Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

During the past few months quite a few mentions and sightings of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives have popped in the blog-o-sphere and elsewhere:

• A new review of my first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success • My book The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success was originally released in the fall of 2004. Recently, Guatemalan design pal Kitty Florido came across a copy and wrote a review for her Design\ blog. Although out-of-print, copies of Savvy Designer may be found in some bookstores, on Amazon and in its newer format of PDF on CD. [12.21.09]

• 10 simple, yet effective logos • Over the past year, Jeremy Knauff - Creative Director of website design, graphic design and marketing firm Wildfire Marketing Group - has interviewed me and used me as a resource in articles such as this one on simplicity in logo design. [12.17.09]

• 25 Naughty Logo Designs – Don’t miss the fun! • It's always fun being a little bit naughty when creating some of my logo designs. My graphic for the play "2 Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter's Night," featured in this Graphic design Blog entry, has always been fun and controversial. [12.10.09]

• 40 Logo Designs with negative beauty - An interesting trick • My design for What's For Dinner is included in this interesting collection from the Logo Design Blog [12.02.09]

• Creative Medical Logos - 22 Logos to inspire • The Corporate Logo Design blog was kind enough to include my identity design for Hospice of Humboldt in this collection of medical images. As an organization based in Northern California's beautiful Humboldt County there was a desire for the design to have a more organic and friendly quality than your average healthcare-related logo. [11.12.09]

• What Designers Really Want For Christmas 2009 • On the Little Box of Ideas blog 37 designers shared their holidays wishlists with designer/blogger Sneh Roy. [11.12.09]

• How to Network On-line for Your Next Big Project • Long-time cyber pal Calvin Lee wrote about how his work ended up being included in my book Identity Crisis! in this Method to the Mayhem blog entry. In the piece he stresses the importance of online networking through a variety of resources. [11.09.09]

• 10 Inspirational Interviews for Designers • On the PowerUsers blog from India, Nikhil Misal posted a list of 10 interviews all designers should read. The 2008 interview that Australian designer Jacob Cass did with me for his Just Creative Design site is among those featured. [11.09.09]

• Gardens and Their Designers • My garden is a passion and my best therapy from the stresses of everyday life. it was fun being included in the Design Observer slideshow of designers from around the country in their gardens. [10.19.09]

• Thomas James Illustration website and blog • It was great to read the new blog of Portland illustrator Thomas James when he conveyed that I had inspired him to create a new "blogfolio" for his business efforts. James is also the individual behind Escape from Illustration Island - and we actually had the opportunity to meet in person when he did a podcast interview with me. [10.09.09]

• Braintalk with Jeff Fisher • I really appreciated design Thomas Ulbricht reaching out to me from Germany, via Twitter, to request an interview for the design industry site Sharebrain [10.07.09]

• Interview Series: Jeff Fisher on success and freelancing • The new site Freelance Show initiated their interview series with your truly as the subject. The Freelance Show will bring practical, real-world advice from 12-year veteran Creative Director and graphic design instructor, Neil Brown. [10.05.09]

• Best Logo Designs Created by You - Part 1 • On his blog ImJustCreative, UK designer Graham Smith posted several examples of what logo creators from around the world considered their best logos. My DataDork image has always been a personal favorite and continues to bring attention to my work. [10.02.09]

Check out some past clickety-clacks.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

The month of September brought numerous mentions and sightings of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives out there online and in the blog-o-sphere:

• How Do Creative People Use Twitter? • By way of a LinkedIn discussion group, author Aliyah Marr asked how creative people made use of Twitter. Responses were presented on her Fresh Asylum blog. [09.29.09]

• Interview with Jeff Fisher LogoMotives' Jeff Fisher • The online print resource PsPrint interviewed me about me design career for their designer resource blog. [09.28.09]

• Self-Promotion the Social Way • My article, written for the October issue of HOW Magazine, is posted on the publication's web presence. More information is available on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blog-folio. [09.25.09]

• Episode 5 – Social Networking with Jeff Fisher • Thomas James, the force behind Escape from Illustration Island, interviewed me about using social networking as a marketing tool for the site's podcast. The interview was syndicated on the website Illustration Mundo. Read more about it on bLog-oMotives. [09.21.09]

• Put on Your Best Face: Designers Discuss Quality Typefaces • Brian Hoff, of The Design Cubicle, used Twitter to ask the question "If you could purchase one quality typeface what would it be and why?" My response was included in his blog entry. [09.15.09]

