FreelanceSwitch posts Identity Crisis! interview

Today the web presence FreelanceSwitch posted an interview with me about my career and the book Identity Crisis! The piece, "Veteran Designer Embraces Identity Crisis and Casual Fridays," was written by Kristen Fischer.

FreelanceSwitch is an online resource for all independent creatives, offering advice, articles, podcasts, a job board, and a community forum for designers, writers, photographers, web developers and others.

Kristen Fischer, an independent copywriter and editor, is also the author of the book Creatively Self-Employed. I was one of the "creative types" featured in the January 2007 release.

Identity Crisis! released in UK and Europe

Today, December 28th, is the official release date for Identity Crisis! in Europe according to distributor David and Charles. The book should soon be available at the sites for Amazon Germany, France and U.K. - as well as at local bookstores in many countries.

It's all about proper product placement

When my first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success, was released in 2004, my friend Lisa was known to reorganize bookstore shelves when coming across the volume in retail locations. As she would remind me, "It's all about proper product placement."

I now think about what she said every time I see my new book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands, on a store shelf. I am always very much aware of proper product placement.

Why look, there's Identity Crisis! featured on the shelf above the design section - right next to my friend Von Glitschka's book Crumble, Crackle, Burn: 120 Stunning Textures for Design and Illustration - another HOW Books offering. What are the odds? How did that happen?

(Actually, I had just set up my little photo shoot and taken three photos, when the store manager and security were immediately all over me asking what I was doing. After explaining that I was the author of the book, and showing them some identification, I was no longer considered a possible criminal or security risk.)

Identity Crisis! has broad appeal - Designorati

With the subhead "Portland logo designer’s book illustrates ins and outs of brand rethinks in format that pleases both the logo maven and at least a few members of the public at large," writer Samuel John Klein has reviewed Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands for the industry resource Designorati.

In part, Klein comments:

One thing we found in showing the book to some of our non- design-oriented friends was how popular it became amongst them. When they saw us reading it, they though maybe it was yet another design book for designers; when they got a chance to look into it, they couldn’t put it down–we had to pry it out of their hands just to get it back!

We’ve long felt that the public at large is more interested in design than they think they are, and for us, Identity Crisis! serves as evidence, aided and abetted by Jeff Fisher’s friendly style. This book will find a home not only on designer’s shelves but also the bookshelves of those who just plain like design and good writing.

The entire review is available on the Designorati site.

Identity Crisis! showcased in HOW Magazine

This afternoon I received my February 2008 issue (Yes, I do realize it is still December 2007) of HOW Magazine in the mail. I was sitting in a holiday shopping traffic jam flipping through the publication when I came upon a major promotion for my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed state identities into successful brands on the book promotion page. That's the opening spread of the multi-page Space Needle case study, by Hornall Anderson Design Works, featured in the piece.

My relationship with HOW goes back a few years now. I've been a speaker at several HOW Design Conferences, and will be making the presentation "Planning, Packaging & Promoting Yourself as the Product" at the May 2008 event in Boston. I've also been a member of the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council for a while. In the past I have also written articles for HOW, been featured in several others, and I serve on the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. HOW Books is also the publisher of my books The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success and Identity Crisis!

The fun staff at HOW has always made me feel like part of the family - so, maybe promoting my book in such a big way is kind of nepotism. I think I'll look at is as a great holiday gift from the whole clan.

Identity Crisis! on The Designer's Bookshelf

This morning I got the latest email DT&G newsletter from The Design Center. The monthly missive is always a reminder to check out the latest on the site. Of course, when visiting the design industry resource, I always have to check out the new books listed. I was pleased to see Identity Crisis! listed in the design section of The Designer's Bookshelf.

Check out Identity Crisis! - literally

It's great to hear that designers and students are already able to find Identity Crisis! at some libraries. A couple local facilities have let me know that the book is available for users to check out, including the library at the Art Institute of Portland.

The Art Institute of Portland is a great facility. In the past I have spoken to classes, participated in portfolio reviews and served on the professional advisory committee for the Graphic Design and Interactive Media programs. Another speaking engagement, to discuss Identity Crisis!, is being scheduled for after the first of the year.

I do appreciate the fact that, as a "friend of the Art Institute," bLog-oMotives has been listed as a resource on the library homepage.

