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.

Building Brand Awareness through Advertising

I have always appreciated advertising copy-writers. When great copy and visuals work together I believe it communicates the brand more effectively and holistically.

I also must admit that one of my favorite TV shows back in the late 80’s through the early 90’s was called “thirtysomething”. The show was about the daily stresses and interactions that take place in an advertising agency. My favorite episode was the very last when Michael (the agency’s creative director), questions the value and purpose of advertising to society. Well, regardless of the value to humanity, I still think it is cool when well crafted words and creative visuals come together to tell a story, promote an event, or sell a product.

These following ads just so happen to have social value. We created them for a new photography museum located in Los Angeles opening this spring. The museum is called the Annenberg Space for Photography and is dedicated to exhibiting both traditional and digital photography with an emphasis on celebrating the human condition through the eye of the photographer.

Sometimes a Good Brand Takes Time

This is a quick post but I finally have designed a brand identity for my wife. We have been married over 22 years and I must say that this has been the longest “discovery phase” I have ever taken to know enough of the client to design a brand that reflects the brand character well. My wife’s unique qualities include a combination of class, grace, approachability and fun. I have indeed been the primary beneficiary of living with such a wonderful woman for so many years. I knew the design was right when upon seeing it, she simply said, “I like it!”. She never holds back in telling me how she truly feels about design,... or anything. I love her tenacious and beautiful spirit. As George Clooney said, “You fascinate me!”

This identity is for an investment company in West Africa. The concept is based on the Kente cloth patterns used throughout the culture. I love the way the rich, colorful pattern creates the “W” initial. The font used for the name is called “Today”. I love the clean contemporary feel of it. It brings both a current and credible contrast to the symbol. I believe using fonts that endure through time and kerned with extreme care is what truly makes or breaks a design. Poorly chosen and executed typography will both date and determine the level of perception of a logo. It is the classic and foundational element which provides an enduring life to a brand. A designer is wise to invest the time to study and master the use of typography. It will enable he or she to create brands that can live beyond the trends which so often clutter the marketplace and pop culture of design.

Of Globes and Spiders

It has been a while since I have blogged. I have been very busy at work of which I am very thankful for during this time of economic challenge.

The first logo is an identity created for MissionKids, an initiative that helps parents teach their children about the vast social needs around the world. I love the energy in this identity. Especially the splat of the globe. It almost feels like it was flung against the wall and stuck. It reminds me of when my parents would cook pasta and throw the noodles against the refrigerator. If it stuck it meant it was done cooking.

The second, is a logo for PixelSilk, a new content management system that also incorporates search engine optimization. I think the spider’s legs are cool. They look like digital crawlers. Another option for the tagline I developed was “Bite Me”, but I decided “Feed Your SEO” was safer.