NEWS
ARM & HAMMER IDENTITY TRANSCENDS PRODUCT PACKAGE
Norwalk CT: Arm & Hammer partnered with Hughes Design Group to update its century-old image with a new brand strategy and a more modern, energetic package design. The change, which repositions the logo to dynamically leap off product packaging, is intended to suggest vitality as well as to provide a platform to launch new products across several categories, including toothpaste, gum, and deodorant. Hughes is an 18-year old strategic planning, brand identity, package design, structural development and name generation firm with for clients including Black & Decker, Castrol, Heinz, IBM, Kellogg's, Kraft, Lionel, Lipton, Mott's, Nestle, Pepperidge Farm, Pepsi, Ross and Spalding.
BLUR STUDIO BRINGS LIFE TO A PARTY FOR MYSIMON.COM
Venice CA: Blur Studio recently brought to digital life Simon, MySimon.com's smiling, red-haired, price-savvy corporate icon, in a national commercial created by Leo Burnett, Chicago, to promote the online comparison shopping service. The commercial is the first ever for MySimon.com and marks the first time the Simon character has been animated. Here, the computer-animated Simon arrives at a party and glibly informs guests how they could have purchased their possessions for less. "We put a lot of thought and effort into determining how realistic to make the character. We didn't want him to be too cartoony," explained Blur's effects supervisor David Stinnett. "He also had to be smart, personable and confident. We wanted people to like him. We worked closely with the agency and the client and created several test animations in order to get him to look and behave exactly as they had imagined him." Credits at the agency to Jeff Abbott, art director, Dominick Maiolo, creative director/copywriter; at Blur, to Jennifer Miller, designer.
SOCIETY NAMES SIX WORLD'S BEST-DESIGNED NEWSPAPERS
Providence RI: Six newspapers were named "World's Best-Designed" from a record field of 341 newspapers entered in that category in the Society for News Design's 22nd Annual "Best of Newspaper Design" competition. The contest, co-sponsored by the association and Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, recognizes excellence in newspaper design, graphics and photography. Best of Show was awarded to The (Newark, NJ) Star-Ledger for a photo series on a burn victim, while the half-dozen World's Best-Designed were: 175,000 circulation and above, The Hartford (CT) Courant; the National Post (Ontario, Canada); Die Welt (Berlin, Germany); 50,000-174,199 circulation, Helsingborgs Dagblad (Helsingborg, Sweden); 49,999 circulation and below, Le Devoir (Montreal, Canada); the Taipei Times (Taipei, Taiwan). The top five winners for all categories were the publications of El Mundo (Madrid, Spain) followed by The New York Times, Clarin (Buenos Aires), the Boston Globe, the National Post (Canada), and El Pais (Madrid). Newspapers in the U.S. were awarded 370 of the 808 awards, followed by Spain with 102. The full results of the competition are posted at www.snd.org. Top award winners will be honored at the Society's annual workshop and exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona, October 18-20. The SND is a 2500-plus member organization with membership in 50 countries, dedicated to improving news presentation and design in all media.
2S HITS HOME RUN FOR AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY EVENT
Altoona PA: Commissioned to create the signature identity of the Hot Stove League Dinner, a winter event presented by the Altoona Curve Baseball Club, a Class AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to benefit the American Cancer Society, 2S Graphic Design first created the logo, reminiscent of a baseball bat trademark. A vintage local team photo from 1902 coupled with a woodgrain "bat" format then provided the basis for the overall theme applied to letterhead and envelope, invitation, RSVP card, and program cover. Newspaper and tv ads utilized the same graphic look for continuity. One unique feature of the tri-panel invitation is a frameable photo of Hall of Famer and three-time World Series champion Sparky Anderson, the featured guest speaker. Designer at 2S was Jim Steiner.
