Spreadshirts’ Open Logo Project I think this is a great idea that could seemingly work at any institution. Spreadshirt is offering a ton of great prizes to the designer of their new logo. They have already gotten over 500 entries in less thank 3 weeks. It’s great publicity and the prizes (some of which are donated) are valued around what they would end up paying a design firm to design it for them. I know of some institutions that have tried something similar, but not on this scale. It would be neat to not limit it to your institution and present it in a similar manner where you can get submissions from all over and allow people to comment on them. Of course, if you were at an art school or a school that had a strong design program you could limit it to just student work; this type of project would really help engender some ownership amongst the students. You can view the entries they have received so far here.

I try not to post videos too often, but these were too good to pass up…

Ok, ok, that last one was pretty gross, but think about how simple it is; it doesn’t even need an explanation. I love the treatment of the Petco logo at the end of the M&C Saatchi spot; it’s so simple & insightful. And how can you not love those dancing kids in the MasterCard ad?

Hello everyone! Please excuse the non posting this past week; both Jonathan and I are deeply immersed in our own university-wide marketing plans at the moment. American University has once again proven that their edgy designs can be executed with very little money but with maximum results. This year Jonathan designed a fabulous aluminum water bottle that is so cool I’ll bet students will begin hoarding them. AU is also planning a launch party for their new 24-hour schedule; finalizing details, gathering sponsorship, and making costumes (they are going to have a robot, a monkey, a ninja, and a pirate there to match their new post-it notes — see image above) Here at University of Arizona Libraries we are putting the final touches on our second annual Amazing Library Race. An orientation event meant to break down barriers and eliminate misconception students have about the libraries resource and services. Last year was so successful and so much fun that we are starting to make a name for ourselves on campus. Last week we showed up on the home page of the University of Arizona. No small feat indeed. This is definitely because of our strong branding of the event and all the thanks for that goes to graphic designer Marty Taylor – Thanks Marty! The thing that I like best about the Amazing Library Race is the engagement of the staff involved, they are so dedicated and they create their own questions and displays -they are wonderful and energetic. It is so great that last year the staff said that they enjoyed the event especially for the fact that the got to work and have fun with people in the library that they rarely see… these kinds of comments make all of my work worthwhile!

These two advertising campaigns really caught my eye recently.

A beautiful execution and a very simple message. I think these are really powerful.

NH Hotels advertisement was placed on Iberia airline’s headrests. On the back of the headrests you could see illustrations enjoying the different activites offered by NH Hotels: golf, beach, sauna, and spa.

[via Ads of the world & Ad Goodness]

Tea Sketch by Dave Gray

This is such a great idea for when you have those pesky creative blocks. So to preform this wondrously inspiring feat, all you do brew a cup of tea, then plunk your fresh tea bag down on a white index card. Once the tea stain has dried, you take a pen and complete the drawing. Finally, just sit back and feel that mental block melt away as the ideas come pouring in. There is a whole flickr group dedicated to it here, unfortuantly there aren’t too many pictures in it right now, but the ones that are there are facinating. Anyhoo, I’m sure this will prove to be very useful in the near future. [via Drawn!]

Help her! That burger is eating her head!

When great ads support “not so great for you” products Have you seen this new Wendy’s baconater commercial?

This ad is a great example of a really funny use of innovative graphics to do what? sell you a hamburger that is bigger than your head! Now I am not adverse to a good hamburger every now and then, but I usually choose In-N-Out Burger who I believe do not even advertise anywhere, yet they are always packed. But back to the baconater, these ads remind me of David Wojnarowicz, when he took all these pictures around New York City with a iconic mask of Arthur Rimbaud on, Rimbaud is the poet who inspired everyone from Surrealists to Patti Smith. You know this ability to use such compelling graphics to sell stuff that makes us really fat is the reason why I am such an advocate of culture jamming being done by the people over at AdBusters. I am pretty sure that no one ever needs to eat in one sitting: Six strips of hickory smoked bacon piled high atop two 1/4 lb. patties of beef, complete with two slices of American cheese. EEEEEK! As my good friend Gwendolyn always says “you have to use your powers for good, not evil.” Someone who is using his power for good and not evil is Shaquille O’Neal, in his new ABC show called Shaq’s Big Challenge, he takes 6 children through a weight loss program and inadvertently deals with school lunch programs and physical education (or the lack thereof). Shaq is so empathic towards these kids, you can see even this mighty man being demoralized by the forces that weigh these children down (no pun intended) We have a responsibility to create inspiring exciting design for good not evil. Tell us some examples you have of great ads that are created for “not so great” products.

I remember when the iPod debuted in 2001: I was a student at the time, so I scrimped and saved for months and months; 400 bucks later I finally had my hands on a 5 gigabyte one. All of my friends thought I was nuts for plunking down so much money for something their $30 CD player could do, but now-a-days you’d be hard-pressed to walk 3 blocks without seeing someone using an iPod. Something happened between 2004 and now to make iPods beyond ubiquitous. Hint: it isn’t a price drop. Everyone knows that Apple creates beautiful (and intuitive) products that have a cultish following. Groundbreaking design isn’t the only thing that has transformed Apple from the darling of the art world into a household name; it’s also their marketing. If you want a first hand look at Apple’s marketing in action, take the iPhone release on Friday – you could scarcely turn on the TV or read a newspaper for a full month before it’s release without hearing something about it. The hype was astounding. The funny thing is, contrary to my assumption and contrary to the image apple projects in their ads, it wasn’t just the cool kids lined-up and counting down until the 6:00pm release. Surrounding me in line was a late 20′s professional, an mid-30′s business man, and a late 40′s corporate lawyer all foaming at the mouth for this $600 phone. After talking with them, it became apparent that each and everyone of them had been gobbling up ever piece of information they could find about it on the internet. This is the real power of Apple’s marketing machine, they created a want need for this device. Apple is slowly but surely becoming the Prada of the computer world. They take a piece of technology (a superiorly designed piece of technology, but a piece of technology none-the-less) slap a high price-tag on it, and make it cool to own. Now this is simplifying the formula quite a bit, but the point is they’ve managed to make their product a status symbol. Not bad for a company that was in the dumps 10 years ago. “Dell people buy computers to get a job done. Apple users buy a computer to make a statement.” – Seth Godin

If you are going to be at the ALA Annual Conference in DC this year, Mary and I will have a booth at the Swap & Shop where we will be raffling off a chance to have Fearless Future redesign the marketing material of your choice (logo, brochure, business cards, etc.) for free! Head on down to the Washington Convention Center Special Events Area, behind Aisle 600 on the exhibit floor between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 24 to enter. We can’t wait to see you there!

Every time Jonathan and I hand out our business cards, a chuckle invariably follows, and we couldn’t be happier. We think it is one of the best complements we could ever receive.

Unfortunately, for legal reasons, I had to take down a series of ads that I posted a few days ago, but I found these substitutes, which I really, really like. They have the same light and warm feeling in their approach, and there is something fresh about these. The photos were taken by Jan von Holleben. Amazing work!

Via Ads of the world