bLog-oMotives: 2012

Toot! Toot!*: 'iheartlogos' third volume gives logo love to Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity designs

The newly released book iheartlogos season three features two logo designs by Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.. The inspiration-filled volume, published through the iheartlogos website, features 391 logos created by 121 designers from 20 countries around the world.

The Jeff Fisher LogoMotives designs showcased (above) are the logo for the North Portland Business Association (representing businesses in the designer's own neighborhood) and the safe sex self-promotion design for A Rubber's Ducky.

The identity re-design for the North Portland Business Association took the industrial history of the area, prominent landmarks and the familiar local blue heron into consideration as design elements. The symbol also appears in the books Logos From North to South America (Spain) and the Big Book of Logos 5.

A duck's head doubling as the shape of a condom, with a reservoir-tip, was a subtle "life preserver" message in the A Rubber's Ducky safe sex image. The logo appears in the books New Logo & Trademark Design (Japan), The New Big Book of Logos, LogoLounge - Volume 1, New Logo & Trademark Collection (Japan) and Logos from North to South America (Spain).

Logo images included in the book were judged and voted on by other designers submitting logos, and individuals registered to vote, at the website iheartlogos.com. The limited edition book is currently available exclusively on the site, for $25. Season four of the iheartlogos competition is currently accepting logo entries.

Fisher, a 35 year design industry veteran, is the author of Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands and The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success: Ideas and tactics for a killer career. Other book projects are currently in the works.

The designer has received over 600 design awards and his work has been published in more than 160 books on identity design, self-promotion and the marketing of small businesses. He often travels – nationally and internationally – to present courses, seminars and workshops on design, branding, marketing and social networking. In addition, Fisher is a nationally-recognized speaker, making numerous presentations each year to design organizations, design schools, universities and business groups.

More information about Jeff Fisher, and his design and writing efforts, may be found on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blogfolio.

(* If I don’t "toot!" my own horn, no one else will.)

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

All of the following competition or book submission deadlines present great opportunities to showcase your design efforts, market your work on an international scale through the published books, and "toot!" your own horn to clients, peers and the media:

1000 Food Styling Ideas
(Rockport Publishers - USA)
Extended Deadline
No entry fees charged

American Graphic Design & Advertising Awards
(AGDA - USA)
Deadline: 7 December 2012
Late Deadline: 17 December 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

The Louie Awards
(Greeting Card Association - USA)
Deadline Extended: 12 December 2012
Entry fees charged

TDC Typeface Design Competition
(Type Directors Club - USA)
Deadline: 14 December 2012
Entry fees charged

TDC Communication Design Competition
(Type Directors Club - USA)
Deadline: 14 December 2012
Entry fees charged

The Telly Awards
(The Telly Awards - USA)
Early Deadline: 14 December 2012
Entry fees charged

Geo Graphic
(Index Book - Spain)
Deadline: 15 December 2012
No entry fees charged

Basic Cover
(Index Book - Spain)
Deadline: 15 December 2012
No entry fees charged

American Package Design Awards
(Graphic Design USA - USA)
Deadline Extended: 20 December 2012
Entry fees charged

Hiiibrand Awards 2012
(Hiiibrand - China)
Deadline: 31 December 2012
Entry fees charged

ADC Awards: Design
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 31 December 2012
Deadline: 11 January 2013
Entry fees charged

ADC Awards: Motion
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 31 December 2012
Deadline: 11 January 2013
Entry fees charged

ADC Awards: Photography
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 31 December 2012
Deadline: 11 January 2013
Entry fees charged

ADC Awards: Illustration
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 31 December 2012
Deadline: 11 January 2013
Entry fees charged

ADC Awards: Interactive
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 31 December 2012
Deadline: 18 January 2013
Entry fees charged

ADC Awards: Advertising
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 31 December 2012
Deadline: 11 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Logo Nest 03 | The Special B&W Edition
(Logo Nest)
Deadline: 31 December 2012
Membership flat fee charged

Communication Arts Illustration Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 4 January 2013
Entry fees charged

ADC Awards: Student
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Deadline: 11 January 2013
Entry fees charged

The O'toole Awards for Creative Excellence
(American Association of Advertising Agencies - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 11 January 2013
Deadline: 25 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Communciator Awards
(IAVA - USA)
Final Deadline: 18 January 2012
Entry fees charged

The O'toole Awards for Media Excellence
(American Association of Advertising Agencies - USA)
Deadline: 25 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Best in Typography Annual
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 30 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Social/Political Postersl
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 30 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Print's Regional Design Annual 2013
(Print Magazine - USA)
Early Bird Deadline: 1 February 2013
Entry fees charged

Summit Creative Awards
(Summit Awards - USA)
Deadline: 11 February 2013
Entry fees charged

HOW Promotion & Marketing Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Early Deadline: 22 February 2013
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Photography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 15 March 2013
Entry fees charged

In-HOWse Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 1 May 2013
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Design Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 10 May 2013
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Advertising Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 10 May 2013
Entry fees charged

Summit Marketing Effectiveness Awards
(Summit Awards - USA)
Deadline: 13 June 2013
Entry fees charged

I Heart Logos, Season 4
(iheartlogos.com - USA)
Deadline: 31 August 2013
Entry Fee Increase: 1 September 2013
Final Deadline: 15 September 2013
Entry fees charged

Summit Emerging Media Awards
(Summit Awards - USA)
Deadline: 20 September 2013
Entry fees charged

LogoLounge
(LogoLounge - USA)
Deadline: Ongoing
Annual membership fee charged

(To make sure you are reading the latest bLog-oMotives design competition update click here.)

You may want to read my article about participating in design industry competitions and calls for book submissions: A collection of design competition - and book submission request - tips, tricks and observations.

A design competition calendar is also available at Icograda. Lürzer's ARCHIVE has an impressive online list of competitions sponsored by international magazines and organizations. Dexinger posts competitions of great value to industry professionals - however designers need to be aware that some of the listings are for "spec" work as a requirement for submission. Requests for new, or speculative, work as a condition of entering a "contest" are much different than legitimate design competition "calls for entries," in which previously created works are judged for possible awards, exhibition, or publication in an annual or other book.

My own work appears in over 160 graphic design books. Many of those inclusions are the result of design competitions, or requests for submissions, like those listed above.

© 2012 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

All of the following competition or book submission deadlines present great opportunities to showcase your design efforts, market your work on an international scale through the published books, and "toot!" your own horn to clients, peers and the media:

1000 Food Styling Ideas
(Rockport Publishers - USA)
Extended Deadline
No entry fees charged

New Talent Annual 2013
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 14 November 2012
Entry fees charged

Font Aid VI: Aster Affects
(SOTA - USA)
Deadline: 17 November 2012
No entry fees charged

100 Best Annual Reports 2013
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 26 November 2012
Entry fees charged

American Package Design Awards
(Graphic Design USA - USA)
Deadline: 30 November 2012
Entry fees charged

Your Best Work Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline Extended: 1 December 2012
Entry fees charged

Hand Drawn
(Print Magazine - USA)
Deadline Extended: 1 December 2012
Entry fees charged

Print's Portfolio Review
(Print Magazine - USA)
Deadline Extended: 1 December 2012
Entry fees charged

American Graphic Design & Advertising Awards
(AGDA - USA)
Deadline: 10 December 2012
Late Deadline: 23 December 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

The Louie Awards
(Greeting Card Association - USA)
Deadline Extended: 12 December 2012
Entry fees charged

TDC Typography Competition
(Type Directors Club - USA)
Deadline: 14 December 2012
Entry fees charged

The Telly Awards
(The Telly Awards - USA)
Early Deadline: 14 December 2012
Entry fees charged

Geo Graphic
(Index Book - Spain)
Deadline: 15 December 2012
No entry fees charged

Basic Cover
(Index Book - Spain)
Deadline: 15 December 2012
No entry fees charged

Hiiibrand Awards 2012
(Hiiibrand - China)
Deadline: 31 December 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Illustration Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 4 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Communciator Awards
(IAVA - USA)
Final Deadline: 18 January 2012
Entry fees charged

Best in Typography Annual
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 30 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Social/Political Postersl
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 30 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Photography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 15 March 2013
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Design Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 10 May 2013
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Advertising Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 10 May 2013
Entry fees charged

I Heart Logos, Season 4
(iheartlogos.com - USA)
Deadline: 31 August 2013
Entry Fee Increase: 1 September 2013
Final Deadline: 15 September 2013
Entry fees charged

LogoLounge
(LogoLounge - USA)
Deadline: Ongoing
Annual membership fee charged

(To make sure you are reading the latest bLog-oMotives design competition update click here.)

