Logos designed by Bulldog for Birdlife and Transactium will both feature in the 2009 edition (published in 2010) of the World Logo Design Annual, after being selected from over 1,885 worldwide entries.
The annual will showcase 192 winning entries in a substantial, hard bound volume of exceptional quality, printed on Sappi acclaimed papers by Fontegrafica.
Financial consultant – Marc Vella Bonanno asked Bulldog to craft a graphic symbol and business stationery that is authoritative and reassuring, with a wide appeal. The symbol is a monogram formed by Marc’s initials and is supported by a spirograph pattern that echoes the kind of graphics associated with bank notes. A restrained design, foil blocking and premium paper stock all add to the elegance and refinement of this stationery.
I was thinking that it’s been a while since I’ve posted some logos. Here are 3 new ones that we recently completed.
The first is a monogram for financial consultant, Mark Vella Bonanno. It is formed from his initials – MVB.
Gestalt Psychotherapist – Linda Åklundh approached us to create a new identity that would communicate the benefits of her new ‘business coaching’ venture. Our solution was to develop a composition of stick figures – working in harmony towards a shared goal. At the same time, the new symbol suggests the Swedish letter Å.
Of the 3, my personal favourite is a proposed symbol for the European Bully Kennel Club. It is created from 5 kennel symbols arranged in such a way that they also suggest a 5 pointed star. The identity needed to be versatile and legible, as it would also be used in conjunction with other graphic components – at various sizes.
Unfortunately, Malta has developed a shameful reputation around Europe for the illegal hunting of birds and each year hundreds of migrating birds are systematically slaughtered. The island is a vital stepping-stone for birds on their exhausting journey northwards, hence this is not just an issue for Malta – effectively, the conservation efforts of many European countries are being hampered.
After 20 years in Malta, Cheri – an Irish hair stylist, retains strong feelings for her homeland. She asked Bulldog to create an identity that would suggest her place of birth as well as her trade. From a purely practical point of view, the identity needed to work across a whole host of ancillary applications such as towels, signage, salon interiors and stationery.
Our solution was to create an image immediately associated with hairdressing; that is also visual shorthand for Cheri’s nationality.
All retail shops are familiar with the problem of leftover stock – especially after big holidays like Xmas. The usual approach would be to sell the merchandise at drastically reduced rates in seasonal sales.
When giftware chain – Eyespy asked Bulldog to help with this problem, we suggested using an alternative approach. By combining different items into loosely related groups, housing them in this custom made package and selling them as stand alone sets, our client not only drastically reduced his excess stock but also turned a healthy profit.
We’ve always been fascinated by logo design. When reviewing the portfolios of creative applicants hopeful of working with our company, we tend to drift towards the logos section first. I think this is because in this discipline, it’s difficult for creatives to mask a lack of ideas with slick printing processes and expensive paper stocks. Designing good logos is pretty difficult and in a world suffering from information overload, arresting viewers’ attention momentarily and leaving them with a lasting impression requires designers to be: daring, distinctive and to master the enviable ability to make less say more.
If you’ve spent the day reviewing portfolios, it’s not impossible that you could be seduced by miracles of presentation and glossy style. Not so with logos – these only really work when execution and content are inseparably fused – making the execution part of the content. Take it from us, it’s rare but you’ll know when you see it.
Traditionally, identities in this field tend to be very restrained and sometimes downright pretentious. Gestalt Psychotherapist – Linda Åklundh expressed a determination to avoid the clichéd approach adopted by many in her field.
Bulldog immediately realised that the solution to Linda’s problem would lie in our ability to reduce a seemingly complex message down to a memorable, engaging idea. Once we decided that what Linda does is: ’sort out puzzles in people’s heads’, this logo just sort of drew itself.
Linda says that she just can’t stop handing out her new business cards, “The change in peoples’ faces as they figure out the meaning for themselves is priceless.” We couldn’t agree more – in our opinion, the best communications leave room for audience participation.
