bLog-oMotives: September 2007

Re-Design: TraveLady Media

Pacific Northwest television personality Cheryl Hansen is known as the “TraveLady” due to her reports and video segments on the travel industry. For many years she used an illustration of a woman carrying luggage as a personal identity (below left).

With plans to move into television and video production, focusing on travel options and opportunities for women, she wanted to update the old illustration with a transformation into a strong logo for branding purposes. The illustration was converted into a silhouette and one of the bags evolved into a graphic representation of a television (above right). Sophistication was added to the design through the use of a specific font for “TraveLady.” Movement was suggested with the human form overlapping the name and the gradation of the “Media” banner. The actual word incorporated into the banner may change with specific needs or usage.

The design was honored with a 2003 American Graphic Design Award, and is featured in the book Logo Design for Small Business 2.

Toot! Toot!:
Jeff Fisher is having an Identity Crisis!*

25 September 2007
For immediate release

(Portland, Ore) -- Identity Crisis! 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands, the new book from Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based design firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, has been released by publisher HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc. The book is currently available from all major online booksellers and will soon be on bookstore shelves internationally.

Identity Crisis! takes a fresh look at 50 before and after case studies, from designers and firms from around the world, by exploring the process of redesigning existing identities to help businesses refine their image, communicate with customers, and find success. Designers seeking inspiration - and any business considering a graphic makeover - will be presented an inside look at the challenges of redesigning identities and visual examples of creative and strategic thinking in achieving the desired results.

Jack Anderson, of the Seattle firm Hornall Anderson Design Works wrote the foreward for Identity Crisis! "Words of Wisdom," throughout the book, were provided by Sean Adams/AdamsMorika, Inc, Bob Domenz/Avenue, Tony Spaeth/Identityworks, Debbie Millman/Sterling Brands, Jack Yan/Jack Yan & Associates, design educator and author Robin Landa, Robynne Raye/Modern Dog Design Co., Mark E. Sackett/Reflectur, and the author.

Case studies presented in the volume include projects from the following firms: 3 Dogz Creative Inc. (Toronto, ONT, Canada), Advertising By Design (Clermont, FL USA), angryporcupine*design (Park City, UT USA), Avenue (Chicago, IL USA), b-design (San Diego, CA USA), biz-R (Totnes, Devon, UK), Brainforest, Inc. (Chicago, IL USA), Breathewords (Caldas da Rainha, Portugal), CC Graphic Design (Salt Lake City, UT USA), Common Sense Design (New Hamburg, ONT Canada), Connacher Design (Stamford, CT USA), Finamore Design (Brooklyn, NY USA), Fullblast, Inc. (Portland, OR USA), Glitschka Studios (Salem, OR USA), Graphicwise, Inc. (Irvine, CA USA), Hornall Anderson Design Works (Seattle, WA USA), and Identityworks (Rye, NY USA).

Other firms represented include: Jeff Fisher LogoMotives (Portland, OR USA), John Silver Design Bothell, WA (USA), MasonBaronet (Dallas, TX USA), Mayhem Studios (Los Angeles, CA USA), Modern Dog Design Co. (Seattle, WA USA), MyBrand (Lisbon, Portugal), nHarmony, Inc. (Muncie, IN USA), Octavo Designs (Frederick, MD USA), Paragon Integrated Marketing Communications (Salmiya, Kuwait), RDQ - Rdqlus Design Quantum (Omaha, NE USA), Round2 Communications - R2i (Baltimore, MD USA), Sayles Graphic Design (Des Moines, IA USA), Shapiro Design Associates Inc. (Irvington, NY USA), Shine Advertising Co. (Madison, WI USA), Sockeye Creative (Portland, OR USA), Studio GT&P (Foligno, PG Italy), Subplot Design Inc. (Vancouver, BC Canada), and Willoughby Design Group (Kansas City, MO USA)

Title: Identity Crisis! 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands
Hardbound: 216 pages
Publisher: HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications
Release: September 2007
ISBN: 1581809395
Price: $35.00

For more information, visit the Identity Crisis! blog. A downloadable PDF file of some teaser spreads is also available from the publisher at HOW Blog.

Jeff Fisher has received nearly 575 regional, national and international graphic design awards for his logo and corporate identity efforts. His work is featured in nearly 100 books on the design of logos, the business of graphic design, design education, and small business marketing. In addition, Fisher also writes for CreativeLatitude.com, HOW Magazine and other design resources; and speaks about the design profession to high school classes, college students, and at international design industry events.

Fisher is a member of the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council and the UCDA Designer Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. His first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success, was released by HOW Design Books in late 2004.

