JouJou is a toy store that is part of The Grand America hotel in Salt Lake City. In keeping with the whimsical luxury of the hotel, Utah firm Stuck managed to capture the feel of a child’s imaginary paradise.
The colors, architectural details and playful iterations of the JouJou logo are certain to bring a smile to the faces of adults and children alike. In fact, I’m sitting here wondering if I have any reason to take a road trip to Salt Lake City. FAO Schwartz, move over!
Click the link above for more images, including an interesting look into the design development process.
*camille
In the age of low-cal low-carb fare, it looks like fried chicken is alive and well in Austin, Texas!
Pentagram recently posted a spread about the brand they’ve developed for Lucy’s Fried Chicken and it’s a fun mix of vintage style and contemporary design. I love the simple script logo and the accompanying monogram (in the shape of an egg, of course). The color scheme, too, is just vibrant enough to be fun and casual.
Lots of other images at the link!
*camille
The 2012 Sundance Film Festival features graphics designed by Pentagram. As with most events of this type, the design standards were used for everything from print materials to environmental graphics to merchandise.
I appreciate the way in which the ‘motif’ (for lack of a better word) was effectively used in the film catalog - incorporating the fragmented aesthetic into limited areas of the book. And, I think the overall concept made for some interesting design opportunities throughout the different media.
*camille
The hand-painted graphics in this space are absolutely great. It’s fun, whimsical, and I love the restrained (but very bold) use of black and white. This is definitely one of the most creative interior spaces I’ve seen in some time. Engaging, but not overwhelming. Perfectly integrated.
(h/t designworklife.com)
*cf
I am a sucker for well-executed environmental graphics and these colorful, overscaled pictograms certainly fit the bill.
Created for a Japanese department store, the intent of this family of characters is to transcend the barrier between international customers and the Japanese language they may not understand. Admittedly, one may have to think for a moment about what some of the images are actually depicting. But, that said, the size and color of the icons make that pause an enjoyable one.
Click the link for the full family of icons.
*cf
See the link for some beautiful photographs of New York’s Museum of Chinese in America. The architecture, by Maya Lin (designer of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC) is both rustic and refined, and the environmental graphics throughout the space compliment the aesthetic nicely.
Taken together, the architecture and graphic elements are in perfect harmony - clearly, the result of a thoughtful collaboration between the practices of architecture and graphic identity.
*cf
Anyone who has utilized 37 Signals’ productivity software can see that that the elegance - and maturity - of this space makes perfect sense for this organization.
The quality user interface of 37 Signals’ multiple websites and the straightforward, thoughtful design illustrated in their new offices clearly show a consistency in their corporate culture.
This is a group that values good design and a positive user- (and employee-) experience at every level.
*cf
The restaurant business is one of the few arenas in which environmental design and 2-D graphics can be so fully integrated to express a brand.
The key to success in this market sector is establishing a unique position among an often crowded field of competitors - after all, how many different ways can you make a pizza? Smart restauranteurs understand the value of giving the architectural environment the same thoughtful consideration they put into their menu.
Whether small-budget or large, franchise or mom-and-pop, every culinary space presents the opportunity to carry the branding concept into the customer experience. It’s up to the owners to make the investment to do it right. Good design needn’t be prohibitively expensive, but it does require a strong concept and focused attention.
As the saying goes: God is in the details.
Your customers are paying attention. If you pride yourself on your food, let it show in the space. They will appreciate your care and reward you with their return.
*cf
The legendary financial firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has a taken a bold - and colorful - step in revamping their corporate identity. Their contemporary new logo and resulting collateral materials have launched the company to the fore of their industry.
The layering and translucency of the mark appear to represent the multi-layered relationships that PwC enjoys with its clients, offering an array of services to meet their needs. And, in the long-term, this design solution is flexible enough to grow with PwC as their company and/or service-offerings change over time.
Overall, this is a successful effort and PwC should be commended for having the gumption to pull this off. Speaking of that - two questions:
1. How hard did Wolff Olins have to push the decision-making team to take this giant leap?
2. What does the new logo look like in grayscale?
Click on the link above to see the full write-up at Brand New
*cf
Yogurt shop storefronts are all the rage these days - from mom ‘n pop stops to the Pinkberrys of the world. tcby joins the fray with a fresh new identity and store concept.
Click the link to Brand New for an in-depth critique of the logo and some insightful process images. There are some rejected logo options that may have been stronger, more unique marks, but something spoke to the client and they went with what you see here.
Have a look and decide for yourself - what would you choose?
(Note: I’m partial to options 3 and 4 down the page…)
*cf
As someone who loves to read, I have thoroughly enjoyed the evolution of library spaces over the years. As noted in the linked @Issue article, libraries can and have become “community living rooms” and are being designed as such.
Library spaces are no longer simply places to research or study or flip through the pages of a favorite book. Now, patrons want to grab a comfy chair to scroll through their iPad, and neighborhood groups want a nice space to hold a meeting.
The library “brand” - the way we envision the entire concept - has shifted to become a much more dynamic and engaging idea. Opportunities abound for new ways to use the local library as a way to convey a message about an entire community.
*cf
I believe I posted something about this project sometime in the last year. Now, there’s an entire book devoted to telling the story about how the L!brary Initiative in New York City has developed.
It’s a great project dedicated to the refurbishment of libraries in the New York City public school system. Pentagram teamed with various artists to make these spaces into inspirational works of art. Click the link and read some of the articles written about the project. Let’s hope there are more like it in the future, and across the country.
*cf
