Opinion BY Armin

TV Land Flips Out

Launched in 1996 and originally part of a Nickelodeon programming block called Nick at Nite, TV Land is a cable television channel aimed (according to owner MTV Networks) at the 40- to 50-year-old with a blend of original programming, classic and contemporary television series acquisitions, and movies. What originally started as a nostalgia-filled, black-and-white-tinted programming has grown into a Betty White-fueled feel-good programming. This month TV Land introduced a revised logo and a new on-air look both designed by Trollbäck + Company, who also designed their previous on-air package.

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Opinion BY Armin

jcpenney Nails the American Look

As you might remember, jcpenney landed in the top three of my 2011 Worst list for its bake-off approach to designing the last iteration of their logo, so it was with both high and low expectations that I approached a highly public company reimagining announced yesterday. If you don’t mind, I’ll repeat the same introduction from last year: First opened as a dry-goods store named the “Golden Rule” in Kemmerer, Wyoming by James Cash Penney in 1902, JCPenney today is a publicly-traded company with 1,100 department stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, mostly in shopping malls. Providing fairly decent middle-of-the-road merchandise, JCPenney is an extremely popular destination for finding affordable items without the top brand names attached — they develop many of their own brands. / End recycled intro. / “Every initiative we pursue,” starting February 1, reads the press release, “will be guided by our core value to treat customers as we would like to be treated — fair and square.” New store designs, new brand names, new spokesperson partner in Ellen DeGeneres, and — yay — new logo and identity will be rolled out. No design firm is credited (leads anyone?).

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Opinion BY Armin

ITG Staggers

Established in 1987 in New York and now with 17 offices in 10 countries ITG (Investment Technology Group) is “an independent research broker partnering with global portfolio managers and traders throughout the investment process, from investment decision through to settlement.” If that’s a little unclear — it is to me — they help “clients understand market trends, improve performance, mitigate risk, and navigate increasingly complex markets.” To coincide with its 25th anniversary, ITG has dropped its full name and introduced a new identity and “brandline”, Decoding Signal from Noise, by Landor.

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Opinion BY Armin

More4 Flips Out

Launched in 2005 by British broadcaster Channel 4, More4 is a digital television channel popular for its range of documentaries, U.S. imports like The Daily Show, reruns from its parent company, and some original programming. Announced back in November and effective this week, More4 will start “focusing more fully on popular factual and features — life enhancing content, helping viewers to get the most out of their everyday lives.” In other words, downers like “documentaries, arts and current affairs” are out and “programming which offers insight and inspiration to the way they live, including homes, property, food, health and fashion” is in. The new identity and on-air look has been designed by London-based ManvsMachine.

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Opinion BY Armin

Coyote (Not So) Ugly

Established in 2006, Coyote Logistics is a third party logistics and transportation, meaning that they accommodate shipments with a variety of carriers, finding trucks that have available space in trips they are already making. According to Inc. magazine, which listed Coyote as the No. 1 company in Logistics and Transportation, it has had a 13,846.8% three-year growth. Coyote counts with over 300 employees and an aggressive (in a friendly way) attitude. This past Fall they introduced a new identity designed by Moving Brands.

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In Brief BY Armin

Redesigning “Teachers”

In the latest redesign challenge from Studio 360 — we redesigned Valentine’s in 2010 and Pentagram redesigned Christmans in 2006, among others — Brooklyn-based Hyperakt has been tasked with redesigning Teachers. “We began with a simple premise, that education is the key to human progress, therefore teaching is among the most important professions for humanity.” The result, “all about connecting the dots,” is detailed at Hyperakt’s website and in their conversation with Studio 360 host Kurt Andersen. A few sample images are posted below (or after the jump).

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Opinion BY Armin

Follow-Up: DC Comics

Yesterday, DC Comics officially unveiled its new identity, after the whole internet (including us) stole its thunder at the start of the week when we all judged its new branding effort based on a single, black-and-white rendition of their new logo. Now it’s an uphill battle to get people on board with what is actually a fairly good looking and flexible identity designed by Landor.

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Opinion BY John J Custer

Life OK is Okay

Life OK is the new youth-oriented channel that is joining the STAR India network. It replaces the network’s previous youth channel, STAR One, as of December 2011. The new identity was designed by London-based venturethree.

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Opinion BY Armin

Aetna Finds its Groove

Established in 1853, Aetna is one the biggest health insurance companies in the United States offering medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans to approximately 36.3 million people. In a move to continue “its evolution from an insurance carrier to a health solutions company” and establish themselves as a more consumer-focused brand, Aetna has introduced a new identity, designed by New York-based Siegel+Gale. To get things started, you can watch a launch video here.

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In Brief BY Armin

In Brief: Saul Bass’ Bell System Pitch

This is a video prepared by Saul Bass as a presentation to executives of his identity system for Bell System in the early 1970s. The first half is a fantastic primer on identity design and the second half (starting at around 13:00) is the identity pitch. A little long for today’s video-viewing standards but totally worth it.

Thanks to Brad Loliger for the tip.