Identity Crisis! makes its 'point'

In the past few weeks, I've enjoyed walking into bookstores and seeing that the spine of my book Identity Crisis! is living up to its desired effect. HOW Book designer Grace Ring did a great job creating an image that does kind of "yell" at the customer perusing the design volume shelves.

Just yesterday, someone with whom I was having coffee mentioned how eye-catching the spine, and book cover, were when seen in a store among other books. I replied that when HOW Books acquisitions editor Megan Patrick informed me of the working title Identity Crisis, back in February 2006, I sent her the following email:

Maybe it should be "Identity Crisis!" - with an exclamation point. One of my clients just went through hers and it needed/deserved the additional punctuation!

Besides, I figured it would look good on the spine and cover of the book. It does!

Media Inc. makes note of Identity Crisis!

This afternoon I received the latest issue of Media Inc. - which included a mention of my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands. Media Inc. is a trade magazine promoting the Pacific Northwest's advertising, creative services, film & video, audio, multimedia, web, broadcast, publishing, printing, and music industries. A digital edition of the issue is available to read on the publication website.

A W.O.W. from Identity Crisis!

Scattered throughout my new book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, are "Words of Wisdom" (W.O.W.) from a great group of design industry experts. I asked these individuals to contribute comments, for both designers and clients, in regards to the identity re-design process.

One such piece of advice, from Debbie Millman, reads in part:

If I had to one belief that I believe is most detrimental to many designers, it is this: that being a successful designer is all about being a fabulously talented designer. It is not. That is only one part of it. Being a fabulously talented designer is essentially achieving operational excellence, in the same way that Apple makes great iPods or Jimmy Choo makes great shoes.
Read Debbie's complete quote in Identity Crisis! - or check out more of her words of wisdom, and personal insights, on her blog or her Internet radio show Design Matters.

No Identity Crisis! at Powell's?

I've had numerous phone calls, emails and forum postings from people who have gone to Powell's City of Books (or have intended to do so) in downtown Portland and found that Identity Crisis! is not in stock. With recent local appearances, and published mentions, I know local designers are seeking the book. I thought it odd that the major independent bookstore in my hometown, with the best section of graphic design books in the city, didn't have the book at all. When my first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success, was released the store had numerous copies available immediately.

The Powell's website, which still posts the incorrect title of the book (Update 11.19.07: OK, that's funny - overnight the title was corrected on the Powell's site), has shown a couple "used" copies of the book in recent weeks - which simply means that some individuals receiving local review copies have sold them. In contacting Powell's over a week ago, I learned that the two copies of Identity Crisis! ordered from the publisher were never shipped and therefore never arrived at the store. I was also told that the website listing for the number of book copies in a local warehouse is actually not that at all. The number of copies supposedly in a Powell's warehouse is, in reality, the number available from various regional book distributors.

I do understand that many interested in Identity Crisis! want to peruse a copy before buying the book. In buying design books, I always want to look before I buy. So, if you want to physically buy the book at Powell's you need to let them know they need to make copies available at the stores. (Years ago I lived four blocks from the store and was almost in need of rehab due to the illness of purchasing so many design volumes.) You may order the book from them and it will be shipped to the store for pickup or to your address.

If you are an individual who likes to support local, independent bookstores I would suggest picking up a copy of Identity Crisis! at St. Johns Booksellers in North Portland. Multiple signed copies of the book are available at my neighborhood bookstore - and the support of a small retailer will be greatly appreciated. You might want to inquire about the book at your own local independent bookstore, too.

In the Portland metropolitan area, I have also seen multiple copies of Identity Crisis! at major chain bookstores like Borders and Barnes & Noble. In fact, the other day I saw multiple copies of Identity Crisis! right next to two copies of my friend Von Glitschka's book Crumble. Crackle. Burn. I did some creative product placement on the shelf so both of our books had a much higher profile.

I do appreciate all the positive comments I have received about Identity Crisis!. The published reviews have been great. The book is out there - it just takes a little searching for it in some parts of the country (like my hometown).

DesignerToday reviews Identity Crisis!

Online magazine DesignerToday has posted a review of Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands. The complete critique, by designer and writer Jake Van Ness, may be read on the DesignerToday site. Van Ness sums up his comments with:

This book is a wonderful source of inspiration and I think it is a must have for any designer interested or currently working in the field of identity design.