DIVERSE HERITAGE DRIVES IDENTITY FOR DETROIT'S 300TH
Detroit MI: The graphic focal point of a yearlong celebration in honor of Detroit's 300th birthday was created by Dominic Pangborn, president of Pangborn Design, and communicates the diverse 300-year heritage of the city. The upper half of the logo is a depiction of the statue "Spirit of Detroit," which was designed by sculptor Marshall Fredericks and installed in 1958 before the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. The eagle feather in the lower half of the logo represents the Native American tribes who inhabited this region for over 1,000 years before Europeans arrived. The three fleurs-de-lis stand for the decades during which Detroit was under the French flag; the trio of lions represents the periods of British governance. The stars and stripes on either side of the logo allude to Detroit's current status as one of the great cities of the United States. The identity is being applied to advertising, communications and a full line of souvenir apparel and merchandise.
CATALOG COMBINES ART AND FUNCTION FOR TACTILE FEEL
Manchester NH: "The catalog needed to do justice to the art presented in each rug," says Josh Weinstein, creative director of the tracey/edwards advertising group, about his firm's treatment of Company C's 2001 catalog. "Typical homeware catalogs contain static shots of well-designed, almost empty rooms, devoid of living," says Weinstein. "The animated style of this catalog stresses Company C's brand: colorful yet casual, contemporary yet not too modern." The complete catalog is split into seven collections, with an illustration that incorporates actual rug designs at the front of each section. "We honored the fact that these rugs are as much art work as they are functional by actually incorporating the rug patterns into the illustrations — as the hair of three friends drinking wine, as the design of the shade of a lamp, and as the sail on a little boy's boat," Weinstein adds. Since a rug is more than just a visual experience, it's a tactile experience, the design firm used tight shots to allow a close look at the construction piece. Icons appear next to each rug to help the buyer identify construction type.
SAN FRANCISCO PRESERVATION IS 'SITED' BY GEHRSCHOEN
Portland OR: GehrSchoen Creative has developed a fresh new web site for San Francisco Architectural Heritage. The modern look for www.sfheritage.org includes animations of Coit Tower, SoMA and a Victorian residence which are also tied into the logo. The colors are sharp and fresh, designed to move away from an antique look to attract a younger, web-savvy audience, says Heidi Butenschoen, principal and designer. She founded GehrSchoen Creative in San Francisco in 1993, then moved the studio to Portland in 1996, retaining all SF-based clients.
Charles E. Chase, executive director of San Francisco Architectural Heritage, says the site includes information on preservation news, volunteer opportunities, events, tour information and has links to local, state and national preservation organizations.
GIRLSTART GETS EVEN SASSIER WITH MARC ENGLISH IDENTITY
Austin TX: Inspiring and empowering girls is the main objective behind the new logo and identity system designed by Marc English Design for Girlstart, the nationally recognized Austin non-profit that trains 9-15 year-old girls in math, science, engineering and technology. Founder Rachel Muir wanted an identity that would convey the essence of the group — "confidence, fun, smart, hip, cool and sassy" — while capturing the attention and passion of its audience.
In response, English's firm designed a primary logotype, six secondary icons and a series of 30 icons they dubbed the "Periodic Table of Elements for Girls." "We gave them a visual that's brash and wild, with different styles and color schemes, much like the dynamic of little girls," says principal Marc English. The icons came from ideas that weren't strong enough for the main logo but were good visual shorthand to suggest Girlstart. "It's about the idea of a kinetic identity," says English. "The system acts as a brand, but it creates variety and interest for our audience, which is vast and ever-changing."
Secondary icons are based on the "gl" symbol, which appears inside a flower mandala and a triangular "start" button, among other schemes. The Periodic Elements present images associated with science, math and girls. Examples include a rocket, a lady bug, a flame, a bubbling beaker, and a lightning bolt.
English says he was inspired by "lots of time in surf shops and malls" with his 11-year-old daughter. He was not surprised to discover that what was once underground in look and feel, i.e., tubular neon letterforms used for rave dances and Japanese anime, a style of comic book drawing, has become mainstream.
Girlstart's Muir says the new look is working wonderfully. "Marc English Design didn't just create a logo for us — they learned who we were and designed an identity that's as intriguing, magnificent and unique as every girl we serve."
