DesignDiscussion

Discussions and thoughts about the world of design from the lips of Megan Tower. Errgh, fingertips. Fingertips of Megan Tower.
Sun Dec 7
Listed below are the designers name, featured artwork that corresponds with the numbered photo above, and a description of the project with why I like the piece/designer. People I Know/Have Met 1. Alison Popp: Discovering Design for Herman Miller. Used to promote Herman Miller at Home collection and to inform the public of the heritage of the company and of modern design. It’s a very well done piece and seemed to be a step ahead of it’s time. It has outlived the campaign (although it has had a couple minor adjustments) by a couple years (it was created in 2004) and has no signs of leaving the Herman Miller site; it’s still featured on the company’s front page. Also, I have to feature Alison because she is a very dedicated designer that really does love what she does. 2. Thomas Geismar: NBC Logo. Do I really need to explain this logo? At all? It’s a living legend, an icon; it’s just like the man who’s name is attached to it. I had the pleasure of meeting this legend in late 2007 and it was one of the defining moments my college career. 3. Steve Liska: Brand Book/Identity System for Hotel71. Hotel71 “was developed to fill the gap between trendy boutique hotels and dull chain lodging.” Liska helped design the identity for a hotel that welcomed guests with a dynamic and chipper logo. I met Liska on a tour of Liska & Associates, Inc. in 2006. His company may be small and relatively unknown (in comparison to the Chicago powerhouse SomataMason), but his company has created great work for big-name clients. People I’ve Heard of Before 4. Tibor Kalman: Posters for the restaurant Florent. My love for Tibor Kalman comes mostly from this quirky advertising for a small restaurant in New York that couldn’t really label themselves (this was partly because of how unique the advertising got under Kalman’s control. He liked to push the owner). RIP to my favorite graphic designer ever. 5. Turner Duckworth: Superdrug Bath Supplies. Lately, this company seems to have been cranking out logos and packaging for supermarkets or department stores, but it’s always of good quality and always winning awards and spotlight. Okay, not a person, but I can’t not talk about the whole company. Right now they are pumping out some amazing work, including the little-mentioned-on-AIGA-Archives Coca-Cola rebrand…I really wanted to feature that. Sadly, I didn’t see it on the Archives. 6. Herbert Matter: Knoll Index of Designs. I realize that this is OLD stuff (it’s more than 50 years old), but the look that one of my favorite designers created is coming back in popularity—vintage, simpleness, use of white space, and just showing off the product and nothing else. I couldn’t find much on the project, but I’m assuming it’s for a catalog of types.People I’ve Never Heard of Before (But Really Like Their Stuff) 7. Abbie Planas Gong: Peek identity system. I love that some people don’t like to use bright colors for a children’s store; brown and blue are fantastic. Everything about this identity is fantastic, what am I saying? I found this days ago and knew i was going to feature it; ironically, Jessie must have thought the same thing. This is the same designer that designed the Passing Notes card that Jessie featured earlier. 8. Jennifer Cast: Nickelodeon Brand Book. It’s mainly a kid’s television network, and that really needs to show. Fortunately, it does in the brand book. It’s quirkly, it’s clever, it’s bright, it’s bold. Exactly what is needed. I hope Cast had some experience in it; I do believe she’s one of the corporate designers. She’s worked on other award-winning Nickelodeon designs. 9. Patricia Evangelista: Pottery Barn Kids identity system. We all know how Pottery Barn is…but what is the kid’s division like? The company wanted sophistication and whimsy. Wish is granted. (a form of brown and blue for kids again, really?). I really liked how clean this is and even though it looks nothing like the current logo, we can still tell they’re the same company…somehow. It’s magic, I guess. 10. Juan Monasterio: Target “Symbol” ad. I originally looked at the opening credits for the movie “23”, which were beautifully done and set the tone for the movie but I stumbled across this. Leave it to Target’s workers to use something so overused and make it fresh. Plus, as Linda has mentioned before, they use red, white, and unique imagery in every commercial and it never gets old…that’s enough in itself.
Listed below are the designers name, featured artwork that corresponds with the numbered photo above, and a description of the project with why I like the piece/designer.

People I Know/Have Met

  • 1. Alison Popp: Discovering Design for Herman Miller. Used to promote Herman Miller at Home collection and to inform the public of the heritage of the company and of modern design. It’s a very well done piece and seemed to be a step ahead of it’s time. It has outlived the campaign (although it has had a couple minor adjustments) by a couple years (it was created in 2004) and has no signs of leaving the Herman Miller site; it’s still featured on the company’s front page. Also, I have to feature Alison because she is a very dedicated designer that really does love what she does.
  • 2. Thomas Geismar: NBC Logo. Do I really need to explain this logo? At all? It’s a living legend, an icon; it’s just like the man who’s name is attached to it. I had the pleasure of meeting this legend in late 2007 and it was one of the defining moments my college career.
  • 3. Steve Liska: Brand Book/Identity System for Hotel71. Hotel71 “was developed to fill the gap between trendy boutique hotels and dull chain lodging.” Liska helped design the identity for a hotel that welcomed guests with a dynamic and chipper logo. I met Liska on a tour of Liska & Associates, Inc. in 2006. His company may be small and relatively unknown (in comparison to the Chicago powerhouse SomataMason), but his company has created great work for big-name clients.
People I’ve Heard of Before
  • 4. Tibor Kalman: Posters for the restaurant Florent. My love for Tibor Kalman comes mostly from this quirky advertising for a small restaurant in New York that couldn’t really label themselves (this was partly because of how unique the advertising got under Kalman’s control. He liked to push the owner). RIP to my favorite graphic designer ever.
  • 5. Turner Duckworth: Superdrug Bath Supplies. Lately, this company seems to have been cranking out logos and packaging for supermarkets or department stores, but it’s always of good quality and always winning awards and spotlight. Okay, not a person, but I can’t not talk about the whole company. Right now they are pumping out some amazing work, including the little-mentioned-on-AIGA-Archives Coca-Cola rebrand…I really wanted to feature that. Sadly, I didn’t see it on the Archives.
  • 6. Herbert Matter: Knoll Index of Designs. I realize that this is OLD stuff (it’s more than 50 years old), but the look that one of my favorite designers created is coming back in popularity—vintage, simpleness, use of white space, and just showing off the product and nothing else. I couldn’t find much on the project, but I’m assuming it’s for a catalog of types.
People I’ve Never Heard of Before (But Really Like Their Stuff)
  • 7. Abbie Planas Gong: Peek identity system. I love that some people don’t like to use bright colors for a children’s store; brown and blue are fantastic. Everything about this identity is fantastic, what am I saying? I found this days ago and knew i was going to feature it; ironically, Jessie must have thought the same thing. This is the same designer that designed the Passing Notes card that Jessie featured earlier.
  • 8. Jennifer Cast: Nickelodeon Brand Book. It’s mainly a kid’s television network, and that really needs to show. Fortunately, it does in the brand book. It’s quirkly, it’s clever, it’s bright, it’s bold. Exactly what is needed. I hope Cast had some experience in it; I do believe she’s one of the corporate designers. She’s worked on other award-winning Nickelodeon designs.
  • 9. Patricia Evangelista: Pottery Barn Kids identity system. We all know how Pottery Barn is…but what is the kid’s division like? The company wanted sophistication and whimsy. Wish is granted. (a form of brown and blue for kids again, really?). I really liked how clean this is and even though it looks nothing like the current logo, we can still tell they’re the same company…somehow. It’s magic, I guess.
  • 10. Juan Monasterio: Target “Symbol” ad. I originally looked at the opening credits for the movie “23”, which were beautifully done and set the tone for the movie but I stumbled across this. Leave it to Target’s workers to use something so overused and make it fresh. Plus, as Linda has mentioned before, they use red, white, and unique imagery in every commercial and it never gets old…that’s enough in itself.