Opinion BY Armin

Facebook’s Radically New “f” Logo

I will spare you my usual introductory paragraph this morning since you all know what Facebook is and what it does and get right to the point. Last month, without much fanfare, Facebook introduced a revised version of its “f Logo” which is meant to be used to promote an organization’s or person’s presence on Facebook. It’s ubiquitous — yet I had never realized there was, officially, a lighter blue line at the bottom of it. Along with the new “f Logo” also comes an official brand page and a revised set of icons for all the different services/pages found throughout the Facebook universe. Obviously this is not the most earth-shattering change in the history of logo changes but it’s my duty to report on it, since, like, a billion people use Facebook.

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Opinion BY Armin

Scanning for Shapes in Clouds

Established in 2001 in Edinburgh, Scotland and now with offices in Singapore, Skyscanner is an online travel search site that finds the best deals and connects users directly to the airline, hotel, car rental service, or travel agent, so it doesn’t take commissions from the user. Skyscanner is available in over 25 different languages and has been lauded as one of the best travel search sites by media publications across Europe. Last week, Skyscanner introduced a new identity designed by Glasgow, Scotland-based Stand.

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Opinion BY Armin

One Gradient to Rule them All

Founded in 1988, Adani Group is one of the largest conglomerates in India with businesses in industries ranging from coal trading and mining, to ports and transportation, to power generation and gas distribution. These activities have now been organized under three main headings: Resources, Logistics, and Energy. Adani has 9,000 employees with offices in India, Australia, and Indonesia. Looking to further expand its reach and business as well as “to manage its brand actively and professionally” Adani Group has introduced a new identity designed by the Dubai office of Wolff Olins.

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Opinion BY Armin

Boom Goes the Cloud

In Beta and Alpha versions last year, CX (formerly Cloud Experience), a “cloud storage and data file management system,” launched this month. Aiming to compete against Dropbox, CX allows users to sync their files, e-mail, and calendar on the magic place that is the cloud and they are trying to do it with more graphic and social media flair than Dropbox. Their new identity has been designed by Moving Brands.

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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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Opinion BY John J Custer

Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm don’t Change Much

Founded in 1922 by retired farmer George J. Mecherle, State Farm originally specialized in auto insurance for farmers. The company has since expanded its services to provide multiple types of insurance, along with banking and financial assistance. Currently ranked 37 on the Fortune 500 list with 65,000 employees, 17,800 agents and about 81 million policies and accounts in force, State Farm generated 63.2 billion in revenue in 2011. With large numbers and witty ad campaigns as a springboard, State Farm turned to Chermayeff & Geismar to help update their brand for the 21st century.

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Opinion BY Armin

A Better Dolphin

Established in 1981, Beiramar is one of the largest real estate companies in Brazil with over 3,000 rental properties and over 30 builder partners with whom they develop properties. A new identity has been designed by Bertoni Design.

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Opinion BY Armin

Simple Banking, an Oxymoron Realized

Launched this Fall, Simple (formerly BankSimple) is a new alternative to banking with big ass banks that are pain in the ass. If you’ve ever called your bank’s customer support or tried to decode the online statements and wished that instead you were sitting naked in an igloo then you know what I’m talking about. Simple is not a bank, they are an intermediary between you and a bank. As they put it, “We take care of you, our bank partners take care of your money.” They provide a Visa card and you can then track your account and expenses through an amazingly designed and intuitive online and mobile interface. After being in Beta for a few months, Simple has launched to the public with a new name and new identity designed in-house by Ian Collins.

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Opinion BY Armin

Up + Down = 1

Established in 1998 as the Chart Information Network, The Official Charts Company (OCC), as it was renamed in 2002, is the gatekeeper of, basically, what is hot in the music and entertainment industry. Every week, after canvasing data from over 5,900 retailers in the UK selling at least 100 units of audio or video product per week, OCC publishes the definitive chart that is then published or used by BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, MTV, Music Week, 80% of the national daily newspapers, and other magazines and websites. Although best known for their Official Singles Chart and the Official Artist Albums Chart, they compile more than 50 different charts. In October, with the launch of a robust consumer website, OCC introduced a new logo designed by London-based Give Up Art.

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Opinion BY Armin

Be C Spired

Established in 1988 as Cellular South, C Spire, as it has been renamed this September, is the largest privately held wireless provider in the United States and the 9th largest carrier in the U.S.. Perhaps not the most impressive bragging rights, but it’s a start. One impressive bragging right, though, is that C Spire got the right to sell the iPhone, ahead of bigger players like T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular. C Spire has over 1,200 employees and 75 retail stores across the South, mainly in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida, where the majority of its one million customers reside. With the name change came a new identity, both created by Lippincott.

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Opinion BY Armin

Atlas Designed

Established in 2002 in Sydney, Australia, Atlassian is a “private, global software company that builds tools for software development and collaboration.” Their products range from project tracking tools to collaboration and Wiki tools to development tools and they can either be installed or hosted on the proverbial cloud. Atlassian now has three offices around the world with 400 employees and over 27,000 customers. This week, Atlassian introduced a new logo. Tips of who designed it are welcome.

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Opinion BY Armin

If this Chicken’s a Kickin’ don’t Come a Cluckin’

With the first location opened in 1997, The Kickin’ Chicken is a full service, full bar, full menu restaurant featuring chicken wings, tenders, wraps, sandwiches and burgers. (Hungry and thirsty yet?). The Kickin’ Chicken now has seven locations in North and South Carolina and is revving up their franchising business so they needed an overhaul to their identity to attract franchisers. The new look has been designed by Charleston, SC-based Fuzzco.

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