BY Armin

In Brief: Logo as Plot of Land

DATE: Feb.03.2009CATEGORY: In Brief 34 COMMENTS

Neil’s comment is:

That's one hell of a chunky logo. I love the design process that they went through to get to the final logo. It's always great getting an insight into the design process, rather than just seeing the final outcome. I really believe more designers and more design agencies should do it.

On Feb.03.2009 at 10:44 PM

Serviceburo’s comment is:

It's interesting, growing up in Iowa, there were always news stories about kooky farmers who would plow images into their fields and have them noticed by flights overhead. Almost a sort of folk-art genre of it's own.

However, that said - this sort of imagery is meant to bring the cause of preventing Heathrow from expanding, correct? Well, I'm sorry but the average punter isn't that visually sophisticated. Does this look nice, yes. Is it intriguing from a design point of view, yes. Is it effective in reaching a larger mass and gaining easy attention/recognition? Not so much. More function please.

On Feb.03.2009 at 10:50 PM

Brandon Cox’s comment is:

This kind of process-unveiling is great for the design community at large - it communicates the need for excellence, hard work, and deep thinking. No more whipping out logos like gumballs - the process gone through is highly instructional.

On Feb.03.2009 at 10:50 PM

Scott’s comment is:

Reminds me of Animal Planet.

On Feb.03.2009 at 11:27 PM

Anonymous’s comment is:

Fabulous design. I had no idea airports made such a big deal out of it; but I guess with that few runways to begin with, it makes sense. It's the sort of marketing plan that makes the number of runways common knowledge and coffee-table trivia.

They should be able to round up tons of investors to get that runway built now, with this kind of visibility!

On Feb.03.2009 at 11:50 PM

Jason’s comment is:

All that's missing is crop circles!

Congrats on the mention David!

On Feb.04.2009 at 12:29 AM

Jonathan Carnehl’s comment is:

So cool!

On Feb.04.2009 at 02:05 AM

Matthew’s comment is:

I was always a huge Airside fan from their lovely work with the band Lemon Jelly, the DVD they produced was brilliant and all the merchandise they sell in their shop is great too. Love this logo and application.

On Feb.04.2009 at 06:17 AM

Ben’s comment is:

Animal Planet done right.

On Feb.04.2009 at 06:26 AM

Dale Campbell’s comment is:

Perfectly relative concept meets awesome execution. This is a pretty schweet identity for an great organization.

Keep well,
Dale

On Feb.04.2009 at 08:34 AM

Ryan’s comment is:

I don't think Anonymous read the article.

I do like the look of this logo, though. I immediately thought patches of field from the air, and love seeing the process.

On Feb.04.2009 at 08:37 AM

Noah’s comment is:

Fantastic process. Genuine, clear, and beautiful result.

On Feb.04.2009 at 10:19 AM

Joaquin Davis’s comment is:

Great design and wonderful thinking. I liked being able to see the process of the logo. Great job.

On Feb.04.2009 at 10:35 AM

Rob’s comment is:

Clever, clean, simple. Perfecto.

On Feb.04.2009 at 10:41 AM

darrel’s comment is:

lovely

On Feb.04.2009 at 10:59 AM

Yeison Agudelo’s comment is:

remainds me of the animal planet logo soooo much

On Feb.04.2009 at 11:58 AM

Kevin Tucker’s comment is:

It's really interesting how they arrived at the end product. Just from looking at it, I would have thought they were specifically going after a vintage letterpress motif, and even more specifically the work of Hatch Show Print. I never would have guessed that cardboard letters were involved :)

On Feb.04.2009 at 12:16 PM

Chris’s comment is:

Simple, effective, understood it immediately. My favorite branding featured on this blog to date.

On Feb.04.2009 at 02:07 PM

Andrew’s comment is:

Looks a lot like the Animal Planet logo.

On Feb.04.2009 at 02:35 PM

jRod’s comment is:

I have to agree with Scott and Andrew... at first glance it reminds me a lot of the Animal Planet logo, which we all agree stinks. But, I would have to say if I never knew the AP logo existed, I would probably dig this logo. So i guess that means i dig it.

On Feb.04.2009 at 04:30 PM

Paul, London’s comment is:

Please do not encourage these people. Yes, nice identity, but it's in support of the tree-hugging zealots who'd prefer to see one form of tarmac in preference to another [since the proposed new runway is not exactly on virginal, untouched land]. Build the runway. Forget the logo. Let the people fly. After all, there aren't that many ways of getting from London to New York. Or LA. Or Hong Kong. Pick your destination.

On Feb.04.2009 at 05:54 PM

m’s comment is:

Not feeling it.

On Feb.04.2009 at 07:29 PM

Char’s comment is:

Oh god, so good. I love it.

Paul:
We're here to discuss the logo, not the intention of the protest. That has nothing to do with us. We're not here to judge the Airport or Greenpeace.

Great work. It made my day.

On Feb.04.2009 at 09:33 PM

Camryn’s comment is:

I know we're not here to debate the cause, rather the logo. Still, I have to note the irony that the logo wouldn't work as a visual if we weren't all familiar with how fields look from the sky. That is, without runways none of us would be able to parse that image and it wouldn't exist. Brain burn!

On Feb.04.2009 at 11:50 PM

john’s comment is:

Greenpeace may be a pack of brain-damaged zealots who couldn't find their own ass with a compass, but at least they know how commission a decent identity.

On Feb.05.2009 at 12:39 AM

Anonymous’s comment is:

Ryan said: "I don't think Anonymous read the article."

I think I did. I don't think you read my comment. The reason I say this is not to hurt you or to mindlessly mimic you, but to make the point that seeing it conveys a different message from its intent.

If it's not clear to the rest of the humorless enviro-nazis: this "identity" is a strange method to achieve its purported ends, and seems to run cross-wise in its intent to the extent that it looks like an enthusiasm-building campaign in favor of making purposeful use of land.

On Feb.05.2009 at 08:41 AM

Kevin Zwirble’s comment is:

Stylistically I like this. Distressed and cruddy-looking. Nice touch with the fields and what-not.

Howerver, I agree that this might not be what the doctor ordered for the client. It's style and no substance.

On Feb.05.2009 at 12:01 PM

Ryan’s comment is:

Oh. I do sorta see what you were saying now, Anonymous.

The Airplot by itself does sorta seem pro-airport. But, in its other applications, it has the words "No Third Runway" on it. So, then it gets its point across.

Either way, it looks nice.

On Feb.05.2009 at 04:57 PM

Von K’s comment is:

This looks nice. Cool to see the process, too.

I took the view-from-above to say something like "you can already take off and land at Heathrow. You don't need to destroy the beautiful countryside you fly over," which isn't pro-airport or ironic at all.

IMO, the Animal Planet logo is good. Seems like people are just jumping on a bandwagon of hate...

On Feb.06.2009 at 11:58 AM

m’s comment is:

Also, reminds me of

On Feb.06.2009 at 12:20 PM

Von K’s comment is:

M,

Holy giant png!

I guess similar idea, but inferior execution. Poorly drawn, Myriad. It looks amateurish.

On Feb.06.2009 at 12:26 PM

lucid’s comment is:

and now for something completely different... or not!

On Feb.06.2009 at 07:59 PM

miles’s comment is:

I respect Airside a great deal. For me it's interesting that they didn't avoid the cliche of distressed/handmade type for a protest/ethical identity.

On Feb.09.2009 at 11:48 AM

Tim’s comment is:

It works brilliantly with this campaign, but I suspect being into t-shirts themselves, this (whether or not it's any good) might have inspired Airside. Check out their second rough.

On Feb.09.2009 at 07:54 PM