I really like having this collection of logos in one place. Thanks to Alex over at ISO50 for the original post. The Fashion Center logo by Pentagram is sweet. Also agree that the simplicity and color of the Tom Ford logo is super nice. Enjoy!

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The origianal post via ISO50 – The Blog of Scott Hansen » Typography of the Fashion World. By alex 09/17/09

The Fashion Center

In honor of the currently unfolding (ha) Fashion Week in NYC, I thought I’d post on some of the terrific typography at work in the fashion world. When I first got into design, I used to think the typeface for the Louis Vuitton logo was the epitome of graphic design. I remember writing everything in Futura Medium for a good month (even research papers, nothing was spared). These days, I still to pick up the occasional GQ or etc just for the ads — usually can pick up a few interesting things. There are always a number of logos that catch my eye, continue reading to see some of the marks that resonate most.

The mark for The Fashion Center (above) is perfectly simple. How brilliant to utilize the button holes to form the F! This is probably one of my favorite logos of all time. What it comes down to for me is that the 5th button hole is slightly smaller than the rest — this subtle scale shift makes the whole thing. Developed at Pentagram.

Selected Typography of the Fashion World

Iceberg

You don’t see too many slab serifs in the fashion world — this one for Iceberg is my favorite. Bally is OK too, but I prefer the “B” in the Iceberg mark for the details (no bottom slab). Also, it’s sort of unfair, but Iceberg is a cooler word and thus I find it more appealing.

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Tom Ford probably has one of the most photogenic names in the business. The two words strike a great balance and convey the boldness of the brand very effectively. It announces itself proudly and authoritatively, and is somehow able to be colored pink/violet and still seem completely bad ass.

yves

This one is an uber-classic. Designed by Cassandre in 1963, the Yves Saint Laurent lettering has always had a mysterious air to it for me. Maybe it’s because I could never figure out how to pronounce it. Anyway, the kerning in this one is masterful — just look how smoothly the letters flow into one another.

Helmut_Lang_Logo

One of my favorites for its simplicity. The Helmut Lang logo says to me that they don’t mess around — they make classic and quality clothes without comprising their core principle of (stylishly minimal) utility.

dunhill

Dunhill takes a slightly different approach than most. Seeing the ascenders ascend to new heights is certainly a nice change of pace. It stands out amongst the more typically “restrained” fashion logo. Whether accurate or not, I get the feeling that (like a Paul Smith) there is some extra dose of personality and flare to what they do.

truss

Trussardi has one of the best crests. I’ve seen other brands try this approach (see Juicy), but rarely are they able to achieve such a sense of heritage and refinement like Trussardi. There is even a little touch of playfulness if you look closely at the greyhound in the middle; he looks like he’s up to something.

Hermes

I love the Hermes identity. The logo is great — especially love the rendering of the horse and buggy — but the real winner for me is the color. If you walk into a Hermes shop, you know you where you are immediately because of the crazy and unusual blends of colors you find yourself surrounded by. A nice contrast to the muted tones of some of the above.

Paul_Smith

Of all the script logos in the fashion world, Paul Smith is my favorite. It’s hard to imagine the brand without his signature color rainbow, but I think the lettering alone still does a great job summing up what the brand is all about. Seeing this lettering inside of an extra sharp suit somehow makes complete sense, especially when you see that the lining is bright purple.

ferra

I know I said Paul Smith was my favorite hand written face, but Salvatore Ferragamo comes pretty close. Each letter is wonderfully drawn if you take them individually — they all have interesting little quirks and imperfections that come together nicely. It’s hard to tell if I like this one because of the actual rendering or just prolonged exposure.

zadig

This condensed face is not the official logo of Zadig and Voltaire, but I enjoy it anyway. Their current logo (which you can see on their site) is great, but my love of condensed type always led me to prefer this one. I suppose the current one has more personality (especially in that “g”!) in the end.

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Definitely left a few out I know; Chanel, Louis Vuitton, maybe even American Apparel. Let me know if there are any others!

Agency: Phinney Bischoff Design House
Project: Logo and Brand Development

This is a small brochure that I just wrapped up for The Regional Athletic Complex (The RAC). Located in Lacey, Washington, The RAC is a 68-acre athletic complex with five softball/baseball/fastpitch fields and six regulation-size soccer/football/rugby fields, as well as picnic and outdoor facilities, playgrounds, concession stands, two miles of walking trails, family restrooms and much more.

Romancing Your Soul Absolutely Brilliant!

This is a well thought concept and well executed. Nice work.

Agency: Phinney Bischoff Design House

Thought I would share a branding project that I have just completed. And, at the same time try out a nifty new way to share publications – Issuu. This Web app is easy to use and presents your work like a magazine. It integrates into WordPress nicely too!

The creative objectives for this work was to unify Cochran’s divisions and brand under a consistent tone of voice and look and feel that is representative of the valuable innovation and proven execution they deliver to their clients. This brochure is one of several (divisions) and just a sample of their new look. Other items completed were business papers, a proposal system, vehicle graphics (proposed), single sheet templates and a shiny new Web site that will launch in a few weeks.

