Identity Crisis! teaser spread No. 3 (Redux)

Another look at a chapter from Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, by Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

The above is just one spread of the Toppers Pizza identity re-design and rebranding effort, submitted for the book project by Shine Advertising Co.

Identity Crisis! is available at your local bookstores and online.

Image used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Identity Crisis! teaser spread No. 2 (Redux)

Here's a look at another chapter from my book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands

The above is just one spread of the Vancouver Aquarium identity re-design and rebranding effort, submitted for the book project by the firm Subplot Design.

Identity Crisis! is available at your local bookstores and online.

Image used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Identity Crisis! teaser spread No. 1 (Redux)

Another look at a chapter from Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, by Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

The above is just one spread of the Sheridan's Lattes and Frozen Custard identity re-design submission from the folks at Willoughby Design Group.

Identity Crisis! is available at your local bookstores and online.

Image used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

'Identity Crisis!' author cited as "marketing makeover" expert in Entrepreneur Magazine

Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based design firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, is featured as an expert on design and branding in the February 2009 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. Fisher, author of the book Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands, was asked by writer Gwen Moran to critiqued several marketing element redesigns for the article Five Great - and necessary - Marketing Makeovers.

Joining the internationally recognized identity designer in commenting on the highlighted redesign projects are branding consultant and author Karen Post, the Branding Diva from Tampa, FL; and Lynette Xanders, the founder of Portland branding and research firm Wild Alchemy.

The expert panel reviewed the retail store makeover of Philadelphia shoe seller Ubiq; the collateral redesign for Patriot Consulting, Inc. of Iselin, NJ; and the new identity for Portland's Jive Software. The website makeover for CoffeeCakes.com, of Castle Rock, CO, and the new packaging for the Phoenix-based Fairytale Brownies were also critiqued.

Jeff Fisher has received over 600 regional, national and international graphic design awards for his logo and corporate identity efforts and his work is featured in more than over 100 books on the design of logos, the business of graphic design, and small business marketing. His first HOW Books offering, The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success, appeared on bookstore shelves in late 2004, and was recently re-released in PDF format on CD. Fisher is currently writing a book about typography in identity design. In 2008, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives was recognized as one of the top 100 U.S. home-based businesses by the web presence StartupNation

More information about Jeff Fisher, and his design and writing efforts, may be found on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blogfolio.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Design Dump names 'Identity Crisis!' winners

Today Design Dump, the online design industry resource, announced the winners of the drawing for copies of Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands. Congratulations to the winners! Thanks to all who entered and to the Design Dump gang for coordinating the event.

The Sentinel ad: Jeff Fisher wrote thebook on identity design...literally!

Seldom during my 30-year career have I promoted my design or writing efforts with print ads. However, I recently redesigned the identity for my local neighborhood newspaper, The Sentinel, and as part of the compensation package publisher Cornelius Swart offered me a series of ads in the publication. The latest edition hit the streets this week with the ad marketing my local North Portland logo design efforts and my book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands.

Design Dump has drawing for "Identity Crisis!"

The design industry resource Design Dump is currently having a drawing in which two site visitors will win autographed copies of my book Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands.

Enter the contest now through July 30, 2008 at the Design Dump website. Earlier this year Design Dump posted a review of Identity Crisis!.

'Identity Crisis!' contributor Mayhem Studiosfeatured in FreelanceSwitch interview

Calvin Lee, the Principal and Creative Director of Mayhem Studios, gives Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands a mention in an interview on the design industry site FreelanceSwitch. Mayhem Studios is represented in Identity Crisis! with chapters about the firm's own identity re-design and that of the Fagerholm & Jefferson Law Corporation.

Sigma Chi has 'Identity Crisis!'

Actually, the Sigma Chi Fraternity itself is no longer having an "identity crisis." The identity of the organization, as redesigned by by the Chicago firm Brainforest, is a case study in the book, Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands. The rebranding effort also included The Magazine of Sigma Chi - which is featured in the HOW Books release. The national headquarters of the institution does have a copy of Identity Crisis!.

Editor Susan Lorimor shared that the Spring 2008 issue of The Magazine of Sigma Chi has a mention of Identity Crisis! on its "Books by Sigs" page. As noted in the publication:

Identity Crisis! gives readers a detailed, illustrated behind-the-scenes look at how 50 businesses and organizations, including Sigma Chi, reinvigorated their public images through redesigns of their logos, Web sites and promotional materials and other publications.

When writing Identity Crisis! I was pleased to get the Brainforest submission. As an active member of the Beta Iota chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, while at the University of Oregon (back in the late 1970's), I was very familiar with the "before" designs of the organization.

Design Dump praises 'Identity Crisis!'

The design industry web presence Design Dump just posted a review of Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands on their site. The review states:

What a great book! If you're a graphic designer, and love logo/identity design, then you'll indeed enjoy this book. Who doesn't love to see the "Before and After", then perform their own critiques. This book is also a great resource for getting new fresh ideas for successful identity systems. And wait...Yes, it's hardbound. A nice touch. Another great book by Jeff Fisher of LogoMotives

Watch for information about an upcoming Design Dump drawing to win an autographed copy of Identity Crisis!.Thanks for the mention!