DesignerToday has been providing industry professionals the most current design news, product reviews, related articles, tutorials by subscription and more, for nearly a decade.

Identity Crisis! goes to college

Yesterday was the first of several Identity Crisis! speaking engagements on my calendar. Program Director Gary Brown invited me to speak to the Capstone students in the School of Business Administration's Business Outreach Program at Portland State University. My presentation on branding and marketing tied in well with the course's current project work.

Student teams are paired with local existing businesses that need business and marketing assistance. Over the two-term course, students take on the role of small business consultant. At the end of the second term a written report is turned in at the time of the final team oral presentation. The format of the report is different for each team, as different businesses require different types of information. The report provides an overview of the client’s needs, work done throughout the project, and applicable recommendations for the client.

My own identity redesign case studies, examples from Identity Crisis! and shared marketing/advertising experience, gave students some "real world" examples and information to consider when dealing with the challenges of their own course "clients."

By the way, the Portland State University identity re-design, by firm Sockeye Creative, is showcased in Identity Crisis!.

HOW homepage mentions Identity Crisis!

It's great to see HOW Magazine posting a blurb about Identity Crisis! on the homepage of their HOWdesign.com site. HOW is published by the same parent company as my book.

Since 2004 I have been a member of the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. I have also written for the magazine, and been included in HOW articles written by others. In May 2008 I will be speaking at a HOW Design Conference for a fourth time.

PaperSpecs selects Identity Crisis!
as Book of the Week

PaperSpecs is the first online paper database specifically developed for the design/print industry. This past week they selected Identity Crisis! as the Book of the Week in the site's online Paper Talks newsletter. It's also listed as one of the PaperSpecs suggested books.

Signed Identity Crisis! copies available
from St. Johns Booksellers in Portland

Last night I had a very successful Identity Crisis! book signing event at St. Johns Booksellers in North Portland. Owners Liz Dorman and Nena Rawdah hosted the fun evening at their store, located at 8622 N. Lombard in the St. Johns neighborhood.

Following the event, I signed numerous copies of Identity Crisis! and the store now has the books available for purchase. Unfortunately, they don't have website ordering. However, you may visit the store in person, email them at info@stjohnsbooks.com, or call (503)283-0032, to place an order or get additional information about the book. As other Portland area bookstores have limited quantities of the volume in stock - or have not yet received orders - St. Johns Booksellers is a great independent bookstore option.

If someone would like a personally inscribed copy, provide the store with the necessary information and I would be happy to stop by and personalize the book before it is shipped out.

For any order over $25 St. Johns Booksellers will ship by USPS media mail for free to Oregon, Washington, and California. (They don't recommend trying media mail for longer distances, because it can take an unreasonably long time and the additional handling is hard on the books.) The UPS ground fee is $6 for the first book, $1.50 for each additional item.

Thank you Just Out!

Yesterday afternoon Just Out editor and publisher Marty Davis blogged about my Identity Crisis! book signing being held later in the evening. (Hey, she even called me an "all round good guy.). Ms. Davis came to the event with her camera in hand and took a number of photos.

Just Out, the state-wide newsmagazine for the GLBT community, had it's own "identity crisis" two years ago. I was brought in to give the publication an updated and more sophisticated look. Back in 2000 writer Marc Acito wrote a feature story about me for the paper.

I really appreciate the ongoing support of Marty Davis and Just Out.

Identity Crisis! book signing reminders

It was great to see the notice about my Thursday book signing in the O! section of The Sunday Oregonian. It's also posted on the paper's online Literary Calendar.

This morning my neighborhood monthly newspaper, The St. Johns Sentinel, published a reminder about my book signing tomorrow evening (Thursday, November 8th) at the St. Johns Booksellers.

The Identity Crisis! event starts at 7:30 p.m. at the bookstore, located at 8622 N. Lombard in the St. Johns neighborhood - about 15 minutes north of downtown Portland.

HOW Books promotes Identity Crisis!

It's been great seeing ads, from my publisher HOW Books (an imprint of F+W Publications), promoting Identity Crisis! in new design industry publications. The ad is in the special Designer's Good Business Guide issue of HOW Magazine and the 2007 PRINT Regional Design Annual.

"Identity Crisis is a rare book" - Chuck Green

One of the blogs I check out on a regular basis is PagePlane, an online presence of design industry expert and author Chuck Green. His site Ideabook.com, the tutorials he offers, and his Jumpola design links are incredible resources for anyone in the profession.

