Zoinks!!

Ok so this is precisely why I went into graphic design. It is the power to create something that every person in the world recognizes. After watching this video it just refreshed my memory and made me so glad that I call myself a graphic designer…now to just get a job at a branding company!! Check out this video courtesy of Ladd Design

So we have seen him, well for our whole lives…The Quaker Oats guy. The original company was established far before any of us were alive, in 1877. Just like any company that has been around over a 100 years things change. Lets take a quick look at the Quaker’s evolution.

You can clearly see the tradition that they have stayed true to. Since Pepsi-co had purchased the company Quaker has greatly expanded and with such an expansion generally you need different versions of your mark to target the different audiences within the brand. Some companies choose to just change colors some will swap our typefaces or treatments. This is true for Quaker as well. But generally you get rid of the old and fully implement the new as your products run out. Well not so much for Quaker causing them to have a variety of products out with different styles of branding on each. 

So out with the old and in with the new. I warn you the changes are not HUGE, but these new marks should really help us to see that all of their products are truly from the same company.

As so many companies have been doing recently, going back to the old days and pulling some nostalgia into their brands, Quaker has done that too. Along with a new mark a redesign of some of their cereal boxes. Lets have a peek shall we?!

Overall I really like what Quaker is doing. Here is the other mark that was recently released.

I really am not a fan of this mark. It feels all over the place and not finished. You will be seeing this guy on granola bars and things of that nature. Let me know what you think of the changes!?

I just get so excited for Texture Tuesday! Please enjoy these ones…let me know if you end up using them!

Happy 2012 tumblrs! From the windy city to u hope u have a prosperous and very happy year

So the iconic Mountain with the stars flying into the screen is something that we are all familiar with if you have ever seen a movie! Paramount has made some minor adjustments to their movie intro. 1. they have widened the shot exposing more of the mountain peak. 2. The addition of 100 yrs (granted that is only temporary, but the placement and treatment is really great and works very well!) 3. The animation and CG are done in HD (Obviously) and are pretty epic! 

Ok so overall the logo and intro animation have changed slightly with time and technological advances in the movie industry, but overall Paramount with all of the companies changes has done a phenomenal job at staying true to their iconic intro! Nice work! And now for your featured presentation!

So in the world of design a lot has happened! The Number 1 most successful identity rebrand was Starbucks. The company that has rebranded several times in the past, but still stays true to the origins of the company. 

Ive done some fun and exciting tutorials over the past year and learned lots of new stuff on the Admissions front. I’ve moved to Chicago and have transitioned to being a regional admissions counselor. Quite an adjustment that I’m still trying to deal with. 

I sold my VW Rabbit and got a VW GTI 

2009 VW Rabbit - Old Car

2011 VW GTI - New Car

Lots of new friends, lots of new followers, and lots of new blogs to follow! Ive also gotten a ton of new apps on my phone and really quick here are my top 5 for 2011!

5. Facebook - The new enhancements make the app so much better and more user friendly
4. Fab - A place to buy fun artistic random items that change daily!
3. Horoscope - Just because it is fun, not that it is well designed or really does a whole lot, but I like it. The predictions are usually really accurate too!
2. Starbucks - Im there practically everyday so this one gets uses A LOT!
1. Google Currents - get your favorite magazine subscription for free and stay up to date with current topics that are most important to you! 

Youtube videos have become a new way of life for me…I know I’m a little behind the times. I use them to listen to new music, watch tutorials, inspirational vids, and of course Jenna Marbles! LOVE THAT GIRL!

Ok but now that 2011 is coming to an end it is time to start with a clean slate. Ive done a lot of great things this year but also a lot of bad things. So now is the time to begin fresh! I am determined to stay on top of my blog and twitter…IM TERRIBLE AT KEEPING UP WITH THESE THINGS!! Im also going to cut back on my alcohol consumption and get more active in the community and hopefully within the design community as well! Happy new year and I wish you all the happiness and prosperity that a new year can bring!

So I was perusing the internet last week and stumbled upon a website/company who is re-branding and has already done the early phases of implementation. Yes that is right, StumbleUpon has completely revamped their website and created a new logo to represent the brand.

Lets take a closer look at the new mark!

NEW!

OLD!

Ok so lets get into this. The new logo with a completely different color shows us an “S” and a “U” just like the old one but this icon is a little more simplified. The sans serif font is modern and clean. Both the icon and text work nicely together and the black and red color palette are pretty standard. The new icon continues to represent the flow of webpages from one user to another through the design that to me looks like plumbing.

The whole idea of the re-brand process and updating the website was all in part to the fact that StumbleUpon is now the largest social networking website in history surpassing that of Facebook. The new layout design is all about image and utilizing new features to enhance your experience with the site.

The new logo is pretty basic and does in a sense leave me wanting something more, but it works really well with the entire design concept and the entire company identity overhaul! 

So I was in a paper mood. With the design of Christmas and New Years cards upon us I have found that Im using these a lot so I figure I might as well share them with you guys!

Ok so that last one has yet to be used, but I like the little guy drawn on there! Hes funny! Let me know if you use these, I’d love to see your work. Ill even re-post them on here if you would like!