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

Reminder:
"Get Rich in a Niche" Webinar - Sept. 27th

I just wanted to remind design professionals that the first of HOW Magazine's Grow Your Design Business From Your Desktop Webinar series, "Get Rich in a Niche," is presented this Thursday, September 27. Review all the details in my previous bLog-oMotives entry about the exciting new business development resource. Ilise Benun and Peleg Top, of Marketing Mentor, are sure to make the Webinar educational and entertaining.

Finding your niche in the design world can change the direction of your career. After nearly 17 years as a graphic designer, I fine-tuned the focus of my design efforts in 1995, and have since had a successful run as an designer specializing in identity design.

Check out "Get Rich in a Niche." It will help you get your career on the right track.

The development of a great relationship
with Spanish publisher Index Book

Over the past few years I've developed a great relationship with the Spanish publisher Index Book, resulting in incredible international exposure for my work. It all began with initial email contact with designer and author Pedro Guitton when he was planning a series of logo design books. The series didn't develop as originally hoped, but in the process the project evolved into the book Logos: From North to South America, published by Index Book. I was honored to have 46 logos featured in the volume. The book has now been published in a mini paperback version soon to be released in the U.S.

Since then Guitton has always kept me aware of upcoming design book submission needs for Index Book. As a result, my work is represented in the beautiful book Fashion Identity, recently made available in the U.S through Amazon.com. The upcoming Guitton book Brochures: From North to South America will include some of my work, as will the restaurant graphics book Eating and Designing from designer Marta Aymerich.

Some time ago Pedro Guitton invited me to participate in another of his book projects, one devoted to designers, celebrities and icons that individuals in the design profession admired. The concept was to produce a book of graphics images and logos, from designers around the world, that represented those admired people. My submitted graphic was a very simple tribute to Milton Glaser. I recently noticed that Guitton has included the image (shown above) on his promotional page for the book, to be called A Tribute to Celebrities. The book will be launched at the London Book Fair in February of next year.

In an email from Guitton this past week, he told me of his latest project - a book to be called A Tribute to Typography, for which he is currently accepting submissions. Index Book often makes their call for entries public and I include the information in my semi-regular design competition deadline updates on bLog-oMotives.

Index Book is additionally greatly increasing exposure of designers through the publishing of Spanish language volumes of some Rockport Publisher offerings. 1,000 Retail Graphics recently became 1000 Diseños Comerciales , and 1000 Restaurant Bar & Cafe Graphics was translated to 1000 Diseños de restaurantes, bares y cafés, resulting in Rockport book participants having a much great audience in promoting their work.

'Identity Crisis!" is currently shipping...

I got word this afternoon, from my publisher HOW Books, that my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands is in the process of being shipped to bookstores around the world. The "official" release date has been posted as October 27th - but you should be able to find it in stores before that date. The websites of Amazon.com and most online booksellers currently say the book is "In Stock," so I would suspect those who have pre-ordered the book should be receiving it soon. I hope everyone enjoys Identity Crisis!

Watch for updates and additional news on the Identity Crisis! blog.

Advertising Icon Museum to open in 2008

As I've mentioned in past bLog-oMotives entries, I am a collector of a variety of items - enamel advertising signs, cowboy memorabilia, salt and pepper shakers, cookie jars, character teapots and more. However, my primary habit (requiring a regular fix on a semi-regular basis) is the collecting of advertising character figures. Over 200 of the ad icons have found a home in my design studio.

Being interested in the history of the imaginary advertising "spokes models," I often find myself doing a bit of online research for background information on various ad characters - or for characters I might ad to my collection.

I recently came across the website for the Advertising Icon Museum. The facility is set to open in Kansas City in the fall of 2008. The museum, founded by Robert Bernstein, is now under construction as part of the West Edge development on the west side of the city's fashionable Country Club Plaza district. The interior of the museum is being designed by Abbott Miller of Pentagram. Thousands of ad icon character items will remain on permanent display in the unique environment. Various temporary exhibits will be offered throughout the year as well as a complete range of educational programs, conferences and events.

The Advertising Icon Museum web presence has been coming together in recent months. More information can be found on the FAQ page. There's a fun, interactive, exhibit gallery page providing great information when clicking on character images. Links pages are provided to some of the enshrined icons.

The museum will also become the the permanent home of Advertising Week's Madison Avenue Walk of Fame, with plaques added for new honorees voted in by the public each year. (In fact, you may currently vote for your favorite, through September 24th, on the official voting webpage).

I'm sure that my ad character collection members (about 100 are shown above), who I refer to as my real imaginary friends, are thrilled that so many of their peers will find a permanent home in the new museum. I look forward to visiting the facility after it opens next year.