You may want to read my article about participating in design industry competitions and calls for book submissions: A collection of design competition - and book submission request - tips, tricks and observations.

A design competition calendar is also available at Icograda. Lürzer's ARCHIVE has an impressive online list of competitions sponsored by international magazines and organizations. Dexinger posts competitions of great value to industry professionals - however designers need to be aware that some of the listings are for "spec" work as a requirement for submission. Requests for new, or speculative, work as a condition of entering a "contest" are much different than legitimate design competition "calls for entries," in which previously created works are judged for possible awards, exhibition, or publication in an annual or other book.

My own work appears in over 160 graphic design books. Many of those inclusions are the result of design competitions, or requests for submissions, like those listed above.

© 2012 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

GraphicDesign.com reviews "Identity Crisis!"

Back in the fall of 2007 my second book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands, was released by How Books. It's always the hope of any author that their book will have some longevity - or take on a life of its own. I was very pleased when I contacted by the editors at the recently revamped GraphicDesign.com with an expressed interest to take a new look at Identity Crisis!. With copies of the book still available online, and in the design section of some bookstores, I appreciate the GraphicDesign.com review.

© 2012 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Simple garden hose guide & plant protector [Redux]

[With hot summer weather causing me to do a little more hand-watering than usual, I've realized that I need to make a few more of my DIY hose guides. Here's a "rerun" of the original post on my past garden project. Happy gardening!]

One of my greatest passions, and best forms of therapy, outside of work is my garden. Although the entire garden is most often watered by a timer- operated irrigation and drip system, occasionally there is a need to do extra watering using the garden hose. I always hate to be dragging the hose across the driveway, sidewalk or patio and have it attempt to decapitate plants in the garden.

I've looked at various hose guides at garden stores and I'm just too cheap to pay what is asked. I'd heard of people making the guides using lengths of pipe with ornamental lamp finials on top. Again, most lamp finials I like are too expensive for me to use in such a manner. A few weeks ago at Lowe's I found some aged bronze swirl drawer pulls on sale for $1.28 a piece - and I'd discovered my hose guide ornaments. So, with a 37-cent copper cap, a $1.42 piece of rebar, and about $1.00 worth of copper pipe, I had my hose guide materials for just over $4.00.

The materials needed for one hose guard (shown above) are:

• 1 piece of 1/2 inch copper pipe cut to 10 inches in length

• 1 copper cap for 1/2 inch pipe

• 1 piece of 3/8 inch rebar cut to 24 inches in length

• 1 ornamental brass or bronze drawer pull

• 1 metal screw (comes with drawer pull)

The tools needed include:

• a tape measure

• a handheld pipe cutter (available at the hardware store)

• a hacksaw (to cut the rebar and screw)

• an electric drill

• the necessary solder and soldering equipment

• steel wool, sandpaper or a tool made for roughing up the pipe surfaces to be joined

• a container of flux and the necessary brush for "painting" it on the copper tubing

• a pair of gloves with a non-skid palm surface for assistance in holding the pipe while it is being cut

The project process was actually fairly simple. The most effort was required in cutting the rebar and copper pipe to the proper lengths. It was also necessary to cut the screw that came with the drawer pull to about half of its length.

I used an electric drill to create a hole in the copper cap to screw on the drawer pull. Once the drawer pull was tightly screwed onto the cap, Ed soldered the screw in place within the cap to prevent movement (you could super glue the screw in place if desired). He then soldered the copper cap to the 10-inch length of copper pipe (again, you could super glue it on for ease).

