'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.

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!.

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.

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!

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.)

Major corporate identity crises reviewed in book

At times major national and international corporations will have very public identity crises. Last year, along with Howard Belk of Siegel+Gale and Bill Gardner of Gardner Design (and LogoLounge), I was asked to comment on a variety of logo redesigns for a Fortune magazine article with the title "Logo-Licious or Lame." Our comments on the identities of Kodak, Intel, Sprint & AT&T were published in the magazine and online.

In addition to a great foreward by Jack Anderson of Hornall Anderson, "words of wisdom" from leaders in the design industry, and identity redesigns from contributers around the world, my book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands includes my expanded comments on the new logos of those major corporations. My reviews of the Quark, UPS, Unilever, USA Network and Visa revamps are also featured.

Yes, each time I see the latest USA Network logo I still see images of male genitalia...

Image: Article from February 2006 Fortune magazine.

The project selection process for Identity Crisis!

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.

Jack Anderson pens Identity Crisis! foreward

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

Dynamic Graphics hosts Re:Design Competition

The focus of my upcoming book, Identity Crisis!, is the redesign of corporate identities for businesses and organizations from around the world. Designers interested in that specific topic, and doing such work on a daily basis, may want to consider entering the Dynamic Graphics Re:Design Competition.

The Dynamic Graphics competition gives participants the chance to have their best redesign work showcased in print. Because entries will be judged according to the quality of the redesign work plus how much improvement it demonstrates, you will need to submit both before and after materials. Entries must be postmarked no later than August 6, 2007. Winners will be notified by September 14, 2007. Winning entries will be published in the December/January 2008 Dynamic Graphics magazine. A maximum of 10 entries will be selected for inclusion. All submissions must have been printed or published for the first time between September 1, 2006, and August 31, 2007.

Additional details, entry fee information and entry forms are available on the magazine's website.

Good luck!

Identity Crisis! pre-orders available now

With my book Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands on its way to being printed for scheduled October 2007 release, by publisher HOW Design Books, the volume is available for shipping upon publication at several sources.

Amazon.com has been accepting pre-orders for some time now through its U.S. website. The pre-release sales are also available through the company's sites in Canada, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and France.

I also noticed that BAMM.com is accepting advanced orders.

My favorite hometown Portland bookstore, Powell's City of Books, is also currently taking pre-orders. Hopefully, I will be able to schedule a book signing at Powells once they have the book in stock.

Do keep an eye on the Identity Crisis! blog, and bLog-oMotives, for future book signings and speaking engagements related to the book.

Identity Crisis!: It's reality! (almost)

It's been just about a year since I started writing my new book, Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands. Yes, it was originally to be "100 redesigns that..." - but mid-project it was decided to reformat things a bit, limiting the book to 50 case studies that would be given even greater attention in the volume.

Writing a book is a frustrating, exhausting, exciting, and incredibly rewarding experience. "Herding" designers from around the world, in such a collaborative process, makes that process even more challenging and interesting.

For me, this project has meant many long nights, many weekends spent writing, too many emails to count, and working vacations - or even more work on business trips - to numerous locations over the past 12 months.

Two weeks ago the proof of the book layout arrived via UPS. It was a great feeling to open the package and see the labor of the past year in a real book format. My editor Amy Schell has done a great job in fine-tuning the text, helping to select the redesigns that are included, and keeping me on track when necessary. Book designer Grace Ring has turned that text, and over 500 graphic images, into a book that should be an excellent resource for any designer taking on a rebranding effort or the client considering a design makeover for their business, organization or product. The book will feature solutions to the identity crisis issues of Mom-and-Pop businesses to major corporations - exhibiting the creative efforts of one-person design shops to some of the most recognized larger firms in the industry.

Over the following week I checked, and double-checked, the book content. Through that process many of those who have contributed projects for the book learned that their work is in the final volume. I do appreciate both your contributions to the book and your patience through the process of writing, editing and designing the book. My pesky emails, questions about text content and requests for addition images have all been in the hope of creating a great book - and putting the work of the featured designers in the best light.

The is now off to press, with a target release date of sometime in October. In the near future I will make an official announcement of the designers, firms and projects that will be featured in the published book.

Thanks again to all who have contributed time, energy, words of wisdom, and case studies for Identity Crisis!. It's time for me to go into design book author "rehab" to recover from the process!

(Note: Thanks to UnBeige for the mention.)

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives