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September 20, 2009

Losing logo brands to acquisition

Adobe to acquire Omniture masthead
With the recent announcement of Omniture’s acquisition by Adobe, I’m reminded of how many of the brands I’ve created over the past 10 years that have disappeared by being bought-out and absorbed by larger companies.

Here are some of the logos I’ve designed that are either soon to be no more (e.g. Omniture) and others that only live in my portfolio:

Omniture Logo Omniture Inc
Entered into a definitive agreement for Adobe to acquire Omniture in a transaction valued at approximately $1.8 billion in Q4 2009.

Omniture, Inc. is a leading provider of online business optimization software, enabling customers to manage and enhance online, offline and multi-channel business initiatives.

Powerschool Logo Powerschool Inc
Acquired by Apple Computer for $62 million in Apple stock in March 2001.

Powerschool is the leading provider of web-based student information systems for K-12 schools and school districts. It’s online software gives school administrators and teachers the ability to easily and cost-effectively manage student records and gives parents real-time access to track their children’s progress.

SkyDisc Logo SkyDisc
Acquired by Skymall Inc for $2.3 million of SkyMall common stock in October 1999.

Disc Publishing’s “SkyDisc” is an interactive CD-ROM targeted to the business traveler that integrates highquality print, broadcast and online media designed to provide a mix of topics that entertain, inform and enhance the business travelers’ life.

Every other month a new “issue” of SkyDisc is available free in airline seatback pockets to more than 400,000 SkyWest Airlines passengers.

Serus Logo Serus LLC
Acquired by Netopia, Inc for $3 million in cash and 409,556 shares of common stock in December 1998.

Serus LLC, developer of Java-based web site development and web page editing technologies including its “SplashSite” web site builder.

While I’m sad to see my brands go, I’m excited to see the companies that they helped to gain enough attention to get acquired.

    • Comments [1]
    • Tags [acquisition, Adobe, branding, logo, Netopia, Omniture, portfolio, Powerschool, Serus, SkyDisc, Skymall, Splashsite]
    • Categories [Brad McCall, designer]
September 2, 2009

5 years ago, a look back at logo trends

Logolounge.com masthead

We’ve long passed the half-way point of 2009 (only 4 months left), and I was curious at how trends predicted for this year in logo design were panning out. After looking at an article on LogoLounge.com talking about 2009 Logo trends, I noticed links back to their previous years trend predictions. So I clicked on 2004 (5 years ago) and looked through the samples.

Surprised to see many of these past trends are still current, I thought, ‘I should blog this’. So here’s the first part in my series of logo trends from the past. Are these concept still current or just that, trends of the past? Old is new?

2004 Logo Trends from LogoLounge

Glassine Sample Glassine
Glass-like or crystal-capped
Bubbles Sample Bubbles
Representing motion, clean and refreshing
Dialog Sample Dialog Boxes
Word balloons and speech bubbles
Substitutions Sample Substitutions
Swapping letters for other font elements
Letter Bars Sample Letter Bars
Stripes of a different color
Implied Sample Implied
Letting the user get involved with the design by telling part of the story
Universal People Example Universal People
Giving a meaningless symbol meaning
Handmade Example Handmade
The antithesis to computer-rendered design
Arm Sight Example Arm Sight
Human-like figure with arms up
Human Nature Example Human Nature
Human and environmental concerns
Cave Rings Example Cave Rings
Control of chaos through consecutive circles
Particle Fields Particle Fields
Grid or repeating dots
Prism Example Prism
Greater use of translucency, colors
Mezzotint Example Mezzotint
Handcrafted, non-corporate, textured look

How big is glassine these days? And did the handmade look ever go anywhere?

All of this content was summarized from Logolounge.com. For many more samples, and better explanations (with credit who created the logos) visit their 2004 Logo Trends page.

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    • Tags [branding, graphic design trends, logo, logolounge.com]
    • Categories [Design]
June 25, 2009

Logospire.com and logo inspiration

I recently posted several of my new logos (a couple that you’ve seen on my outdated website) on Logospire. Their rating system and comments make it easy to find out which ones people tend to like the best.

