Super Bowl XL111

The New York Times wrote an interesting article article regarding this year's Super Bowl logo and how the Super Bowl's identity reflects us as a nation, current graphic design trends and our intense passion for the game. Additionally, The New York Times created a slideshow of alternative marks created by various design firms to show a different look for this years game. Personally, I think it best to leave this type of logo development to the pros, although I can't say that I am that impressed with what Landor produced for this year's game. Dull, lifeless and pedestrian, the mark lacks any sense of excitement, depth or passion. Steven Heller said it best when he was quoted as saying “looks like the Bank of America logo.”

InFamous Wallpaper

One of the things I love about working at this place is that one day is never like the day before. Last week I was asked to help out on a bit of creative for a new Sony Playstation game called inFAMOUS. I had one day to come up with as many ideas and looks as possible and this is one of the things I had a chance to illustrate before the bell rang. It isn't very conceptual but, was well liked by the group and may live as a downloadable wallpaper...

Photog of the week _ Trevor Pearson

Once in a while you get to work with someone that you respect as a creative and admire as a person. Over the last couple of years I've had the good fortune of working with Trevor and consider him to one of the best. Whether it's shooting a new phone for Helio or getting a distinctive look down for Saturn, Trevor seems to have a solid understanding of what it takes to get a great shot off and at the same time have fun doing it. Take a look and if you really need something to look extraordinarily good, check out his site.

North Kingdom

A few years back I came across a site called Designchapel that contained some pretty amazing work by an individual named Robert Lindstrom. Every click of the mouse brought new and exciting imagery that showed a wide depth of talent and deep mastery of applications needed to create them. I continued to drop in periodically to see where this talented creative might land and in 2003 I discovered that he started his own company named North Kingdom.

Situated in the north of Sweden, North Kingdom has gone on to create and produce award winning work that has everybody talking. It is one of those shops that has yet to really defined itself completely and is actually a collective of many talented people who seem to stretch and pull Digital in any direction. The art direction is amazing and the experience seems to deliver results that delivers right on target. North Kingdom is just one great example of how much the role of digital has grown from being purely a storytelling device to more of an idea machine that binds the consumer closer to the brand through engaging experiences that really connect with the desired audience.

Goodbye Indie 103.1 FM

Unfortunately, one of my favorite radio stations INDY103.1 FM has fallen victim to corporate pressures and has decided to leave the FM airwaves rather than acquiesce to "The Man". Anyone who lives in the LA area and has a penchant for listening to an eclectic mix of music (The Clash, LCD Soundsystem, Air) played by DJ's with a soul knows about 103.1 FM and has been illuminated by it's brilliance. What a bold move in an age where people would rather switch than fight. It's RAW, it's PUNK and it's REAL. Check out the station online and also the nice logo mark created by our very local LA phenom creative Studio Number 1 Sheppard Fairey.

Pepsi vs. Coke

Due to slumping sales and lost marketshare, Pepsi recently introduced it’s first rebranding effort in over 14 years. The new work was created by New York design office Arnell Group and was a complete departure from it’s earlier look.

An Ad Age quote states: “PepsiCo today said it will pour some $1.2 billion over three years into a push that will include sweeping changes to its brands, including what Chairman-CEO Indra Nooyi characterized as a revamp of "every aspect of the brand proposition for our key [carbonated soft drink] brands. How they look, how they're packaged, how they will be merchandised on the shelves, and how they connect with consumers.”

The new Pepsi logo is suppose to depict a smile rather than a fluid swoosh and try to connect with a broader and hipper audience. Why Pepsi felt the need to abandon whatever equity it had established with it’s original look is a real mystery. The logo and new packaging seems a bit too “cool” and minimal and has been stripped of any sense of fun or excitement. It’s a soft drink – not motor oil or some bourgeois Canadian mineral water. Where’s the enticement and promise of a refreshing and tasty experience?

Interestingly enough, Coca Cola updated their packaging and came out with an entirely new look that embraced it’s heritage and strength in the category. The brilliant, bold and confident new package design (by TurnerDuckworth of San Francisco) emphasizes the well-established Coca Cola logo and makes a bold and striking avatar for the brand. Clean? Yes. Minimal and spare? Yes. But, we as a collective are well connected to the brand and all the flavor that needs to be translated visually is right there in the logo. One glance and you know the whole story; Coke is still number 1.