WELLPOINT ID USES HUMAN AND ARCHITECTURAL FORMS
Los Angeles CA: Praxis Advertising and Design created a new visual strategy, design and a comprehensive set of guidelines for WellPoint, one of the nation's largest publicly traded healthcare companies. Michele Holmes, Praxis vp/creative director, comments: "By delivering a more focused impression of WellPoint, these new design guidelines will help the company deliver a more memorable message to its associates and other key audiences." Utilizing both human forms and architectural elements to represent key attributes of the WellPoint brand, the design team created an overall design strategy that leverages the logo and reinforces the position in the marketplace. By using WellPoint associates throughout the photography, designers created a literal link between the existing corporate identity and the individual, thus emphasizing the brand's attributes of humanity. Architectural photography was used to represent strength, innovation and security. "Associates producing any WellPoint-branded materials — from faxes and business cards to presentations, brochures and newsletters — will be able to utilize these guidelines and create a cohesive look," said Nancy Lockhart, manager, secondary research and branding.
VENERABLE BURDGE, INC. LAUNCHES COMPREHENSIVE WEB SITE
Los Angeles CA: In early April, Burdge, Inc., a long-established provider of premium engraving and specialty printing, launched a new web site. The firm was founded in 1923 and is headed by third generation family member Don Burdge who reaffirms the company's mission as "to enhance the image value of our client companies with business stationery which serves as a marketing tool, not merely an office supply." In that connection, the firm sees itself as a corporate image consultant, promoting graphic consistency and quality in materials including stationery, envelopes, labels, and business cards, and product packaging. The site at www.burdge.com has a dignified look conveying the company's role and mission. Among its sections are a comprehensive listing of products and services, a portfolio of successful projects, testimonials from design and production professionals, information about the company's growing online procurement activities, and a history of the firm. Of particular note is an educational area where designers can learn about specialty printing processes from engraving to embossing to foil stamping to die-cutting and more. John Ellis of E Square Communications worked with the firm to develop the site.
YOUNG GUNS COME OUT FIRING AT ART DIRECTORS CLUB; JUDGES INCLUDE SEDELMAIER, CARSON, FROELICH, GELMAN
New York NY: The Art Directors Club's third biennial, invitational exhibition featuring works by New York's young (30+under), most sought after artists in visual communications is on display through May 10, 2001 at the Art Directors Club Gallery. Titled Young Guns 3 NYC (YG3 NYC), the exhibit showcases the work of 90 of the 250 commercial artists — all living and working in New York — who were nominated by a committee of well-established creative professionals including J.J. Sedelmaier, Christopher Austopchuk, David Carson, Janet Froelich, Alexander Gelman, Rick Boyko, Frank Sturges, and Jon Kamen.
The YG3 NYC catalog, consisting of 192 pages of color reproductions, is available for purchase. The exhibition is sponsored by Aquent, the International Career Partner of the Art Directors Club. The specialized talent agency has 54 offices in 12 countries.
TIM NEEDHAM LEADS EXECUTIVE TEAM OF PAPER VETERANS
Hamilton OH: Smart Papers, a major manufacturer of premium specialty printing papers, has a new executive team of veteran paper industry managers. Timothy E. Needham is named chief executive officer and president, Daniel J. Maheu is executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Paul B. Simpson is senior vice president of sales. Needham is a longtime senior marketing and operations executive with firms including Kimberly-Clark, Crane, Williamhouse and Eastern Paper. The new ceo said the executive team's focus is "to deepen and expand our relationships with customers in all of our business lines. We are now the single largest independently owned manufacturer of branded premium specialty coated papers and uncoated text and cover papers in North America... We already have well-established brands in the marketplace... but we intend to raise the bar on excellence. Nothing is more important to us than expanding our value to customers." Maheu is former vp/operations at Champion's Hamilton Mill; his 30 years of experience also includes posts at International Paper, Nekoosa and Union Camp. Simpson's background includes Appleton Papers, Kimberly-Clark and Champion. Smart Papers employs 550 people at its Hamilton manufacturing, converting and distribution facility. The company was founded this February when Sun Capital Partners purchased the facility and assets from International Paper. IP owned the facility following its acquisition last year of Champion, but subsequently divested it. Products include Kromekote, Carnival, Benefit, and Knightkote.
