SPORT Exhibit at The Annenberg Space for Photography

I am honored to have designed the brand identity and marketing campaign for the latest exhibit titled “SPORT”, showing at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles, California. The exhibit showcases the work of Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer, two of the world’s pre-eminent sport photographers. The exhibit features over 80 photographic prints, including the iconic images of Muhammad Ali’s victory over Sonny Liston. I highly recommended, must see exhibit if you find yourself in the LA area.

New Brand Identity for BendBroadband

Brandnav recently launched a new brand identity and advertising campaign for BendBroadband, the leading provider of internet, cable and telephone services in Central Oregon. The strategy emphasized not only the fact of being locally owned and operated, but as providing the best service, best products and a better overall experience within a commodity and price driven category. Thus, the new logo and tagline, “We’re the local dog. We better be good.”

Simplicity in Branding

“A well designed logo, in the end, is a reflection of the business it symbolizes. It connotes a thoughtful and purposeful enterprise, and mirrors the quality of its products and services.” — Paul Rand

Following is a proposed logo design for the Wheelchair Foundation we designed. I am a firm believer in the simpler the better.

Working with Storyline Studio

It has been long overdue since I posted anything. I have been working on several large projects and I am unable to share due to my commitment to confidentiality until they are launched publicly.

One area of personal satisfaction that I have been experiencing for several years now and especially lately is working with a very talented group of friends from Storyline Studio—owned and led by Bill Smith with the help of Tim Holloran. Often I feel branding is very creative, strategic, challenging, and reqarding. Then I see what these guys do I am overwhelmed at their talent and ability to solve problems and create incredible design experiences. Bill Smith has been a close friend of mine for many years and I believe he is one of the most talented and intelligent designers I have ever met. His company conceives and designs incredible museum exhibits and have provided me the opportunity to work with them on several projects designing the graphics along with several branding programs. I am very grateful and excited about the current projects I working on with them.

I am attaching two images—one which shows a project we helped in designing the graphics and the other a picture of the three of us. Bill Smith in the middle, Tim Holloran on the left, and me on the right. Behind us is Seattle where Storyline Studio is located.

Thank you Storyline Studio! It is an honor to work with you!

Sunpower Brandmark Design

This is a proposed brandmark design for Sunpower, one of the World’s leaders in solar energy solutions located in San José, California. This brand concept was based on “the goodness of the sun”. The idea is that the sun is a source of life, growth and warmth. The organic circles represent the earth, sky, and sun and is executed in an abstract, approachable style to convey more of the sun’s benefits to us rather than appearing only as technology corporation.

B is for Brand

I have always felt a bee provides wonderful elements for graphic symbology—geometry, stripes, strong contrasting colors of black and yellow, etc. I designed this bee while just playing around a bit. One day I will use it for something.

Brand Navigation New Brandmark

As the story goes, the shoe cobbler rarely takes the time to create a pair of shoes that fit just right for himself. Well, at last I have taken the time to create a brandmark which reflects what I believe is a combination of sophistication, elegance, and timelessness. Also, as with the name change from Federal Express to FedEx, so many of our clients have begun to refer to us as Brandnav—and while our legal name will remain Brand Navigation, LLC, it makes sense that we shorten our communicative name to Brandnav.  We will begin implementing the new brand in the weeks ahead.

Leila’s Urban Farmhouse

I must admit that both my job and hobby is branding and design. My wife, who understands this passion and drive in me, entertains me from time to time by allowing me to design her dinner invitations. Everything is about branding to me and she embodies the urban farmhouse concept—down home and up town at the same time.  

Brand Symbol of Humanity

Here is more on the Annenberg Space for Photography. This last week the primary identification signage went up for this logo we designed. The symbol, referred to as the IRIS, represents the photographer’s view of the world and human condition. The Photography Space, located in Century City, Los Angeles, will showcase photography from renowned photograhers exhibiting both traditional and digital photography. I always find it exciting when two-dimensional graphic design is translated to three-dimensional and am please with the result in this instance. I highly recommend a visit to the Space when the lens cap comes off March 27, 2009.

Branding & Banner Design for the Annenberg Space for Photography

These are banners we designed for the opening of the inaugural for the Annenberg Space for Photography. It was rather exciting to see rows of these banners hanging all along the Avenue of the Stars and Santa Monica Blvd., in Los Angeles. I am truly honored to work on such an inspiring project!

Brand Goes Top Chef

This was quite a highlight for me last night. While I was was watching my favorite show Top Chef with my wife and daughter, one of the competing chefs picked up and commented on this package while shopping at Whole Foods in preparation of their meal for one of the final episodes in season 5. I designed this package about 4 years ago and completely forgot about it. Getting a design on Top Chef is much more exciting than getting into design publications!

EcoTimber Brand Revitalization

We are honored to have worked with EcoTimber, a company devoted to forest protection and producers of high quality and beautiful flooring since 1992. The business challenge was to communicate a premium brand position on the web and elevate EcoTimber as the leading choice for sustainable flooring products.

Understanding that the primary target market were women concerned both with the environment but also desiring a beautiful and healthy, toxic-free home, our strategy was to create a brand experience that was clean and beautiful in appearance, along with communicating the benefits to the environment and to one’s home through simplicity and clarity.

The project included not only the website but also a redesign of their brandmark. We are truly proud to assist such a wonderful company.

Please check out their new site at www.ecotimber.com. Of special note, I love the way the animation of the plants grow on the home page. Just a little touch to bring the site alive.