George Lois - an advertising legend

I recently came across the web presence of advertising industry legend George Lois. As a student, back in the mid-1970's in the Journalism School at the University of Oregon, we were studying the design and art direction work of George Lois - especially his work in publication design creating memorable Esquire Magazine covers. His advertising campaigns were presented to students as among the best of the best.

The George Lois website is a "work in progress," but it provides a lot of great eye-candy for those interested in graphic design or the business of advertising. Three decades after I was studying the work - and reading the writings - of this industry powerhouse, he's still at it today. I look forward to the expansion of the packaging and logo design sections of the site.

Books by Lois were recommended reading for students in the advertising program 30+ years ago. In recent years his $ellebrity: My Angling and Tangling With Famous People and his lastest book, Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture (written with fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger), have been added to my ever-growing design and advertising library.

© 2008 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Gastronomical orgasms in a pretty purple gift box

I was very flattered when I got an email from a design industry peer (you know who you are!) thanking me for my mentions and support of their design firm over the past year. I was even more surprised to read that a gift of appreciation was on its way - and that "for optimal flavor, the items should be consumed by the suggested date."

OK, now I was really curious. I anxiously awaited the "clank" of the lid of my mailbox each day. When the package arrived I opened it to a beautiful little purple folded envelope containing an even more stunning tiny purple and white self-promo piece. That envelope was sitting upon a gorgeous purple box, wrapped with a purple satin ribbon, and on top the box were the words "Vosges Haut-Chocolat." (The entire presentation was fan-frickin'-tastic!)

I honestly think I started to salivate - or perhaps I was foaming at the mouth.

I'd been told all about Vosges chocolates when in Chicago for the 2005 HOW Design Conference - and previously read some of founder Katrina Markoff's great press. However, with my crazed schedule I didn't have the time visit the Michigan Avenue boutique.

The chocolates were truly multiple orgasms in a purple gift box. I received an Exotic Truffle Collection box of amazing variety. My gift included the delectible Naga (sweet Indian curry powder, coconut and milk chocolate), Black Pearl (ginger, wasabi, dark chocolate and black sesame seeds), Absinthe (Chinese star anise, fennel, pastis, dark chocolate and cocoa powder), Ambrosia (macadamia nuts, Cointreau and white chocolate), Chef Pascal (kirsch, dark chocolate and dried Michigan cherry), Gianduia (crunchy hazelnut praline, milk chocolate and praline bits), Wink of the Rabbit (caramel milk chocolate and organic New Mexican pecan), Woolloomooloo (Australian macadamia nut,coconut and milk chocolate), and Budapest (sweet Hungarian paprika and dark chocolate). I'm drooling on my keyboard just remembering the unbelievable sensations and flavors.

I must compliment Vosges Haut-Chocolat, and their designer(s), for the beautiful packaging and company literature contained within. Additional thanks go out to the design professional who sent me the wonderful gift. It was enjoyed with many "oohs," "aahs" and assorted moans while following the "see," "lick," "snap" and "taste" instructions from the "How to eat a truffle" booklet.

I think I will follow the advice from the Vosges Haut-Chocolat website and my New year's resolution will be to "Eat Chocolate" - much more chocolate - in 2007.

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Yazi - a great (and beautiful) holiday gift

Last weekend my partner Ed and I went to a great holiday party at the home of some friends in the small mountain community of Brightwood. A fresh, light coating of snow made the location perfect for a festive evening. One guest brought the party-givers a "hostess gift" of a bottle of Yazi - a ginger flavored vodka.

The beautiful packaging immediately caught my attention as many of the party guests "oohed" and "aahed" when the bottle was removed from the gift bag. It was passed around the room to numerous comments about the "gorgeous" and "exotic" design. The vodka is contained in an imported French bottle with rich red side panels, a shiny red neck wrap and a gorgeous dragon etching. To be honest, when what resembles an oversized perfume bottle got to me, I was surprised to see that Yazi is a product of Hood River Distillers, in Hood River, OR - located about an hour from my home studio. (I've always gotten a chuckle out of the fact the distiller is located across the street from the city's sewage treatment plant.)

Everyone at the party then wanted to taste the product. Small liqueur glasses were brought out and the "oohs" and "aahs" started up again as we all began sipping the beverage. The stuff was really good. Along with orange, lemon, cayenne and red pepper extracts, the natural ginger flavoring gives Yazi a sensual and slightly spicy taste. I wasn't surprised at all to later learn that Yazi had received a "Very Good" (85-89 points) from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

It was interesting to read, at a variety of online resources, that Yazi was created with the female market in mind. From initial visual impressions it would appear that it was also produced for a target market of designers, and those who appreciate good design. Portland, Oregon-based Leopold Ketel & Partners created the elegant package. The design received a Gold Medal in the packaging category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2006.

I'm looking forward to trying Yazi in some mixed cocktails. Hood River Distillers has several recipes for Yazi drinks on their website.

I do think Yazi would be a great last-minute holiday gift - or the perfect "hostess gift" as you celebrate the season in the next week or so.

© 2006 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

SquidSoap: Great product, incrediblepackaging and brilliant logo

Every once in a great while a new product comes along that jumps off the shelves, or page of some publication, and makes you take note. The recently released children's product SquidSoap is just such an item - from the standpoint of product design, intended use of the product and graphic identity.

SquidSoap is a liquid soap dispenser that puts a small, kid-safe ink mark on the child's hand when the pump is pushed. The mark can be removed only by washing the hands for 15 to 20 seconds, the amount of time often recommended by experts in infectious disease control. Developed by John Lynn, a chemical engineer in Austin, Texas, SquidSoap ink is made with FDA-approved ingredients; it's even edible, according to the company. The dispenser is refillable, but the inkpad eventually empties. The soap is ordinary liquid hand soap, not the antibacterial kind.

The blue plastic bottle comes with an inviting orange squid with eyes draped over the pump top and down its sides. The brilliant logo makes use of the often-cliche child's handprint in a unique and clever manner. The graphic hand is down-turned and orange, with a blue eye representing the product's ink mark. To any kid, or fun-loving adult, the image will immediately resemble a cartoonish squid. The packaging and logo were designed by the Austin office of Pentagram. DJ Stout and Julie Savasky were the designers.

Where was SquidSoap when I was a kid and my mother was constantly hounding all her children to wash their hands? Still, it will fit nicely into the grown-up "Little Mermaid" themed bathroom of my current home.

SquidSoap may be purchased at select grocery stores, pharmacies and through the the company's web site.

Photo: SquidSoap

© 2006 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives