Friday, March 30, 2012

Your turn #8

Nicholas Gottlund, print on aluminum plates, via Juxtapoz
Polish posters, Cuban posters, LOGO! What's your take?

24 comments:

Lindsey Reiff said...

A logo is infinitely important in establishing and conveying a specific brand’s personality and the way that it wishes to position itself. A person who creates logos must be incredibly creative and inventive, capturing the essence of an entire brand or organization through use of color, font, and designs/symbols that seem so obvious to us now, but were completely new and unique at the time. Take, for example, the Disney “D.” When we see this symbol, we think of nothing else. If not for Disney, it would mean absolutely nothing to us. Now, I would venture to guess that for most of us it brings to mind a very positive emotion. How does an artist convey so much through one image, even before somebody experiences the brand? It never ceases to amaze me how many memories and feelings a logo can evoke. It is for this reason that I always turn the labels forward in my kitchen, and take probably too much time to organize and group together the products until they are to my liking. While I am very cynical about the motives of advertising, I view logos as a beautiful thing. Aside from extremes like subliminal messaging, they seem pure- they are subject to the viewer’s interpretation and present their personality much more ethically. They are programmed into one’s mind, but in a more respectable manner.

Amy said...

It is interesting to see the role of propaganda in Cuba. Over the revolutionary years propaganda has consisted of the familiar faces of Castro, Guevara and Cienfuegos. In this article from the Miami Herald we see how now they have turned to other means of propaganda by promoting unity through natural disasters. Times have evolved and people do not respond the same to the images they have been shown all their lives so it was time for a change. It goes to show the impact of design even in politics.
Here is the link to the article
http://www.miamiherald.com/2008/12/16/815407/cuban-propaganda-alive-and-well.html

Amy

Luzyanis Fraga said...

The power of an image could be very influential. Artists have the capacity of be able to change the mind of people. Creating powerful images can create new ways of life for others. Over time it has been proven that the simple and more straight forward posters, and logos are, the better the response of the public is going to be. The idea behind a advertising is to be able to influence the most amount of people in the shortest amount of time. Therefor it is very important that artists take their time considering how the public will welcome their art. I think that when the add is meant to be seen by different type of people and its not directed to an specific audience, it is harder for the artist to be able to express the idea in an universal language that everyone will understand and feel comfortable with. Companies such as Coca-Cola need to advertise their product all over the world have to be very neutral in their advertising so anyone could feel that the add is directed to them.

Luzyanis Fraga

Patty Alfaro said...

It is funny that so many people mention the importance of simplicity in a logo. Yes, simplicity makes a logo more versatile, so far as resizing and scaling down, but does it really make a product more memorable? For one thing, it certainly does not make me want a product more. Perhaps a logo only has to capture the attention of people who might like its product in the first place. If this is the case, most logos are not intended for my eyes. I usually find myself glossing over simple logo designs. They just seem to be everywhere. I have gotten tired of them. I think I am more drawn by the usage of ideograms, than by simply logos. Yes, minimalism can be eye catching at times. However, I think hyper detail is an equally popular style these days, perhaps because of consumerism, and even high definition TV. Regardless, I like the usage of ideograms because they provide the logo alongside an environment of sorts, almost giving the logo a world to live in. Take Cocacola’s ideogram, for instance. Alone, the logo might draw you in with its retro styled swirling letters, but amidst its ideogram, it takes on a whole new life. When paired with its ideogram, Cocacola’s logo evokes movement, energy, condensation, refreshment, and good times. This ideogram is visually more revealing of what the product is claimed to deliver, than the logo is alone.

joyce sosa said...

I agree with the simplicity of Logos. This happens because I feel that the logo is something that needs to catch your eye and stay with you forever , so it is not about how much material or objects you put into it , but the quality of the image itself. Some logos may be heavier and others more simple, but I feel that they should always be inclined towards the simpler side. It is not something easy since you have to say all the story of the company, product, etc in one single image. That’s the magic of graphic design, taking something broad and complicated and narrowing it down to an image that will tell you all about one subject, yet still simple enough to catch you eye. We can see for example the designs of one of the best contemporary graphic designers, Milton Glaser, who created the I love New York logo. These logo is simple , making it comfortable to the eyes and at the same time it catches so much your attention that it stays with you.

Lisandra said...

