Tuesday 30 December 2014

Logo news branding budgets review


logonews.fr seasonal greetings and review of branding design budgets.

Monday 15 December 2014

Best wishes for Xmas & Twenty Fifteen

Our greeting card playing on the XV in Xmas is published in Creative Review.

Sunday 14 December 2014

Best wishes for Xmas and Twenty Fifteen

For a great holiday season and New Year from all of us at Paul Vickers Design.

Saturday 22 November 2014

Culotte 75004 Paris, back-lit glass shop sign

Culotte Paris shop sign. Gill Sans lettering die cut in textured glass panels and back-lit. Nice execution and fun name.

International Air & Space Salon poster won by Dimitri from Ecole Bleue

Dimitri Kucharz of the Ecole Bleue, winner of the design competition for the poster for the 51st International Air & Space Salon, Le Bourget, Paris. Several of my students participated in the design competition, for the biggest Air & Space Show in the world.
http://www.siae.fr/GRAND-PUBLIC/Affiche-Grand-Public-2015.htm

Monday 17 November 2014

Peace 11.11.11.14 and stickers


11.11.11.14 Peace and Tower of London installation

Our Peace 11.11.11.14 poster for the Royal British Legion Poppy Day Appeal and the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation: 888 246 poppies representing every British & Colonial casualty in WWI by sculptor Paul Cummins and Tom Piper, at the Tower of London.

Saturday 15 November 2014

The Real Apple Store London

The Real Apple Store in London's Borough Market displays     1 000 different varieties of English Apples as part of the Market's 1 000th birthday anniversary.

Colours according to IS

As if hundreds of thousands of deaths and summary executions were not enough, IS has banned colours, coloured pens and art as well as physical education, in schools in Mosul, Irak.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29600573

Sunday 9 November 2014

25th Anniversary Fall of the Berlin Wall

Our 25th Anniversary Fall of the Berlin Wall poster.

Saturday 8 November 2014

Editions Ecole Bleue website on-line

Editions Ecole Bleue website launched. You can now order our Espace Couleur book on-line.

Tuesday 28 October 2014

Professional journey in 7 agency logotypes

A professional journey through seven global branding and design agencies, from London to Paris, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong and back to Paris. Over 20 years of design experience reflected in a collection of agency logotypes.

Cochon or Porc?

Whilst on the subject of pigs, the Cochon Dingue logo from Quebec is  graphically and typographically bold, simple and fun. The Porc Français is decidedly messy, confused and dated looking, despite just having been launched.

Saturday 25 October 2014

UK design industry worth £15 billion pa

Statistics from the UK government and the British Design Council state that the design industry in the UK is worth £15 billion a year (2010 turnover). Design employes 230 000 people full time and 65% of UK businesses use design. Design creates value, estimated at +22% of c/a for companies using design.
In France the government and the APCI estimate the design business is worth €8 million a year, one of the lowest rates in Europe. Design employs 33 000 people and design is only used by 30% of businesses. The French government and APCI say the main problem is lack of communication of the benefits of design to French business. Maybe they should do something about that.

UK farms logotypes and design use

Whilst on the subject of agriculture, here are a few Farm logotypes from the UK. Virtually every farm in Britain has a logo, a sign, maybe a farm shop. Farmers understand design and appreciate the benefits of selling produce direct to market and therefore of communicating with the public. I have yet to see a farm with a logo in France.
Some farm shops are genuine retail design projects, ex Daylesford Organic farm, below.



New logotypes for Meat from France launched

The French bovine inter-professional association has launched new logotypes to promote French meat.
Strange inconsistencies in typefaces used, illustration styles, proportions of the flag, colours, white space across the different logos. For comparison the Australian and British equivalents - an interesting graphic treatment of the map from the Aussies, a figurative landscape from England.

Monday 20 October 2014

New London Design Museum will be free to visit

The London Design Museum will move from its current Shad Thames side site to the former Commonwealth Institute Building, Kensington Gardens this year. The £80 million project is designed by John Pawson. The Design Museum has just announced that entry to the museum will be free following the new government project to boost access to British museums. Half a million visitors are expected a year.