This looks like a great book. I particularly like this quote: “As the tortoise draws its limbs into its shell at need, so the artist reserves his scientific principles when working intuitively.” 8

22/09/07 – Excerpts from The Elements of Color: A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes Itten Based on his Book ‘The Art of Color’:

“In the realm of aesthetics, are there general rules and laws of color for the artist, or is the aesthetic appreciation of colors governed solely by subjective opinion? Students often ask this question, and my answer is always the same: ‘If you, unknowing, are able to create masterpieces in color, then un-knowledge is your way. But if you are unable to create masterpieces in color out of your unknowledge, then you ought to look for knowledge.’” 7

“Doctrines and theories are best for weaker moments. In moments of strength, problems are solved intuitively, as if of themselves.” 7

“Knowledge of the laws of design need not imprison, it can liberate from indecision and vacillating perception.”8

“As the tortoise draws its limbs into its shell at need, so the artist reserves his scientific principles when working intuitively.” 8

“Color is life; for a world without colors appears to us as dead. […] Light, that first phenomenon of the world, reveals to us the spirit and living soul of the world through colors.”8

“The eye and the mind achieve distinct perception through comparison and contrast.” 17

“Once a theme has been conceived, the design must follow that primary and ruling conception. If color is the chief vehicle of expression, composition must begin with color areas, and these will determine the lines, he who first draws lines and then adds color will never succeed in producing a clear, intense color effect. Colors have dimensions and directionality of their own, and delineate areas in their own way.” 18

“It is always advisable to juxtapose the hues to be employed in a composition, using a preliminary sketch to check color effects, before proceeding to execution.” 54

“Now that these elements of color harmony have been suggested, it should again be emphasized that the choice of a chord and its modulation as the basis of a composition cannot be arbitrary. All procedures are governed by the subject matter, presented representationally or abstractly. The choice of a theme and its execution are a must, not a capricious will or a superficial maybe. Each color and each group of colors is an individual of unique kind, living and growing according to its immanent law. The idea of color harmony is to discover the strongest effects by correct choice of antitheses.” p. 74

“To compose in color means to juxtapose two or more colors in such a way that they jointly produce a distinct and distinctive expression. The selection of hues, their relative situation, their locations and orientations within the composition, their configurations or simultaneous patterns, their extensions and their contrast relationships, are decisive factors of expression.” 91

“It is not the means of expression and representation that count in art, but the individual in his identity and humanity. First comes the cultivation and creation of individual; then the individual can create.” 94

via Oliver Tomas | Text Proportion Utility » Blog Archive » Johannes Itten’s The Elements of Color.

Not necessarily packaging, but very cool nonetheless. French designer Julien Madérou has created a paper dock for the iPhone, free to anyone to download, print out, and assemble. Visit his website to to download one yourself!

via TheDieline.com: Package Design: Creative Dielines: iPhone Paper Dock.

Sweet vintage Porsche poster collection over at grain edit. Thanks to AisleOne for posting and grain edit for the collection.

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

This is nice.

Reading a newspaper, I saw a picture of birds on the electric wires. I cut out the photo and decided to make a song, using the exact location of the birds as notes no Photoshop edit. I knew it wasn’t the most original idea in the universe. I was just curious to hear what melody the birds were creating.I sent the music to the photographer, Paulo Pinto, who I Googled on the internet. He told his editor, who told a reporter and the story ended up as an interview in the very same newspaper.Here I’ve posted a short video made with the photo, the music and the score composed by the birds.Music made with Logic.Video made with After Effects.The newspaper story about my work O Estado de São Paulo: tinyurl.com/l4qdbg

via Birds on the Wires on Vimeo.

I just came across this post over at AisleOne and could help myself from sharing it. In 15 years of working as a graphic designer, I have never came across this designer. I’m excited to look closer at his work. I agree with the following post… his logo work is of the best quality. And from his biography… he was very passionate about his work.

[Stefan Kanchev was not just talented but also exceptionally industrious artist. All of his works to the last letter were drawn by hand. His passion was so great that often he worked night and day without stopping. The artist’s wife remembered that he was working at his drawing table till the last moment when he was taken to the hospital. Stefan Kanchev died in 2001 at the age of 85.]

Stefan Kanchev 1915 – 2001 was one of the most prolific graphic designers to come out of Bulgaria. He’s designed numerous book covers, posters, postcards, advertisements, forms and envelopes, post stamps, labels and packages but he’s widely recognized for his excellent logo work. He’s considered one of the best logo designers along with Saul Bass and Paul Rand.The simplicity of the logos created by Kanchev is what really stands out for me. They all work in a solid, single color and a minimum amount of shapes and lines are used to create the visual. Stunning.

Via Steve Kirkendall

via Stefan Kanchev • Blog Archive • AisleOne.

I think this is a great departure from traditional wine label design. I love the idea of the circus characters! They will have stopping power… and be memorable to the consumer. Check out the Australian design firm who created the brand. PublicCreative

One more from the Vinaceous Wines series we posted not to long ago, designed by PublicCreative:”A new range of wines based on circus characters. These wines have a cult following in Australia, we also designed A0 posters most of which were quickly ‘souvenired’ by poster collectors”

via TheDieline.com: Package Design: One more from Vinaceous Wines.