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.
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.
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.
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.
Design entities from around the world, from one-person operations to major industry firms, submitted work for possible inclusion in the book. With a series of Identity Crisis! blog entries I have been announcing the firms and projects that are included in the book. Each re-design is an Identity Crisis! chapter.
Here is the fifth, and final, installment of ten re-design case studies included in the book, listed by project featured and firm responsible for the effort:
Canton Crossing
Round2 Communications (now R2i) • Baltimore,, MD USA
Mayhem Studios
Mayhem Studios • Los Angeles, CA USA
Vancouver Aquarium
Subplot Design Inc. • Vancouver, BC Canada
Frivole Couture
Breathewords • Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
The Boyd Center for Integrative Health
b-design • San Diego, CA USA
Murray's Jewelers
nHarmony, Inc. • Muncie, IN USA
Weyerhaeuser Company - iLevel
Hornall Anderson Design Works • Seattle, WA USA
Slipstream Design
Modern Dog Design Co. • Seattle, WA USA
Sigma Chi
Brainforest, Inc. • Chicago, IL USA
American Technion Society
Shapiro Design Associates Inc. • Irvington, NY USA
I will continue to use the Identity Crisis! blog to post some additional visual teasers, and other related news items and notes. The book is scheduled for a September release.
Design entities from around the world, from one-person operations to major industry firms, submitted work for possible inclusion in the book. With a series of Identity Crisis! blog entries I am announcing the firms and projects that are included in the book. Each re-design is an Identity Crisis! chapter.
Here is the fourth installment of ten re-design case studies included in the book, listed by project featured and firm responsible for the effort:
Outward Bound
Identityworks • Rye, NY USA
Connacher Design • Stamford, CT USA
Vita Cafe
Fullblast, Inc • Portland, OR USA
Washington Conservation Guild
CC Graphic Design • Salt Lake City, UT USA
Joffrey Ballet
Avenue Marketing & Communications • Chicago, IL USA
Intelligent Creatures
3 Dogz Creative Inc. • Toronto, ONT Canada
The Des Moines Playhouse
Sayles Graphic Design • Des Moines, IA USA
Central Florida West
Advertising By Design • Minneola, FL USA
Union Square Partnership
Shapiro Design Associates Inc. • Irvington, NY USA
Schellin Grounds Maintenance
angryporcupine*design • Park City, UT USA
Energias de Portugal
MyBrand • Lisbon, Portugal
I will soon post the final list of contributors on the Identity Crisis! blog - and will continue relaying other related news items and notes. The book is scheduled for a September release.
Mayhem Studios Case Studies Published
in Jeff Fisher's Identity Crisis!
Los Angeles, Calif. - The identity of Mayhem Studios client Fagerholm & Jefferson Law Corporation and the award-winning, Los Angeles-based, design firm's own identity will be featured in Jeff Fisher's next book 'Identity Crisis! 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands.' 'Identity Crisis!' will be released by HOW Design Books in 2007.
'Identity Crisis!' takes a fresh look at 50 before and after case studies by exploring the process of redesigning existing identities to help businesses refine their image, communicate with customers, and find success.
Readers will get an inside look at the challenges of redesigning identities. They'll see the creative and strategic thinking behind fresh design work as well as have a powerful tool to show clients what a difference a professional can make to their image.
For more information, please visit http://identitycrisisbook.blogspot.com.
Jeff Fisher, author of the 'Savvy Designer's Guide to Success' is the Engineer of Creative Identity for Jeff Fisher LogoMotives. He has received over 550 regional, national and international design awards for his logo design efforts. His work is featured in over 85 books about logos, the business of design, and small business marketing. Fisher serves on the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, the UCDA Designer Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, and the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council. In addition, Fisher also writes for CreativeLatitude.com and HOW Magazine.
About Mayhem Studios:
Mayhem Studios is small, award-winning design firm located in Los Angeles, California, developing identity and brand recognition for small, mid-size and large businesses across the nation.
The Studio uses strategic and creative design with effective messages targeted to the client’s specific audiences to produce identity and branded collateral pieces, annual reports, brochures, logo design, advertising & interactive web sites.
Calvin Lee, Principal & Creative Director of Mayhem Studios is a graduate of Platt College and serves as a member of the Platt College Advisory Board for the Visual Communications Department, NO!SPEC Committee and on the Creative Latitude Management Team.
Contact:
Calvin Lee, Principal
Mayhem Studios
Web: www.mayhemstudios.com
Blog: www.mayhemstudios.com/blog
I want to thank Cal for his 'Identity Crisis!' submissions - and for promoting the book while also increasing awareness of his own work.
Design entities from around the world, from one-person operations to major industry firms, submitted work for possible inclusion in the book. With a series of Identity Crisis! blog entries I will announce the firms and projects that are included in the book. Each re-design is an Identity Crisis! chapter.
Here is the third group of ten re-design case studies included in the book, listed by project featured and firm responsible for the effort:
Vickie Lea Designs, Inc.
RDQ (Rdqlus Design Quantum) • Omaha, NE USA
Ruby Receptionists
Sockeye Creative • Portland, OR USA
Los Angeles Mission
Graphicwise, Inc • Irvine, CA USA
Software Spectrum
MasonBaronet • Dallas, TX USA
Ecos Consulting
Fullblast, Inc. • Portland, OR USA
Space Needle
Hornall Anderson Design Works • Seattle, WA USA
Oregon Department of Forestry
Jeff Fisher LogoMotives • Portland, OR USA
CHUMS
Fullblast, Inc. • Portland, OR USA
Pier 39 Steakhouse and Winery
Graphicwise, Inc • Irvine, CA USA
Portland State University
Sockeye Creative • Portland, OR USA
Over the next few weeks I will post additional contributors to Identity Crisis!, as well as other news and notes. The book is scheduled for a September release.
Quite a few individuals have asked - in person, on design forums and via email - how the case studies were selected for Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands. I thought I would explain the process a bit.My original book proposal to HOW Design Books expressed my desire to have Identity Crisis! present identity redesigns from firms of all sizes, covering a wide range of client types, and representing as many countries as possible. The initial concept was to introduce 100 redesign solutions. From the beginning I felt that might not allow for sufficient representation of the projects to be selected. However, it was a good starting point.
Rather than present an open "call for entries" for the book, I hoped I could get a great cross-section of the design community and project types by inviting specific designers and firms to participate in the project. Over 200 email invitations were sent out to potential case study submitters around the world.
My list was compiled from a variety of sources. A few of the invitations went out to those who had participated in my first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success. Others invited were designers with whom I had connected through online design forums and at industry conferences. I was familiar with the identity work of other firms through reading magazine articles or design blogs. I was introduced to the work of a number of firms through Jocelyn Luciano, the Executive Director of the Summit Creative Awards - for which I have been a judge three times. Alina Hagen's Graphic Makeovers column at Creative Latitude made me aware of the work of some individuals.
After the invitations went out, some recipients responded immediately with regrets of being unable to participate due to prior commitments or current workloads. About half contacted me with intentions to submit case studies for consideration. There were a few I never heard from at all.
As the submissions began to arrive, I found that my original goals and desires for the book were being met. Work was submitted by large international firms and one-person home based studios. Clients represented included retail operations, educational facilities, service industries, products, nonprofit organizations, restaurants, government agencies and more. Projects to be considered included simple identity redesigns, website makeovers only, and full-blown rebranding efforts. My only disappointment was that, in the end, there were only submissions from six countries.
In the middle of the book process the decision was made to limited the case study number to 50 and give some of the projects greater exposure. The change actually allowed for some redesigns to be explained in much greater detail - while not eliminating a few smaller projects with which many designers, and other book readers, might be able to relate.
Projects were weeded out by myself, my editor Amy Schell and book designer Grace Ring. Some projects were chosen immediately for inclusion due to the explanation of the design process, the visual impact of the finished results and the quality of the graphic materials submitted. Other design efforts just fit well into my original hopes for the book. Some, intrigued us enough to request additional materials to support a great identity redesign. Those designers and firms who followed "the rules" in making their submission were always given serious consideration.
(I do think that following the submission guidelines, and production specifications, for any design competition or book submission request would be a great topic for a future magazine or blog article. It's amazing to me the number of firms who didn't follow "the rules." Artwork was often submitted in formats and resolutions that could not be used. The briefs of some projects were so poorly written that they made no sense. Contact and credit information was incorrect. A few contributors never responded to requests for additional text or illustrative materials. In some cases, the required permission forms weren't signed. Such things made for a very annoyed and cranky author. "Babysitting" designers is not fun - especially for another designer.)
I am very pleased with the end result - especially for a book project that was completed in just over one year. I hope those who have work included will appreciated the time and effort that went into presenting their projects in the best light. When the book is released this fall, I also hope that readers will find it a valuable resource as they tackle identity redesign projects of their own.
Illustration: Original "Identity Crisis!" invitation/specifications form.
Design entities from around the world, from one-person operations to major industry firms, submitted work for possible inclusion in the book. With a series of Identity Crisis! blog entries I will announce the firms and projects that are included in the book. Each re-design is an Identity Crisis! chapter.
