First Weblog

A 9mb pdf catalogue of the posters for Lest We Forget: Canadian Designers on War can be viewed at http://abnorth.gdc.net/war/catalogue_screen2.pdf

I've also posted some images of the opening reception at http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsurtees/sets/499213/

It's got a nice BEAT and you can DANCE to it.

Reminds me of the core of Sterling Brands Identity. See Sterling Brands.com

Points taken away for color choice. Blue and Red

or Blue and Green would've been better color choices.

Being a PURVEYOR of Semilology. Any PROFESSOR of Semiotics and Semantics will inform.

GRADIENTS CAN ONLY ENHANCE AN IDENTITY !!!!!!!

Poor color choice will render an Identity illegible.

The Symbol and typeface don't mess and are competing in this instance. The type needs refined, perhaps another choice.

7 out of 10 on the symbol. With or without the Gradient.

5 out of 10 on the type choice.

Type is Throwback.

Overall, Grading on a Curve Grade B-

That's Generous, I got two friends in CANADA. Both Authors on Speak UP.

Reminds me a lot the Bahamas' recent campaign, in terms of style.

ugh, it says nothing - that's why I moved to montreal...

File under loading screens interacting with other applications...

Acrobat man dances with iPod girl.

A Logotype Rebus ???

Okay, Ok, tough crowd.

At least my Staging is Better !!!!!!!

Ugh, Maven, that's even worse! Where is this town, "Ronto" ?

JonSel:

I know, I know !!!!

But those two "T"s were bothering me.

I wouldn't have selected the type or used a symbol if it were my job.

The more I looked at the original concept of the symbolized "T"

Looks awfully like a WHISTLE

Had to give it the OLE College Try.

JonSel:

Rationale behind the solution.

It appeared to me the Designer or Designers were trying

trying to create a Rebus with the "T"

Thus, the "T" appeared to be forming some sought of core Identity with a half circle forming an "O"

If that wasn't the objective. Then the "T" symbol makes no sense.

There were only two successful Identities that created a Rebus in their Identity.

Minolta and Nortel. That's what I was aiming.

I'd like to see solutions from other's. How to make the existing Toronto Identity better.

Don't talk the talk. Walk the Walk.

JonSel, you're excluded, of course.Your commets in reference to Strategy is welcomed.

Maven, I got what you were trying to do. But isn't a rebus when you use a symbol to denote, phonetically, an actual word or syllable? Think Rand's famous Eye-Bee-M poster. In the Minolta and Nortel identities, the symbol is merely part of the wordmark and in the shape of the letter it replaces. If taken as a true rebus, Minolta would read Min-Globe-lta, or something.

As for my strategic thoughts on Toronto's identity, it's hard for me to offer much. I've only been there once, about 20+ years ago. My impressions are that it is just another small city with all the usual cultural subjects. It doesn't have the quaintness that I associate with Quebec City nor the international flair of Montreal. Again, I could be very wrong, but that's just my impression. Of course, branding campaigns are often about correcting misperceptions, so Toronto's new image could very well be straightening me out with me knowing about it!

Frankly, I think logos are darned difficult to use in summing up a place. You can only evoke so much in such small space. The guts of a city (or nation) brand are really in advertising and PR, supported by a good identity. Those are the best avenues to help convey a culture.

A Rebus? No a Rebus is something like this:

Phonetic schmetic the mark is just flat out 'Lame O'.

JonSel:

Comments appreciated.

Rebus, Dictionary Definition.

'A representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols, often presented as a puzzle'.

Rand's Eye Bee M, Excellent Example, He also did a very creative Rebus with AIGA for the second or third AIGA Annual. Another type of Rebus incorporate symbols which are a play on words, as the Dictionary defines. Example above. Illustrating Minolta and Nortel.

It would help to know what in the name of GOD the Designer was trying to accomplish with the "T" symbol forming an "O" because within those two letters is another symbol.

Come to think of it there are two other effective Rebus in Identity Design, Chermayeff & Geismar's Sho time Identity. Sho enclosed in a circle. "W" is none existant.

Bass' DIXIE the "X" being substituted for flower petals.

Essentially, I was trying to create a Phonetic Puzzle with the Designer's existant symbol.

Actually for TORONTO I was feeling Type or Hand Drawn Lettering. Either Spencerian, Brush Script or a Strong Eligant and Dignified typeface with Character.

The most important lesson I've learned in Identity Design. Symbols don't always lend themselves to every Identity Design Project. That's what Designers must ultimately understand. TORONTO is an instance where Hand lettering or typography work best.

Think, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurant, as beautiful and strong Identities using typography.

Frankly, I'm tired of seeing CLICHE' Identities of Cities that incorporate State Capitals or Monuments of specific local.

I luv Glaser's Visual Statement I Love NY. Nothing, in my Minds Eye says New York, like Herb Lubalin's NY NY

For my money, Lubalin's NY NY the BEST Identity for a city I've seen. It simply embodies the spirit of New York.

There is another New York Identity I have somewhere in my archives. Haven't seen it in years. It is a very beautiful typographic treatment superimposed over New York written in Graffiti. That Identity rival Lubalin's. It suggest two different New Yorks. If anybody out there in cyberspace has this identity, please upload on Speak Up. I certainly would appreciate seeing it again.

Von Glitschka:

Not fare, uploading pretty little girls.

The problem, how do we make the existant TORONTO Identity Better ???