Often people have a very literal idea about what they want others to see in their visual(s). It is what has meaning to them in relation to how they themselves see something, not in relation to what their customer sees and will understand. When we talk about a design (or a brand) meaning something or having significance beyond its obvious face value, it is the conceptual meaning we are talking about that is conveyed through the visual.
Read more
As a requirement of our bachelors’ degrees in graphic design, we were taught the color course based on Josef Albers’ color interaction theories. (“The Interaction of Color” by Joseph Albers.)
This course conditioned us to recognize visual values, not only in color, but also in other art and design.
Read more
A great logo example of what you can do once visual brand awareness is built!
Starbucks copies a page from well known companies such as Nike Inc. and Apple Inc., who have easily built enough visual brand awareness to successfully drop the words from their logos years ago. The words are no longer needed for us to recognize this visual icon as none other than Starbucks. It can stand alone and speaks for itself. This is achieved by consistent and repetitive use of the visual brand over time. This brand refresh is simple, contemporary, memorable and close enough to the existing logo that it avoids losing any visual brand recognition.
Read more
The Rio 2016 Olympic logo is chosen.
Brazil’s Tatíl Design created the logo, and is to be revered for its good design. It is very Brazilian, with its three interlocking figures joyously dancing. 140 design firms entered the competitive process to design the logo. A team of 15 national and international members of the Rio 2016 organizing committee made the final decision on this chosen design below.
Whether it is on the Web, in print or on a trade show floor, you can create a positive experience by engaging your customers visually. Graphics that are simple, colorful and evoke emotion are impactful.
Our goal is to create a sense of unity from the central message and supporting copy, photographs and logos. All three components should fit together to make a coherent whole.
Unity in composition can stop people in their tracks.
Read more
When visually communicating, it is known that we create directional flow with visual elements, all with the intention of getting a message across.
Using the “F” pattern
One of Jakob Nielsen’s 2006 eyetracking visualization studies show users read in an “F” pattern on the Web. Below is a piece we ran in a 2006 Synergist enews.
Read more
As in everything we do when visually communicating, we focus on meeting the users needs.
Eye tracking studies for the web reveal valuable information on how visitors take in a website. Studies path a users visual direction on a web page with software that uses heat mapping.
Read more
As in your company’s brand, your personal brand is equally valuable.
If you are not doing anything to build it, it will be done for you, good or bad.
So whether you think you have a brand or not, it is created for you in everything you do. And we all need our brand to reflect who we are positively.
Why do we want to build a personal brand?
It is important for our customers to see us as allies. We need to mold perception and build trust, respect, understanding, insight, rapport, value and memorability so we can serve customers needs best.
How do we do this?
Read more
Iconic clothing brand, The Gap, unveiled its new logo October 6th resulting in a frenzy of outraged designers.
Read more
I have heard it said, design means being good, not just looking good.When I graduated college with a degree in graphic design over 30 years ago, I was often asked, what is graphic design? This seems humorous now in a time where “graphic designers in the U.S, outnumber chemical engineers by four to one.”*What I answered, then, is very different than what I would answer now.
Then: Graphic design is arranging type and art on a page to look good.
Now: Graphic design is visually communicating with intent.This brings up the question, is design just about looking good?What is good design? It is definitely more than just “looking good”. Keep in mind, “design” can mean the design of anything.