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 Sean Adams of AdamsMorioka, Inc. - reads:

"Hire the designer that you feel comfortable with, who is willing to truly listen to you. Explain your expectations, in deliverables and time. Pay more than you want to. It's worth it."

Visit the AdamsMorioka website to learn more about the company and see examples of their design work.

Oregon Department of Forestry - A case study

In its seventy-nine-year history, the Oregon Department of Forestry has been represented by a series of identities. Most recently, in 1971, the department adopted a half-tree logo (below).

They had been using this logo for nearly two decades when a change was proposed. Many within (and out of) the State of Oregon government agency disliked the image and found that it was confusing to many others. Some thought the thin half-tree graphic conveyed a message of unhealthy forests.

The new logo (above) conveys a much more simplified and organic image, while maintaining some the inherent formality of a government agency identity. It projected the Department of Forestry's growing involvement and interest in all forest resources, including air, soil, water and trees. The new image is more inline with the Oregon Board of Forestry's new guiding policy document, the Forestry Program for Oregon.

The logo is the department identifier on all printed collateral, vehicles, uniform shoulder patches, the website and other materials. It is widely recognized due to the carving of the logo on signage at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters and throughout the state at ranger stations and state forest boundaries (above).

The rebranding of the Oregon Department of Forestry by Jeff Fisher LogoMotives is one of 50 case studies, from designers and firms around the world, featured in my latest book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands. The actual spread from the book is shown below. The volume was released by HOW Books in late 2007.

Identity Crisis! teaser No. 16

An additional sneak peek at my book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, is the spread featuring the Oregon Department of Forestry identity re-design case study - one of the designs from Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

You'll find a number of teaser spreads from the book here on the Identity Crisis! blog.

Look for the book on bookstore shelves throughout the world and on all online booksellers.

Image: Copyright © 2008 Jeff Fisher • Used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

VanderVeer Center - A case study

Dr. Elizabeth VanderVeer’s clinic, offering nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, was having an identity crisis. In the period of just over a year there had been two name changes (one logo is shown above) and a major internal business reorganization.

It was decided to rebrand the company with the Doctor’s name. Initially I was asked to maintain Papyrus as the font for the redesign. By showing the client multiple images of the font in use by local businesses I was able to encourage the use of another typeface.

Originally the client proposed that the identity have an Asian influence, with bamboo as a design element. As the project progressed further, it seemed more appropriate to create an image that worked well with the rich Tuscan colors the walls of the clinic had been painted. The font Mousse Script lent itself well to use in the identity, especially with the expressive “V” letterforms.

Once the new logo (at right) was finalized the rebranding took an unusual turn. Before a stationery package, or any collateral materials, could be designed the immediate creation of a two-page magazine spread was required to meet an impending deadline for the premiere issue of a new publication.

The previous ads (at left) ran over a period of the previous six months and demonstrated the split personality of the business at the time.

The fact that Dr. VanderVeer was an artist led to the proposing of “The Art & Science of Image Enhancement” as a tagline. With the photo images of Loma Smith, the colors of painted walls in the clinic and the new identity, the ad effectively introduced the VanderVeer rebranding. The ad became the inspiration for all other marketing and advertising pieces.

The rebranding of the VanderVeer Center is one of 50 case studies, from designers and firms around the world, featured in my latest book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands. The volume was released by HOW Books in late 2007. Read more about the book on the Identity Crisis! blog.

The initial two-page VanderVeer Center ad (above) was honored with a 2007 Summit Creative Award. A one-page version of the ad appears in The Big Book of Layouts. The VanderVeer Center logo is featured in The Big Book of Logos 5. The rebranding case study is also posted on the membership site The Designers Inner Circle.

© 2008 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

Identity Crisis! teaser No. 15

An additional sneak peek at my book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands, is the second spread of the VanderVeer Center identity re-design submission - one of the designs from Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

Take a look at the first two pages here. Read more about this case study on bLog-oMotives. You'll find a number of teaser spreads from the book here on the Identity Crisis! blog.

Look for the book on bookstore shelves throughout the world and on all online booksellers.

Image: Copyright © 2008 Jeff Fisher • Used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

Identity Crisis! teaser No. 14

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

The above is the first spread of the VanderVeer Center identity re-design submission - one of the designs from yours truly.

Read more about this case study on bLog-oMotives.You'll find a number of teaser spreads from the book here on the Identity Crisis! blog.

Look for the book on bookstore shelves throughout the world and on all online booksellers.

Image: Copyright © 2008 Jeff Fisher • Used with permission of author and HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc.

Sayles Identity Crisis! submission winsDynamic Graphics Re-Design Competition

Congratulations to Sayles Graphic Design for their Grand Prize win in Dynamic Graphics' initial Re:Design competition, which is featured in the publication's December 2007 issue. The firm's rebranding of The Des Moines Playhouse is also one of 50 identity redesign case studies featured in the book Identity Crisis!. The Sayles redesign of the P.E.O. International Sisterhood identity is another Identity Crisis! feature.

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.

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.