GDUSA NewsletterAPRIL 2011

HELLO KITTY HOOKS UP

For years we have published a logo trends piece by guru Bill Gardner of LogoLounge. It often reveals nuggets of wisdom and humor beyond all expectation. Coming in the April GDUSA magazine, here is a preview of one of this year’s many findings — the Juvi-ization of symbols. I quote, in part: “These are logos that look like Napster had his way with Hello Kitty: All are far too cute, with the smell of cigarettes on their breath. I believe we have seen this coming for some time, but this last year the trend reached a tipping point. Designers’ fascination with the social culture characters has lead to the adorable personification of the logo design industry’s output...” The April magazine is out next week; I can’t wait.
 
– Gordon Kaye

Graphic Design News

MONKEYING WITH SAGMEISTER
An inflatable monkey by Stefan Sagmeister is displayed at “Another Exhibit about Promotion and Sales Material.” MUDAC, and art and design museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, hosts the show through June 13. Presented are Sagmeister's recently commissioned projects CD covers, posters, catalogs, print design projects, furniture and several advertisements. Referred to in Swiss coverage as “the enfant terrible of the graphic design world,” the display is divided into four parts reflecting the categories Sagmeister distinguishes among his commissions: the promotion of culture, the promotion of companies, the promotion of his friends and, finally, his self-promotion.

McKINNEY CHIPS IN
McKinney’s latest paint chip sculpture for Sherwin-WIlliams welcomes in spring. Credits go to CCO Jonathan Cude, Group C.D. Ellen Steinberg, Art Director John Hagerty, Copywriter Sanders Hearne, Art Producer Kellie Bingman, Imaging Artist Stacy Evans, and Artist Matthew Sporzynski.
Photography: Nicolai Grosell

FITCH TO BEIJING
Global design consultancy has opened its first office in China. The new office in Beijing will service existing clients such as Nokia and Dell, as well as new clients in the burgeoning Chinese market. CEO Lois Jacobs comments: “With the rapid growth of China, Fitch has been considering ways to better service and partner with our clients in this territory... now, it makes sense to be closer to the market with a dedicated team on the ground. Chinese retail is very exciting right now and is changing very quickly. Our local presence will enable us to respond more swiftly to local market demand and to provide better insight into Chinese consumer preferences.”

LIFE’S A CONTINUUM
To celebrate its past, present and future, the AIGA San Francisco chapter is honoring the legacies and ongoing contributions of local legends Linda Hinrichs, Michael Mabry, Dugald Stermer, and Jennifer Morla. Co-chairs are Mary Scott and Kit Hinrichs, and Debbie Millman hosts. Monies raised by the Continuum event fund design scholarships in Northern California. Save the April 29 date.

FESTIVAL CUBED
In order to generate hype for the Philadelphia International Festival of Arts, Red Tettemer + Partners created a giant cube to symbolize the event. It is currently sitting at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The festival runs through May 1, and the cube is streaming live performances to the streets. LEARN MORE >

ADC LAUREATES NAMED
The latest group of inductees into the venerable ADC Hall of Fame are: Ruth Ansel, art director and editorial designer; Marshall Arisman, painter, illustrator and chair of the MFA degree program at SVA; John C. Jay, partner, executive creative director at Wieden+Kennedy; and Joe Pytka, filmmaker and commercial director. In addition, Paola Antonelli, senior curator of Architecture and Design at the MOMA in New York, receives special recognition of curatorial excellence. ADC established the Hall of Fame in 1971. The new laureates will be officially inducted at an NYC gala in November. LEARN MORE >

CARIBOU COFFEE
Thanks to Colle+McVoy, redesign of the Caribou Coffee brand and logo can now be found on its coffee bags nationwide. The client launched an extensive brand redesign last year that continues to roll out. The new bag design wraps the entire bag with burlap and labels that evokes a handcrafted and artisan feel. Creative credits: Executive Creative Director Mike Caguin, Group Creative Director Ed Bennett and Erik Husband, Designers Ed Bennett, Lindsey Aho, Andrew Wetzel, Ben Clymer, and Bryce Hemmer.

RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL C.D.
Rodrigo Corral is the new creative director at Farra, Straus and Giroux. No stranger to the high-end publishing company, he worked there from 1996 - 2000 after graduating from the School of Visual Arts. He will also continue to operate his own decade-old design firm, from where he has created memorable book covers for the likes of James Frey, Chuck Palahniuk, Jay-Z and Debbie Millman. LEARN MORE >

Take Five! Career Tips

From The Creative Group

Messy Desk, Messy Mind?

Is a cluttered desk the sign of an active, creative mind? Not necessarily. More than eight in 10 human resources managers interviewed by our company said the appearance of an employee’s workspace at least somewhat affects their perception of that person’s professionalism. Following are five tips for organizing your workspace:

1. File, Don’t Pile. Eliminate clutter by organizing paperwork in clearly labeled folders so you can find them easily. Do the same for files on your computer.

2. Go Paperless. Avoid plastering your desk with sticky-note reminders and print documents only when necessary. Electronic calendars, task lists or e-mail alerts can help you remember deadlines and meetings.

3. Keep Only What You Need At Hand. Clear away documents that you rarely or no longer refer to (briefs from projects you’ve completed, for example) and put away supplies that you use less frequently.

4. Limit The Accoutrements. Displaying your favorite bobblehead doll or snow globe is OK - but avoid outfitting your workspace with too many tchotchkes.

5. Spread The Wealth. Are you bombarded with industry publications that you hope to read some day? Prevent a backlog of quickly outdated content by scheduling time each week to browse magazines and trade journals, and then recycling or passing them on to colleagues.

The Creative Group is a specialized staffing service placing creative, advertising, marketing and interactive professionals on a project basis. For more information, please visit creativegroup.com. Connect with The Creative Group at facebook.com/thecreativegroup or twitter.com/creativegroup.

THIRST SATISFIES
Bud Rodecker and Rick Valicenti of Thirst, the Chicago design collaborative, will create all identity and collateral for STA’s Archive11. Says Steve Curtis, STA president. “Thirst is among the most admired design groups in the country... We know that their creations for Archive11 will stir the hearts of the Chicago design community.”
LEARN MORE >

SWEET STORY
OtherWisz Creative provided naming and identity strategies for this new brand of frozen dessert. The client is Culinary Arts Specialities and Marie is a granddaugher of one of the owners. Mark and Jill Wisz head the Buffalo NY studio.