On PagePlane Green has posted a review of Identity Crisis! under the headline Identity Crisis is a rare book. In part the review reads:

If you are a graphic designer who has real-world clients—I suggest you add this book to your toolbox. If you are a business owner or marketer who wants to see how others make over and leverage their identity—Jeff Fisher’s Identity Crisis is a good place to start.

The entire review is available on PagePlane.

HOW blogs about my blog about Identity Crisis!

A couple days ago I posted a blog entry about Identity Crisis! being included in the QuickBooks/Intuit "Just Start" campaign exhibit traveling around the country. I wanted to thank the editors of HOW for giving the news some attention on the HOW Blog yesterday.

Identity Crisis! travels country with
QuickBooks "Just Start" campaign

This past week, while I was on vacation in Italy, Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks Simple Start 2008, held their initial "Just Start" event in Seattle's Westlake Center (above) to announce the free distribution of the product. My business, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, and my newly released book Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands, are featured in the "Just Start" Gallery of proven entrepreneurial businesses for the event (below). The product rollout, and the traveling exhibit, will also be seen in Chicago's Union Center - Great Hall (November 1-2), Grand Central Terminal - Vanderbilt Hall in New York City (November 8-9) and Boston's South Station (November 13-14).

As a QuickBooks user, I joined Intuit's JumpUp online networking community this past year. This past June JumpUp.com did a spotlight on my business efforts. I was recently asked to occasionally write a blog entry for the JumpUp site and Designs on Business was the result. This relationship with JumpUp.com resulted in being asked to participate in the "Just Start" event series.

Already trusted by more than 300,000 small business owners nationwide, QuickBooks Simple Start is full-featured accounting software. Known for its drop-dead ease of use, Simple Start focuses on the essentials of tracking "money in" and "money out," as well as keeping key business data organized for tax time. With this free accounting software, entrepreneurs can now easily establish the financial habits that will help them get their business successfully off the ground. The small business financial software, with previous versions valued at $99.95, is available for free download at www.simplestart.com.

Further supporting entrepreneurs, Intuit also announced its nationwide "Just Start" campaign with a chance to win a $50,000 business startup grant. The campaign is designed to empower the many Americans who aspire to run their own business to take the next step and "Just Start." Along with a contest for $50,000, "Just Start" offers the encouragement and guidance aspiring entrepreneurs need to get started via the events in Seattle, Chicago, New York City and Boston. Go to www.IWillJustStart.com for more information.

Dexinger newsletter promotes Identity Crisis!

One of my favorite design email newsletters is that of Dexinger.com. It always provides a wealth of information about various design disciplines from around the world. It was great to see Identity Crisis! included in the October issue. (Here's the "clicky clicky" to sign up for the monthly industry news missive - and to review an archive of past newsletters.)

I did previously post an Identity Crisis! blog mention of the book appearing on the Dexinger home page.

The "LogoMotivator" huh?


I'm sitting here having cappuccino number two - at Casa Mennone in Segromigno in Monte, Italy - and hopping online to see what's going on with my book, Identity Crisis! When I last posted on this blog, prior to going off to Venice for three days, it was to announce my upcoming Portland book signing.

I thought that the book event might allow me to meet some of the Portland design community with whom I've had online connections, including a couple contributors to the book, but have never met in person. One of those individuals I hoped to see at the St. Johns Booksellers is Samuel John Klein, designer and blogger of The ZehnKatzen Times. Several times he's been nice enough to post entries about me or my work. He's done it again, with a mention of the November 8th event. Unfortunately, he will be working that evening.

This is getting ridiculous. I guess we just need to make plans to get together for coffee at some point when I get back to the States.

Thanks for promoting the book and the book signing!

Identity Crisis! book signing: November 8, 2007
St. Johns Booksellers, Portland OR USA

St. Johns Booksellers, the neighborhood bookstore of North Portland graphic designer and author Jeff Fisher, will be the location of a presentation and book signing for his new book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands, on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30 p.m. Bookstore owners Liz Dorman and Nena Rawdah will host the event in their store, located at 8622 N. Lombard in the St. Johns neighborhood - about 15 minutes north of downtown Portland.

St. Johns Booksellers is a full-service, independent neighborhood bookstore offering new and used books. The store is one of only two U.S. bookstores featured in the 2008 Unique Bookstores calendar published by the International Booksellers Federation.

Anyone having questions about the Identity Crisis! book signing event is encouraged to contact the store at 503.283.0032, Tuesdays through Sunday.

Check out independent bookstores in your local area through Book Sense, and contact them to see if they have Identity Crisis! available.

GDUSA gives Identity Crisis! a mention

The design industry publication Graphic Design USA has given the book Identity Crisis! a mention in its October eGDUSA newsletter. GDUSA writes that Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns that Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands "delivers exactly what the title promises."

In introducing "New Designer Books," the column also notes the release of The Graphic Designer's Guide to Better Business Writing, by Barbara Janoff and Ruth Cash-Smith. Identity Crisis! author Jeff Fisher is featured several times in the Allworth Press selection.

Graphics.com shares Identity Crisis news

Design industry Internet presence Graphics.com is sharing the news of the release of Identity Crisis! with their website readers today.

Creatively Self-Employed plugs Identity Crisis!

This afternoon writer Kristen Fischer's monthly email newsletter counterpart to her book, Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs>, arrived in my inbox - and she was kind enough to give Identity Crisis! some highly visible promotion.

I was honored to be one of the contributors to her book. Any self-employed "creative type" should give it a read - and stop by the Creatively Self-Employed website for much more valuable information.

Online bookseller ranking fun

Yes, the rankings do change hourly - and there are a multitude of categories - but it is fun to see Identity Crisis! in the listings on Amazon.com. The book seems to be doing very well as a "Hot New Release" in the categories of Advertising, Illustration and General Graphic Design.

Identity Crisis! - part of HOW's 'Creative Life'

I earlier posted that a download of some teaser spreads from Identity Crisis! had been made available through the HOW Blog. The same PDF preview of the book is also available on HOW Magazine's website on the "Your Creative Life" page of the Design & Creativity section. Enjoy!

Why, that's just RDQLUS!

I've mentioned Identity Crisis contributor, cyber design community buddy, and real world friend Steve Gordon previously in this blog. However, I do want to thank him for them mention of the book on Str8 Up RDQLUS.

The release of Identity Crisis 'across the pond?'

I've been getting an increasing number of questions, on design forums and via email, about the release of Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands in the U.K. and throughout Europe. It looks like the distributor for that region of the world, David & Charles has the book scheduled for a December 2007 release.

The book is available for pre-sales on the Amazon.com sites in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Do keep an eye on the shelves of your local independent bookstores - it may appear earlier than expected.

'The Persuader' persuades others
to give Identity Crisis! a look

When originally planning the book Identity Crisis!, I knew that I wanted to include Jack Yan, publisher of Lucire and CEO of the global media and communications company Jack Yan & Associates, in some capacity. I was honored when he agreed to be a W.O.W. (Words of Wisdom) contributor.

This evening I was checking out his blog, The Persuader, and was incredibly surprised and flattered to see that he had written about the book today. Thank you very much, Jack!

Words On The Page posts 'Identity Crisis!' words

I wanted to thank writer and editor Lori Widmer for sending me some "link love" from her blog Words On The Page. Lori and I have been bumping into each other on writing forums and other Internet sites for several years. Thanks Lori!

Inkthinker gives "Identity Crisis!" virtual ink

Cyber-friend, and sometimes client, Kristen King has given Identity Crisis! some virtual press on her copywriting blog, Inkthinker (and it's so nice that her blog and my book cover are color coordinated!). Thanks Kristen!

Identity Crisis! found on biznik home page

This morning I got an email newsletter from biznik (Business Networking That Doesn't Suck) mentioning that the site had teamed up with Ilise Benun and Marketing Mix to offer a steady stream of new business tips on the home page.

There on biznik's home page, under the heading "Indie biz tips from Marketing Mix," was Ilise's Marketing Mix blog entry about Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands.

Not a bad way to start the day...

Identity Crisis! shows up on Dexinger

I just had an email from a designer friend letting me know that they had spotted Identity Crisis! on the homepage of the international design portal Dexinger this morning (above). They also posted an additional blurb in the news section - as well as my complete press release. Thanks Dexinger!

It's Ilise Benun's fault...

When people ask me how I got into writing articles about design, and eventually writing books on design topics, I will sometimes jokingly tell them it's Ilise Benun's fault. Back in 2000 HOW Books released her book Self Promotion Online: Marketing Your Creative Services Using Web Sites, Email and Digital Portfolios, and my own marketing and promotion efforts were featured several times in the volume. While my design work had been featured in a number of books prior to that time, Ilise's book brought my self-promotion methods and writing to the attention of a lot of people. Opportunities to be interviewed by other writers and authors, write articles for magazines and websites, and eventually write my first book, followed.

Fast forward seven years and Ilise Benun is known as one of powerhouses behind the Marketing Mentor. Ilise and I have kept in touch since she first interviewed me back in 1999. We usually have the opportunity to catch up in person at the annual HOW Design Conferences, where we both will speak again in 2008.

This morning, Ilise gave my new book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, a great mention on The Marketing Mix blog. Thank you, Ilise!

By the way, Ilise and Peleg Top (her Marketing Mentor "partner-in-crime") present the first of HOW Magazine's Grow Your Design Business From Your Desktop Webinar series - "Get Rich in a Niche" - tomorrow, September 27th.

Graphics.com newsletter plugs Identity Crisis!

The design industry resource Graphics.com featured Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands as one of their "New Resources" in their newsletter yesterday. Watch for an exclusive Identity Crisis! online excerpt on the site in the near future.

Thanks for the exposure Graphics.com!

Toot! Toot!*:
Jeff Fisher is having an Identity Crisis!

(This is the press release I have been sending out to a variety of resources over the weekend.)

24 September 2007
For immediate release

(Portland, Ore) -- Identity Crisis! 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands, the new book from Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based design firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, has been released by publisher HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc. The book is currently available from all major online booksellers and will soon be on bookstore shelves internationally.

Identity Crisis! takes a fresh look at 50 before and after case studies, from designers and firms from around the world, by exploring the process of redesigning existing identities to help businesses refine their image, communicate with customers, and find success. Designers seeking inspiration - and any business considering a graphic makeover - will be presented an inside look at the challenges of redesigning identities and visual examples of creative and strategic thinking in achieving the desired results.

Jack Anderson, of the Seattle firm Hornall Anderson Design Works wrote the foreward for Identity Crisis! "Words of Wisdom," throughout the book, were provided by Sean Adams/AdamsMorika, Inc, Bob Domenz/Avenue, Tony Spaeth/Identityworks, Debbie Millman/Sterling Brands, Jack Yan/Jack Yan & Associates, design educator and author Robin Landa, Robynne Raye/Modern Dog Design Co., Mark E. Sackett/Reflectur, and the author.

Case studies presented in the volume include projects from the following firms: 3 Dogz Creative Inc. (Toronto, ONT, Canada), Advertising By Design (Clermont, FL USA), angryporcupine*design (Park City, UT USA), Avenue (Chicago, IL USA), b-design (San Diego, CA USA), biz-R (Totnes, Devon, UK), Brainforest, Inc. (Chicago, IL USA), Breathewords (Caldas da Rainha, Portugal), CC Graphic Design (Salt Lake City, UT USA), Common Sense Design (New Hamburg, ONT Canada), Connacher Design (Stamford, CT USA), Finamore Design (Brooklyn, NY USA), Fullblast, Inc. (Portland, OR USA), Glitschka Studios (Salem, OR USA), Graphicwise, Inc. (Irvine, CA USA), Hornall Anderson Design Works (Seattle, WA USA), and Identityworks (Rye, NY USA).

Other firms represented include: Jeff Fisher LogoMotives (Portland, OR USA), John Silver Design Bothell, WA (USA), MasonBaronet (Dallas, TX USA), Mayhem Studios (Los Angeles, CA USA), Modern Dog Design Co. (Seattle, WA USA), MyBrand (Lisbon, Portugal), nHarmony, Inc. (Muncie, IN USA), Octavo Designs (Frederick, MD USA), Paragon Integrated Marketing Communications (Salmiya, Kuwait), RDQ - Rdqlus Design Quantum (Omaha, NE USA), Round2 Communications - R2i (Baltimore, MD USA), Sayles Graphic Design (Des Moines, IA USA), Shapiro Design Associates Inc. (Irvington, NY USA), Shine Advertising Co. (Madison, WI USA), Sockeye Creative (Portland, OR USA), Studio GT&P (Foligno, PG Italy), Subplot Design Inc. (Vancouver, BC Canada), and Willoughby Design Group (Kansas City, MO USA)

Title: Identity Crisis! 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands
Hardbound: 216 pages
Publisher: HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications
Release: September 2007
ISBN: 1581809395
Price: $35.00

For more information, visit the Identity Crisis! blog. A downloadable PDF file of some teaser spreads is also available from the publisher at HOW Blog.

