GDUSA Newsletter AUGUST 2011

SEPTEMBER 11 ON THE MIND

Our “Design-A-Cover Contest” is too new for us to predict the kinds of images or subjects we will see from our readers. What we are beginning to learn is that a blank cover is a blank canvas upon which designers can express their innermost thoughts and concerns. Looking at all the 2011 entries, here are a couple of observations. September 11 turned out to be the single most frequent cover theme, as the tenth anniversary of that horrific day beckons. Our collective economic travails provided the second most common theme. It’s a glimpse into what is weighing on the design mind and, in retrospect, not so surprising after all. The winners will be shown in the September GDUSA magazine which publishes, coincidentally, on September 11.

— Gordon Kaye

Graphic Design News

BETTY FORD FOREVER
To celebrate the life and legacy of Betty Ford, a tribute has been created that recognizes her love and friendship with former President Gerald Ford, her hometown, and all that she touched through her work. “We wanted to honor her in a simple, iconic way that reflects her spirit and energy, and is anything but the typical stodgy memorial,” said Rob Jackson, Creative Director at Extra Credit Projects, the Grand Rapids MI firm that designed the tribute. “We hope it also introduces her to a younger audience that may not be as familiar with her impact.” Billboards and posters featuring her bouffant silhouette and BFF (Betty Ford Forever) are appearing in Grand Rapids, Palm Springs and other cities across the country with which the Fords were associated.

SHINING RED LOBSTER’S IMAGE
A shiny new logo, identity program, and extensive advertising campaign for Red Lobster have been created by Grey New York. The new ads feature actual employees and others associated with the brand sharing real, unscripted stories about why Red Lobster is different than other restaurants in an effort to give the chain a greater sense of authenticity. The ads also debut the logo, an updated lobster icon that is noticeably more red and shiny than past versions. It is already clawing its way onto restaurant signs — 700 locations are being remodelled in a design “inspired by the New England coast” — as well as menus, gift cards, a redesigned Facebook page and website. Grey New York President and Chief Creative Officer is Tor Myrhen.

ADORE CREATIVE SCORES AGAIN
Los Angles-based advertising agency Adore Creative created the winning campaign for Russia's bid to host the 2015 FINA World Championships (the world aquatic championships). This marks the fourth time the agency has been called upon by the Russian sports establishment to work on a media campaign. Previous Adore’s international campaigns have helped Russia win hosting rights to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and the 2013 Universiade Games. Rupert Wainwright is Adore CEO and Executive Creative Director.

YEAR OF THE DRAGON
The ultimate Chinese cultural symbol is the dragon, and 2012 is the Year of The Dragon. For this auspicious year AIGA China has partnered with PoloArts to support the first annual China International Design Competition. The competition aims to promote communication, exchange and interaction between China and the rest of the world by encouraging designers of all kinds to create innovative works based around the theme of the Chinese dragon. LEARN MORE >

MAID IN HOLLYWOOD
New work from Wing for the 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival pokes fun at Hollywood clichés and the shortage of Latinos in mainstream movies. Shown here: The Role of Latinas in Hollywood movies. Not surprisingly, housekeeper swamps the other choices such as surgeon, architect or entrepreneur. Wing Chief Creative Officer is Gustavo Asman.

AIGA SURVEY: SALARIES FLAT
Compensation in the design industry remains relatively flat, according to the new AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries. Little or no growth characterize many creative posts. The survey itself also reflects a state of flux in the market, as many new positions and job descriptions were added to this year’s survey. Looking more broadly, the AIGA notes that while its quarterly Design Leaders Confidence Index shows rising optimism, the sobering facts remain: 12,000 students of communication design will graduate from four-year programs each year, more than can be absorbed into the current workforce. “For all designers and creative professionals, it is important to take every opportunity to build skill levels and broad knowledge, even during economic slowdown,” said AIGA Executive Director Richard Grefé in a statement about the results. “If designers are to provide effective communication, messaging and branding in the new global economy, they must understand the cultural context for design solutions and clients’ needs. This will depend upon knowledge, judgment and agility, not just skills.” The data itself is presented online in a more interactive way than previous, with a Design Salaries site created by Gesture Theory. LEARN MORE >

HIP CHAIN HISTORIC SYMBOL
Pearlfisher has created an identity for Lebanese retail chain specialising in fast casual food - Zaatar W Zeit. The hip chain has taken a deep-rooted symbol at the heart of Lebanese culture - the Mankousheh or traditional Lebanese wrap - and modernised it for a new generation. Jonathan Ford, Creative Partner at Pearlfisher, said, “The new logo is a distinctive, modern marque that provides a more literal and graphic expression by creating a simple link between the thyme and the oil, the leaf and the droplet, and forms a distinctive ‘Z’ within the negative space.” Creative Director on the project was Natalie Chung and the Designer was Will Gladden.

FRANCE’S FRIENDLIER FACE
The French government has unveiled a new national logo to help boost tourism and make the country feel more welcoming. The logo features the tagline, “rendezvous en France”. Tourism Minister Frederic Lefebvre, who unveiled the logo at the French Consulate in New York, bemoaned that France has lost its number one spot in Europe for tourism to Spain. The design was chosen by over 87,000 voters in an online contest.