In 1975, graphic designer Milton Glaser created AND donated a very simple logo for a campaign he expected would last a couple of months.
The logo is still seen everywhere and has been spun off numerous times.
It is no longer a logo, it is an iconic image.
Here’s what Milton has to say about it.
Mike Gill, CPT
When I knew Mike Gill, he was this scrawny little guy in search of a job in golf. Being the head of regional sales for Arnold Palmer Golf Management at the time (what, you think all I ever did was voice over? How boring would that be?!) I took pity on the little fellow and hired him. But I made him promise me that if I hired him, that he would follow a workout routine that I personally created for him to bulk him up, make him stronger and attractive to the ladies. In other words, I was going to create a younger me.
Today, he is not only an award winning strong man but he is a Certified Professional Trainer. Here is a write-up about Mike’s work and one of his talented students in Monday’s Buffalo News (it was a full page spread in the print edition).*
I couldn’t be more proud…of me!
*Of course, most of that is all crap, you see.
Yes, I hired Mike at APGM and yes he is an award winning strong man and a CPT. But he was always a big, strong guy and I was always not. Mike also turned out to be a great sales person with a keen eye towards marketing. I am proud but of him not me.
But what ever you do, don’t let him park your car.
We’ll be doing some very minor redecorating of this blog (we’re going to widen it a little bit) but this will require that we change the size of the title banner.
So it occurred to me that maybe I should take this time to freshen the look for the title banner which was designed by me though I’ve never really been happy with all of it (some of it I like).
So I asked Ann Hackett of aHa Designs to craft some alternate versions of a new banner. This is where YOU come in.
Please, in the comment section, pick your favorite choice (numbered 1-4).
If you prefer, you may vote that you do not like ANY of them or that you like the current banner just fine.
I really value your opinion and no feelings will be hurt in the honest assessment of these designs!
If you’re willing, please also RETWEET this poll (see the little green button on the top right of this post above the options picture?) so that I can get as many opinions as possible.
Thank you.
This is how it was…
Microsoft makes software like Office , it has a web browser, Internet Explorer and an operating system for PC’s called Windows. Their tools are primarily for PC use (i.e. not Macs) and are widely popular. Microsoft is not a fan of Google.
Apple makes computers (Macs) that really artsy people like graphic designers enjoy. Their computers are usually more expensive than most. It has had really funny and effective commercials comparing Macs to PC’s with PC users coming across (quite pointedly) as nerd-like and not cool.
Google does search and sells ads on those search pages. They are ginormous.
That was then, this is now.
Microsoft’s MSN search engine (which was never very popular) changed its name to Bing and has just partnered with Yahoo (#2 behind Google in search) to merge its search engine sales and content. Microsoft has also been in a pitched advertising battle with Apple explaining that PC users like their computers to work well and be inexpensive and ‘if you’re calling PC users nerds, we out number you significantly and can kick your whiny designer butts with or without our pocket protectors’.
Google has developed both a fast growing web browser (Chrome) and an operating system – both targeted at Microsoft – and a new phone (the Android/G-phone) to take on Apple’s i-phone as well as a new Google voice application for the i-phone…which Apple summarily will not release at present, causing all sorts of legal wrangling including the resignation of Google’s CEO from Apple’s Board of Directors.
Apple has blown the roof off mobile communication with the i-phone and has gotten the attention of PC users who are digging the Apple style. Apple will cause a major shake-up when they decide which phone providers will get to use the i-phone going forward (AT&T has an exclusive i-phone agreement currently but that is up for renewal- Verizon and maybe Sprint are chomping at the bit to be included going forward). Apple doesn’t like Google anymore (see above paragraph). Apple and Microsoft’s feud goes back many years.
Change is good. Watching the technology chess game that is unfolding among these digital giants is fascinating.
They will not be ignored and they will not be pigeon-holed.
We shouldn’t in our businesses either. Get out of your comfort zone today.
Yes, I have proclaimed my fervent interest in Olympic logos before and I shall again here. It’s international design, it’s so incredibly personal for the competing cities and some of the designs are way cool (some in comparison are not way cool). It’s a fun and artistic exercise for me. You may just want to wait for the TV show, that’s your call 🙂
First a brief story about how this post came about and some design blogs that you may want to subscribe to because I know I enjoy their stuff. Brand New is a logo design site that I have spoken of before and it always seems to show me new stuff before it hits mainstream. This proves I am not the only logo nut out there just probably the only one who can’t draw a straight line.
Well today, Brand New was talking about the rebranding of the kids cable channel Nickelodeon. It will include a new logo and I’ll try and address that debate in a future post as there seems to be no official word from the network (though many hints) on the final logo version. The point is that Brand New referenced another logo design site called idsgn, who was also blogging about the Nickelodeon change – but they also blogged about the 2016 Olympic Candidate Cities and their logos.
Their question for you to answer in their comments is: “If the decision (to pick the 2016 Olympic host city) were based solely on design, which candidate would win?”
The four cities are: Chicago, Madrid, Rio and Tokyo. Please go to idsgn.com and leave your vote in the comments
Now if you don’t want to be swayed by my opinion stop reading here because I am going to tell you my choices in order now.
Again, last chance, stop reading if you don’t want to know my votes.
OK, they’re gone so now we can chat.
If I went with my heart rather than my design eyes I would have to pick Chicago. I have walked through O’Hare and seen their huge banner promoting their cause as host city and just thought it would be awesome if they won.
But because I have to pick with my design goggles on: it’s Madrid. Then I would rank them: Tokyo, Chicago and then Rio. When you go to the idsgn site and read the stories behind the logos, I think the spirit of the Madrid logo as well as its design match perfectly with what I feel is the Olympic spirit.
P.S. Here is a great follow up post on Olympic logos and how they’ve changed from bid to final logos over the past few Olympics
I’ll admit that I don’t watch a ton of TV. I don’t have time with the kids and there isn’t much that catches my fancy. There’s nothing wrong with people who do watch TV, it’s just a current lifestyle thing I guess.
But Sunday night the Discovery Channel was running a bunch of episodes of Cronkite Remembers episodes that I came across. It was very enjoyable.
But while watching the shows, I happened upon this network promo for Discovery which I see has been running for a while (me, again, always late to the party). I just thought it was brilliant.
It reminded me of the kind of smart, memorable network promos I haven’t seen since ABC-TV ran the “We’re the One” promos in the 70’s (featuring Ernie Anderson) and NBC ran the “Come Home” promos in the 80’s.
Maybe I’m still all about the jingle! Anyway, if you haven’t seen it, I hope you’ll enjoy it.