Re-Design: Lampros Steel

Lampros Steel is a company owned and operated by a friend of mine. For decades the family business, a metals distributor, had been represented by a logo incorporating a large simple “L” as the company's identifying symbol. Within the logo, which was often printed in a reflex blue, the name did not seem to read properly. To me, it seemed to come across as Steel Lampros.

A new logo was designed again making use of a large “L” as the primary element. This time the letterform took on the shape of a stylized steel beam, with gradations giving the symbol the appearance of reflective metal. A stronger font was introduced in representing the name, as it should read. The “L” shape is also a recognizable identifier for the company as a stand-alone graphic. When reproduction specifications make gradations not possible, the “L” may be presented in solid black or gray. The new image gave the company a much stronger presence in the industry.

With the new identity I can still give my friend a bad time when he wears his baseball cap with the large "L" on it. I tell him it stands for "loser," even though the business represented by the letterform continues to be very successful.

This corporate identity makeover appears in the book Logos Redesigned: How 200 Companies Successfully Changed Their Image by David E. Carter.

HOW Blog posts Identity Crisis! sneak peek

For those interested in taking a closer look at the visual teaser pages of my soon-to-be released book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, a downloadable PDF has been posted on the HOW Blog.

The document includes a look at the table of contents (above), and projects from Shine Advertising Co., Willoughby Design Group and Subplot Design.

Identity Crisis! was also featured this week in the "Book Watch" section of the HOW Magazine e-newsletter with the following description:

"Identity Crisis takes a fresh look at this common subject by exploring the process of redesigning existing identities to help businesses refine their images, communicate with customers, and find success. You'll get an inside look at the challenges of redesigning identities and see the creative and strategic thinking behind fresh design work."

HOW Books is the publisher of Identity Crisis! - and they also published my first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success back in 2004. In addition, I serve on the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board and the HOW Conference Advisory Council.

Look for Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands on your bookstore shelves in October.

Identity Crisis! teaser No. 11

Here's another sneak peek at my upcoming book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands

The above is a second spread from the Toppers Pizza identity re-design and rebranding case study from Shine Advertising Co.. The opening spread of the client's project was posted in Identity Crisis! teaser No. 6.

This entry originally appeared on the Identity Crisis! blog. Look for Identity Crisis! on bookstore shelves in October.

Toot! Toot!*:
Jeff Fisher LogoMotives honored with three
2007 American Graphic Design Awards

Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives has received three 2007 American Graphic Design Awards for his identity design efforts. Over the past decade Fisher has been honored with 18 of the awards in the annual national competition coordinated by the trade publication Graphic Design: usa and sponsored by Adobe Systems Incorporated.

The logo for the Portland delicatessen Balaboosta was selected for an award. The eating establishment has since been renovated by the owner and re-opened under a new name.

The identity for the Native Youth Internship Program, of the Holland+ Knight Charitable Foundation, was also recognized. The intern and scholarship program, for Native high school students, was initiated by the designer's partner Ed Cunningham, Business Manager of the national law firm's Portland office. The Holland+Knight Charitable Foundation is headquartered in Tampa, FL.

Fisher's logo design for the AIDS residential care facility Our House of Portland was also honored. The new identity was introduced in conjunction with the grand opening of the organization's new facility this past year.

Jeff Fisher has received over 575 regional, national and international graphic design awards for his logo and corporate identity efforts. His work is featured in nearly 100 books on the design of logos, the business of graphic design, and small business marketing.

Fisher is a member of the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council and the UCDA Designer Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. His first book, The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success, was released by HOW Design Books in late 2004. His new volume, Identity Crisis!, will be on bookshelves in October 2007.

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

The vertigo disappears...

...and Dr. John Epley thinks I may be cured.

Here's the text of an email I just out to friends and family in regards to my vertigo issues of the past three years or more.:

It's been interesting since I had my last treatment at Dr. Epley's clinic. Initial numbness in my face, and an intense headache went away after about a day and a half. I continue to have clear vision at night for the first time in years - but have yet to try driving in the dark. For about a week and a half, my left eye continued to feel strained as if it was constantly pulling to right - and it has continued to do so a bit since my initial treatment.

I've experienced much less dizziness, but tend to be a bit more out of balance (or just more aware of the imbalance). I've been catching myself almost falling quite a few times. Still, I'm much less dizzy when shampooing my hair, being on stairs, driving and participating in other activities. I also have not been bouncing off corners of walls, and door jambs, as in the past. (No more bruised arms or shoulders)

During six days of camping in the Wallowa Mountains I found that altitude, allergies, heat and movement were not causing me to be as dizzy as in the past. In the past I would not have been able to ride in the back of our camping van without experiencing a great deal of nausea. Coming home on the freeway this past week I had little dizziness and no nausea.

I've actually been feeling the best I've felt in the past three years.

In the morning yesterday I was driving near our house, and with a MAX light rail train moving to my left and a truck moving to my right I felt no vertigo or nausea for the first time in years. The best thing was that when the truck came to a stop at stop lights and signs I actually felt as if I was stationary, rather than sensing I was out of control and still moving into the intersections.

Yesterday afternoon, I had my second treatment in Dr. Epley's Omniax chair. After strapping me in, Dr. Epley began the chair's series of positioning movements. It seems my left eye was still looking off to the left some, rather than looking straight ahead as requested. However, I experienced almost none of the sensation of seeming to rotate counterclock-wise that I experienced previously while wearing the infra-red googles and being in the dark as I was treated with the chair.. There was one moment when I felt as if I was on a State Fair ride I should not have tried - and I didn't like being turned completely upside-down any more than before.

When I was brought back up into an upright position I felt no vertigo or dizziness - although I was a little disoriented. Dr. Epley said, that after the initial effects of the treatment wear off, he feels as if my vertigo has been cured - and my night vision issues may have been eliminated in the process. I'm to keep a journal of any vertigo or dizzy episodes that may occur and inform the clinic. I've also been instructed to avoid moving too fast or turning my head real quickly for a while.

As I left the clinic I was told, "It's been very nice getting to know, and working with, you - but we hope to never see you again."

I felt a little odd walking down the street to meet Ed at a nearby coffeeshop. I was surprised at experiencing a some level of emotion as I realized my three years of dealing with vertigo may be a thing of the past. I have my life back.

On the way home we stopped at a large Fred Meyer grocery/department store. For the first time in a long time I felt no anxiety, or the sense of an oncoming panic attack in a large store. There was no disorientation due to the lights, colors, noise and large number of people. I was totally exhausted when we got home. The treatment experience takes a lot out of you.

Today I feel a bit like I've had some kind of accident. I'm just a little "scrambled." The left side of my face is numb and tingly again - but I know that will go away. I do have the splitting headache again as well. My left eye feels very strained once more. Still, I've experienced no vertigo or dizziness since getting home yesterday. It really is amazing - and exciting!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported, and put up with, me the last three years. Most of all, thanks to Dr. John Epley and his incredible staff - they are miracle workers!

Identity Crisis! teaser No. 10

Here's another sneak peek at my upcoming book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands

The above is a second spread from the Vancouver Aquarium identity re-design case study from the team at Subplot Design. The opening spread of the aquarium project was posted in Identity Crisis! teaser No. 4.

This post originally appeared on the Identity Crisis! blog, where I will continue to share news and notes related to the book. Look for Identity Crisis! on your bookstore shelves in October.

Toot! Toot!:
Jeff Fisher LogoMotives designs featured in
1000 Restaurant Bar & Cafe Graphics*

The identity design work of Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, is featured in the new book 1000 Restaurant Bar & Cafe Graphics: From Signage to Logos and Everything in Between from Rockport Publishers, The book, featuring a wide variety of design images from around the world, was compiled, designed and edited by the Luke Herriott of the U.K. design firm Studio Ink.

The images selected include the identities for Seattle eatery Glo's Broiler, and Portland establishments North Bank Cafe, Balaboosta, and La Patisserie. The menu design for Indies Restaurant & Bar in New York City is also recognized.

Fisher is a member of the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council and the UCDA Designer Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. His first book, The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success, was released by HOW Design Books in late 2004. His new volume, Identity Crisis!, will be on bookshelves in October 2007.

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

Début Publications dumps 'Branded'

Over the Labor Day holiday weekend I received an email from the folks at Début Publications Ltd announcing that the logo design book Branded will not be published. The email stated:

"Although the content supplied was of the highest quality, Début regrets to announce the cancellation of the scheduled publication 'Branded'.

Due to the unforseen surge of other logo-based publications and websites, alongside the established products, the viability of 'Branded' as a commercial product became questionable, and after careful consideration it was felt that the title would have become lost in the market place.

We would like to thank the many designers and agencies that submitted artwork for inclusion. Please accept our sincere apologies for the time taken to submit artwork.

I do think it is unfortunate the book will not see the light of day, and not just because I was a contributor whose work had been accepted. Début created a rather unique opportunity to include the work of a wide variety of designers from a large number of countries around the world. I do hope this situation doesn't discourage designers, and design students, from submitting work for future book opportunities - especially others charging no entry or publication fees. The vast majority of such calls for entries do result in books that make it to the bookstore shelves, providing incredible global marketing to a designer.

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