I then stuck the piece of rebar into the ground, at the corner of the flower bed, until 10 inches of the rebar was left above the surface. The copper pipe fit over the rebar and my "designer" hose guide was in place. In a little less than an hour I had three custom hose guides completed and installed in my garden.

Note: You might also want to check out my flower pot umbrella stand and copper pipe garden trellis projects.

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

All of the following competition or book submission deadlines present great opportunities to showcase your design efforts, market your work on an international scale through the published books, and "toot!" your own horn to clients, peers and the media:

Design: Portfolios & Self-Promotions
(Rockport Publishers - USA)
Deadline: 29 June 2012
No entry fees charged

HOW Interactive Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 2 July 2012
Entry fees charged

FPO Awards
(UnderConsideration - USA)
Deadline: 2 July 2012
Entry fees charged

Summit Marketing Effectiveness Awards
(Summit International Awards - USA)
Deadline: 6 July 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW Logo Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 9 July 2012
Entry fees charged

American Graphic Design Awards
(Graphic Design USA - USA)
Deadline: 13 July 2012

Entry fees charged
UCDA Design Competition
(UCDA - USA)
Deadline: 13 July 2012
Entry fees charged

London International Awards
(LIA - UK)
Deadline Extended: 13 July 2012
Entry fees charged

Social/Political Posters
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 17 July 2012
Entry fees charged

Hiiibrand Awards 2012
(Hiiibrand - China)
Early Deadline: 31 July 2012
Deadline: 31 December 2012
Entry fees charged

2012 Print Awards
(The Creativity Awards - USA)
Deadline: 10 August 2012
Entry fees charged

100 Best in Photography 2013
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 14 August 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW International Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 15 August 2012
Entry fees charged

iheartlogos season three
(iheartlogos.com - USA)
Early Deadline: 31 August 2012
Late Deadline: 15 September 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Typography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 9 September 2012
Entry fees charged

Summit Emerging Media Awards
(Summit International Awards - USA)
Deadline: 19 September 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Interactive Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 5 October 2012
Entry fees charged

Your Best Work Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 15 November 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Illustration Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 4 January 2013
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Photography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 15 March 2013
Entry fees charged

LogoLounge
(LogoLounge - USA)
Deadline: Ongoing
Annual membership fee charged

(To make sure you are reading the latest bLog-oMotives design competition update click here.)

You may want to read my article about participating in design industry competitions and calls for book submissions: A collection of design competition - and book submission request - tips, tricks and observations.

A design competition calendar is also available at Icograda. Lürzer's ARCHIVE has an impressive online list of competitions sponsored by international magazines and organizations. Dexinger posts competitions of great value to industry professionals - however designers need to be aware that some of the listings are for "spec" work as a requirement for submission. Requests for new, or speculative, work as a condition of entering a "contest" are much different than legitimate design competition "calls for entries," in which previously created works are judged for possible awards, exhibition, or publication in an annual or other book.

My own work appears in over 160 graphic design books. Many of those inclusions are the result of design competitions, or requests for submissions, like those listed above.

© 2012 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

All of the following competition or book submission deadlines present great opportunities to showcase your design efforts, market your work on an international scale through the published books, and "toot!" your own horn to clients, peers and the media:

Best of Brochure Design 12
(Rockport Publishers - USA)
Deadline Extended: 15 April 2012
No entry fees charged

American Inhouse Design Awards
(Graphic Design USA - USA)
Extended Deadline: 16 April 2012
Entry fees charged

2012 Media and Interactive Awards
(The Creativity Awards - USA)
Deadline Extended: 16 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Poster Annual 2013
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline Extended: 17 April 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

33rd Annual Telly Awards
(The Telly Awards - USA)
Deadline Extended: 20 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Social/Political Posters
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 23 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Core77 Design Awards
(Core77 - USA)
Extended Deadline: 24 April 2012
Entry fees charged

American Web Design Awards
(Graphic Design USA - USA)
Deadline: 29 April 2012
Entry fees charged

