September Industry » Retail

BOND – SI Special

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:22:07 +0000

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Aava, Identity
Growing IT company Aava needed an identity and basic sales tools that stand out. Minimalistic branding differentiates this Finnish company from its competitors. The letters of the logo – A A V A – are stylishly used in the graphics of Aava’s new look.

Font used: Lubalin Graph

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Pino, Retail Design and Branding
Pino is a market place for unique, functional and innovative design objects. The idea for the concept came from the name of the shop, Pino, which means a ‘pile’ or ‘stack’ in Finnish. That is taken visually into the new logo and the design of the shop fixtures. The interior concept with a subtle colour palette works as a background for thefresh, colourful identity and products.

Font used: Font Bureau Eagle (Customised)

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Harri Koskinen Works, Branding
The branding created for the Finnish designer Harri Koskinen and his own furniture collection, Works, is practical and innovative like the designer himself. We also wanted to reflect that in a handout that we prepared for a trade show in Japan. We wanted to present the collection in a cost-efficient manner. The handout can be used as a brochure, poster or a flyer, and it can be folded in various ways, changing its appearance.

Font used: Helvetica Neue

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Mark Mink Personal Branding, Personal Branding
A dignified brand identity with high quality materials and finishes, designed for an international businessman.

Font used: Gotham

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Kesko, Identity
Kesko is a leading provider of trading sector services. Company’s updated identity is colorful, simplified and positively happy. The elements are simple and time-resistant. As part of the identity update the corporate logo is modernized delicately. The colourful identity reflects corporation’s entrepreneurial culture and it’s versatile brands and services.

Font used: Klim – Karbon

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Kaufmann, Branding
The growth strategy of a communications agency ‘Writing Media’ lead to total re-branding. The new identity and name ‘Kaufmann’ communicate the new sales minded strategy of the agency: Kaufmann is the communications agency for sales and marketing people. The purpose of communications agency Kaufmann’s new logo was to differentiate the agency from its competitors. The dynamic and multifaceted logo presents the agency’s areas of expertise in a playful way. The logo can be varied in an infinite number of ways. Kaufmann wanted their visual identity to combine playfulness with more traditional elements, such as classical typography. To balance the traditional, we used a contemporary illustration style.

Font: Bodoni Std

Scandinavian graphic design has always been a hit on SeptemberIndustry (for obvious reasons) so the work of BOND should come as a pleasant surprise to many of you.

BOND is a Helsinki (Finland) based independent creative agency specialising in branding and design. Working for clients who value creative and practical ideas BOND design, visualize and define brands in a way that help companies differentiate themselves from the competition. They see design as a craft and as a result demonstrate their expertise through their work rather than through talking.

Thank you to the gracious folks @ BOND for letting me help myself to their images ;) I hope you (dear reader) enjoy this feature and have a great weekend.

www.bond-agency.com

If you’re new here, don’t forget to Subscribe, FFFFOUND! & follow SI on Twitter for your weekly dose of visual crack. ;)

Hyperkit – Recent Projects Showcase

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:15:23 +0000

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House of Propellers
We designed the identity for this Clerkenwell gallery space which showcases the work of designers, illustrators and photographers.

The traditional element suggested by the gallery’s name is visually communicated using lettering redolent of old shopfronts. This is produced in gold foil on cards, and gold lettering on the gallery window.

Typeface: Elementa [note logotype is not a working typeface]

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LSE Housing and the City
This publication contains research created by students over a period of one term. Hyperkit was invited to host a series of workshops with students to help them with the visual presentation of their research and we were then commissioned to design a book to publicise their findings and ideas.

Students worked together in groups of six, each focusing on a different aspect of housing within the London Borough of Southwark. The reader navigates the publication by black tabs which correlate with the contents page. The final publication is 164 pages, 200 x 270mm, and has a greyboard cover which has been foil-blocked.

Typefaces: Akkurat and Stymie

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Joe and Co.
Hyperkit looked to deconstruct the traditional barbershop situation and rebuild it for a contemporary audience with all its recognisable parts present.

Initial inspiration for Joe and Co came from looking at how objects are organised within the traditional barbershop, as well as workshops, sheds and garages. This led to us developing a collaged aesthetic when designing the space and the furniture within, combining materials and textures in a very straightforward and functional fashion.

The main materials used for bespoke furniture at the shop are solid English oak, oak-veneered plywood and powder-coated steel. We used oak as it is a warm, natural material that can be traditionally crafted. The coloured steel items were chosen to contrast with the wood. Throughout the construction it was important to us that you would see how the furniture was made; this is mostly evident in the very visible joinery of the oak display frames and the inlaid metal shelves and troughs.

The graphic and geometric nature of the Joe and Co logo and printed material was conceived as a contemporary substitute to the traditional barbershop patterns such as the stripy red and white pole and the black and white checked lino floors.

