Florence signs & graphics...

Typographic facade of the Art Deco Bourse de Travail in Bordeaux

Great typographic facade of the 1935-38 Art Deco Bourse de Travail in Bordeaux. An Art Deco masterpiece by Jacques D'Welles and a listed historic monument.
http://www.vernacular.fr/?post/2007/10/05/356-bourse-du-travail-bordeaux

How to layout and design an internship report and thesis

My layout and design presentation also available shortly on Slideshare.

The Brand in 3D: signage design conference

My Brand in 3D: signage design conference. Creating and realising effective brands, that combine visual communications, 3D design and architecture. Now visible on Slideshare.
http://www.slideshare.net/paulvickers/brand-guidelines-keynote-50684956

Design Guidelines Keynote presentation

My Design Guidelines presentation: defining brand identity, is now visible at Slideshare.
http://www.slideshare.net/paulvickers/brand-guidelines-keynote

Brand identities for diploma projects

A few of the brand identities developed by diploma students at the Ecole Bleue for their final graduation projects. Every brand communicates the essential of the project - sophisticated, understated typographic logotypes communicating the ideas with subtlety and force.

What is Visual Communications design?

My conference on Visual Communications, what it is and what is its role, is visible on Slideshare.
http://www.slideshare.net/paulvickers/what-is-visual-communication-design-keynote

This is for real, the saga continues...

This might look like a big joke but its for real. The continuing saga of kitsch regional brands and identities being rolled out across France.
Yes, they look like a time warp to the 1970's. Yes, they are of appalling typographic and graphic execution. Yes, they are cheap - depriving the regional creative agencies of work and the opportunity to professionally  promote their departments and regions. What a disaster and waste of the limited budgets that have been invested in them. A laughing stock and a lesson in what not to do in branding!

Japan - France and trains

In Japan 'Women Only' subway trains. In France No Women allowed on trains...

No women on SNCF trains?!

Bizarre sign at Austerlitz station Paris. Apparently no women are permitted to travel on trains now!... I dont get it.

Salon de l'Aéronautique & de l'Espace

Salon this weekend, with poster design won by one of my students from Ecole Bleue.

Bill Gardner's 2015 LogoLounge trend report

Bill Gardner's 2015 LogoLounge trend report is published. Always insightful thinking about where logotype design and branding is going.
https://logolounge.com/article/2015logotrends#.VXsouqbd6lI

Distinctly 'ancienne'...

Pinterest - recent work

BBC Business news on branding value

BBC Business news on branding.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32495854

A 'low cost', low quality job for Calvados

As predicted, new regional brands rain down in France, the latest a 'low  cost', low quality job for Calvados does not inspire. Its a lifting but remains anchored in the 70's...
By comparison Nordkyn in Norway, Porto, Charleroi and La Manche, just to mention a few recent examples, demonstrate what can be achieved in destination and city branding.

La Diplomate fine tea's Bordeaux

The magnificent La Diplomate fine tea purveyors, Rue Parlement Saint-Pierre, Bordeaux. With branding and graphics by Rice Creative and interior design by Thomas Daviet. Check it out.
http://ladiplomate.fr

Renault launches new brand identity

Renault launches an updated brand identity, proprietary typeface and warmer yellow brand colour.
Original Victor Vasarely 1972 design (l), Saguez & Partners  3D treatment 2007 (r). Renault design team brand (below) May 2015.
http://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/27-april-3-may-2015/renault-updates-identity/

Milan Expo 2015

The Milan Expo 2015 opens with the UK pavilion by Wolfgang Buttress.

Royal Mail new stamp collections

Two new stamp collections from Royal Mail UK. Inventive Britain honours inventions: the world wide web, DNA sequencing, the computer etc. The WWI collection features art and images of WWI.

New brand for GDF Suez...

New brand identity launched by GDF Suez, the French energy company. (€75 billion t/o). Who become Engie. Slightly weird brand with a very 70's feel... the inconsistency in the 'e' and 'g' treatment seem bizarre, the 'n' is angular where the rest is rounded and the slash of the dot on the 'i' distinctly strange. Plus, as any designer knows, the gradient in the sky will be very problematic to manage in print, signage etc. Design by Carré  Noir. Disappointing work from an agency like Carré Noir. (new top, old bottom)
http://logonews.fr/2015/04/27/le-nouveau-gdf-suez/#more-11694

Oh dear, it doesn't get any better...

Oh dear, it doesn't get any better... Loire department just launched a new identity. Again no designer is credited with the work, they probably knocked it up it in-house. I fear we are going to see a lot more of this stuff with the new regions created by Hollande's government. Certainly no investment in design here!

2nd I am Nepal aid poster

I am Nepal - Help Nepal Earthquake Aid poster

Our I am Nepal - Help Nepal poster for Nepal Earthquake Aid. Donations to the Red Cross at www.ifrc.org

Our Coca-Cola China bottle is worlds No.1 beverage brand

And our Coca-Cola China bottle & graphics design remains the No.1 selling beverage in the world!
140 million bottles sold per day for $78 billion pa of revenue in 2014.
Design created with Desgrippes Gobé Asia Pacific team.

Horizontal can logotype

Coca-Cola rolls out new can graphics with a horizontal logotype, as opposed to the curent vertical version on cans. The one I bought this week had the addition of 'Since 1886' slogan below the logotype. Different designs are being tested across Europe.

