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Incspring needed a rebranding?
If you’re a long time reader you know of my disdain for the self-misrepresenting Incspring which claims to be a “branding” website, but is in fact nothing more than a logo site that’s taken advantage of consumers and reduced the credibility & understanding of what “branding” really is.
In fact, Incspring is so oblivious to its own misunderstanding of the idea of “branding” that it changed its logo within the first month of being open and now has changed its name completely to Brandstack. Claiming to soon be adding new features and still lying with the tagline of “Worlds Biggest Brand Marketplace”, they praise themselves in a recent blog post for adjusting a common looking logo from their site and throwing on the new name.
The new logo isn’t anything special and in fact reminds me of this ending from a lot of 80s TV shows where the guy throws paper from his typewriter. Not to mention it looks like about 10 other logos on the site.
Now, I think this goes without saying, but 3 redesigns in a year, including a complete name change, sounds like something that could have been avoided had they gone through the complete branding process, where they evaluate their targets, their goals, what they want the company to become (instead of just what it is) and all the tiny nuanced details that go into branding that IncStack has demeaned into nothing more than a logo, a website and some letterheads.
I cannot say it enough: This site is garbage.
No comments. Posted by md in branding, interwebs, opinion, rant, ridiculous on 15 June 2009.
I discovered the work of Karl Grandin this week. Good stuff.
Nature used to be an unpredictable place of mystery. Fascinated with nature’s untamed wildness, artists created animal and floral patterns as a celebration of this phenomenon of the physical world.
Today this wilderness has disappeared and nature has lost its unique position. There is nothing that has not yet been altered by human intervention. Man has conquered nature and is repackaging it neatly. Zoos, parks, artificial beaches and genetic engineering. We have cultivated nature for our own convenience. Now, it is instead man-made cultural constructions that are becoming increasingly autonomous and slipping out of our control. Wild systems like brands, stock markets and traffic is the wilderness of today. Nature has become culture and culture is turning into our new nature.
As we are surrounded by logos, we are systematically invited, encouraged and directed in what we do. Brands want to be personal and engage in a relationship with you. They want to become a central part of your life. But there is no dialogue, only targeted one-way communication. The symbols are constantly in your field of vision but they are still not part of the public domain. Ownership is of the corporations and the destiny of the logos is in their hands.
In the Animal Sweater pattern, 180 animal shaped logos are set free. Emphasizing the beauty of the stylized animals and their collective kinship, rather than each mark’s individual commercial value, the pattern suggests a new way to experience the commercial imagery.
No comments. Posted by tanner in branding on 4 March 2009.
As long time readers of the site will note, we’re not exactly fans of companies who distill the branding process into a contest, or a four-day process of meshing clipart until the client is happy: cough, ahem. In all honesty, what respectable designer is?
Regardless, the good folks over at 160OVER90 read a rather ridiculous article at Forbes and responded by hiring a clip art design company, cleverly named 50dollarlogo, to brand their fictional company – Cheeses of Nazareth.
The “logo” above is by far the best response, in my opinion. See the rest of their designs, and correspondence, over at the 50 Dollar Logo Experience.
No comments. Posted by tanner in branding on 25 February 2009.
Has anyone else been following all the drama about Jack in the Box lately? Among other things, there has been speculation that they’re planning to launch a new identity, though no official word. Pictured above is a supposed photograph of the new signage.
I’ve been reading rumors here and there that, after Jack’s surgery, he’ll return to work with a cube shaped head to match the new mark. I’m skeptical, but will admit this relatively clever marketing seems to have people talking.
1 comment. Posted by tanner in branding, rumors on 8 February 2009.
Interaction, a Poster for Identity Designers
Several weeks ago, I posted about a clock I had made for identity designers. Several people inquired about the possibility of purchasing posters, clocks or seeing high-resolution files. Due to financial and practical restraints, I am unable to produce any clocks at this time. However, I have produced posters.
The posters in the series are 13×13″, in a signed and numbered edition of 50, half of which are available now on my Etsy account. They are printed on 110# Classic Crest Solar White paper. They cost 15$ a piece.
I really appreciate all the recognition I have received for this project. Thanks to everyone who has blogged about this.
_
This post is part of a series about identity design. Further reading is below.
Previously
I observed 1,035 identities today.
Steve Jobs quote in enlarged TextEdit icon
A clock for identity designers
Responses from Michael Bierut
Responses from Chermayeff and Geismar
Responses from David Rengifo
Responses from Armin Vit
1 comment. Posted by tanner in branding, clock project, poster on 1 February 2009.
Questions for identity designers: Armin Vit
This post concludes the series of questions for identity designers. In the coming weeks, I will announce plans to sell copies of my brand-interaction clock and limited edition posters of its face. Alas, the interview:
Armin Vit is a blogger I particularly respect. He contributes to UnderConsideration, Speak Up, Brand New and Quipsologies.
How do you approach a new branding project?
Ask a lot of questions of the client, and from as many people involved in the decision-making process as well as from those that have been in the company long enough to provide insight. After that it’s just a matter of taking that insight and turning it into great graphic design.
Read more. →
No comments. Posted by tanner in branding, clock project on 12 January 2009.
Questions for identity designers: David Rengifo
David Rengifo is a senior designer at Visual Rain Design & Strategy in Tempe, Arizona.
Read more. →
No comments. Posted by tanner in branding, clock project on 5 January 2009.
Questions for identity designers: Chermayeff and Geismar
The folks at Chermayeff and Geismar provided relatively short winded responses, explaining “sorry they’re brief but as you can imagine we get many e-mails like yours.” I guess I’ll let them slide this time; considering I asked pretty typical questions and they are largely considered to be design gods.
Read more. →
No comments. Posted by tanner in branding, clock project on 29 December 2008.
Questions for identity designers: Michael Bierut
To preface this series of interviews, here are the questions I originally asked:
How do you approach a new branding project?
What does your research include?
Would you describe your process?
What do you feel is the most successful brand you’ve designed? Why?
How do you test an idea?
The first response I received was from Michael Bierut, partner at Pentagram.
Read more. →
1 comment. Posted by tanner in branding, clock project on 22 December 2008.
