Opinion BY Armin

UConn’s Academics and Athletics Come Together

Established in 1881, the University of Connecticut is one of the leading public research universities in the U.S., attracting over 30,000 students to its six campuses. Additionally, its athletics team, the Huskies, have won 15 NCAA national team championships in the Division I, mainly through their women’s basketball team. Earlier this month the university first announced a new logo to be adopted organization-wide that would also reflect a marketing name change to UConn and later introduced a revised athletics identity, both designed by — guess who? — the Nike Graphic Identity Group.

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Opinion BY Armin

Golden, Angry Bears

The University of California Athletic Department manages the 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley, that compete in the NCAA Division I in the Pac-12 Conference. The California Golden Bears (or just “Cal”) have won 82 national team titles in 15 different sports over its history and are consistently one of the winningest teams across all universities in the U.S., and its students have accrued 159 Olympic medals, 91 of which are gold, as participants in the Games. Last week, Cal introduced a new identity and uniforms designed by Nike’s Graphic Identity Group. (Yes, them again).

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Opinion BY Armin

One Dog to Rule Them All

Established in the late 1890s, the Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia (est. 1785) and compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Bulldogs compete in 19 different sports and have won 39 national championships and 130 conference championships. To learn how serious the “’Dawgs” are about their sports: their football stadium seats 92,746 and is typically full. This week, the Bulldogs introduced a new identity system for the athletics program, designed by by Nike’s Graphic Identity Group.

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Opinion BY Armin

Leaky Dolphins

Established in 1966, the Miami Dolphins are part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League (NFL) and are based in sunny Miami, FL. The Dolphins have won two Super Bowls, both in the early 1970s, and are the only team to have won all games in a single season but are best known for having Dan Marino as a QB for many years. Lately, not much has been noteworthy to the Dolphins until last December when a sketch of their new logo was leaked and then again in early March when another version was leaked until it was confirmed in late March that, indeed, a new logo was being introduced and unless they are leaked beforehand, new uniforms are set to appear later in April.

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Opinion BY Armin

Mozilla to Mobile OSes: Fox You.

Launched last month, Firefox OS is a new operating system developed by Mozilla specifically for use in mobile devices. Like its popular (free and open source) browser, Firefox, this OS “brings the freedom and unbounded innovation of the open Web to mobile users everywhere” as Gary Kovacs, CEO, Mozilla announced. Firefox OS is entering a very tough market where Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android have a stronghold on the market so it’s up to Mozilla’s do-good vibe and geek-cred to gain ground on the iOS’ chastity-belt-approach and Android’s super-deploying powers to become a contender. So far 17 mobile operators around the world have committed to Firefox OS and upcoming smartphones built specifically for it will launch later this year. To help Firefox OS build a broader consumer brand of its own Mozilla worked with Wolff Olins to “unleash the Fox”.

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Opinion BY Armin

Leave it to Beaver (and Nike)

Playing in the NCAA’s Division I tier through the Pac-12 Conference — sorry non-Americans, I know that means absolutely nothing to you (not that I blame you and in the bigger picture it doesn’t really matter other than you should know that’s the higher echelon of college sports) — the Oregon State Beavers are the sports team of Oregon State University. They haven’t been overly successful in terms of winning — only three NCAA national championships in Wrestling, Cross Country, and Baseball — but they have big followings in their football and basketball programs. Yesterday, the Beavers introduced a new logo, identity system, and uniforms designed by Nike’s Graphic Identity Group. The new beaver and block typography will replace the old beaver (obviously) as well as the well-known “OS” monogram and typography (all shown in animated GIF form above).

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Opinion BY Armin

The Real Jaguars of Jacksonville

Joining the league as an expansion team in 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars play in the South Division of the American Football Conference in the NFL. The team has done well over the last seventeen years, winning two division championships and making six playoff appearances. Yesterday, the Florida-based team announced a new identity to replace the one they’ve playing with since the beginning.

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Opinion BY Armin

Rise of the Pelicans

Originally an NBA expansion team in the 1988-89 season in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Hornets moved to New Orleans in the 2001-02 season, with a two-season break spent in Oklahoma City after hurricane Katrina, returning to New Orleans in 2007. In December of 2012 it was announced that the Hornets would change their name to the Pelicans and last week the New Orleans Pelicans unveiled their new identity designed by RARE, self-described as “one of the most esteemed branding agencies in the country.” (First time I hear of them).

