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!