Week 8: Jasuta

Starbucks. One of the most prevalent logos around us is also one with the most unusual history.

1. The natural, placid form of the circular logo is certainly a key factor in what makes this logo work. The image of the mermaid is contained and cropped within the black circle, and the type is shaped around the circle. The simplicity in color is also a gestalt principle with the white used against colored backgrounds as seen in the text and mermaid image.

2. Originally, Starbucks tried to use the lure of female sexuality to draw customers to the coffee with the nude mermaid (originally called "Moby's Coffee," customers weren't drawn to a coffee named after a whale. When the owners changed the name to Starbucks, it continued the link to the novel "Moby Dick" but subconsciously it's named with allure -- "star" and "bucks" when broken down alludes to wealth and fame; things consumers could be drawn to.) Still, the mermaid prevails as a sign of ancient myth, a siren with alluring characteristics.

3. The green encircles the ultimate image, which is an unusual concept to utilize rather than outlining an image in black, the color outlines the image. The typography works with the mermaid; the text within the circle is recognizable, and the image is recognizable but they both work best together.

Maxwell Week 8

The logo I chose is the Nickelodeon logo. I chose this one because I think it's a very fun logo and it's very simple. It's made to look like the stain of a mess you made having the time of your life as a child, at least that's what I get from it. Initially I wasn't going to use this logo because I couldn't find gestalt principles that I thought would apply and then I realized that the lack of detailed components and little use of gestalt principles are what make this such a fun logo. The orange is very warm and makes you excited almost, and having the words in white, sort of carved out of what looks like a paint splatter, really makes the name stand out.

The color works very well and plays an important role in the Nick logo because it's gender neutral, it's very warm and exciting and would clearly state to any viewer that they are viewing a children's channel. I also think the logo being in the form of a paint splatter attracts older youth (that's kind of an oxymoron, I know) that would normally be turned away by a very childish logo.

Mariotti | Week 8

1. The Firefox logo uses the gestalt principle of continuation. The eye is compelled to move through one the fox and continue to the world in the background. Another gestalt principle used is that of figure and ground. The fox is clearly percieved as the figure and the world is the ground.
2. This logo communicates that this browser is fast, and that you can communicate with people all over the world.
3. It took me awhile to see it, but the orange swish is a fox with fire for a tail. This is a good play on the word firefox. The use of bright colors draws the eye to the logo. There isn't any typeography because the image conveys the name of the browser.

Bathroom signs in other cultures

Here are the signs I mentioned in class on male and female restrooms in Oman:

Week 9: PROJECT POSTING

FOR THE WEEK AFTER SPRING SPRING BREAK....

Post jpegs of each piece of your logo/stationery system along with your rationale for this week's assignment. ALSO, if you want to post your updated resume, feel free to do so!

Cheers,
paul

Color Handouts

Check out these color resources below.

Week Eight: Wolk

I chose the Crayola logo because it does a good job of representing the goal and feeling of the company in a clean, effective way.
1. One of the dominant features of the Crayola logo is the gestalt principle of continuation. The curve of the smile in the image makes the eye follow the image from left to right, also reading the name of the company at the same time. The curve is a very effective way for getting the eye to sweep across the image. The logo also features closure, because although there are no crayons represented in the logo, it is obvious that the image represents crayons.
2. The image represents the company's fun, colorful, childlike personality.
3. The color of the logo shows the array of colors that can be used with the product, and the brightness of the colors calls attention to the image while playing up the childlike aspect of the logo. The typeface chosen looks like something that a child could actually create, and the tilt of the typeface also adds to the continuity principle used in the design.