100 Best in Design
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 30 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Win A Classic
(Neenah CLASSIC® Papers - USA)
Deadline: 30 April 2012
Entry fees charged

In-HOWse Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline Extended: 1 May 2012
Entry fees charged

100 Best in Advertsising
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 7 May 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Design Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 11 May 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Advertising Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 11 May 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW Logo Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 1 June 2012
Entry fees charged

Summit Marketing Effectiveness Awards
(Summit International Awards - USA)
Deadline: 20 June 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW Interactive Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 2 July 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW International Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 15 August 2012
Entry fees charged

iheartlogos season three
(iheartlogos.com - USA)
Early Deadline: 31 August 2012
Late Deadline: 15 September 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Typography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 9 September 2012
Entry fees charged

Summit Emerging Media Awards
(Summit International Awards - USA)
Deadline: 19 September 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Interactive Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 5 October 2012
Entry fees charged

Your Best Work Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 15 November 2012
Entry fees charged

LogoLounge
(LogoLounge - USA)
Deadline: Ongoing
Annual membership fee charged

(To make sure you are reading the latest bLog-oMotives design competition update click here.)

You may want to read my article about participating in design industry competitions and calls for book submissions: A collection of design competition - and book submission request - tips, tricks and observations.

A design competition calendar is also available at Icograda. Lürzer's ARCHIVE has an impressive online list of competitions sponsored by international magazines and organizations. Dexinger posts competitions of great value to industry professionals - however designers need to be aware that some of the listings are for "spec" work as a requirement for submission. Requests for new, or speculative, work as a condition of entering a "contest" are much different than legitimate design competition "calls for entries," in which previously created works are judged for possible awards, exhibition, or publication in an annual or other book.

My own work appears in over 160 graphic design books. Many of those inclusions are the result of design competitions, or requests for submissions, like those listed above.

© 2012 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Three new paperback design book releases highlight the identity work of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

The logo design efforts of Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives are featured in three recent paperback book releases from major industry publishers. The examples are featured in the books The Best of Letterhead and Logo Design and Letterhead and Logo Design 11 from Rockport Publishers, and The Big Book of Logos 5 from Harper Design.

The Best of Letterhead and Logo Design contains Jeff Fisher's identities for Black Dog Furniture Design and the triangle productions! theatre company shows The Food Chain and Girls' Night Out. Logos for writer Kimberly Webster, retail establishment Peggy Sundays, and the 100-year-old W.C. Winks Hardware were also selected. All of the businesses are in the Portland metropolitan area. The volume is a collection of the best designs from the previous four Letterhead and Logo Design books released by the company between the years 1999 and 2007.

Compiled by the firm Design Army, the book Letterhead and Logo Design 11 features the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives design concept for the Cat Adoption Team.

The Big Book of Logos 5, a nearly 400-page volume from authors David E. Carter and Suzanna MW Stephens, showcases designs for the Benicia Historical Museum (Benicia, CA), Four Rivers Community School (Ontario, OR), the annual golf tournament and auction events for Residence XII (Kirkland, WA), Twisted Elegance Interactive (Seattle, WA), The Parenting Alliance, and the Young Native Writer's Essay Contest sponsored by the Holland+Knight Charitable Foundation (Tampa, FL). An icon produced as part of the international Fluerons of Hope - Font Aid III effort, benefiting those impacted by the tsunami of 2004, was also selected.

Portland clients highlighted in the volume include interiors firm NoBox Design, the VanderVeer Center anti-aging clinic, the City of Portland's Neighborhood Service Center program, Bella Terra Landscape Designs, the AIDS residential care facility Our House of Portland, and architect Thomas Fallon.

Logos for the community activist organization Association for Responsible Inner Eastside Neighborhood Development (AFriend), the Reed College Fall Thesis programs for 2004 and 2005, The Spring Showcase presented by the Philoptochos of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and the now closed Balaboosta Delicatessen were also recognized.

Identities honored for North Portland individuals, organizations or events included those for community organizer Mike Verbout, St. Johns Window Project, Portsmouth Neighborhood Association, North Portland Business Association and University Park United Methodist Church's annual North Portland Pride BBQ and Festival.

Selected designs include images created for George Fox University's Tilikum Center for Retreats & Outdoor Ministries (Newberg, OR) and the Emerge Medical Spa at Bridgeport (Tigard, OR).

Gay/Lesbian community logo images to be in the book include designs for Just Out newsmagazine (Portland, OR) and the Diversity Training program of DiversityBuilder.com (Brentwood, TN). In addition, my "I DO!" image, in support of same-sex marriage, and the logo for the designer's own marriage to partner Ed Cunningham are celebrated.

An identity created for a presentation at the 2004 HOW Design Conference was also published.

More information about Jeff Fisher, and his design and writing efforts, may be found on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blogfolio.

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

All of the following competition or book submission deadlines present great opportunities to showcase your design efforts, market your work on an international scale through the published books, and "toot!" your own horn to clients, peers and the media:

Top 100 New Creatives #53
(CMYK - USA)
Deadline Extended: 26 March 2012
Entry fees charged

Communicator Awards
(IAVA - USA)
Final Deadline: 30 March 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Photography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline Extended: 30 March 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

Neenah UnShow Competition
(Neenah Paper, HOW and PRINT - USA)
Deadline Extended: 30 March 2012
No entry fees charged

Best of Brochure Design 12
(Rockport Publishers - USA)
Deadline: 1 April 2012
No entry fees charged

In-HOWse Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 2 April 2012
Entry fees charged

PRINT Regional Design Annual
(PRINT - USA)
Final Deadline: 2 April 2012
Entry fees charged

The Dieline Package Design Awards
(The Dieline - USA)
Final Deadline: 2 April 2012
Entry fees charged

2012 Media and Interactive Awards
(The Creativity Awards - USA)
Deadline: 6 April 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW Promotion Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Final Deadline: 6 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Poster Annual 2013
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline Extended: 9 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Core77 Design Awards
(Core77 - USA)
Deadline: 10 April 2012
Entry fees charged

33rd Annual Telly Awards
(The Telly Awards - USA)
Deadline Extended: 22 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Social/Political Posters
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 23 April 2012
Entry fees charged

100 Best in Design
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 30 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Win A Classic
(Neenah CLASSIC® Papers - USA)
Deadline: 30 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Design Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 11 May 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Advertising Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 11 May 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW Logo Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 1 June 2012
Entry fees charged

Summit Marketing Effectiveness Awards
(Summit International Awards - USA)
Deadline: 20 June 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW Interactive Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 2 July 2012
Entry fees charged

iheartlogos season three
(iheartlogos.com - USA)
Early Deadline: 31 August 2012
Late Deadline: 15 September 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Typography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 9 September 2012
Entry fees charged

Summit Emerging Media Awards
(Summit International Awards - USA)
Deadline: 19 September 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Interactive Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 5 October 2012
Entry fees charged

LogoLounge
(LogoLounge - USA)
Deadline: Ongoing
Annual membership fee charged

(To make sure you are reading the latest bLog-oMotives design competition update click here.)

You may want to read my article about participating in design industry competitions and calls for book submissions: A collection of design competition - and book submission request - tips, tricks and observations.

A design competition calendar is also available at Icograda. Lürzer's ARCHIVE has an impressive online list of competitions sponsored by international magazines and organizations. Dexinger posts competitions of great value to industry professionals - however designers need to be aware that some of the listings are for "spec" work as a requirement for submission. Requests for new, or speculative, work as a condition of entering a "contest" are much different than legitimate design competition "calls for entries," in which previously created works are judged for possible awards, exhibition, or publication in an annual or other book.

My own work appears in over 160 graphic design books. Many of those inclusions are the result of design competitions, or requests for submissions, like those listed above.

© 2012 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Were these clients expecting original logo designs?

Quite often these days I am receiving emails, tweets, Facebook messages and direct messages, from design professionals around the world, expressing concern that they have come across a logo design that was much more than inspired by one of my own original identity creations. I really appreciate the vigilance of the design community.

In February 2012, one copyright infringement situation was brought to my attention by way of a personal email from a designer in Denmark, a tweet with the offending page link and a direct message from another designer on Twitter. Much of the concern shared by other professionals has been the result of the design industry's recent experience with LogoGarden and the large number of copyright violations of my own work found via Google reverse image searches.

Recently I received an email from a design peer in Texas, expressing his concern that he'd come across a rip-off of one of my designs in the online portfolio of an Austin designer (above). In viewing the example, I immediately knew that he was referring to the Neighborhood Service Center logo I designed for the City of Portland's Office of Neighborhood Involvement - an image that evolved from an earlier local government agency identity I created in 1999. In responding to my online design pal, I explained that I would suspect that the Austin image had somehow been inspired by my design, but it didn't appear to be a literal rip-off.

Still, my curiosity was piqued - and I did a Google reverse image search using the logo image from Austin. Initially, I found a Shutterstock graphic (above) that was being sold by the company until at least 10.12.10. I suppose it was "inspired" by my design, as there are some very obvious similarities. I then came across numerous sites around the world offering the image for sale or as a free clipart download. The search then resulted in finding many logo designs making use of the image, or variations of the graphic.

Here are some of the examples I discovered:

• Logos for a real estate investment concern; a Chinese company marketing first aid kits; a television show in Argentina, student housing accommodations in Syria, home medical services in Illinois, and a Michigan county program (with watermark lines from a clipart site still in place when enlarged).

• Symbols representing a glass and window business in Bangladesh, a real estate firm in Andora, a nonprofit organization in Scotland, a Chinese real estate representative, a website in China and an insurance company in British Columbia.

• Images including those for a "design contest" in China (with the contributor being called out on the site for not submitting an original design), a business selling Turkish products in Russia, a window manufacturer in the Ukraine, a Pakistani student organization, a health care program in Michigan and an architecture firm in the Czech Republic.

• Identities for a Canadian community grants program, a Chinese job placement firm, a real estate broker concern in Brazil, a Russian news-related website and an in-home health care business.

I also found the image being used as an illustrative element on many websites, the cover graphic for a National Household Education Survey Report book in China and in many other applications.

With the image found in use all over the world, I wonder how many of the owners of these businesses, and organization administrators, think they are represented by a truly original design - and how many designers represented their work as such.

Jeffism #12

"As you leave design school the final day, that door hitting you in the ass is notice your real education is about to begin."

- Jeff Fisher

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

All of the following competition or book submission deadlines present great opportunities to showcase your design efforts, market your work on an international scale through the published books, and "toot!" your own horn to clients, peers and the media:

International Design Awards
(IDA - USA)
Deadline Extended: 15 February 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

Design School Wisdom [book]
(Chronicle Books - USA)
Deadline: 17 February 2012
No entry fees charged

ADC Advertising & Intergrated Awards
(Art Directors Club - USA)
Deadline Extended: 24 February 2012
Entry fees charged

Poster Annual 2013
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 27 February 2012
Entry fees charged

Core77 Design Awards
(Core77 - USA)
Deadline: 27 February 2012
Entry fees charged

Logo Design 3
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

Poster Design 2
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

Magazine & Book Design
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

Illustration 2
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

Jewelry Design
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

Inkarnation Tattoo & Lifestyle
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

Best of Caricature
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

XXX Graphic Design
(zeixs - Germany)
Deadline Extended: 29 February 2012
No entry fees charged

PRINT Regional Design Annual
(PRINT - USA)
Deadline Extended: 1 March 2012
Entry fees charged

HOW Promotion Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 1 March 2012
Late Deadline: 19 March 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

Brand New Awards
(UnderConsideration - USA)
Deadline: 2 March 2012
Entry fees charged

33rd Annual Telly Awards
(The Telly Awards - USA)
Final Deadline: 2 March 2012
Entry fees charged

Summit Creative Awards
(Summit International Awards - USA)
Deadline Extended: 7 March 2012
Entry fees charged

Communicator Awards
(IAVA - USA)
Final Deadline: 9 March 2012
Entry fees charged

Social/Political Posters
(Graphis - USA)
Deadline: 9 March 2012
Entry fees charged