MILLENNIUM AWARD STARS APPEAR AT TRIBECA ROOFTOP
New York NY: Pentagram partner J. Abbott Miller, left, appears with Donside's U.S. president, James Gehrman, at an event at New York's Tribeca Rooftop commemorating the winners of The Donside Millennium Awards. Miller, along with Alexander Gelman of Design Machine, was a major design winner in the international program which honors excellence in graphic design and print. For information on The 2001 Donside Awards, contact Sue Middleton at 800.220.8577. Closing date for entries is September 21, 2001.
'RESTAURANTS ARE RETAIL' IN NATIONWIDE SPORTS ARENA
Columbus OH: Retail design firm Chute Gerdeman teamed with Sportservice, a provider of foodservice at sports and entertainment facilities, to develop a range of fun, fan-friendly food and beverage venues for the Nationwide Arena, home of NHL expansion team The Columbus Bluejackets. From the beginning, Denny Gerdeman says, Sportservice wanted something different from what you typically find in sports arenas. "Restaurants are retail — they have to create drama and entice customers. We wanted to work together to create a memorable experience for Nationwide Arena's visitors."
The Sportservice/Chute Gerdeman team's overall goals included carrying through the established architectural themes of the arena, offering a variety of seating opportunities at all price points, offering enough service points to comfortably handle crowds even at peak demand, and paying close attention to aesthetic and design details.
The Bud Light Terrace, Nationwide Arena's concessions area, is designed to relate to the arena architecture and its surrounding historic district. Inspired by Seattle's Pike Place, Boston's Fanieul Hall and Columbus' North Market, the space is an open, eclectic collection of materials and graphics with a '50s industrial feel. A palette of retro colors and typestyles are used in combination with brushed aluminum and perforated metal. Concessions have distinguishing graphic personalities. Their three-dimensional qualities allow visitors to easily recognize them from several directions and use them as landmarks to navigate the space. The shape of the stands also allows service from several points, easing the pinchpoints often created by queue lines.
A more exclusive area is at the Pizzuti Lounge located on the Club Level. The adjacent Club Bar is on the side near the loge boxes. To remain consistent with the timeless architectural character of the arena, the designers chose stainless steel warmed by copper bar front. At the Event Level, Ticketmaster.com Lounge offers decor that reflects a hockey theme with a sophisticated twist. Lots of white and silver is complemented by a blue neon wash to suggest cool ice, steel blades and Bluejackets. This restaurant offers hospitality only for the 300 patrons with center ice tickets.
Based in Columbus, Chute Gerdeman opened offices in Chicago and Dallas in 1998. The firm employs over 60 professionals.
FAVERMANN GOES THE DISTANCE FOR GOLDEN SPIKE TOUR
Boston MA: USA Track & Field has a new image and look for its national track and field event series to bolster and maintain new spectator and young athlete interest. Taken literally from a metal running shoe spike, Favermann Design created this new identity and image and is currently working with USA Track & Field staff to integrate it into all aspects of the Golden Spike Tour track meets. Starting with the shoe spike, the image was transformed into a moving outline, then into a high speed watercolor rendering, and ultimately into the final action evoking figure icon. The Golden Spike Tour icon seeks to articulate a dynamic fan-friendliness while being playful, contemporary and even a little edgy — symbolizing the highest levels of world class track and field competition. According to principal designer Mark Favermann: "This icon was created to strengthen in a dynamic way the brand connection between fans and the USA Track & Field elite athletes. This icon will act to more clearly capture the amazing athletic dynamism and underscore the excitement and energy of the events themselves."
NEXT GENERATION SITE PRESENTS UNIFIED PITNEY BOWES
New York NY: The new corporate web site created for Pitney Bowes by Frankfurt Balkind takes the perspective of its audience, integrating the wide array of solutions, products and services Pitney Bowes offers, and presents the company in a comprehensive, uniform and united way for the first time. "A corporate web site poses particular challenges, because an effective site must truly brand the company," notes Harriet Levin, executive vp at Frankfurt Balkind. Site goals were: branding, to broaden understanding as to who Pitney Bowes is and what it offers; usability, to make it easy for visitors to find what they're seeking; and flexibility, to be updated easily as needed and to be workable with different languages for the international sites. The site was graphically designed for simplicity, clarity, cohesiveness, and flexibility, as well as to reinforce the company's corporate identity. Frankfurt Balkind also designed Pitney Bowes' 1999 annual report.