umlauts

Recently I've noticed a trend in design. Maybe it started with the annoying graffiti style posters everyone for Bruno. We have enough graffiti in Chicago, so I'm not a huge fan of marketing designed to look like some punks took a spray can to a building. That aside, it's the umlauts that caught my attention. I remember as a young designer being fascinated by those two little dots over a letter. They made everything look so cool. But reality took hold. In this country, adding an umlaut is not as easy when you work on a computer. Plus, not everyone knows what one is. How it changes the pronunciation of a word. With that said, I hope this isn't something that continues.

Be careful when naming your organization

A fellow designer of mine from Indiana had mentioned that their local baseball team had undergone a new name and logo. The name is in reference to Johnny Appleseed, who is the local hero of Fort Wayne. They named their team The Tin Caps. Unfortunately, they're called The Pot Heads by everyone else.

What does your card say about your company?

Whenever I present to a client concepts the first thing I say is that I believe that design doesn't need to be explained. Now of course, I always have rationales for everything I have done. And I always talk about them, because that's part of the job. But the truth is that good design should communicate your message without the designer needing to speak a word. If an idea isn't understood, than it's not working. As designers we're problem solvers. And we use words and pictures to solve those problems. What's important is not what we tell you a concept means, but what your reaction is. Because if you don't have a reaction, then how can one of your clients? Your materials need to be understood so that when you're not around, they're conveying your message, your brand. Case in point: I received these cards yesterday from a client that I have just branded. A professional organizer. And what I really love is not only did she pull out her card, but a card of a competitor. With so much information crammed into a tiny space, with images all over the place, it was clear that we succeeded in conveying her goals. To create a space that works. a space you love.