"Dottie had a heart condition and she died"

Check out these 70's era PSA'S promoting "the swine flu shot". Apparently we were on the verge of a pandemic outbreak then too. A bit over dramatic don't you think?

Miles

Via yesbutnobutyes

Skewed stats

Why do people believe every number they see? Tonight social media guru David Armano rebroadcast a tweet claiming Razorfish generated $18.8 million in incremental revenue for H&R Block. It's possible; H&R Block takes in about $4 billion annually, so a 0.47% lift from online chatter could happen. Read on...

Avid Rebrands

Since 1987 Avid has been the leader in video production technology, serving the film and video industry with it's array of products. We use Avid here at Handcrafted, so when the company revamped it's identity, a post announcing the news was a no-brainer.

Designed by someone, the new logo connotes a more contemporary, progressive energy that will help unify the companies offerings - says my opinion. I like the move towards something more iconic and bold and overall, it is a well produced revamp. The only bit that gets me is the negative space between the "v" and the "i". It keeps drawing my eye. Is this bothering anyone else?

Update: Avid contacted us to let us know that "Our press release actually stated that the new logo reflects the "volume up, volume down, play, pause, record and forward" symbols consumers and professionals recognize as fundamental to the digital audio and video solutions they use every day to enable their creativity, and signals a unification of the company's core audio and video offerings."

Miles

In Defense of Eye Candy

Well articulated piece here discussing the importance of well-crafted aesthetics and how many times the basics of color, depth and so on can have a major impact on how viewers digest and or navigate through our designs.

Miles

How Fluff is Driving Away Your Viewers

Nice write-up here that discusses the importance of simplicity and clarity in web design. The article highlights the fact that by incorporating extraneous messaging, gimmicks, etc., you are not only standing in the way of the users experience but also driving them away from your site.

It's OK to Let Some Stuff Pass You By

"I think that we are training our nervous systems to expect a certain and a certain kind of stimulation and I think it’s a kind of addiction, and...I’m not using that as a metaphor. Every time I check my email, I‘m looking for a little packet of pleasure that gets delivered when I get an email. I feel like I’m a rat with an electrode planted in my brain, stimulating myself... Rats will do that 2, 000 times an hour if this stimulus is pleasurable..." Read on...

Can Design Save the Newspaper?

The WSJ on Comic Sans

Next to Papyrus, Copperplate and Impact, Comic Sans tops the list as the typeface designers love to hate. Wildly overused and ghastly misplaced; popular amongst everyone from grade school teachers to company execs, Comic Sans is considered the evil step child of typefaces. Vincent Connare, who originally designed Comic Sans for Microsoft back in the early 90's chimes in on the current movement attempting to abolish all future use of it...

Check out the WSJ article here.

Miles

The WTC Logo Preservation Project

A personal project by Korean designer Ji Lee, the WTC Logo Preservation Project is a collection of identities which include representation of the twin towers. Nicely done...

“World Trade Center buildings are present in thousands of classic New York skyline logos owned by local businesses in the city. They tend to belong to small businesses that are likely to disappear over the years to come. So are their logos and the Twin Towers.

After 9/11, I started to photograph and archive these logos in order to preserve the many different graphic expressions of these important historical buildings.” Ji Lee

Miles

Via logodesignlove

The people vs Stockart.com

If you haven't yet heard this story, prepare yourselves. A notable designer by the name of Jon Engle has been accused of stealing his own work. Yep, you heard right. Stockart.com has claimed that Jon stole the creative from their site (which is created via crowd sourcing) and used it to service his clientele. The truth of the matter is that the original work, designed by Jon, and posted on his online portfolio, were blatantly ripped off by the wannabe "designers" that keep sites like these alive. Stockart.com sent Jon a bill for $18,000 and the madness ensued. For the full story and a collection of of Stockart rip-offs click here.

Miles

Best music video ever?

Love this video for Coldplay's Life in Technicolor ii directed by Dougal Wilson. It keeps getting better the longer you watch... Check it out in HD, enjoy.

Miles

Your business card is crap

"It took me 25 years to design this card." And it still looks like crap.

Via denveregotist

Succumbing to pressure from the minority

We are beginning to see this more and more. Companies, industry giants, are allowing the fate of their brands to be dictated by a bunch of online cry-babies. On one side, sure, it is pretty empowering to think that the everyday person can contribute to a larger voice and sway the direction of a companies creative. On the other hand, and on to my point, when are these CMO's, boards and department heads going to commit to their plan, show a bit of backbone and stand up for what they believed in from the start? The biggest problem with succumbing to this negative feedback and "data", is that all of that data is naturally biased. The only people voicing their opinions are the naysayers, pundits, and "Debbie-downers". You don't hear from those who could car less or even those that take notice and like the new logo or re-designed packaging. If we keep going in this direction, adjusting to every criticism, no company will be able to establish a viable, legitimate brand, they will become disjointed in their attempts at trying to please everyone. Did Apple or BMW get where they are today by reverting on their advertising or product because a bunch of ignorant strangers didn't agree with them?

Miles

My Sharkfalcon beats your Wolfpigeon

Hats off to Qualcomm for having some fun and producing this piece. Hilarious.

Miles