Jeff Fisher has received nearly 575 regional, national and international graphic design awards for his logo and corporate identity efforts. His work is featured in nearly 100 books on the design of logos, the business of graphic design, design education, and small business marketing. In addition, Fisher also writes for CreativeLatitude.com, HOW Magazine and other design resources; and speaks about the design profession to high school classes, college students, and at international design industry events.

Fisher is a member of the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council and the UCDA Designer Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. His first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success, was released by HOW Design Books in late 2004.

(* If I don't "toot!" my own horn, no one else will.)

Identity Crisis! is currently shipping...

I got word this afternoon, from my publisher HOW Books, that my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands is in the process of being shipped to bookstores around the world. The "official" release date has been posted as October 27th - but you should be able to find it in stores before that date. The websites of Amazon.com and most online booksellers currently say the book is "In Stock," so I would suspect those who have pre-ordered the book should be receiving it soon. I hope everyone enjoys Identity Crisis!

Area of Design gives Identity Crisis! a 'toot!'

One of my personal favorite design and art websites, Area of Design, just gave my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands some great exposure on their homepage and in the news section of the site. Thanks, Area of Design!

Back in April 2005 the site was kind enough to do an "In The Spotlight" feature on some guy named Jeff Fisher.

HOW Blog posts Identity Crisis! sneak peek

For those interested in taking a closer look at the visual teaser pages of Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, a downloadable PDF has been posted on the HOW Blog.

The document includes a look at the table of contents (above), and projects from Shine Advertising Co., Willoughby Design Group and Subplot Design.

Identity Crisis! was also featured this weel in the "Book Watch" section of the HOW Magazine e-newsletter with the following description:

"Identity Crisis takes a fresh look at this common subject by exploring the process of redesigning existing identities to help businesses refine their images, communicate with customers, and find success. You'll get an inside look at the challenges of redesigning identities and see the creative and strategic thinking behind fresh design work."

HOW Books is the publisher of Identity Crisis! - and they also published my first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success back in 2004. In addition, I serve on the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board and the HOW Conference Advisory Council.

Look for Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands on your bookstore shelves in October.

Image: Copyright © 2007 Jeff Fisher • Used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

A W.O.W. from Identity Crisis!

Scattered throughout my new book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, are "Words of Wisdom" (W.O.W.) from a great group of design industry experts. I asked these individuals to contribute comments, for both designers and clients, in regards to the identity re-design process.

One of my favorite pieces of advice, directed at clients needing a new business or organization identity, is from Robin Raye of Modern Dog Design Co.:

"Find a designer you can trust, and then trust them."

You will be able to check out the other W.O.W. comments in Identity Crisis! when the book hits the shelves of bookstores worldwide in October.

Identity Crisis! teaser No. 13

Here's another sneak peek at my upcoming book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands

The above is the third spread of the Vancouver Aquarium identity re-design submission from the folks at Subplot Design. The opening spread was posted in Identity Crisis! teaser No. 4 and a second image was revealed in Identity Crisis! teaser No.10.

Future Identity Crisis! blog entries will include news and notes related to the book. Look for the book on your bookstore shelves in October.

Image: Copyright © 2007 Jeff Fisher • Used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

'Identity Crisis!' contributor making his mark

Every once in a while I do a Google search to see where Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands is popping up. Tonight I was pleased to find a mention attached to one of my favorite design people - and an Identity Crisis! contributor - Steve Gordon of RDQ - Rdqlus Design Quantum. Steve's re-design for Vickie Lea Designs, Inc. adds a unique identifying mark, and some vibrant color, to my book.

The mention of Identity Crisis! appears in Gordon's contributor bio for the online design magazine Graphic Define. Check out his article Your Creative Collective.

By the way, Identity Crisis! W.O.W. contributor Debbie Millman also has a piece in the current issue - an interview will James Victore with the title How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer.

Image: Courtesy of Graphic Define.