One of my favorite topics in graphic design is the logo one. A logo for me is one of the most important and influential graphic marks. A logo plays an important role in our psychology, when we see logos all that comes to our mind is the meaning and experience that the brand has given us before. For example the Coca Cola logo is one the most recognized logos Worldwide when we see it all we can think about is the taste and amazing reputation this company has, companies use them as advertising. For example when we see that COCA COLA logo at the commercial right before the movie, is a way to tell our mind that we need one. Logos usually never change and most of the times when they do problems arise because it’s usually understood as a change not only a graphic one but specially a product change that’s why companies usually keep the same logos because they fear that the brand may suffer with new designs.

Lisandra Nunez

Ernest said...

The logo is the face that people recognize when they think of a certain product; I believe that it should be simple but very complex at the same time; meaning, it can’t be something simple just for the sake of being simple, but there has to be a strong concept that guides the designer into creating something simple, but that talks about the personality and the type of product that it represents. I personally believe, that the design of a successful logo is one of the strongest challenges that any designer or artist can encounter, and that’s because the amount of variables that one have to take into consideration. A successful logo can last for the entire life of the product without the need of modification, as a matter of fact modifications or alterations to the logo can become quite a problem for the brand; nevertheless some companies have achieved it in a successful way like Pepsi, in the other hand Coca Cola was not as successful when they changed their logo to Coke. And this gives you an idea how perception plays a tremendous influence in the views of the users; for one company is perfectly fine while for the other is total chaos.

Anonymous said...

Logo is a very important mark to identify a brand, an organization or even a person. It has been used for a very long time and it has been like a signature that makes people realize about the brand, organization etc.
We have spent a very long time about logos in graphic design class and according to the things i learnt from the class; it has to be readable in very small sizes without ruining its shape. In other words, it has to be applicable in small sizes. Other than that, it doesn't have to be detailed, it can be simple and memorizable to stand out since almost everything has a logo. A good logo makes the company memorable therefore before choosing on a logo, we have to keep in mind some specific aspects because it will last for long years and its not a good thing to change it frequently with time.

can zarb

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the polish posters by Waldemar Swierzy. In a way he was designing logos for individuals. Most of his posters go along the criteria of a logo, being simple, memorable, and informative. For example, one of the posters he did of Jimi Hendrix, he only needs two colors to represent his face and then with a few bright colors to represent his psychedelia. His music is so well represented by a couple wavy bright lines. Just like McDonalds can be so well represented by the golden arches. You can practically smell the greasy fries when you see that logo. Same with Swierzy’s posters about Miles Davis. It is a simple dark silhouette with just the sound of his trumpet lighting up the page. It truly epitomizes what Miles Davis was trying to accomplish with his jazz with cool, calm and melodic expressions. Swierzy does a great job of capturing someone’s message with a quick simple snapshot of their life by creating a logo for them.

Josef Albert

Anonymous said...

The logo is arguably the most important aspect in creating a brand and it’s identity. Today, with the wide spread use of computers and design programs, everyone thinks they can create a logo. But there is so much that goes into a logo that may not be noticed at first glance. It needs to portray the values of the company, hit a specific target, be functional and easy to print, it needs to be memorable etc. One of the greatest logos every created was the FEdex logo. At first glance, most people don’t notice that the positioning between the letter E and X actually create an arrow, but it does. Telling customers that it is getting their packages where they need to go. Their logo is the perfect example of something simple and brilliant.

http://www.fedex.com/

-Maddie Nieman

Anonymous said...

The design of logo can be just like the logo itself, it seems very simple but in fact quite complicated. I’m pretty sure a normal standard designer cannot easily allow himself to do the job. Behind the simple, neat graphic, there may be hard work for years. Once the logo has been created, it will not just simply appears in every products the company produces, it will become a characteristic of the band and a good logo is supposed to make the product looks better and more attractive to the customer. However, I think there is a difference between advertisement and logo. It is possible for people to buy something indeed really not worthy because they have a good advertisement, but it seems not possible for us to buy something only because it has a pretty logo. In this case, I think the logo is very similar to the movie posters we talked about in the class. Even through a good logo is not quite necessary condition for a famous band, however, the famous bands usually have a really good logo. The question is the logo make the band more famous, or the logo seems better and meaningful when the band is famous?

Qiansongzi Chen

Ana Trinchet said...

I think logos are a very interesting theme to discuss. But what interested me the most is the psychology behind the design process of logos. One does not design without first a purpose and an intention. The human being is a very complicated organism and to get inside his/her head is a difficult task. By using psychology as a method of creativity gives the designer the advance to get the reaction of people that hi/her is looking for. Major elements of a logo interact with the human psyche you can create an emblem which is powerful on several different levels. Many factors need to taken in to consideration when designing a logo and one very important is the use of color. What color do you use? Colors have a broad range of meaning according to different nations and cultures. A color could mean one thing in a particular setting, and something completely different in another. It has a powerful effect on the human mind. The primitive instincts some colors can trigger might not even be evident to us on a conscious level. But marketers can use those reactions to help support a brand message and to increase the effectiveness of advertisements and logos.

Bright colors are great for grabbing attention, red in particular works well for this purpose as the eye tends to be drawn first to red tones on a page.

Some cooler colors like blues and greens have the opposite effect. They tend to be a calming and comforting presence.

Ana Trinchet

Nan Gallagher said...

I actually just went to Cuba for spring break this year to study Cuban art. Just as was discussed in class, the line between advertising and propaganda in Cuba even today is very hazy. Billboards are everywhere but none of them advertise products, they all have either Che or Castro's face and a political slogan. The same goes for the distinction between artwork and propaganda. The cities are entirely covered in beautiful graffiti. However every piece of graffiti was carefully designed and commissioned by the government, and similar to the billboards it is all political slogans and images of revolutionary figures.
However, the eeriest part of it is not the fact that the government clearly is controlling the images seen by everyone. It is instead the fact that all of the quotes, images, and references that they use are all still from 50 years ago when the revolution happened. Their only rallying points remain the same, as well as their artwork. The propaganda has not evolved with the times whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

I like the discussion going on about logos and their cultural effects. I agree with what has been said before as well. A certain simplicity is often found in logo designs because they are more easily understood by their audience. However, the complexity of the thought that goes into their creation should not be overlooked. This website, lists some of the steps that are taken before a final logo can be released and I’m sure that even this is extremely simplified. http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2009/05/11-steps-of-a-successful-logo-design-process/ The Walt Disney logo (#6 from http://www.toxel.com/design/2008/08/20/20-famous-logo-designs/) doesn’t seem to be overly intricate. The entire design is one flat color with a stylized silhouette of a castle behind it. But the designers’ choices were very deliberate and researched.

Alexandra Roe

Anonymous said...

As I’ve previously discussed before, I consider designing a logo to be one of the most difficult tasks given in graphic design. This is because a logo needs to define an entire company/organization in a clear, concise, memorable way. With one look, the logo conveys the company’s mission statement. I’ve always found it interesting that when logos are first publicized; there is some kind of text under or around it. This is because without the name of the company, the logo may be unidentifiable to some viewers. However, over time, a logo becomes recognizable and popular, no longer needing the company’s name. This situation is demonstrated by Target. Years ago, their logo, the red and white circles, used to be alongside the company’s name. Now, the company has branded itself so well, that it no longer needs to display their name anymore. Viewers recognize the logo on it’s own. To me, that’s a clear indicator of a logo’s success.

-Kristen Vargas Vila

Anonymous said...

Logos is a very cool topic to discuss when it comes to graphic design. There is so much thought and time that goes into the creation of a logo such as the font, color, image, and even the psychological aspect. The artist needs to think of something that will grasp the audiences attention. Simplicity is very important when it comes to a Logo because it is easily grasped and understood. Logos identify a company and allows the audience to get an idea of what the company is about. Through out time some of the Logos have changed but most of them to a very little extent. They keep the detail that has caught the peoples eye and has made an impact in society. However, they change the font or style according to the generation and their interests. Logos seem so simple but are in reality so complex.

- Erika Gonzalez-Rebull

kaitlin said...

Logos were the part of last week’s class that interested me most. I appreciate the skill it takes to condense the essence of a company, and present it in an eye-catching, informative, and aesthetically effective way. In light of our on-going discussion of advertising vs. propaganda it was interesting to read Dan Lyon’s piece “Can Advertising Survive Digital?” In the article, Jeff Rosenblum describes the direction he thinks the advertising industry must take in order to continue to be effective. He encourages companies to stop using advertising as a tool to cover up their lack of ethical conduct, to operate with integrity, and use the social media to promote their interests. I agreed with Jeff Rosenblum’s position, but wonder if large corporations will take his advice and shape up. I think, as Professor Triff has said many times in class, that this shift is dependent on us, the consumers, to demand better.

Anonymous said...