Typeface: Akkurat [logotype is not a working typeface]

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Faye Toogood
We created the identity, print material and website for this interiors stylist. A bespoke pattern was created at A2 size that forms the back of the mailer. This same artwork was used to print the back of the stationery, resulting in 4 different letterheads and 48 different business cards.

As she works a lot with fabric, we wanted Faye’s stationery to reflect fabric swatches – when each small sample is a different part of a repeated pattern. This pattern endlessly repeats allowing Faye to use sheets of the paper to create her own wallpaper or hoarding whilst dressing a window for example.

We designed a website that Faye can update herself using a content management tool.

Typeface: Nobel Extra Light

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5th Studio
We designed the identity, website and stationery for this architecture practice based in Cambridge and London. Strong simple typography and a bold colour is employed across cards, letters and labels.

On the website – which is updated by staff inhouse using a content management tool – projects are navigated according to their scale.

Typefaces: Akkurat and Monospace 821

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Cupboard Love
We designed an identity, swing tags and website for this shop that sells clothes, toys and gifts for children. Illustration by Hennie Haworth.

Typefaces: Stymie [logotype is not a working typeface]

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V&A Friday Late
Hyperkit designed temporary signage for a Friday Late event curated by students from the the Royal College of Art’s Design Products course.

Corrugated cardboard signs with vinyl typography were attached to galvanised trestles using zip ties.

Typefaces: Balloon, Times Modern, Gill Sans Shadowed, Colonel, Pioneer

Established in 2001 by Kate Sclater and Tim Balaam, Hyperkit is a graphic design studio based in London. They produce good-natured, functional design, often bringing together a love of material, process and functionality. They like to create visual stories that help their clients connect with an audience or community and generate ideas by responding strategically and intuitively to any given situation. The studio members’ personal interests, fascinations and self-initiated projects inform their commissioned work, creating unique and effective solutions that reflect the sensibilities of their clients.

Projects are often multi-faceted in nature. To date the studio has produced graphic design for both print and websites (often building these in-house), as well as exhibitions, furniture and interiors. “We enjoy working with people that are as passionate about what they do as we are.”

www.hyperkit.co.uk

Big thank you once again to Kate @ Hyperkit for making this feature possible.

If you’re new here, don’t forget to Subscribe, FFFFOUND! & follow SI on Twitter for your weekly dose of visual crack. ;)

25ah – Recent Projects Special

admin — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 07:30:04 +0000

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“You Stockholm” Identity
Together with our talented friends at Koncept Stockholm we have developed a brand platform and visual identity to Hairdressing salon “You Stockholm”. Behind the concept is the famous hair stylist Steve Terry. The inspiration comes from his warm and charming personality and his passion for the profession. The beautiful, sophisticated interior architecture was designed by the architects at Koncept Stockholm.

Typefaces:
• Austin semi bold
• Magda text

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Knut Brand Identity
Brand identity for Knut, an antique rug shop located in Stockholms antique district. Knut is specialized in finding and developing new types of rug and weavings while still maintaining the rugs origin and heritage. Our solution was a strong and simple identity which doesn’t clutter and interfere with the beauty of the rugs.

Typefaces
• Univers 45+55 Condensed
• (+ handtexting)

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H&M Giftcards
We were asked by HM to create a new range of gift cards, this including both card and carrier development. The brief was to make the Gift Card more giftable. Furthermore the gift cards should encourage the customer to make an active choice when deciding on which gift card is to go along with which sleeve. We also helped HM to develope the in-store display stands and marketing material.

Typefaces
• Not a lot of typefaces here but the pink giftcard has a silver foil messages in Gotham medium..

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F12 Terrassen Identity
Visual identity & Art direction for F12 Terrassen 2010. We found inspiration in all the different personalities that contribute to the f12 vibe.

Typefaces
• URW Imperial Narrow
• ICG Radiant Condensed bold
• ICG Radiant Extra Condensed bold
• URW Egyptienne Light extra narrow
• Minion condensed
• Minion bold condensed

Having ended last Friday with a bang (this is feature that caused all the commotion ;) we’re in the middle of a new week and I must say: it feels rather strange going back to the usual posting format! Nevertheless today’s first dose of visual stimulation/crack comes courtesy of the fine folks at Stockholm-based brand and design agency 25ah who also happen to be fans of SI (always good to know :).

Included in this feature is a generous selection of some of their most recent projects, in high-res of course. I hope you enjoy, and thank you once again to lovely Jacqueline @ 25ah for going out of her way to provide all the goodness you see above.

http://www.25ah.se/

If you’re new here, don’t forget to Subscribe, FFFFOUND! & follow SI on Twitter for your weekly dose of visual crack. ;)

SI Special – Multistorey

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:14:36 +0000

Design Multistorey

Foreword
Today’s SeptemberIndustry special comes courtesy of Rhonda and Harry, two very nice folks who happen to run a design studio called Multistorey in London.