• Designing A Church Logo? Some Things to Remember • In his eGrace Creative blog entry, designer Brandon Cox was kind enough to include a link to some very nontraditional church logos I have created. [09.09.09]

• Book Contributors: Breaking Into Freelance Illustration • It's always great to be included in someone's book. I learned of being included in online pal Holly DeWolf's new volume, Breaking Into Freelance Illustration, through her blog post. In the book, my title of "Engineer of Creative Identity" and my tagline/mission statement are used as examples. [09.03.09]

• Jeff Fisher of Logomotives: Toot! Toot! (Part Two) • The second installment of my interview with Neenah Paper, for their "Against the Grain" blog, presented additional thoughts on social networking, the design work of those I admire, and more. The first part of the interview was posted on the blog in late August. [09.02.09]

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

During the month of August, quite a few mentions and sightings of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives showed up in the blog-o-sphere:

• Freelancing Finesse • The annual Creative Freelancer Conference recently was held in San Diego. The article "Freelancing Finesse," from The Creative Group was recently posted as a resource for attendees. The piece includes some business advice from yours truly. [08.09]

• My Top Ten People to Follow on Twitter • I appreciate the compliment conveyed by designer Robb Clarke in selecting his top tweeters to follow. [08.30.09]

• Jeff Fisher of Logomotives: Toot! Toot! (Part 1) • A long-time favorite supplier, Neenah Paper, recently interviewed me - about my work, social networking, design inspirations and creating a work-life balance - for their "Against The Grain" blog. Part two of the discussion was actually posted in earlier September - here's the link. [08.27.09]

• "Experience Matters" • It was nice to see my face pop into view in the YouTube video from the folks at the Summit International Awards as they celebrate 15 years of the Summit Creative Awards. [08.22.09]

• A Study in Black and White Logos: Designer Jeff Fisher shares some of his past mono-color logo work. • A great deal of Internet traffic came my way due to CreativePro.com posting a mention about a bLog-oMotive post regarding my one-color identity design efforts. [08.13.09]

• 5 Logos Extraños Que Tuvieron Éxito • A Google alert brought to my attention the fact the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity had been featured on the Marcas y Simbolos blog. Loosely translated, it's not bad to have my logo considered "intense and perfect." [08.11.09]

• Quickies: Ten Readable Branding Books • From Fuel Your Branding came a blog post listing my book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, one of the 10 most readable books on the topic of branding - along with volumes by Alina Wheeler, Marty Neumeier, Seth Godin and others. [08.10.09]

• 40 Weird and Playful logos – A Double treat! • On the Graphic Design Blog, Charles B Johnson categorizes my "Two Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter's Night logo as "weird" and my concept for the C.A.T. identity as "playful." (shown above) [08.05.09]

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

The month of July brought about quite a few mentions and sightings of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, online and in the print world. Here's what I've come across recently:

• Five Logo Design Heroes • It's a huge compliment to be included on this list compiled by designer Brandon Cox of eGrace Creative. [7.20.09]

• Designers'Couch: Interview with Jeff Fisher • James Costa, of the recently debuted design industry site Designers'Couch, interviewed me about my 30+ years in design, working independently, the challenges facing young designers today, and more. [7.16.09]

• Savvy Issues a Toot Toot to Jeff Fisher, Owner of Logomotives • I've noticed that Google Alerts are not always incredibly timely. Marketing specialist Marcia Ming recently received such a message notifying her of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives being named one of Startup Nation’s Top 100 Small Businesses for 2008. She notes that the news may have been a bit late - still, Ming took the opportunity to post a very gracious message on her Savvy Marketing Secrets blog and references her past Home Business by Design interview with me. She also wrote the article What Can Celebrated Graphic Designer Jeff Fisher Teach us About Small Business Marketing?. [7.14.09]

• Watching trends in graphic design • Examiner.com writer Cynthia Reeser references one of my past Jeffisms in her piece about graphic design trends. [7.11.09]

• 38 Business Cards of Top Graphic Designers – The inspiring creative gurus • On the Graphic Design Blog, Charlie B. Johnson has curated an interesting collection of business card designs - including my own. [7.03.09]

• Case Studies - The Real Source for Logo & Brand Identity Inspiration • UK designer Graham Smith, of ImJustCreative, suggests that identity designers look beyond the numerous online logo design galleries for project inspiration. In recommending books that feature real-life logo design case studies he writes: "And no self respecting designer should be without Identity Crisis! by Jeff Fisher." Thanks, Graham! [7.01.09]