I’d recommend visiting the site if you enjoy logos, or just need inspiration for your next design.

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    • Tags [inspiration, logo, logospire.com, website]
    • Categories [Inspiration]
February 4, 2009

A conversation on graphic design trends

Logo design trends masthead
So I did a quick search on Twitter to see what people where talking about with regards to graphic design trends. One of the first links I hit is from Jacob Cass, who I follow on twitter. The article called Logo Design Trends 2009 is about a month old, but sums up what several other sites have been saying about logo trends for 2009.

The most interesting part for me was, which usually is the case on these type of articles, is a bit of a debate that the article prompted in the comments section of the blog post. Starting with a comment from Jeff Fisher of Jeff Fisher Logomotives, someone who I have great respect for, who said:

“When a graphics industry expert proclaims something a current ‘design trend’ it is a ‘breaking news’ message to designers everywhere that the specific ‘trend’ should be avoided from that moment on – rather than followed by a thundering flock of design sheep.”

He called it his “annual design trend comment.”

I’ll let you read the comments on the blog there and participate in the conversation if you’d like, but one of my favorite responses to the debate was from Fred Showker, someone who I haven’t run across online before. He mentions in one of his comments about the “acid tests” that any logo has to go through. Tests such as scalability, black-n-white, screen printing, stitching, etc. He says:

“Too many people rely on process color, and computer effects to “carry” the design — or lack thereof.”

I’ve run into problems in this aspect as well with several of my logos. Though I’ve tried to discover in advance through creative worksheet questioning on “how” my client will use the logo, sometimes they don’t always know. It’s not long until a fancy “online only” logo gets stitched on a hat.

I enjoy looking around and seeing where trends are going and what new innovative ways graphic designers are using to represent their client’s brands. But as graphic designers we’ve got to keep the basics in mind and remember that logos are as practical/functional as they are beautiful.

Join the conversation! –>Logo Design Trends 2009

    • Comments [2]
    • Tags [graphic design trends, logo, quote, Twitter]
    • Categories [Design]
January 22, 2008

Logo on ice – Omniture holiday party

Another first happened for me at the Omniture holiday party last month. While the party itself was another great event filled with awards, music, dancing, food and general merryment, I think one of my favorite parts was seeing my handy-work on ice.

At the entry doors to the party stood an ice sculpture of Omniture’s logo, flanked in the rear by green lights. Since this was a Brad McCall first (Having a logo I designed carved in ice), I thought I’d mention it in my blog and post a couple photos.

Watch Omniture this year… it’s going to continue to great things!

    • Comments [1]
    • Tags [branding, logo, Omniture, portfolio]
    • Categories [Brad McCall, designer]
November 30, 2006

Zensterz logo design

Here’s a logo I recently finished for Zensterz. (The URL won’t really go anywhere right now as the official site won’t launch for another couple months.)


Click image to view larger

Zensterz is a subscription-based online portal where family groups can share events, coordinate activities, brag about recent trips or promotions, etc. They can do all this within a password-protected site that’s packed with Web 2.0 features (ie Software-like functionality). There’s more to Zensterz which I can’t talk about (which gives it an extra punch to stand out in a fairly crowded space of “family websites”), since it’s still under wraps for the time-being, so you’ll have to be on hold until it goes live.

The selected concept that was taken to completion was based on and illustration of two individuals (one green, the other orange) who are conversing through the letter “Z”. The blue circle and relative roundness of the shape behind them represent the wrapping of the two individuals from around the globe where they arrive at the “Z” (representing zensterz) that is made from the negative space from their faces. I used an all-lowercase version of the font Gill Sans, to emphasize the ending of zensterz (with a “Z”). Gill Sans has always seemed like a “friendly” font with its mixed chunkiness, but still have a professional appeal. Seemed appropriate.

    • Comments [1]
    • Tags [branding, logo, portfolio, Zensterz]
    • Categories [Brad McCall, designer]
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    I'm a Utah-based graphic designer who is currently employed as a UX/UI Designer. I love good design, travel, architecture, humor and a good burger.

    Glad you found my blog. Over the years I've changed the purpose of having a blog, but eventually have settled on the idea of sharing what inspires me.

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