Here is the second group of ten re-design case studies included in the book, listed by project featured and firm responsible for the effort:
La Baguette
Paragon Integrated Marketing Communications • Salmiya, Kuwait
Enforme Interactive
Octavo Designs • Frederick, MD USA
Union Leasing
Brainforest, Inc. • Chicago, IL USA
Glitschka Studios
Glitschka Studios • Salem, OR USA
Buckfast Organic Bakery/Clive's
biz-R • Totnes, Devon, Great Britain
American Design Awards
Graphicwise, Inc. • Irvine, CA USA
Minturn Inn
b-design • San Diego, CA USA
URBANOS
MyBrand • Lisbon, Portugal
Sheridan's Frozen Lattes and Custard
(See sample layout)
Willoughby Design Group • Kansas City, MO USA
Belle Provence
John Silver Design• Bothell, WA USA
Over the next few weeks I will post additional contributors to Identity Crisis!, as well as other news and notes. The book is scheduled for a September release.
One of the great aspects of writing books about the graphic design industry is having the opportunity to meet people you admire. A few years ago, while writing the book The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success, I sought out design career suggestions and advice from many industry leaders. The vast majority responded immediately with "I'd love to contribute to your book."Jack Anderson, Founding Partner and Creative Director of Hornall Anderson Design Works, invited me to interview him personally. As I was going to Seattle about once a month at the time, it was easy to schedule a visit to the company's headquarters. Anderson could not have been more gracious in providing me a bit more than an hour of his time - and giving me a personal tour of the incredible Hornall Anderson office space. (For a look at the firm's home, check out the article by Carmen Pease in the August 2007 issue of HOW Magazine) He also provided some great input for Savvy Designer.
When it came time to select an individual to write the foreward of Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands the first person that came to mind was Jack Anderson. The work and reputation of Anderson, and that of the firm Hornall Anderson, made him a natural to provide his thoughts on the topic of clients having an "identity crisis" and needing design expertise in the process of creating a new corporate identity as part of the rebranding process.
The "powers that be" at HOW Design Books were thrilled at the prospect of Anderson writing the foreward of Identity Crisis!. The invitation was extended and readily accepted. I'm grateful for the assistance of Christina Arbini, Public Relations Manager for Hornall Anderson, in coordinating the foreward process and submissions of the firm's additional contributions to the book.
In his writing, Anderson provides excellent advice to the business considering an identity re-design and the designer taking on the challenge. It's a great addition to Identity Crisis!. I'm once again honored to have his participation in a book I've written.
Note: Photo courtesy of Hornall Anderson Design Works
Design entities from around the world, from one-person operations to major industry firms, submitted work for possible inclusion in the book. With a series of Identity Crisis! blog entries I will announce the firms and projects that are included in the book. Each re-design is an Identity Crisis! chapter.
Here are the first ten re-design case studies included in the book, listed by project featured and firm responsible for the effort:
P.E.O. International Sisterhood
Sayles Graphic Design • Des Moines, IA USA
Toppers Pizza
Shine Advertising Co. • Madison, WI USA
Adige
Studio GT&P • Foligno (PG), Italy
RAM Digital
Octavo Designs • Frederick, MD USA
Brentwood Classics
3 Dogz Creative Inc. • Toronto, ONT Canada
Shared Ownership Homes
Common Sense Design • New Hamburg, ONT Canada
Atlas Economic Research Foundation
CC Graphic Design • Salt Lake City, UT USA
Fagerholm & Jefferson Law Corporation
Mayhem Studios • Los Angeles, CA USA
New Triad for Collaborative Arts
Finamore Design • Brooklyn, NY USA
VanderVeer Center
Jeff Fisher LogoMotives• Portland, OR USA
Over the next few weeks I will post additional contributors to Identity Crisis!, as well as other news and notes. The book is scheduled for an September release.
The individuals providing input for the book included:
• Sean Adams of AdamsMorioka, Inc.
• Bob Domenz from Avenue - Marketing & Communications
• Tony Spaeth of identityworks
• Debbie Millman - known for her Design Matters podcasts (and many other things)
• Jack Yan of Jack Yan & Associates
• Robin Landa, author and branding & creative strategist
• Robynne Raye from Modern Dog Design Co.
• Mark E. Sackett of Reflectur
• ...and some guy named Jeff Fisher who writes about whatever seems to be on his mind at bLog-oMotives when he isn't running his own firm, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.
All presented incredibly valuable advice to the design professional involved in identity re-design - and to the client having an "identity crisis." Unfortunately, you will need to wait until HOW Design Books releases Identity Crisis! in the fall of this year before you are able to take advantage of the great suggestions.