Check out listings of previous clickety-clacks along the tracks.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

The past month brought about quite a few mentions and sightings of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, online and in the print world. Here's what I've come across recently:

• 2009 HOW Design Conference Wrap Up • Long-time cyber and real world pal Neil Tortorella obviously couldn't resist including an image of Toots in an entry of his Inside the Marketing Mind blog (A great marketing and self-promotion resource for any creative type). [6.29.09]

• HOW Design Conference 2009 - Austin, Texas • On the blog associated with her brand spanking new site JeniHerberger.com, my annual HOW Conference "wife" reflects on her recent Austin experience. [6.29.09]

• The Reflex Blue Show HOW Conference Special: DAY THREE • The clown Toots Caboose briefly crosses the tracks of The Reflex Blue Show, and its host Donovan Beery, broadcasting live from the HOW Design Conference in Austin, TX. [6.26.09]

• Office Anthropologist • I received my copy of the August 2009 issue of HOW Magazine, which includes an article written by Julie Sims of The Creative Group. Sims interviews Lionel Carreon, a recruiter for San Francisco-based digital marketing firm AKQA and myself, in regards to new hires fitting in when taking on new job situations. [6.23.09]

• 10 Faces you may know on MonoExpression - Part 1 • UK logo designer Graham Smith featured 10 portraits from his MonoExpression online gallery on his ImJustCreative blog. [6.19.09]

• Killed Ideas, Vol. 1 • I was very happy to receive my hardbound copy of the Blurb book Killed Ideas, Vol 1, which includes my rejected Cat Adoption Team logo design. [6.18.09]

• The Top Best Logo Design Books • Designer Jacob Cass gives a mention to my book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, in his list of published logo design resources. [6.15.09]

• Logo Inspiration With Clever Typography • Logo lover Andrew Houle, of MyInkBlog.com, included the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity in his collection of interesting type treatments in logo creations. [6.12.09]

• Always in Season • A Twitter request from an OutTraveler.com editor led to me submitting one of my vacation photos and having it featured as a "Snapshot" on the site. [6.12.09]

As is sometimes the case, I did come across an older mention by way of a Twitter posting:

• The Upside of Working for Free • On the FreelanceSwitch site, Martha Retallick referenced my article “Profiting from Pro Bono Creative Efforts.” [3.27.09]

Check out listings of previous clickety-clacks along the tracks.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

The month of May brought about many online mentions of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives. Here's what I've found to date:

• Crazy Train, Toots Style: Local Design Savant Turned Clown Has the Last Laugh • Writer Ryan J. Prado, of the LGBT community newsmagazine Just Out, interviews me about my clowning around as "Toots Caboose" and how it is an extension of my design business brand. [5.29.09]

• Thoughts on Design: Back where it all started • Nathan Sarlow, of CobaltCow Brand Development invited several designers to provide examples of thier first paid logo design effort. My design, for the Eugene University Music Association, was executed 30 years ago while I was in college. [5.29.09]

• Freelance is a lot like dating • Illustrative designer Leighton Hubbell contends that working as a freelance creative has many similarities to the dating game. Via Twitter he asked for examples to add to his list. My contribution: "First date – Meet with potential new client, share all the info, they're excited about the project, all is good - you never hear from them again." [5.29.09]

• NO!SPEC • CreativePro: Spec Work and Crowdsourcing • Catherine Wentworth, one of the founders of the NO!SPEC movement comments on the CreativePro.com article "Spec Work and Crowdsourcing: Gambles that Don’t Pay Off," which includes some comments of mine. [5.23.09]

• Creating Images From Text • On the Famous Logos blog, Roberta Seldon showcases the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives logo in her piece on identity images created from letterforms. [5.21.09]

• Masters of Graphic Design and Illustration: 25+ Interviews • A great collection of wide-ranging designer and illustrator interview links compiled by Noupe.. [5.21.09]

• Business Card Design: Better Than A Plain Ol’ Business Card • Kat Neville, in writing for the Smashing Magazine site, features the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives toy train kit marketing piece. [5.20.09]

• Care And Feeding Of In-House Designers • After seeing a link posted on Twitter, HOW Magazine Senior Editor Megan Lane Patrick mentioned my article "The proper care and feeding of the in-house graphic designer" on the HOW Blog. [5.20.09]

• The Reflex Blue Show: Jeff Fisher Does the LOGO-MOTION • As only they can, Nate Voss and Donovan Beery - of 36 Point - introduce my appearance on The Reflex Blue Show. [5.14.09]