Neenah UnShow Competition
(Neenah Paper, HOW and PRINT - USA)
Deadline: 12 March 2012
No entry fees charged

Top 100 New Creatives #53
(CMYK - USA)
Deadline Extended: 12 March 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Photography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 16 March 2012
Entry fees charged

In-HOWse Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 2 April 2012
Entry fees charged

The Dieline Package Design Awards
(The Dieline - USA)
Final Deadline: 2 April 2012
Entry fees charged

2012 Media and Interactive Awards
(The Creativity Awards - USA)
Deadline: 6 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Win A Classic
(Neenah CLASSIC® Papers - USA)
Deadline: 30 April 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Design Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 11 May 2012
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Advertising Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 11 May 2012
Entry fees charged

Typography 1: Bright Ideas in Type
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012
No entry fees charged

Layouts 1
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012
No entry fees charged

Black & White
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012

Color 1
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012
No entry fees charged

Logo Design 3
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012
No entry fees charged

Brochures 1
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012
No entry fees charged

All-Type Logos
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012
No entry fees charged

Big and Bold
(Bright Books|David E. Carter - USA)
Deadline: 15 May 2012
No entry fees charged

HOW Interactive Design Awards
(HOW - USA)
Deadline: 2 July 2012
Entry fees charged

iheartlogos season three
(iheartlogos.com - USA)
Early Deadline: 31 August 2012
Late Deadline: 15 September 2012 (late fees apply)
Entry fees charged

Communication Arts Typography Competition
(Communication Arts - USA)
Deadline: 9 September 2012
Entry fees charged

(To make sure you are reading the latest bLog-oMotives design competition update click here.)

You may want to read my article about participating in design industry competitions and calls for book submissions: A collection of design competition - and book submission request - tips, tricks and observations.

A design competition calendar is also available at Icograda. Lürzer's ARCHIVE has an impressive online list of competitions sponsored by international magazines and organizations. Dexinger posts competitions of great value to industry professionals - however designers need to be aware that some of the listings are for "spec" work as a requirement for submission. Requests for new, or speculative, work as a condition of entering a "contest" are much different than legitimate design competition "calls for entries," in which previously created works are judged for possible awards, exhibition, or publication in an annual or other book.

My own work appears in over 160 graphic design books. Many of those inclusions are the result of design competitions, or requests for submissions, like those listed above.

© 2012 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Toot! Toot!*: 'iheartlogos' second volume gives logo love to Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity design

The newly released book iheartlogos season two includes the work of Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.. The inspiration-filled volume, published through the iheartlogos website, features 450 logos created by 170 designers from 31 countries around the world.

The Jeff Fisher LogoMotives design included (above) is a pro-bono effort for the Historic Kenton Firehouse Committee, representing the group maintaining and operating the landmark community space in the designer's own North Portland neighborhood. The identity was also short-listed in the Russian design competition Identity: Best of the Best 2010, and appears in the books Logo Nest 01 (Australia) and Logo Design Vol. 3 (Germany).

Identities included in the book were judged and voted on by other designers submitting logos, and individuals registered to vote, at the website iheartlogos.com. The limited edition book is currently available exclusively on the site, for $25 - which includes free shipping in the continental United States. Season three of the iheartlogos competition is currently underway.

More information about Jeff Fisher, and his design and writing efforts, may be found on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blogfolio.

(* If I don’t "toot!" my own horn, no one else will.)

Mailbag

Whistle Stops

Get on Track!

Tootin' the Horn

Connections

Destinations

Identity Design Tracks

Side Tracks

The Lounge Car

Booking Adventures

Previous Engagements

Competition Judging

Toot! Toot!*: 'iheartlogos' third volume gives logo love to Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity designs

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

GraphicDesign.com reviews "Identity Crisis!"

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Simple garden hose guide & plant protector [Redux]

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Three new paperback design book releases highlight the identity work of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Were these clients expecting original logo designs?

Jeffism #12

Calls for entries: Upcoming graphic design competition and book submission deadlines

Toot! Toot!*: 'iheartlogos' second volume gives logo love to Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity design

Engineer of Creative Identity