/

Musik Agency/

Almost Home Foundation/

JobaJobba/

InMotion

Thanks for visiting!

I have been working very hard to update my pages with current and updated information about myself. So far, I have my about page done and am putting my portfolio together bit by bit. Hopefully I can update everything by the end of the week and post about my new projects. So stay updated and make sure to visit my site by the end of the week for an in depth view of William Perez and Breezy Creative Design.

There are many, many great logo designs out there. Design in general can essentially be great by anyone. Great designers design great things, look at Stefan Kanchev, my favorite logo designer. He has created masterpieces that have yet to be witnessed by mass-consumers. A European artist whose designs never experienced the success of a Paul Rand or Paula Scher. This leads to the question: what is really taken into consideration for a great logo to be considered best?

Concept? Execution? Does it help create an identity design system? Does it represent the brand values of a company? is it original? Yes. It should all be taken into consideration.

I have compiled a list of what are the best logos of all-time and I tried to do this without the bias of a successful brand. Well, as much as I could anyway and followed the 5 rules of good logo design to do so.

25. CNN logo

The CNN logo was created in just under 24 to 48 hrs in 1980. The concept is simple and effective. A cable running through it’s bold initials.

24. Warner Communications logo

23. Exploratorium logo

Created by Landor, the exploratorium logo is a unique mark that easily helps create an identity. The large circle in near middle is a tool that can encircle anything interesting and deserving of a closer look. See it at work on the Landor site.

22. Gotham Books logo

A mark that represents the company, what they do and it’s location. Self explanatory logo design perfectly executed. Design by Eric Barker, now working with The O Group.

21. 3M logo

The 3M logo is simple, bold and memorable. It is also done with the Helvetica typeface. Helvetica is everywhere.

20. 9/11 Memorial logo

Simplicity is key, along with a good concept. The 11 in 9/11 is the key feature and represents the fallen twin towers in New York, the blue represents the sky and the empty space that was created. Another masterpiece by Landor.

19. Westinghouse logo

The Westinghouse logo was created by the great Paul Rand in 1960. Although he said the logo design had nothing to do with circuit boards, the logo’s greatness is measured  by all the imitations after it’s creation.

18. Electrica Bahia logo

Electrica Bahia logo design by Oficina de Diseno y Marketing uses negative space to create the company’s initials in a creative and original way.

17. Hartford Whalers logo

A great minimalistic logo design separates it from most logos and ranks 17 on my list. I still think it would of represented a different brand better. Maybe as a whale activist logo.

16. Citi logo

Citi logo was designed by Pentagram’s Paula Scher. After a shortened wordmark and a merger with travelers, Scher created this logo to tie everything together. Citi and Travelers’ umbrella to create this mark. See Citi’s logo rank on the 10 best wordmark logos of all-time .

15. MOCA logo

MOCA stands for The Museum of Contemporary Art. What better way to represent contemporary than by using it’s very own geometric shapes that define the art form. Created by Chermayeff & Geismar.

14. WWF logo

Negative space defined and works great in black.

13. FedEx logo

12. Mercedes-Benz logo

The Mercedes Benz logo exudes luxury with it’s simple form and elegant lines. Others brands are close to follow on the identity Mercedes has created.

11. Chase logo

The Chase logo set the stage for what logo design is today. Chermayeff & Geismar were one of the first ever to introduce an abstract logo for a corporation in 1961.

10. apple logo

Did you know that, original apple logo designer Rob Janoff put a bite mark into the apple so it wouldn’t be confused for a peach. Apple logo designed in 1976.

9. Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola’s inventor John Pemberton originally created the drink as a cough syrup in 1885. It was also green too.

8. IBM logo

The final IBM logo was designed by Paul Rand in 1972. He first designed a solid IBM logo in 1956, then a second version in 1967 with 13 lines and finally the finished version with 8 lines in 1972. I wrote an article about a possible 16 year WIP by Paul Rand for IBM’s identity, check it out.

7. The Paley Center for Media logo

A very original idea and maybe the only great solution for The Paley Center for Media logo. An out of focus and in-focus design executed through the use of bold and thin typefaces for contrast, evoking a lens focusing on its subject.

6. Olympics logo

5. V&A logo

Elegant and an original idea, yet easily read as V&A for the Victoria and Albert Museum. Created in 1989 by Alan Gerard Fletcher.

4. Nike logo

The Nike logo was created in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson for $35. Something that doesn’t happen today and with good reason. Nike’s logo is an abstract representation of the greek goddess of victory’s wing. In 1983 and after much success, company owner Phil Knight presented her with a gold swoosh ring and an envelope full of Nike stock.

3. NBC logo

2. The Library of Congress logo

The Library of Congress logo is one of those identity marks that stops your thinking for a second. It’s just a great logo that represents the Library through it’s the open book and also represents Congress through the hidden yet obvious flag. It was designed by Sagi Haviv, partner and designer at Chermayeff & Geismar.

1. I Heart NY logo

Milton Glaser designed the I Love NY logo in 1977 for the city of New York. During that decade, New York had one of the highest crime rates in the world. Tourism was taking a hit. The introduction of the logo changed the perception of New York tourism and swept the world in the process. People from all over the world have copied and profited from the identity Glaser designed for free.

Tropicana's new package designs, done right this time around

Do you guys remember all the fuss when Tropicana introduced their new package designs a year ago? Well if you do, then you must remember all the negative publicity the orange juice brand was getting. They were all over the place, even radio stations were talking about it. The design lowered Tropicana’s place on the food chain (for orange juice) and customers didn’t want to pay more or the same for a “generic” appearing brand. Which means followers put taste preferences aside for the sake of design.

This is a good example of design being a competitive advantage through product/packaging differentiation. When a potential customer has seconds to decide what to pick up, good design can have a major influence within that small timeframe.

Who says design isn’t important? After all, it does set you apart from the competition. Tropicana found out the hard way.

Tropicana's old vs older packaging designs

After pulling the package designs for their old ones, they are introducing yet another new design. This one is more representative of their brand or the identity they are after. Premium quality. This time around, they have developed a very nice system for their group of several beverages and I’m sure their new package designs will take them into the right direction.