There is nothing better than designing on a Sunday evening in Portland, Oregon with the sun setting, all while listening to a down-tempo compilation that helps ease my day towards its expiration. This is one compilation I never grow tired of listening to. I can actually listen to this comp from start to finish, (and it’s a double disc, which is even more amazing to me). The compilation is titled: “Putting the Morr back in Morrissey“, and is released on the Morr Music label. Each track on this compilation was influenced in one way or another by an existing Morrissey song. One track that really stands out to me over all others on this compilation is a track titled: “Delc:R” by Arovane. I’ve always been a really big fan of Arovane, and how he manages to make any time of day beautiful when you listen to his work. I would highly suggest picking this up if you can find it. The design and layout are pretty dope as well. I really love how simple it is, and how it’s so complimentary to the music. The credit for the design direction goes to: Jan Kruse from o8 Design.

Anyway, be sure to give it a listen.

Peace

- m / Colorcubicâ„¢

We found these logos in the Graphis Annualâ„¢ 1985 /86 edition. I really love how minimal, and traditional these are. It’s very easy to walk away from viewing these, and still remember their associations. It wasn’t until the 90s that people really went crazy with the idea of branding, and started peddling crap for logos. Personally that’s one of my biggest pet peeves when people forget the purpose of a logo / icon / brand identity, and just produce shiny, colorful abstract shapes without considering who’s going to be viewing it, and whether or not it’s memorable.

Christy and I usually follow a strict guideline when branding a client, or product. We believe strongly in the use of negative space, a flat 2D approach, and a minimal use of colors (if any). When we’re finished with the brand identity / logo / icon (whatever you want to call it), it has to look good in black and white initially, and then we add color to it if necessary (depending on the client, and the client’s demographic). I wish more logo designers would follow this rule of thumb. I’d like to take this time to give credit to the designers whose work we featured in the image above. Going from left to right, top to bottom:

• Icon designed for the American Protection Industries, Inc. Designed by: Gary Hinsche.
• Logo for the Central Typesetting Company. Designed by: Emmett Morava.
• Icon designed for GoTech™ Inc. Designed by: Peter Adam.
• Icon designed for landscape designer, David Baldwin. Designed by: Alan Colvin.
• Icon designed for Dacosystems™. Designed by: Emmett Morava.
• Icon fro the Japanese bank Mitsui™. Designed by: Takenobu Igarashi.
• Logo for Transportes Urbano de Sevilla. Designed by: Roberto Luna & Fernando Mendoza.
• Icon designed for the amalgamation of two flour mills. Designed by: Rosmarie Tissi.
• Icon designed for the LAOOC (Amateur Athletic Foundation). Designed by: Ray Wood.

Hope you enjoy

- m / Colorcubicâ„¢