Designing Symbols & Logos

The Power of a Logo:


"A logo is really the first core message, the identity, that any brand provides to the world. And it has to be a logo that will work not just on a website homepage and on business cards but also as its Twitter or Facebook icon. So, you want it be distinctive and yet simple at the same time." (O,Dell, 2011)



Sounds simple, but how many iterations does one well-made logo go through before it achieves the ideal representation of a company's product/services and culture? As a designer, the research into what makes an organization's personality could be a lengthy, but necessary, step before even approaching the challenges that come with the actual design of a logo. One small image requires a lot of legwork.



Design Mortality:

One important thing to keep in mind about logo & symbol design is shelf life. How will the image hold up against the test of time?

Branding can make or break a company. Think about the logos you are exposed to on a daily basis. When well constructed, they can be almost invisible yet subconsciously recognizable (logo game anyone? http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/corplogos); if poorly constructed they stick out like a sore thumb and repel any potential clients. Have you ever thought less of a company because of the quality of their marketing? Does it diminish the credibility in your eyes?

 As mentioned in the article, especially when referring to web-based materials, the web is constantly changing. Therefore, a webpage from 10 years ago looks nothing like a webpage designed today. Here is an article observing trends in logos. This is over 2 years old, do you think they still hold true? Or have logos changed with the times?
http://mashable.com/2010/09/28/web-logo-design-trends/


The Designing Process:

A designer is only as good as their toolbox. There are numerous tools out in the web that can get the job done; which ones do you choose? It's good to be familiar with a variety of tools so you can work with whatever you have. Churn out a masterpiece in Adobe Illustrator, or produce high quality in Microsoft PowerPoint in a pinch. Go out on the web and explore. Broaden your horizon by soaking in what appeals to you and draw upon those for inspiration. Be a sponge for design and see how your own products improve.

The following link gives a brief rundown of 33 tools broken into 3 categories: Inspiration, Design, and Development.
http://mashable.com/2011/05/14/dev-design-resources-2/

This is an AWESOME resource. 100 different sources of inspiration:
http://mashable.com/2009/03/16/design-inspiration/

Do you have any tools you regularly reference/use? Web-based or otherwise?




References:
Chapman, C. (2009). 100 Great Resources for Design Inspiration. Mashable. Retrieved February 1, 2013. From http://mashable.com/2009/03/16/design-inspiration/
Hernandex, B.A. (2011). 33 Essential Resources for Developers and Designers. Mashable. Retrieved February 1, 2013. From http://mashable.com/2011/05/14/dev-design-resources-2/
O'Dell, J. (2010). 11 Trends in Web Logo Design: The Good, the Bad and the Overused. Mashable. Retrieved February 1, 2013. From http://mashable.com/2010/09/28/web-logo-design-trends/

Image Sources:
Logos: http://mashable.com/2011/03/24/logo-design-fundamentals/
Toolbox: http://www.sleekdesignstudio.com/perch/resources/toolboxwithicons-.jpg

Steinbach Palette

Monochromatic: Teal

Overlap/Transperancy: Pink

Itten's Contrast of Complements: 

Interesting and Incredibly Relevant

So now that we have all taken a stab at a visual resume, we've got a solid idea of the time and effort it takes into creating something appealing to the eye.  Here is an article that compiles a couple of the best and brightest who had great success with sprucing up their resumes!

Take a look - the Amazon page is especially out-of-the-box:
http://mashable.com/2013/01/24/amazon-page-best-resume-ever/


And for anyone looking for more inspiration, google "infographic resumes" and prepare to fall in love. I can't speak enough to the deep love I have for infographics (it's serious, guys). They are the epitome of visual literacy, in my eyes.
Here's a little infographic overviewing the infographic:
http://mashable.com/2013/01/26/infographics-marketing/

Peter Piper's Palette Picker

Monochromatic

Illusion 

Itten's Contrast of Hues-Primaries

Peter Piper's Palette Picker

Monochromatic composition

Illusion of overlapping/transparent hues

Itten's contrats: Contrast of complements

Learning Theory Post from 1/18

I was looking at the blog post schedule and noticed that on the 1/18 posting it says: Graphic of learning theory/everyone.

I know we received an email saying to have one ready to discuss in class last week, but we never went over them so I'm posting mine here. I'll be able to talk about it this week in class should that be how we're doing it - either way I just wanted to keep up with the blog schedule (even if its late).

Regeiluth's Elaboration Theory

This theory, similar to what we discussed with Tassie's submission, provides a strategy that increases the effectiveness of instruction. This approach to designing instruction is said to provide more stable cognitive structures, leading to better retention and transfer of learning (Culatta, 2013).

 Instead of chunking or rehersal, elaboration theory organizes content from general to specific, simple to complex, building upon prior knowledge or provided information in a gradual progression (Amarasing, N.D.).  Seven major strategies make up elaboration theory:
(1) an elaborative sequence,
(2) learning prerequisite sequences,
(3) summary,
(4) synthesis,
(5) analogies,
(6) cognitive strategies, and
(7) learner control.
(Culatta, 2013)

By building upon elaborative sequences, and later practice as the information is revisited before learning the next sequence, learners are intorduced to contextual factors relating information, while practicing the information through multiple exposures.

This is an interesting learning theory to me as it provides an understanding for how instruction can be intentionally designed to add infomration to specific schema through scaffolding - or - elaborative sequences.



Amarasing, P. (n.d.). Elaboration theory. Retrieved from http://www.southalabama.edu/oll/mobile/theory_workbook/elaboration_theory.htm
 
Culatta, R. (2013). Elaboration theory (Charlie Reigeluth). Retrieved from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/elaboration-theory.html

Pallette Assignment

1. Monochromatic: purple

2: Monochromatic/overlay/transparency: orange

3. Itten's contrast of warm and cool colors