A Few Interesting Articles
by Bennett Holzworth, (13 comments)
Here are a few news articles that have caught my attention lately. Some of the newspapers might make you register, but I think they are worth it.
The 2010 Vancouver Olympics revealed their new logo this Saturday. The logo is decent but the fact that it was handled as a logo competition is not. At least the prize was $25,000. With 1,600 entries, just think of the wasted time designing this logo.
Here is a revealing interview with Peter Saville. This article makes it clear why he only stayed with Pentagram for a short time in the nineties.
Another Chip Kidd interview.
A couple of gaming companies disagreeing about wether their logos are too much alike. View the logos.
Here are a couple of Toronto Star articles on Bruce Mau. One is a review of Massive Change as it moves to a new location. Side Note: Does anyone else think that Hartio Sans on SNL could play Bruce onscreen. I also thought that this article that compared Mau to William Morris and Buckminster Fuller was very interesting. I would never have put Morris in the same crowd but after reading the article, I see the connection.
Comments (13)
jan said:
i’d be curious to know what people really think of this design. It’s meaning and it’s appropriateness to Canada’s west coast. the symbol, the inukshuk is very northern canadian and only represents the NWT and Nunavut. we were very surprised it was chosen given the strong Haida and Coast salish native art that is so much more appropriate to the west coast. the design itself is getting mixed reviews here, such as a pacman head, gumby-like. the colours are so dated to me, and although the symbol of the inukshuk is a beautiful one, i feel it isn’t representative to the image we are here in Vancouver. Anyone?
Posted on April 25, 2005
nate said:
Good note, Jan. While I’m located several hundred mile due South-ish of Vancouver, I also share a reserved point of view of the logo. While certainly we can debate the dated mid-nineties, over-bright color pallet, as well as the relevance of the inukshuk to Vancouver, there is another topic of interest to me.
It looks like a huge fat guy. Not exactly the pillar of athletic strength the Olympics usually calls to mind.
Posted on April 26, 2005
Bennett said:
I’m not sure how you criticize the colors all that much. They are very olympic and in line with colors of past Olympic logos. The overweight part is definitely something that should have been considered. The inukshuk character has a lot in common with Bibendum. Maybe Michelin should be a corporate sponsor.
Posted on April 26, 2005
Simanek said:
Peter Saville, god bless him, is a hypocrite. How can you hate commercialism and need expensive, fashionable furniture all at the same time? He should, like me, stop claiming artistic ambitions and just fess up to being inherently lazy.
Posted on April 26, 2005
Terry Tolleson said:
I suppose the argument could be made for a rotund figure to represent the Olympics if it was during the summer, but for winterï¾– I think some consideration was overlooked. Not too sure of any winter sports that require the extra insulation.
There were several articles/blog posts that had similar debates about logo contests of this nature. The biggest one I can think of is Win over at Airbag Industries. 188 comments worth of argument over there.
Ultimately, I look at the big picture of 1,599 entries that were a complete waste of resources. Sure, it could be claimed good practice, but for no compensation, good practice is completely irrelevant.
Posted on April 26, 2005
Bennett said:
Jason,
Have you seen 24 Hour Party People yet? I have a copy of it, but haven’t gotten around to watching it yet. Even if they didn’t consult Mr. Saville for this movie I am still looking forward to seeing a graphic designer in a movie. Although … I don’t think he is actually a good representation of our industry. I guess they don’t make movies about average people.
Posted on April 26, 2005
Adrian said:
Not being from Canada, I don’t know much about the appropriateness of the inukshuk, but I like the new logo. My biggest criticism is of the notch taken out of the head. It turns it into too much of a cartoon, and I don’t think anything is added by hinting at a mouth. The strength of the logo is that it is so abstract. Since it isn’t trying to be a realistic representation of an athlete, I am not bothered by the weight of the figure. The weight of the limbs is necessary since it they represent stones and land masses. The colors are appropriate, and the rationalization of them is sound. I don’t mind the type, but I don’t know if I like the relationship of the type, the Olympic logo, and the inukshuk. I think it would be better if the Olympic logo wasn’t used in combination with it. With three main elements, it is competing with itself.
Posted on April 26, 2005
Simanek said:
Bennett, It’s a pretty cool movie. In parts they mix in actual footage of the Sex Pistols from one of their early performances. My sister just bought New Order’s latest album today: designed by none other than Peter Saville. I think he designed all of their albums starting with Joy Division. Check out the movie, it illustrates how Techno Music and the rise of the DJ originated in Manchester with Punk Music (and I’m not talking about Rancid punk, I’m talking about Sid Vicious punk). Oh, and there’s also a little quip with Peter Saville delivering some ‘beautiful’ yellow tickets for a show that happened earlier in the evening. He had to get the color just right.
Posted on April 26, 2005
David Sucher said:
Mau in the same sentence as Morris much less Fuller? Weird.
Posted on April 26, 2005
Bennett said:
David,
The funny thing is that these comparisons are meant to be criticisms. The author points out how all of these designers had too grand of goals that didn’t connect with reality. Le Corbusier and Ayn Rand were also lumped into this group of utopian designers.
Posted on April 27, 2005
kris said:
cool thread you have going on the design of the logo. generally people here in vancouver (and around canada) seem to range from disappointed in the emblem to outright pissed off. i’m hosting a little poll over at http://2010.dailyvancouver.com/ and would love to get you guys to vote and comment. some good discussion going on there too. thx. :) kk+
Posted on May 8, 2005
Bennett said:
Kris, It looks like you have some interesting discussion going on over there as well. I took the pole, but I wish there would have been one more option to select from. I didn’t like that the “it’s OK” option was tainted with the addition of the old cliche “looks like I could have drawn it”. This only demeans design and those that do it professional. There is no doubt in my mind that it is a nice and well done logo. I think the debate is much more productive and insightful when the discussion is based on how appropriate it is.
Posted on May 8, 2005
kris said:
good feedback bennett. you’re right. its about time for a new poll anyway. i’ll watch the way i word the options next time.
Posted on May 10, 2005