What makes this post a little different from the other SI Specials is the fact that each of the 3 projects is accompanied by a “short story” ;) which definitely adds more context and value to the images you see above. I did try condensing the text but to no avail; removing a single paragraph would just leave you in the dark regarding specific details.

So without further ado, I present to you, the work of Multistorey in all it’s hi-res glory.

Darkroom
Launched by Multistorey director Rhonda Drakeford and her business partner Lulu Roper-Caldbeck, Darkroom is a new London concept store that specialises in high-end, one-off and hand-made men’s, women’s and interior accessories alongside bi-monthly art exhibitions.The shop sells a mix of hard-edged modernist 20th century antique pieces alongside contemporary items. The brief was to create a unisex environment and brand image that was unique, had impact, was flexible and timeless and above all showcases the diverse product. Darkroom also design their own products and needed the brand to work beyond the store environment.

The starting point was the logo which was constructed from a custom drawn typeface. The font has been designed to be elegant and leggy but with the boldness that capitalised letters bring. It holds connotations of fashion with it’s masthead qualities and interiors with it’s geometric construction.

Following on from that, we designed a bold geometric pattern that uses shapes found in the logo – the intention being that the pattern would become as synonymous with the brand as the logo itself and could be used going forward as signature prints within products. The pattern became the founding structure for the shop-fit with a handpainted tiled floor that provides a grid format on which to place modular cubic display plinths.

To reflect the high end merchandise, quality of production has been key to the approach, from a hand painted sign and interiors, thermographic stationery and hand bound brochures to the custom made canvas carrier bags.

The Modern Flower Company
Multistorey were asked to re-brand an existing small chain of London florists under their new name — The Modern Flower Company. We felt the word ‘Modern’ was very interesting as it will always have different connotations dependent on when something has been labelled ‘modern’. Can something called modern in the 1950′s still be modern now? There can be something charmingly anachronistic about such labels, and we felt it would be interesting to approach the identity with this in mind — using historical reference points, and exploring what was “modern” to previous generations of florists. In this way, we could avoid producing a modern rebrand that would date very quickly…

Using traditional white garden trellis [very redolent of 1950's garden design], as the basis of our story, we then quite literally grew type around it like vines. The grid formations of trellis allows for a very structured and geometric grounding to the looser, organic forms of the type. Much difficulty lay in drawing letter forms that had to run along the 45 degree angles created by the trellis grid, whilst still retaining absolute legibility. We also created windows or shards within the trellis patterns to hold secondary type.

A 1950′s sugared almond pink was chosen for the background pattern and a brighter grassy green for the typographic element of the logo to complement and stand out from the pink. The contrasts in colours and harder and softer elements of the structures allowed for a treatment that wasn’t overtly feminine, it is men after all who are supposed to be the bigger buyer of flowers…, so it was important to us that we struck a balance with the tone of the brand.

A large suite of stationery has been designed for the client, each one with a specific trellis shape tailored to hold information for that item. One of the more interesting pieces is the bespoke carrier bags whose cord handles actually weave in and out of the trellis printed on the body of the bags. The wrapping paper is printed with more abstracted trellis patterns, wrapped and tied with ribbon printed with a continuous vine.

Victor Glemaud
Victor Glemaud is a New York based fashion designer who has worked as a PR and designer for such labels as Paco Rabanne, Tommy Hilfiger and Roberto Cavalli. In 2007 Victor launched his inaugural self titled line of menswear and asked us to create his identity. His modern and witty take on classic menswear inspired us to draw his typographic logo as an elegant slab serif reminiscent of the mid century neon signs you can still see adorning the façades of European clothiers shops.

We have devised a simple utilitarian approach to his corporate identity — his stationery appears to be printed on and cut from index cards, the only decoration coming from dividing lines based on the serif details within the logo. For a recent competition entry, we took the filing card device one step further creating a one off, hand-made expanding file to house the label’s information, press clippings and collection images. We printed text on 10×8″ filing cards and used black photo corners to attach glossy photographic prints.

Claudia Pape

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:28:55 +0000

As you probably know by now, I often go to great lengths to acquire quality links, and this is no exception. Claudia Pape is a London based designer, with some impressive work and credentials to her name. Her brand communications for Nokia in particular are a knockout. Worth downloading her pdf portfolio for.

Commercial Art

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:16:21 +0000

Don’t you just hate it when a client doesn’t allow you to publicly display your work online? This was the case for Commercial Art, a London based agency who was featured on SeptemberIndustry last month. Unfortunately their work had to be removed from the SI archives, but their Creative Director, Rick, was really nice about everything and I’m happy to say that they are the latest agency to join SI’s daily list of readers.
Pictured are various retail communications designed for Nokia.