Last class, the topic that stood out to me the most was logos. In my art class, we were assigned to create a new logo for a fictitious brand. Logos are so simplistic in design but are complex in meaning and representation. Based on a mission statement and image of the company, the logo is meant to encapsulate everything the company represents in one memorable design. I believe that the hardest thing for a logo to accomplish is to be memorable. We are exposed to numerous logos every day, but I don’t think we remember the company name all the time. It takes time for a logo to become recognizable and over time adjustments are made to make the logo even more simplistic in design. An interesting statement made in last week’s class was whether the logo is famous because of the company or vice versa. This is a difficult question to answer but I think the logo is famous because of both. All in all, I believe that the logo is one of the most difficult tasks a graphic designer can create.

Ashley Bahamon

Emilee Lau said...

Our discussion about political posters as a follow-up to the overlapping topics of advertising and propaganda really opened my eyes to how powerful art is as a form of communication. As a means of reaching the masses, artistic expression is the loophole that allows individual artists to get around regulations and restrictions placed on both advertising and propaganda that may have diminished the original message of the author. Art is the perfect vehicle for people to speak freely since the political police or government organizations such as the Federal Communications Commission do not monitor it. In other words, regulation has no power over art and expression, making art a more powerful form of expression than both advertising and propaganda. After all, the quality/impact of the artwork both stem from the content, message, and viewpoint the artist has chosen to represent and share with a wide audience. In addition, the Visual Artists Rights Act, which is part of the federal copyright law, offers visual artists some legal protections against the modification and removal of permanent installations. The act creates civil liability against those who intentionally distort, mutilate, or modify artwork in such a way that dishonors the artist.

As a follow-up to my post a couple weeks back showing the Baby Snakes Claymation excerpt, here is a YouTube video of Frank Zappa on Crossfire addressing government regulation on artistic expression:

Frank Zappa on government regulation of artistic expression

Lauren Hahamovitch said...

Logos are one of the most complex pieces of collateral a business can possess. They have the power to bring up countless associations ranging from quality, to country of origin, sometimes having nothing to do with the image itself. Associations like these can be crafted through strategic use of fonts, colors, relative size, and textures. Logos give businesses and products a special differentiation from others, and create lasting impressions, if executed successfully. They serve many purposes, such as adding perceived value. If a logo is simple, memorable, and effectively communicates the client's message, the product or company will stand out in the consumer's mind. At shelf, products with great logos will have a positive influence on consumers' purchasing decisions. Slightly off topic, branding also has an enormous effect on perceived value. For example, Haagen Dazs brand ice cream gives off a luxurious connotation, purely for the perceived country of origin. This however, was a smart tactic by their marketing team, as Haagen Dazs is an American brand.

Anonymous said...

I consider the logo as the most important feature in graphic design. It is very interesting to see how through some classic logos a person can remember the name of a company by just looking at the company's logo. Companies such as Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's, and Coca-Cola have branded themselves internationally and partly it has been due to the success of their logos to capture the attention of the consumer.

Alejandra Esayag

Haley said...

The 1960's Cuban posters we studied show a sense of playfulness amidst devastating concepts. The usage of bright colors and the simple, almost child-like playful nature and style of these posters seem to elude to the effervescent and festive culture of Cuba pre-Castro. You can feel the essence of a jovial, brilliant, vivacious culture/personality encaged by the reality and chains of a Communist Cuba. The usage of bright, fun colors, and the imagery of guns, soldiers, Castro, ankle cuffs, and other icons of destruction, create an interesting dynamic of the lost innocence and happiness of the Cuban people. It's as if each artist cannot help but express the similar idea of the struggle of masking their love and happiness with devastating issues. Their happiness, though asphyxiated, seems to be seeping out through the devastation. The poster "International week of solidarity with Africa", 1968, OSPAAL, shows brilliant colors and contrasts with a guns and a warrior. The wallpaper and contrast of the background in this particular poster, is quite inspiring to personal graphic design projects. It demonstrates a brilliantly executed concept and design. "Warhol's reiteration of Campbell tomato soup has a lot in common with this gathering at the Plaza of the Revolution to listen to Fidel Castro" This true and sad comparison, shows the brainwashing, and the attempt to massacre individuality. Interestingly, in this photograph, amidst the sorrow of dismissed liberties, and Castro's attempt's to stifle individuality, we see bursts of color, particularly in the umbrellas. This alludes to the same concept, that despite having to comply with government laws, in silent rebellion, the people of Cuba (as well as the artists of the posters, and photographers), fight to express their joy and individuality through color and artistic expression.

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