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!

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!

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

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.

Myfanwy on the move campaign is live...

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

International Exchange Program presentation

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

City & Nature typeface designs at Jardins jardin aux Tuileries exhibition

Paul Vickers Design on Pinterest, latest

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe quotation

With graffiti intervention...

Coca-Cola 2nd Lives up-cycles empty bottles for new uses in Asia

City & Nature typeface design

Typefaces created by students on the theme of 'City & Nature' for the 2014 Jardins jardin aux Tuileries exhibition. A selection from the 36 posters to be shown.

Australia's unbranded tobacco packs

France & UK to follow Australia's example with unbranded, no logo, standard typeface tobacco packs. Grey/brown background colour.

International Exchange Program conference in preparation

Original typeface designs at Jardins jardin aux Tuileries

3rd Year students at the Ecole Bleue will exhibit original 2D and 3D typefaces created around the theme of Nature & City at the 'Jardins jardin aux Tuileries' exhibition in the Tuileries Gardens Paris.
The type designs are in final stage of completion. Some examples coming soon.

Editions Ecole Bleue - Espace Couleur published

The Ecole Bleue launches its publishing operation - Editions Ecole Bleue and its first title: Espace Couleur, written by Catherine Filoche, photography Seb Lovat, editorial Gauthier Herrmann, art direction Paul Vickers, layout Margaux Fritz. Logotype design Paul Vickers.
140 pages on the use of colour in space. Available now from the Ecole Bleue, and leading design bookshops soon.

Branding design proposal: Raeburn Winebar

Hong Kong is red

Signage, graphics, branding... HK is red.

Signage, branding, building Hong Kong

Signage, branding, Zara Hadid building, Central skyline, graphics...

Buildings, retail, signage, graphics Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport 560 000 m2 terminal, Siam Square architecture, signage and graphics, retail design, musical video staircase in shopping mall.

Architecture, design, graphics, signage Singapore

Marina Bay Sands from the Garden by the Bay, Vertical Park by Woah Architects, Chinatown, airport kinetic art installation...

Paris to (finally) get a unique colour for its taxi fleet

London has its distinctive black taxi cab's, New York its bright yellow checker taxi's. Now Paris will get a unique colour for its fleet of 17 000 taxis. Up until now Paris taxis have resisted the idea of a unique, distinctive colour, why? But in face of competition from chauffeur driven cars that will change. Blue is presumably taken by the Taxis Bleue, yellow by Voitures Jaunes... What colour will it be?

Colours of Bangkok

Recent work on bloglovin'

La Samaritaine Sans Bold typeface creation

We are working on a typeface design based on the original La Samaritaine tile font from the Rue Baillet / Rue de l'Arbre Sec facades.
As the face is incomplete this includes creating new characters based on the existing tile letterforms. La Samaritaine Sans Bold is in production.

London Design Museum's 'Designs of the Year 2014'

London Design Museum's, Designs for the Year 2014 exhibition. Selection of 76 best designs.
Watch the video here:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26648326

Abram Games, designer on UK Royal Mail stamps

British graphic designer Abram Games is celebrated in a new stamp collection 'Remarkable Lives' by the Royal Mail. Games created iconic propaganda posters in the 1940's with his distinctive graphic and typographic  style.

10 Years of design: 2004 - 2014...

In case of love at first sight - break glass!

Installation, design, St Valentine's day communication... 1 500 emergency style red boxes containing a single rose installed across Paris by Funny how flowers do that.co.uk. The glass is cellophane.

Railway station design: Austerlitz - its for when?

For when the renovation and redesign of Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris? The Gare St Lazare has experienced a major rejuvenation and redesign introducing highly successful retail and services. Kings Cross, St Pancras & Waterloo International in London have all been totally upgraded and seen extensive redesign. Austerlitz remains third world even if a Jean Nouvel extension is ongoing. The future is when...?

Great Britain - world's 4th most valuable destination brand

Great Britain now the 4th most valuable nation brand in the world. Value $2.4 billion, thanks in part to the 2012 Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. (Following US, China & Germany. Ahead of Japan).

Branding identity and design fees

 The Council of the European Union gets a brand lifting. A redesign rather than a complete new concept. Design fee €60 000 and this is what you get. For details on our fee structure see 'How long is a piece of string?' on this blog.
http://paulvickersdesign.blogspot.fr/2011/05/how-long-is-piece-of-string.html

Design Thinking in the top 5% of most viewed content on SlideShare

Over 6 000 visits in 2013

L'Isle-de-France, Paris region gets a logotype

Paris Region gets a logotype, with an inevitable reference to good old Eiffel. Its a strong identity that works well with its negative space. Shame about the clunky typography that does not seem to fit. Can't find the designer credit, unfortunately.

The chaos of a multiplicity of France brands

The real issue in 'Made in...' branding is: one unique and powerful brand or dozens of conflicting and contradictory brands?
Pinel, Montebourg and Pellerin tell us they are working on it. We await the outcome and hope for an improvement on Origine France and made in frAnce.

Union arrow for Made in Britain

Great Britain gets a new Made in Britain logotype, designed by The Partners, in the continuing Made in... logo saga. The bold red arrow points to the future. Below my review of the disastrous French version from March 2013.

UK supermarket Asda offers 3D printing

British supermarket Asda becomes the first to offer 3D printing in store. Using a hand held scanner you can produce a 20cm 3D printed figurine sculpture. Cost £40, delivery in one week.
http://www.dezeen.com/2013/10/11/asda-supermarket-launches-3d-printing-service/

Our Xmas - 2014 card published on Designspiration

Xmas / Twenty Fourteen Greeting published in Creative Review

Best Wishes for Xmas and 2014