Website Design Charlotte

Most designers will agree that creating a logo for a client is one of our most exciting tasks. Being able to visually represent a company is a great challenge. There are so many articles for designers and clients about the importance of this piece of design, and all that goes into creating it, but I was intrigued by this article from LogoLounge.com. It's all about the trends in logo designs of 2010. The examples above are only a few of the group they discuss, but lets take a look through them.

1. PARTS:

This trend is all about iconic pieces (or "parts") that come together to create the silhouette of the whole. From a distance it's one thing, and closer up it reveals more information. This particular example's objective is to visually represent the statement "We the people form this nation". It's a smart visual solve of a more organic concept.

2. GHOST:

This trend is all about engaging the viewer. Gaining the viewers attention in a visual world is such huge challenge for a designer, so this trend forces the viewer to engage with the logo if for no other reason than to confirm what they're seeing. It's soft and subtle, but in a way that demands attention. Interesting concept, huh?

3. CUBIST:

The inspiration for this trend comes from a place that shouldn't be surprising. Fine art has always been an influencing factor to designers, and I believe that the best design comes from a knowledge and background in fine art. There's a certain visual pleasure in reducing images down to their essence, thus the appeal of cubism.

4. BOX-UP

The terminology is pretty obvious, as is the reason this trend is so popular. It can be difficult for a designer to balance the importance of typography and symbol for a company's logo. Enlarging the pair to be sure the type is legible can throw the symbol into the dominant role, and reducing the size to make sure the symbol isn't too loud can make the type too small to read. Using a literal box insures that it's all together in a package. 

5. STAINS:

This trend is another example that calls for the attention of the viewer, often times in a second look. The blurred edge creates motion. The immediacy of these marks creates an impression of authenticity and humanity. It looks hand crafted, not computer or machine crafted.

6. DUST:

This trend understands the importance of subtlety. The stippled effect creates almost a whisper that can produce different tonal levels with its density. There's kind of a sparkle about this kind of technique. It creates the illusion of motion with hard edges. The most obvious connection for inspiration is that of an airbrush.

7. FESTOON:

Another trend that's about creating motion, the festoon trend accomplishes this by using streamer like elements (almost as if they are blowing in a breeze).The key to this graphic solution is that the elements have a diminishing point. They also often use overlapping and transparency to accomplish the goal and push the mark a little further. This trend evokes a free spirit and lack of control that's visually interesting. It's lighthearted and festive.

8. PIXEL:

This trend is inspired by the digital building block, the pixel. Small elements come together to create a larger result. The same idea is executed in pointillism. Dots of color create the whole picture. The challenge for designers with this one, is making it new. I found this example particularly interesting because of the warped perspective of the pixels, which ads another layer with dimension. It's an interest and different way to do pixels. 

This is how you do it:
 

Go to www.boconcept.com and download a template of the BoConcept cup layout and make your very own design to enter the competition. All the entered designs will be featured in 3D on the website. In January 2010 when the competition finishes, an international jury of 4 judges will decide the winning design of 6 different cup designs that will be put into production. The 6 winners will each get their name and country written on the cup. Furthermore they will receive a set of the 6 winner cups and – last but not least – an BoConcept Imola chair in a fabric of their own choice. 

There are currently about 486,000 fans, so chances are he’ll have reached his goal by now. This questionable parent is also encouraging fans to give him their e-mail addresses so that he can e-mail him the birth certificate once his son is born.

Sounds to me like the “media” company behind the whole thing just wants 500,000 e-mail addresses. 

If you read websites about food, NYC or general wackiness, there's a good chance you've recently run into Scanwiches—a Tumblr with nothing but flatbed scans of bisected deliciousness. It's a fun, creative concept and I can envision how a site like this could anchor the social media marketing strategy for a Charlotte, NC sandwich shop. 

At the same time, since most Charlotte graphic design studios have a scanner on the premise, you have to wonder if our sandwich landscape is fertile enough to support a project like this. Probably not.

Here a link to the story behind the site.

• Logos must be designed with every form of media in mind. 
• First, when creating a logo try and imagine what it will look like on a t-shirt, website, business card, letterhead, etc. 
• Second, imagine the logo appearing on different surfaces and backgrounds (light and dark). 
• Thirdly, try changing the colors and view the logo in both grayscale and black/white. 
• Finally, try playing with the logo by increasing and reducing its size dramatically. Logos that are too vertical or horizontal will become highly distorted when enlarged or reduced in size, so choose dimensions wisely.

Yes, the world has gone Twitter crazy (even though the longevity of this trend is still uncertain). And, true to form, most brands (and Charlotte ad agencies) are one step behind early adopters. Over the last year or so, a lot of companies have been playing catch up, and some brands have even caught the Twitter bug.

While birdsong gregory, our Charlotte branding and ad agency, is an advocate of brands making effective use of Twitter (when it makes sense), we think it's better for brands not use Twitter until they have created and tested a measurable social network marketing strategy. Otherwise, a bland, inauthentic Twitter presence can turn this promising social channel into a PR nightmare.

For example, consider Amazon’s Twitter presence. Despite being an internet pioneer, Amazon’s approach to Twitter is disappointing. The e-commerce giant uses a ‘Twitter bot’ to automatically publish excerpts from its US blog. These tweets clutter the user’s homepage and add little value beyond that of a standard RSS feed. This is the reason the huge number of mentions the brand receives on Twitter is not matched by its followers (currently at 1200).

Amazon has really missed an opportunity in this regard. By allowing users to integrate its recommendation engine into their Twitter accounts, this online retailer could suggest products and reviews based on what individual consumers are tweeting about. If a consumer tweets about an upcoming trip to, say, Brighton, England, then Amazon could recommend clicking through to purchase the novel Brighton Rock by Graham Greene or the cult movie Quadrophenia.

To learn more about both online and offline branding, marketing, and advertising services our agency offers, please visit birdsong gregory, contact Jim Cusson at 704-332-2299, or stop by the next time you’re in downtown Charlotte.