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A B-Side BY Armin

Fandor

About: (Est. 2011) “Fandor is the leading on-demand independent film service, expanding the audience for independent films and offering an innovative new distribution platform that shares revenue with filmmakers. Fandor’s rich editorial environment and active community of film fans makes it easy and rewarding to discover movies from its handpicked library of independent and international films.

Design by: Surface Under Fire.

Ed.’s Notes: If the Playboy bunny and the Penguin penguin had a baby this would be it. Bigger view below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: N/A.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Florida Lottery

About: (Est. 1988) “Over the past quarter century, the Florida Lottery has paid more than $37.7 billion in prizes to winners, enjoyed a mutually-beneficial relationship with more than 13,000 retailers and generated more than $24 billion for education.”

Design by: FutureBrand.

Ed.’s Notes: Bigger view of the new logo below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: 25th Anniversary mention.

Excerpt from provided description by Futurebrand:“Supported by insights gathered from extensive research, we put special focus on developing the mark’s keystone element—an engaging, expressive flamingo. Deemed fun, friendly and Floridian by players, retailers and community members alike, the new character is a manifestation of everything the Lottery can and does represent.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

About: (Est. 1919, formerly Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) “The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders is a professional minor league baseball team based in Moosic, Pennsylvania in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. The team plays in Northern Division of International League and they are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club. The team plays at PNC Field (formerly Lackawanna County Stadium), their home since 1989.” (Source: Wikipedia).

Design by: Brandiose. (I’m starting to think the B in B-Side stands for Brandiose).

Ed.’s Notes: A locomotive porcupine? Yes, please! Alternate versions below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Railriders press release. Brandiose blog post.

Select quote: “The RailRiders moniker pays homage to the very first trolley system in America, one created right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA). […] A porcupine conductor, the gritty critter that calls NEPA home, is at the centerpiece of the identity.”

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Opinion BY Armin

I See Yoo

Just launched by SKY New Zealand and Television New Zealand, IGLOO is a “digital set top box that plugs into your telly and broadcasts through your UHF aerial” giving users in New Zealand access to free-to-air channels and, its main hook, a pre-paid range of premium channels without long-term contracts, going on a month-to-month basis with only the channels you want and not bloated packages with channels no one watches. The name, brand, and roll-out have been created by Interbrand Australia.

Update: I have changed the title of the post (originally “Not your Eskimos’ Igloo” (as a play on “Not your parents’ this or that)) as I was not aware that Eskimo is considered a pejorative term. Apologies to anyone who thought of it as offensive; it wasn’t my intention.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Stockton Ports (Alternate)

About: “The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A - Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

Design by: Brandiose (again!).

Ed.’s Notes: This is an alternate logo, not a replacement logo to the Ports’ main logo. Confusing? Yes. Awesome? Yes. Alternates of the alternate below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Press release. Brandiose blog post.

Select quote: “The Ports new logos honor Stockton’s heritage as the largest in-land port in California and the Asparagus Capital of the World. A new character, 5 O’clock Dock, is the centerpiece of the identity, brandishing his baseball tattoos and asparagus club. Navy, Shipyard Gray and Asparagus green make up the club’s new alternate colors. The Ports are the first professional sports team to use Asparagus green.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Reading Fightin Phils

About: (Est. 1967, previously Reading Phillies) “The Reading Fightin Phils are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. The Reading Fightin Phils were founded in 1967 and they are the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.”

Design by: Brandiose.

Ed.’s Notes: Plenty more images at both links below.

Relevant links: Press release. SportsLogos.Net news.

Select Quote:“The Fightins’ new name is highlighted by an ostrich logo that symbolizes the feisty bird that is now indigenous to Reading because of the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor. With its fists ready for battle, the new ostrich logo represents the fighting spirit of the franchise, both on and off the field. It will be the first time in the franchise’s history that the team will feature an identifiable mascot. The logo is also the first in professional sports to feature an ostrich as its mascot.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

fastjet

About: “Following a consultancy assignment by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s easyGroup focused on determining the feasibility of launching a European-style low-cost carrier in Africa, we are now preparing for the launch of fastjet, Africa’s first low-cost carrier, flying a modern fleet of jet aircraft based on the Fly540 platform of licences and routes. First flights under the fastjet brand are expected to take place late November, bringing an entirely new flying experience to the African market.”

Design by: SomeOne.

Ed.’s Notes: Plenty of applications at the SomeOne link below. Livery image included here.

Relevant links: SomeOne case study (plenty of images). Press release.

Select quote: “The African Grey parrot is widely considered to be one of the most intelligent birds on the planet. It also is known in African mythology for having the ‘kindest and most generous heart’ — The bird is also commonly kept as a family pet and are deeply loved by African people. All perfect connections for Africa’s newest and smarter way to travel.”

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Opinion BY Armin

Shaw and Awe

Established in 1971, Shaw Communications is a Canadian communications and media company that provides broadband cable television, Internet, home phone, telecommunications services, and satellite direct-to-home services to over 3.4 million customers combined. They also operate 18 specialty networks, including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY and Showcase. As I think I understand it, Shaw ranks fourth in the telecom business in Canada behind giants Bell, Rogers, and Telus, all of whom have very strong presence so Shaw needs any help it can get to get chosen by customers. Yesterday, they introduced a refreshed logo, a new tagline — “You won’t miss a thing.” — new national TV commercial by Vancouver-based Rethink, and a couple of new mascots, Bit and Bud.

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Opinion BY Armin

Wendy’s Wendy: Cutest 43-year-old

First opened in 1969 in Columbus, OH, Wendy’s is the third largest quick-service hamburger company in the world, with more than 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the U.S. and 27 other countries. To paraphrase one of the greatest spokespersons — not as great as Wendy’s own (and its founder) Dave Thomas — “I don’t always eat quick-service hamburgers, but when I do, I prefer Wendy’s.” Perhaps it’s the square shape of their hamburgers but they are the least unappealing of all fast food hamburgers. Their frosty dessert thingie is awesome. Anyway. The Associated Press has reported on a new Wendy’s logo that will start appearing in March 2013 on newly built and renovated restaurants — which I am assuming will follow the test stores designed by San Francisco, CA-based Tesser.

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A B-Side BY Armin

FIT Athletics and Recreation

About: FIT Athletics and Recreation, as described by Pentagram: “FIT, the Fashion Institute of Technology, is an internationally recognized college known for its exceptional curriculum in art, design, communications, business, and fashion, of course, but not for its sports teams. Over the years, however, FIT has developed a first-rate athletic program. The school fields 13 intercollegiate teams in such sports as volleyball, soccer, tennis, track and field, half-marathon, cross country, swimming and table tennis, plus a dance company.”

Design by: Pentagram partner DJ Stout

Ed.’s Notes: Sample uniform and logo extensions below (or after the jump). The team is known as FIT Tigers, hence the tiger.

Relevant links: Pentagram case study (plenty more images).

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A B-Side BY Armin

Hershey Bears

Founded in 1932, the Hershey Bears is a hockey team in the American Hockey League with 11 championships to their name and based in the chocolate-friendly city of Hershey, Pennsylvania. This week the Bears introduced a new identity, designed by Pottsville, PA-based The Joe Bosack Graphic Design Company. Press release here. Many more images and info at Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos.

Thanks to Steve Semanchik for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

Meet Don Belisario

Today I am invoking Rule 32, Section C, Paragraph 7 of the Brand New Selection Criteria Guidelines whereby it sort of states that if a project is small or “not mainstream at all” it must have “a very compelling design story.” Located in Lima, Peru, and launched this year, Don Belisario is a restaurant devoted to rotisserie chicken, a popular familial meal in Peru. (And other parts of the world as well; perhaps a lonely meal for a really hungry human being). Designed by local firm and 2011 Brand New Conference fan-favorite, Infinito, the identity for Don Belisario revolves around the eponymous, yet clearly fictitious, hacendado — the Spanish word for the boss, el jefe, of an hacienda, itself the Spanish word for plantation — and patriarch, paying homage to this wonderful food group and its source.

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