The sting ray logo for the new C7 Corvette Stingray model introduced at the Detroit auto show is carefully devised for licensing on shirts and caps and pins and—one designer said—a possible electric guitar. The aquatic stingray was a literal inspiration for 1963 Corvettes, which first bore the name, then spelled Sting Ray.
In 1993 Steve Jobs talks about his logo designer for Next, Paul Rand. Encounter exposes a common thread between them.
For example, did Jobs talk to other designers? No. Rand was the only designer Jobs approached. And Jobs asks if Rand will show him a few options. Rand says, “No, I will solve your problem for you and you will pay me. You don’t have to use the solution and if you want options go to other people. But I will solve your problem for you the best way that I know how.”
Editor’s note: I chaired a conference on corporate identity for the STA (Society of Typographic Arts) before becoming the American Center for Design and I called Mr. Rand four times asking him if he would speak. Well, it was not going to happen. He said he didn’t go to these things, period. Yes, very curmudgeony. The final speakers were: David Strong (David Strong); Robert Burns (Burns Cooper and Hynes); Phil Seefeld (Landor); John Massey (Container Corporation); Wayne Webb (RVI Corporation); Herb Murrie (Murrie White Drummond Lienhart).
Five years later I co-chaired Trademarks USA2 for the STA. Thinking Mr. Rand needed a more esteemed roster and asked: Saul Bass (Bass Yeager); Ivan Chermayeff (Chermayeff & Geismar); Walter Landor (Landor); Walter Margulies (Lippincott Margulies; John Massey (Container Corporation); Wayne Webb (RVI Corporation). Of interest, first time the Walter’s met face-to-face. Mr. Rand said thanks but it was going to be paralysis due to over analysis. He asked if I put this much time into solving design problems.
The new Media Lab logo really represents a vast galaxy of ideas generated past and future. This is an algorithmic generated logo that can create 40,000 logo shapes in 12 different color combinations, providing the Media Lab an estimated 25 years’ worth of personalized business cards.
Last Spring in my Corporate Branding class, design student Seth Hoekstra created a similar sui generis concept for his mythical Center for Design, Chicago. Seth’s concept behind each mark variation begins with each museum staff member. Each individual would be prompted with an assignment to contribute a unique shape they feel represents the museum. Here are several pages from his CDC manual of style to guide the way.
first time in its 28-year history, MTV updates iconic logo. new logo on right.
forgoing the network’s music heritage, new three-dimensional design instead showcases MTV’s reality-TV talent, such as the casts of “jersey shore,” “The buried life” and “teen mom.”
There’s a lot of rhetoric regarding what came first — Pepsi or Obama. (left) Dates not exactly correct but not wrong either – duality in vitro. An unofficial chronology… (more…)