Saturday 4 October 2014

Les Berges de Paris signage

The Berges of the Seine have been pedestrianised and are now used by walkers, joggers and for impromptu picnics. The stencilled street signage  in Schablonierschrift type and pictograms on tarmac works very well.

Friday 3 October 2014

Great Britain's automobile brands

With the 2014 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile kicking off this weekend, here is a quick review of Great Britain's historic automobile brands. From Aston Martin & Bentley to MG & Mini it is a prestigious line up of cars and brands.

Wednesday 1 October 2014

New Umbrella symbols - an icon for democracy

The Umbrella symbols continue to develop as design students do their bit for the democratic process in Hong Kong.
Copyright of their creators who's names are not always identifiable.

Tuesday 30 September 2014

The Umbrella - a new symbol is born

Symbols, logos and brand marks are central to our communication of ideas, concepts and desires. This week a new symbol has been born in Hong Kong - the Umbrella, representing peaceful demonstration in the face of tear gas and pepper spray attacks. Already it has become a powerful graphic icon, like the peace symbol, the Amnesty candle, the dove...

Monday 22 September 2014

Friday 19 September 2014

Yes / No branding for Scotland

At 55% 'No' to 45% 'Yes' Scotland has decided not to leave Great Britain. No Thanks!

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Ruedi Baur typography for 'Patrimoine'

The excellent Patrimoine poster by Ruedi Baur, the typography formed from building shapes, the background a contoured landscape.

Wednesday 23 July 2014

Flanagan Lawrence & Thomas Heatherwick on Littlehampton beach

English coastal town Littlehampton add's a performance space by Flanagan Lawrence to its Thomas Heatherwick East Beach Cafe and other design installations. A seasonal summer posting before we too head for the coast.

Friday 18 July 2014

French gastronomy struggling to find an identity...

French gastronomy and its branding is still struggling to find an identity and graphic visual expression, to defend its quality and excellence! As proved by these disastrous gastronomy brands.
The latest addition, the saucepan and roof is for Fait Maison, just launched by the Ministry of Economy. UK foods & chefs excel by comparison. Bon Appétit!

Wednesday 16 July 2014

A bit too "Fait Maison", no?

















In an ongoing saga that I have already discussed here, (articles of 20 June & 27 July 2013) the Ministry of Economy launched yesterday the "Fait Maison" logotype in an attempt to promote home cooked restaurant food in the face of heated up industrially produced meals.

Unfortunately the logotype and communications look all too 'home made' and show a total lack of consultation with design leaders and the creative industry. More of a 'knocked up on the corner of the kitchen table', look...! Update: designed in house at the Minister of Economy...! What a missed opportunity to promote the French design industry and creative excellence...
In the branding guidelines there seems to be no typographic lock-up or typestyle associated with the cumbersome early 70's style industrial looking logotype. Is this really going to help promote "Fait Maison" cuisine? Bon appétit!

Monday 7 July 2014

2014 Bill Gardner's Logo Lounge trend report

Bill Gardner's Logo Lounge 2014 trends report is published. As usual this is a great tool and analysis of what is happening in branding and logotype design today.

http://www.logolounge.com/article/2014logotrends#.U7qUp17d7wI

Sunday 6 July 2014

Roger Excoffon's Banco

Roger Excoffon's 'Banco' typeface of 1951 by Fonderie Olive, is still alive and kicking in Paris 11th Arr.

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014

Every summer the Goodwood Festival of Speed at Goodwood Racecourse in Sussex celebrates with a sculpture installation. This years work by Gerry Judah honours Mercedes with an arced track flying over the castle.

Sunday 29 June 2014

Sam Sans typeface development

Our 'Sam Sans' typeface in honour of La Samaritaine department store is in development.

Philippe Starck visits the diploma show

Friday, Philippe Starck and his wife Jasmine, visited the 2014 diploma show. Here I present our visual communications work in the context of global design.

Logotype design for Editions Ecole Bleue

The Ecole Bleue has launched its publishing activity - Editions Ecole Bleue with a first title Espace Couleur. The logotype expresses a collection of books on the shelf with a minimalist and eloquent design.

Logotype and branding for Myfanwy on the move fundraising campaign


Saturday 14 June 2014

International Exchange Program presentation












Presentation of the Paris - India - Singapore - Bangkok - Hong Kong exchange program.