UK creative business on the streets

Destination branding: how it should be done

For some examples of how it should be done, visit:

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/where_the_cold_wind_blows.php#.VTtmS7rd5SU
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_porto_by_white_studio.php#.VTtkzrrd5SU
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_charleroi_by_pam_et_jenny.php#.VTtkMLrd5SU
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/a_night_at_the_shrewsbury.php#.VTtljbrd5SU
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/rave_at_la_manche.php#.VTtmILrd5SU

Oh my God! Two new destination brands...

Oh my God! These are two examples of just launched new destination brands for the French city of Tours and the newly created region of Centre Val de Loire...

Total communication and branding disasters, they represent all the design errors that we teach our students to avoid in their first years at design school.
Both have been designed in-house without any consultation of the design agencies, professionals and expertise available. They discredit the regions, the design profession, the Mayor's who chose not to consult the experts and are an insult to the citizens of the country. They make a laughing stock of themselves on the national and international scene...
http://etapes.com/aux-graphistes-les-elus-jouent-des-tours
http://logonews.fr/2015/03/17/haut-les-coeurs-avec-le-nouveau-logo-de-la-region-centre-val-de-loire/

UK creative industry posters

Our UK creative industry posters with latest government figures for design: £8.8 million per hour of revenue.

Elysée Palace Twitter logo

The new logo of the Elysée Palace for their Twitter account has internautes confused. Some see a crashing plane, others see Goldorak... I see a 'pause' button with a wifi symbol. No design agency is credited for the work so maybe its an in-house job.
http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/le-nouveau-logo-de-l-elysee-entre-goldorak-et-krusty-le-clown_1666577.html

The brand in 3D: signage design Keynote talk

Designing and creating Design Guidelines lecture

UK creative business earns £8.8 million per hour

Our UK creative business poster 

Creating design guidelines

My upcoming Keynote talk on creating design guidelines. Coming soon.

London's e-cab launched and driverless cars approved for the roads

London's first e-cab, electric black taxi is launched and simultaneously the UK's driverless car, a challenge to the Google car, is approved for testing on the roads. Dezeen for the full story:
http://www.dezeen.com/2015/02/17/london-black-cab-metrocab-zero-emission-electric-powered/
http://www.dezeen.com/2015/02/11/driverless-cars-uk-roads-lutz-pathfinder-transport-systems-catapult/

UK design industry generates £8.8 million in revenue per hour!

New government figures show the UK design industry generates £79.9 billion a year in revenu, or £8.8 million every hour! With a 10% increase on last year.
The UK has Europe's No.1 design sector and the 2nd biggest design industry in the world.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/new-government-figures-show-uk-has-largest-design-sector-europe

Expo France 2025 logotype

France is a candidate to host the 2025 world expo. The logotype appears to play with the DC Comics 'turning page' concept or one thing revealing something else behind it. Or with juxtaposition of graphic shapes to create the letters like the Milano 2015 Expo. But there seems to be something very inconsistent in the treatment of the characters. The E kind of ok, the X & P definitely bizarre and impossible shapes to create with a circle motif. I can't find a credit for the agency anywhere. Will the logotype help win the project?

Snow calligraphy

Nice snow calligraphy by Faust in New York.
http://www.whudat.de/typography-snow-script-by-faust-new-york/

Uninspired Business France

A rather uninspired new brand for Business France, formerly UBI France and l’Agence Française pour les Investissements Internationaux. Somewhat similar to the Made in Britain brand launched in 2014, designed by The Partners. No designer credited for the work!

Paul Vickers Design - over 1 million search results on Google

Google - Paul Vickers Design, returns over 1 million results in January 2015.

Over 200 skyscrapers for London

Over 200 skyscrapers, of over 20 floors, are being built, approved or planned for London. UK architects order books have never been busier. Cycle parking in buildings is now obligatory, with 1 486 spaces in Fosters twin tower City Road development, for example. The city is on the go. http://www.fastcodesign.com/3041323/infographic-of-the-day/londons-skyline-is-about-to-get-very-crowded
http://www.dezeen.com/2015/01/26/foster-partners-london-towers-250-city-road-one-bike-parking-space-per-bedroom-cycling/

Calligraphy and hand drawn type samples

Some calligraphy and hand drawn type samples from We Love Typography and Designspiration...

Why is there so much really bad calligraphy out there?

Why do so many logotypes in France use such appalling hand written calligraphic type instead of some of the hundreds of thousands of beautifully designed and crafted typefaces that exist? 
It is an attempt to express creativity, individuality or a hand crafted ‘artisan’ style? And if so why are they so badly executed, poorly legible and often bordering on the kitsch? If you do insist on a hand drawn treatment, get a skilled calligrapher/typographer to do the job. There are thousands of them out there.

Visit: typographyserved.com, welovetypography.com, designspiration.net / calligraphy etc.

Charlie - freedom of expression in Creative Review

Our Charlie - freedom of expression contribution is published in Creative Review.

Evelyn Beatrice Hall on freedom of speech

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" 
Evelyn Beatrice Hall in her biography 'The Friends of Voltaire' 1906

Charlie: freedom of expression

In honour of Charlie & freedom of expression. The pen is mightier than the sword. Writers, illustrators, designers united in defence of free speech and expression.