• 'Make it Big' by Blogging an interview with Jeff Fisher and Sheri L Koetting • My long-time pals at The Creative Group e-Zine interview me about making use of blogs as marketing, promotion and educational tool for my design and writing work. [5.12.09]

• 45 logos that utilize negative space effectively • Designer Antonea Nabors included my design for the City of Portland's Neighborhood Service Center in her VelvetAnt Design Blog entry displaying negative space usage in identity design. [5.07.09]

• 85+ of the Best Twitterers Designers Should Follow • On the blog Mashable: The Social Media Guide, contributor Cameron Chapman includes Jeff Fisher LogoMotives on the list of designers to follow on Twitter [5.04.09]

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

Jeff Fisher LogoMotives mentions were tracked online numerous times in the past few months. Here's the latest:

• Spec Work and Crowdsourcing: Gambles that Don't Pay Off • In an article by former CreativePro.com editor-in-chief Pamela Pfiffner, design industry professionals - including myself - weigh in on the issues of spec work and crowdsourcing. [4.27.09]

• 10 Creative Minds of the Design Industry • The blog Powerusers, written by Nikhil K. Misal, introduced a group design industry professionals, including yours truly, to a large international cyber-audience. [4.24.09]

• Design Sites • The Jounalist's Toolbox • It's great to have Jeff Fisher LogoMotives included as a link The Journalist's Toolbox resource list from the Society of Professional Journalists. [4.09.09]

• Logo 72: Jeff Fisher LogoMotives - Making a logo design your own • Logo design link and resource site Logo72 sent a lot of traffic my way posting a link to my article "Making a logo design your own." [4.08.09]

• Calvin Lee Interview | Inspiredology • Longtime design industry pal Calvin Lee, of Mayhem Studios was kind enough to mention me in his interview on Inspiredology. Thanks Cal! [4.06.09]

• 10 Great Logo Design, Branding and Identity Books • The blog Logo Critiques for including my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands on their list of "10 Great Logo Design, Branding and Identity Books." [3.26.09]

• Using Twitter to Promote Your Book • Writer extraordinaire Kristen Fischer used my experiences in promoting my books with Twitter in her piece for the site FreelanceSwitch. [3.22.09]

• 30 Beautiful Logos • Brazilian designer Fabio Sasso included the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity in the list on his Abduzeedo/Abducted By Design. [3.11.09]

• Making Public Speaking Fun • In his Communication Steroids blog, writer Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon mentioned several of my more attention-getting speaking engagement tactics. [2.22.09]

Occasionally, I come across older posts related to my design or writing efforts. Here are a couple examples:

• Logo Design Inspiration - Cool Logos Part I • The blog for AllGraphicDesign.com included my DataDork logo in this selection of design inspirations. [8.15.08][2.22.09][2.22.09]

• Best Logo Design Books for Your Graphic Design Library • In another post from AllGraphicDesign.com my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands is one of four recommended. [12.30.08]

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

Jeff Fisher LogoMotives was mentioned and spotted online and in print several times in January. Here's the latest:

• People to Watch in 2009
The industry news magazine Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) named me one of their "People to Watch in 2009." It's a very flattering honor. You can read more about the recognition in my "Toot! Toot!" on the subject.

• Five Great - and necessary - Marketing Makeovers
Being cited as an expert by Entrepreneur Magazine doesn't happen every day. Writer Gwen Moran asked me to be one of a three-member panel to review five marketing makeovers for the February issue. Of course, being published merited a Toot! as well.

• 30 Must-Have Logo Books
Design blog You The Designer was kind enough to list my second book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands, among their must-have logo design books.

• Jeff Fisher - Public Portrait | MonoExpression
Graham Smith, of I'm Just Creative, has initiated the site MonoExpression, showcasing black and white photo images of international creatives - along with a short bio or statement.

• Over 50 Ways Designers Promote & Brand Themselves
I'm Just Creative brought some attention to the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives identity with their post about self-branding by designers and design firms

• 20 Weird Logos That Work (and Why They Do)
I don't remember my own logo ever previously being referred to as "weird." Well, VECTORTUTS has now done so in a piece written by designer Chris Spooner. I'm glad they think the design works.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clickety-clacks along the LogoMotives tracks

In the past month there have been quite a few mentions and sightings of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives out there in the cyber and real worlds:

• Inside Digital Design: Brands, Logos and Identity Crisis
Scott Sheppard, CEO, Executive Producer and Founder of Inside Media Networks and co-host Gene Gable interviewed me about my book Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands, The podcast program is also available for download from iTunes.

