Nur Ahmad Furlong

Tag: Logo Design

Logo Design Competition entries are now closed
All good things must come to an end as they say. The Logo Design Questions & Answers competition, which has been running here at nomad-one.com has come to an end for now and the winner will be announces very soon.
So far, setting up this little competition has allowed me to focus on the theoretical or technical aspects of Logo Design. It has helped me get back to the nuts and bolts of it so to speak, and to get together a collection of best practices which has already started influencing how I go about Designing Logos. All in all, the competition from my perspective has been a great success, so much so that I’ve been thinking about having it as a standard feature on my site with a winner chosen every 2 months.
I haven’t chosen the first winner yet
There have been a few last minute entries and I’m also a little confused as to which questions deserve to win. I hoped there would be a question which stood out head & shoulders above the rest, but there are a few good ones and I want to take some time to decide.
I was thinking of opening it up for a vote
The questions already have ratings and can be rated once per visitor. I’m not sure if this is viable due to the slow traffic at this time of year though.
I was also considering asking the entrants to post a motivation as to why they think their question is a winner. This would help me with my decision.
The questions which stand out for me so far are:
# 7 – Should the values of my organisation be reflected in its logo, and how would a designer go about communicating these values visually and in an enticing fashion?
# 10 – Ok, so Iâ€™ve got a logo but I think itâ€™s starting to look out of date. Iâ€™m also worried that we shouldnâ€™t change our branding when weâ€™re already recognised by it. What can I do?
# 11 – Is there a difference between a logo and a brand and if so how are the two connected?
#14 – Logoâ€™s these days are designed to flashy shiny and very web2.0 â€¦ what are the principles that you would use to design a timeless classic.
What do you think? Check out the questions on the Logo Design Q & A page and post a comment or a motivation as to why your question, if you asked one; should win.
I’m also interested to know:
- What you guys think of the competition?
- Was it useful?
- Any ideas on how to improve it?
- What do you think of my choices for the winning Question?
- What else would you like to see happening at nomad-one.com
Blog Design Questions & Answers Competition to start soon …
January 1, 2008
Logo Controversies Continued
I’ve been monitoring a few high profile logo re-design projects lately, and the controversies which have popped up surrounding them. I find the whole thing rather intriguing. At first I suppose I was thinking the same thing everyone else was, which is basically – “What were they thinking”? Why’d they waste so much money on that? I’ve seen smaller companies do much better” etc. etc. I personally haven’t heard much noise or controversy about small company re-brands. The latest installment is none other than our very own Pick n Pay, a place we have all probably visited at some stage(South Africans that is) to stock up on our daily needs. Biz-community has been following the story quite closely of late and seems to have quite a bit of insight into what this re-branding process entailed.

What Biz Community Readers Think
A recent poll held by Biz-community.com reveals a little about what people, mostly those in the marketing & advertising industry I gather, have to say about this re-brand. As of about 14:40, 14 November 2007, 47% of readers expressed a dislike for the new identity.
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November 14, 2007
Some Logo Ideas for Star *Camp Cape Town event
This is a really old post, for some of my more recent Logo design Work please visit my Logo design Page or my Company’s the-colab.com Portfolio Page. Hire me to design your next Logo, I promise I won’t disappoint!
If you’ve heard about *Camp Cape Town (pronounced Star Camp), which will be happening in a few weeks time (on December 8th and 9th), have a quick squizz at these logo ideas I designed for the event. I quickly put a few designs together as a way to contribute my little piece to this very interesting pie and would love your feedback.
The *Camp builds on the 2006 BarCamp Cape Town, the GeekDinner movement started post-BarCamp Cape Town, and the 27dinner phenomenon of finding new ways to get people together to learn from each other and to learn _of_ each other, to help build the Cape as a leader in business and technology.
For those of you not familiar with these events, they are a new (well new to many) style, think tank/collaborative events or (un)conferences. The participants organize the event and set the agenda. It’s a great way to learn from others, share ideas and get involved with people you may never otherwise interact with. Visit http://wiki.geekdinner.org.za/wiki/Star_Camp/Cape_Town_2007 to see all the details and sign up to attend. If you have any comments or ideas for the logos, let me know by submitting a comment on this post. You also stand a chance to Win a Brand Spanking new Logo Design by entering my Logo Design Questions & Answers competition. Click Here to enter. Below is one of the recommended modified Logo Designs requested by benevolent dictator Neil. What do you guys think of this one? Some more options based on feedback from those commenting on this page.
November 10, 2007
What your logo should & should not be doing
Have you ever turned up at an event inappropriately dressed, maybe too casual, too formal, you wore 2 different coloured socks? How about waking up for one of the most important events of your life with a huge zit on your forehead? I’m sure you’ve had that experience where someone tells you they’re sure they’ve seen you somewhere before or that you have a familiar face, or you’ve met someone before but just can’t remember what they look like.
Make sure your company looks the part
These little life experiences teach us alot about appearances, how we value them and the impact they have on the decisions we make. Your company or organisation is no different. Ever attend a corporate function or business meeting and all you had were those cheaply printed business cards without a logo and just your companies name written in comic sans font? Every company has its zit moment, the moment when it is not dressed appropriately, when it’s presentation is less than what it should be or gives the wrong impression. Many companies are forgotten because they have not made a memorable impact on those they interact with. It’s like those great television commercials who’s brands you just can’t remember.
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October 25, 2007
Re-thinking my view on the London 2012 Logo
A little while ago I wrote an article discussing the Logo & Identity Designed for the London 2012 Olympic Games. At first glance everything about the logo seemed completely appalling from the colours to the jagged shaped and seemingly meaningless random nature of it all.
Well I’ve just read something which completely shifts my perspective and I’m not shy to say I’m thinking twice about how I view the whole thing. It might be a tad impulsive of me as my initial criticism was inspired by the outcry which followed to unveiling of the design. I still hold many of my views on the pure graphic nature of the Identity but applying some perspective and context changes the impact of my initial views.
Â You’ll have to read my intial article and then this one I found on “A Brief Message.com” written by Rob Giampietro (principal of Giampietro+Smith and a board member of AIGA/NY) and formulate your own opinion.
Critics, in the excitement of newsmaking, have rushed to judgment. Theyâ€™re writing history before itâ€™s happened.
Theyâ€™re forgetting that the games these identities signify havenâ€™t happened yet. How the London 2012 and Chicago 2016 identities interact with their respective events and audiences will ultimately determine whether they are lasting, valuable marks or not.
Ugly or beautiful, these identities will ultimately belong to us. We will wear and trade them. We will merchandise and trash them. We will honor and deride them. They will belong to us the way celebrities do, the way monuments do, the way media spectacles do. Years from now, I suspect different opinions will prevail.
Maybe both perspective have their merits, but sometimes its good to see both sides of the story. Its a good lesson in design, to know that no one design can be perfect or completely inappropriate at the time of their inception, but that perspective, opinion, experience and time are factors which have a say.
October 13, 2007