• Online Marketing Tips (Use These Today!)
In offering authors book marketing advice, The Writer's Handbook Blog suggested that readers take a look at the list of social networking/media sites I have used to promote my book, Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands.

• 26 Business Cards of Graphic & Web Designers on Twitter
On The Design Cubicle, Brian Hoff presented a collection of 26 business cards from industry peers who are on Twitter - including my own card for Jeff Fisher LogoMotives (above).

• My Freelance Life: Why I Started On The Road To Self- Employment
On the CMD+Shift Design Blog, Liz Andrade includes my input about getting starting as an independent graphic designer - over 30 years ago.

• 25 Must Read Interviews From 2008
The resource site You The Designer has compiled a reference list of 25 design-related interviews from the year - including the interview with me by Just Creative's Jacob Cass.

• Making Time to Market
Linda Whitehead, Vice President of Marketing at ADBASE, gave my marketing methods a mention in her Insight article.

• Links of the day
Marketing through social networks & social media was also a "link of the day" at Matt Lambert's Cardeo.

• Nerdy Daily Links
In the category of "Design Portfolio Exposure" the website AndySowards.com posted the link to my blogfolio entry Marketing logo design efforts with online resources

• Tips To A Greater Logo
The blog AainaA referenced the interview designer Jacob Cass did with me for Just Creative: Logo Design Tips & A Not-So-Ordinary Interview with Famous Celebrity Logo Designer, Jeff Fisher.

• Designers Favorite Fonts In Use
Designer Niki Brown included my favorite font in this Design O'Blog entry. (Thanks to Mayhem Studios for the mention about the piece, too!)

• Graphic Design 101
The October issue of NAILS Magazine includes references to my design efforts for the Portland nail salon Diva, in this article by Ami Neiberger-Miller. The article was the result of my response to a HelpAreporterOut.com (HARO) posting by the writer.

© 2008 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clickety-clacks along the "Home-Based 100" tracks

The other day I posted a bLog-oMotives entry about my business, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, being a contestant in the annual StartupNation Home-Based 100 Competition. It seems I've got some support out there in the blog-o-sphere. A couple great posts went live during the last couple days:

Designers Who Blog - Home-Based 100 Competition: Vote for Jeff Fisher

Creative Freelancer Conference Blog - Vote for slack-a-licious Jeff "LogoMotives" Fisher

Remember to vote early and vote often! Actually, you can cast your vote daily on my Jeff Fisher LogoMotives competition page. Thanks to all who are supporting this effort.

© 2008 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

Clickety-clacks along LogoMotives' cyber tracks

Several online postings have been sending traffic to bLog-oMotives throughout the day. The first was an entry on the Creative Freelancer Conference blog from my friend Ilise Benun.

Benun, one of the co-founders of conference sponsor Marketing Mentor, wrote about the fact that the site DesignHide recently posted an interview with me - the closing speaker for the Creative Freelancer Conference.

The conference will be held in Chicago, August 27-29. The deadline for a $60 "early bird" registration has just been extended until July 31.

Yesterday the Spanish publishing house Index Book announced the European release of their latest design volume, A Tribute to Celebrities, by Pedro Guitton. According to the webpage for the book:

Almost 1,000 graphic tributes to celebrities from a variety of fields such as cinema, arts, television, music, sports, cartoon and other famous personalities.

Get plugged into some 500 graphic designers and agencies from all over the world, each with their own unique style: Akihiro Sai, Cocobongo Artworks, Jeff Fisher, Gianni Rossi, Guilherme Marconi, Hausgrafik, Musa Collective, Nick/Leyp, Noma Bar, Quickhoney, Serial Cut, eBoy, Tracy Sabin and more.

From the search results bringing people to my blogs, more than a few people were wondering who that "Jeff Fisher" guy was. Many examples of my work is showcased in other books by Guitton. One design is included in the new volume - but more about that when the book is released in the U.S.

The site of the free eBook download Winners and Losers in a Troubled Economy was also sending visitors to bLog-oMotives. The London digital agency cScape, publisher of the ebook, listed my recent blog entry "Why my design business is at its best when the national economy is at its worst" on the "Useful Links" page of the book promotion website.

Not a bad day for the marketing and promotions department at Jeff Fisher LogoMotives (that would be me).

© 2008 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives