A B-Side BY Armin

Mediabistro

About: (Est. 1996) “Mediabistro is a website that publishes various blogs and job listings for journalists. The site was founded in 1993 by Laurel Touby as ‘a gathering place for professionals in journalism, publishing and other media-related industries in New York City’, mediabistro.com has since grown into an international resource for media professionals. […] mediabistro.com is also home to a number of industry-specific blogs including TVNewser (covering broadcast and cable news), GalleyCat (book publishing), UnBeige (design), AgencySpy (advertising), PRNewser (public relations) and MobileContentToday (mobile apps).” (Source: Wikipedia).

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: When people ask “how do you tell bad typography from good typography?” show them this logo and say “This is bad typography”. Then they will understand. If they don’t, and ask for elaboration, just walk away. Bigger view below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Blog post about the change (no mention about the logo).

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Opinion BY Armin

The Beer Store Called and they are Running out of You

Established in 1927, the Beer Store is a chain of retail outlets in Ontario, Canada that sells over 350 different kinds of beers across more than 430 stores. This year, four of those locations are in a pilot program to test a new concept store that includes a revised logo, identity, and interior and exterior redesigns, that have all been designed by Toronto-based Jackman.

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Avinor

About: (Est. 2003) “Avinor is responsible for planning, developing and operating the Norwegian airport network. Avinor operates 46 airports in Norway, thereof 12 in cooperation with the armed forces. Operations also include air traffic control towers, control centres and technical infrastructure for aircraft navigation. […] The ownership is administered by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.”

Design by: Snøhetta.

Ed.’s Notes: Both old and new logos are fine on their own; new one might be a tad too abstract and minimal, but it’s nice. Video introduction below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Snøhetta case study.

Select quote: “The consolidated statement in the logo and logo symbol describes Avinor’s public service mission. From north to south, tying Norway together — and Norway together with the world. The specially designed typeface and the unique symbol Avinor helps to cement their position in the market as a full-service provider in the aviation industry and strongly supports the strategic change in the organization.”

Thanks to Mathias Haddal Hovet for the tip.

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Goal.com

About: (Est. 1958) “Goal.com is the world’s largest football website and is owned and powered by digital sports media business PERFORM. The success of the site is down to the hard work and dedication of over 400 editorial staff based in over 50 countries around the World who produce an average of 1,500 news stories per day in 15 languages across 22 editions. This unparalleled global reach and in-depth coverage of the world’s most popular game attracted over 23 million unique users in May 2011 (Source: Google Analytics) from more than 220 countries.”

Design by: Elmwood.

Ed.’s Notes: First, WTF was the old logo? Second, how awesome is the ™ symbol in a circle as the ball being kicked right into where it’s the hardest to stop?.

Relevant links: N/A.

Thanks to Nickolai Sukharev for first tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Budget Car Rental

About: (Est. 1958) “Budget Car Rental is one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with more than 3,000 locations in more than 120 countries. Budget is an industry leader in providing vehicle rental services to value-conscious travelers and also operates the second-largest truck rental business in the United States, through a network of more than 2,100 locations. Budget is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Not bad and it goes better with the redesigned logo of its parent company, Avis. An alternate lock-up with the road graphic on the side is below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: N/A.

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Opinion BY Armin

TaskRabbit’s Bag Gone Missing

Established in 2008, TaskRabbit is an online service that connects people (TaskPosters) who need something done and either don’t have the time to do it, the desire to do it, or the expertise to do it with people (TaskRabbits) that have the time, desire, and expertise to do it — perhaps, too, the need (or want) for some extra cash. The premise is simple: say you have a wall that needs to be painted and you post it as a task and establish a fee you are willing to pay, then TaskRabbits bid to do the task by submitting their own fee and expertise, you choose and the person comes in and does the job. TaskRabbit is available in few cities at the moment, like New York, San Francisco, Austin, and Chicago and there are over 4,000 vetted TaskRabbits running around doing errands and jobs. This month, TaskRabbit introduced a new logo designed in-house.

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Banelco

About: (Est. 1985) “Banelco is an ATM network in Argentina. Established in 1985, Banelco offers several services related to the cash flow management, including debit cards, electronic transfers, services payments, etc. Operating 4,500 ATMs (one third of the total in the country)[…]. The company also operates Pagomiscuentas, an electronic bill payment service. Banelco, an acronym for Banca Electrónica Compartida, is owned by private banks. Link, in turn, is used primarily by state owned banks.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Design by: DAS Branding.

Ed.’s Notes: Fairly nice, in that South American corporate identity kind of way (rounded, bold sans serif, italicized). A few more images below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: DAS Branding case study.

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FX (TV Channel)

About: (Est. 1994) “FX (standing for Fox extended, suggesting “effects”) is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by the Fox Entertainment Group division of News Corporation.” (Source: Wikipedia) Kick-ass shows include: Archer, The Shield, Nip/Tuck, Damages, Rescue Me, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans, American Horror Story, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Louie, The League, and Wilfred.

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: In keeping with today’s barely-there changes, here is the radically new FX logo. Yeah, I don’t know what they achieved with this other than perhaps something more protectable by law as “FX” out of the box is probably not very distinctive.

Relevant links: N/A.

Opinion BY Armin

Historic Houses Trust Presses Caps Lock Key

Established in 1980, the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales in Australia protects and cares “for significant historic places, buildings, collections and landscapes with integrity, and enable people to enjoy and learn about them.” Along with twelve of the state’s most important historic houses, the trust also manages landscapes, a library and collections of paintings, furniture and objects. This month the trust announced it would be launching a new, public-facing brand under the name of Sydney Living Museums with the goal of increasing visits and awareness of this cultural institution. It will maintain Historic Houses Trust as the operational name. The new identity has been designed by Sydney-based Frost*.

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Nevada (Tourism)

About: As described by the client, the Nevada Commission on Tourism: “Nevada is one of the largest states in the U.S., meaning you won’t find a shortage of action in the Silver State. It’s one of the only places you can ski world-class runs in the morning, then walk world-class greens in the afternoon. You can bike or hike the Tahoe Rim Trail, navigate a kayak on the Truckee River through downtown Reno, take an ATV up Sand Mountain near Fallon and snowmobile miles of wide-open terrain near Elko. You can even test your Indy car or NASCAR skills in the Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon Racing School at Las Vegas Motor Speedway—after you take in a world-famous show and dine at a five-star resort and casino, of course.”

Design by: Y&R.

Ed.’s Notes: Good update. Any idea what the symbol over the first “a” means? TV spot below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Press release. Reno Rebirth blog story

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National Kidney Foundation

About: (Est. 1961) “The National Kidney Foundation is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients and their families and tens of millions of Americans at risk.”

Design by: TIO Agency.

Ed.’s Notes: A cleaner update using a hard-to-work-with shape. Bigger view of the logo and a sample of some effective Skype-themed PSA TV spots below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Press release. Public service announcement videos.

Select quote: “Inspired by the organization’s rich history, the new signature incorporates the symbols, font and colors — orange and black — associated with the National Kidney Foundation in a modern fashion. Instead of interlocking kidneys , the new logo features a single kidney bean shape along with the text.”

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Pearle Vision

About: (Est. 1961) “Pearle Optical is an American chain of eye care stores. It was founded by Stanley Pearle, an optometrist in Savannah, Georgia, USA in 1961. He also founded Pearle Vision (market name in the United States) and its express store, Pearle Express, in the same year. The company’s European division, Pearle Europe, is now owned by the Dutch firm HAL Investments, also the parent company of Atasun Optik, Lensmaster and GrandVision. The North American Pearle Vision stores are owned by parent company Luxottica.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Design by: LPK.

Ed.’s Notes: Wow, never would have thought about it: a pair of eyeglasses as a logo for an eyeglasses company. Wonder what kind of proprietary brand process led to that?

Relevant links: VisionMonday story. New national TV spot.

Select quote: “The new Pearle Vision logo reflects the theme ‘Genuine Eyecare’ and reinforces the history of the brand, established in 1961, and takes on what Zarkin describes as ‘almost an apothecary’ message in its eyeglass graphic.”

Thanks to Elevatorman for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation

About: (Est. 1923) “The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation is a leading philanthropic organisation and Australia’s largest community foundation. The Foundation applies a combination of grants, research, community education and partnerships with donors and other funders to increase life opportunities and promote social inclusion. In 2012 it provided grants to more than 450 charitable agencies supporting people who are socially and economically disadvantaged. The Foundation has a keen interest in Homelessness, Ageing and Youth, and also funds eligible projects in Health, Arts and Heritage and the Environment.”

Design by: Designworks

Ed.’s Notes: Pretty! Bigger view of the logo and some applications below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Designworks case study. LMCF press release.

Select quote: “Through the use of colour, the vibrant new logo captures the Foundation’s range of programs from philanthropic services to research and grantmaking. Each colour featured in the logo represents an aspect of the Foundation’s business, and at the centre of the logo is the Foundation’s name in a simple, strong grey type face, bordered by a red heart.”

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Dexim

About: “Dexim is a worldwide registered brand manufacturing an extensive line of accessories and applications compatible with popular consumer electronics, including iPhone, iPod, and iPad. Currently selling in over 45 countries, their mission is to provide consumers with products that offer an enjoyable, personalized, and superior experience. Because their corporate image looked so dated, consumers perceived Dexim to be much of the same, and the brand experienced a loss of relevancy and consumer interest in the US. Competing at a higher level required a brand identity redesign to make a statement and better align with their mission and values.”

Design by: Motto.

Ed.’s Notes: Decent. Definitely far better than the original, if a little too envisioning-the-future-in-the-1990s-typography. Plenty of applications below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: N/A.

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Road & Track

About: (Est. 1947) “Road & Track is the longest-running and most trusted automotive magazine brand in the United States. Its content is geared to the passionate auto enthusiast and contains information about the latest models, industry news and auto shows blended with wide-ranging feature stories, technical insights and coverage of the vintage car scene and motorsports.”

Design by: N/A

Ed.’s Notes: Very nice update. I especially like the R&T monogram version shown below (or after the jump) along with a video and before/after images of the magazine’s cover.

Relevant links: Cover Introduction/a>. Revival Issue Preview. Editor’s Letter .

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Opinion BY Armin

Country Inns & Suites

About: “Country Inns & Suites By Carlson is the upper mid-scale hotel brand within the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group portfolio. Country Inns & Suites hotels are designed for both business and leisure travelers and provide complimentary amenities like hot breakfast and high-speed Internet. Country Inns & Suites hotels are mainly independently owned and operated and franchised under licensing agreements with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. The brand currently operates 480 hotels throughout the world and has over 30 properties contracted and under development.” (Source Wikipedia)

Design by: N/A

Ed.’s Notes: The new logo is pretty decent but in contrast to the old one it’s almost a masterpiece.

Relevant links: USA Today Article. Press Release.

Select quote: “We are looking to the future and are making thoughtful changes that will allow us to grow our brand,” said Gordon McKinnon, executive vice president and chief branding officer for Carlson. “It’s a natural next step to evolve into a product that appeals to a younger generation. But we will be fiercely maintaining our service culture and amenities that have built our strong, loyal customer base.”

Thanks to Joe Mielzarek for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Canberra 100

About: (Est. 1913) “Celebrating Canberra’s Centenary. In 2013, we mark 100 years since the naming of Canberra, our national capital and home of the Australian story. The Centenary of Canberra offers an opportunity for Australians to revisit and re-imagine their national capital — the city that tells the story of our country’s freedom, spirit, achievements and aspirations. Visit www.canberra100.com.au for the year-long program of celebrations.

Ed.’s Notes: As strange as this is, there is something appealing about it. Doesn’t mean I like it, but it does mean I don’t hate it. A few more applications below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Canberra 100 site, Canberra 100 Logo Style Guide.

Select quote: “It has a contemporary feel which we believe will appeal to all Australians. It makes central use of a triangle, which references the triangles and circles at the heart of the Burley Griffin design, best displayed in Marion Mahony Griffin’s beautifully rendered ‘City and Environs’. It is also inspired by the iconic nature of new Parliament House which celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2013. The font is New Johnston evolved from a popular sans-serif typeface from 1913. The logo is strong and clear with a simple message — Canberra and 100 years.”

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Spotify

About: (Est. 2008) “Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 20 million tracks. Our dream is to make all the world’s music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it. Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is available in 17 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Luxembourg with more than 15 million active users, and over 4 million paying subscribers.”

Design by: N/A

Ed.’s Notes: From terrible logo to bad logo. A success of sorts, I guess.

Relevant links: N/A.

Thanks to Mark Johnson for first tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Acxiom

About: (Est. 1969) “Acxiom is an enterprise data, analytics and software as a service company that uniquely fuses trust, experience and scale to fuel data-driven results. For over 40 years, Acxiom has been an innovator in harnessing the most important sources and uses of data to strengthen connections between people, businesses and their partners. Utilizing a channel and media neutral approach, we leverage cutting-edge, data-oriented products and services to maximize customer value. Every week, Acxiom powers more than a trillion transactions that enable better living for people and better results for our 7,000+ global clients.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: It’s nice to see that boring, corporate logos can still be done nowadays. Bigger view of the logo and some applications below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: N/A.

Select quote: “The rebrand is an expression of our new powerful reality and reflects our strategy of connecting people, business and their partners. We are ramping up investment in product innovation, and have recently launched two products,” said Jefferies. “We want to make 1:1 marketing at scale, with privacy best practices, a reality.” - Wyatt Jefferies (spokesperson)

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Cabot

About: (Est. 1882) “Cabot Corporation is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is the leading producer of rubber and specialty grade carbon black, activated carbon, inkjet colorants, cesium formate drilling fluids, fumed silica, aerogel, and elastomer composites.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: I feel like we’ve seen this a dozen times for a corporate logo but, hey, it works and it kills a double-swoosh logo. A rather nice brand video below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Cabot press release.

Select quote: “Cabot’s new corporate logo, developed to support the new brand, connects the company’s past with its future. To honor Cabot’s heritage, the new logo maintains the all-black, all-capital letters of ‘CABOT.’ The new chevron, meanwhile, represents the brand theme of advancing. The red, orange and yellow color palette emphasizes Cabot’s approachable, collaborative spirit, and energetic approach to innovation and customer service. The added dimension and colors highlight the many facets of Cabot’s businesses.”

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Conax

About: (Est. 1986) “Conax protects content for over 350 pay-TV operators, representing 125 million consumers in 85 countries around the globe. Our latest content protection platform, Conax Contego, built on 25 years of pioneering security expertise, is the most secure on the market today. Conax Contego provides secure content delivery and digital rights management across broadcast, broadband or OTT on the devices of your choice, wherever and whenever you need it. Headquartered in Norway, Conax has offices in 14 locations, including 24/7 global support operations based in India. Conax is part of Telenor Group, one of the world’s largest mobile operators.”

Design by: Pajama.

Ed.’s Notes: It’s like a Richard Serra sculpture and video mapping performance all in one! A few more applications and video of the animated logo below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Pajama case study.

Select quote: “The company had last invested in its branding in 2002. The appointment of a new CEO in 2012 led to a decision to address a rather dated identity which no longer fitted the global company Conax had become. We advised that the identity could not be refreshed without brand strategy.

The creative brief grew out of the strategy we helped Conax articulate. The big idea for the brand, ‘Sustaining Magic,’ encapsulates the crucial role of conditional access in safeguarding valuable TV content. This idea is supported by values rooted in the Conax culture and useful for future growth: Curiosity, Integrity and Agility.”

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Biodiversity Observatory of the Rhône-Alpes

About: “Biodiversity Observatory of the Rhône-Alpes is a center for knowledge and a management tool for the natural habitats and species of France’s Rhône-Alpes. The observatory is structured around three fields: flora, fauna, and managing natural environments.”

Design by: graphéine design graphique.

Ed.’s Notes: That’s a lot of stuff to put into one logo but, hey, it works. A few logo variations and applications below (or after the jump) and a few more pieces at the case study link.

Relevant links: graphéine case study.

Provided quote: “This visual identity takes its starting point in the form of an ellipse. Indeed, this simple geometric shape suggests all the components of biodiversity … in turn, alone or multiplied, the ellipse becomes an eye, a flower, a leaf, a school of fish, a deer track … Using the ellipse as the basic element of this identity avoids any form of figurative representation of biodiversity. The composition and color of these ellipses simply suggest biodiversity.”

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LIVESTRONG Foundation

About: (Est. 1997) “The LIVESTRONG Foundation provides free cancer support services to help people cope with the financial, emotional and practical challenges that accompany the disease. Created in 1997 by cancer survivor and philanthropist Lance Armstrong, the Foundation is known for its powerful brand — LIVESTRONG — and for its advocacy on behalf of survivors and their families. With its iconic yellow LIVESTRONG wristband, the Foundation has become a symbol of hope and inspiration around the world. Since its inception, the Foundation has served 2.5 million people affected by the disease and raised more than $500 million to support cancer survivors. One of America’s top cancer non-profit organizations, the Foundation enjoys a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and has been recognized by the National Health Council and the Better Business Bureau for its excellent governance, high standards and transparency.”

Design by: Rigsby Hull.

Ed.’s Notes: To add insult to injury, Lance Armstrong has not only been stripped off his Tour de France wins, his name has been scraped off the logo of his foundation. Take that. A few more images below (or after the jump) and more work and relevant story links at Rigsby Hull’s case study.

Relevant links: Rigsby Hull case study. LIVESTRONG press release.

Select quote: “The LIVESTRONG Foundation also unveiled its new logo at the Assembly, a visual change designed to underscore that the LIVESTRONG ethos — the belief in fighting for people affected by cancer today — is not abstract and, in fact, drives all of the Foundation’s work. The new logo is a natural next step in the Foundation’s evolution and is intended to provide the Foundation’s corporate and marketing partners — and the public — with an unmistakable way of communicating that buying LIVESTRONG-branded gear or supporting the Foundation equates to helping those affected by cancer right now.”

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Western Union

About: (Est. 1856) “Western Union connects people and businesses around the globe by providing fast, reliable and convenient ways to move money. Our 160-year history and 510,000 Western Union Agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories strengthen our commitment to offering our services in every corner of the globe.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Monogram view below. There is something interesting about this or at least there is some potential there for the WU monogram to be interesting.

Relevant links: N/A.

A B-Side BY Armin

Buy.com

About: (Buy.com Est. 1997 / Rakuten Est. 1997) “Buy.com joined the Rakuten family in 2010, making the joint businesses combined into one of the world’s largest online retail marketplaces. We offer consumers more than 90 million products from 38,500 merchants around the globe. Buy.com becoming Rakuten.com Shopping is the next step of that relationship as the Rakuten Group increasingly unifies its brand internationally. This transition will open up the Rakuten.com Shopping (formerly Buy.com) marketplace to customers globally, as well as introducing merchants and retailers from around the world to its North American customer base. Both its merchants and its consumers will benefit from this open, global market. We are excited at the possibilities to come, and we hope you continue to join us in our global growth.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: This isn’t so much a logo before/after but a brand before/after and the effects of corporate ownership. Buy.com didn’t have much of a logo before and Rakuten doesn’t have much of a logo either, just an “R” inside a circle that has been passed off to Buy.com. The real problem here is going from the über simple “Buy.com” to the utterly unmemorable and confusing “Rakuten.com Shopping”. If that weren’t enough, there is a video, below (or after the jump) that makes all the employees shown look as humiliated as the old Buy.com logo probably feels.

Relevant links: Buy.com is now Rakuten.com Shopping.

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Allina Health

About: “Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 11 hospitals, 15 pharmacies, specialty medical services, including hospice care, oxygen and home medical equipment and emergency medical transportation.”

Design by: Campbell Ewald.

Ed.’s Notes: After preparing this post I realized the identity is from March of last year. So, yeah, this is old. Still, let’s pretend it happened today. Bigger view of the logo and ambulance livery below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Campbell Ewald case study.

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Summit Brewing Company

About: (Est. 1986) “Summit Brewing Company has stayed close to its roots, serving the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. Summit’s beers are currently available in 17 states including Minnesota, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Summit now produces 12 varieties of premium craft beer, including seven year-round, four seasonal beers, and the limited release Unchained Series. Since its inception, the brewery has been a consistent pioneer in the craft beer movement.”

Design by: Duffy & Partners.

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

Relevant links: Press release. Star Tribune story.

Provided quote: “Summit’s new look is an evolution of the brand’s past two logos, a brand expression that authentically reflects Summit’s unique craft. Duffy’s goal is to express the Summit name so that it punctuates the pictorial idea of an actual summit. This in-turn leverages the equity of the diamond shape that has been the hallmark of the Summit logo from the beginning. Summit Avenue, a vein running through the heart of St. Paul can be seen in the interpretation of a street sign which honors the local community and the heart of this hometown brand.”

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Opinion BY Armin

Home is Where the Holes Is

In April of 2012 it was announced that two Manchester cultural institutions — Cornerhouse, an “international centre for contemporary visual arts and independent film” and the Library Theatre Company, who produce a mixture of contemporary drama and modern classic plays — would merge to create a single, producing arts organization. Now, this new organization has a name, HOME, and new identity designed by o street and Creative Concern.

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Egon Zehnder

About: (Est. 1964) Egon Zehnder is a leading privately owned executive search and management consulting firm with over 420 consultants in 66 offices across 40 offices globally. Founded in 1964, Egon Zehnder consultants work as trusted advisors to the world’s foremost executives and organizations in solving their most complex leadership problems.”

Design by: Lippincott.

Ed.’s Notes: Nice typography and simple alteration to the “g” to create an ownable wordmark. Bigger view of the logo below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Lippincott case study.

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Opinion BY Armin

The Name is Athletics, British Athletics

Established in 1999, UK Athletics (UKA) “oversees the development and management of the nation’s favourite Olympic and Paralympic sport, from grassroots right through to podium.” With the attention gained during the London Summer Olympic Games, UKA decided to launch a new brand, British Athletics, that sort of replaces the UK Athletics name and brand, except it does not. For confusion purposes, “British Athletics will be used in all external communications,” while UK Athletics will be “reflecting the governance and NGB duties of the organisation.” This article explains much better what that means. The new British Athletics logo was introduced earlier this year.

Update: The identity has been created by London-based SomeOne. More images and quotes have been added to this post.

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Electric

About: (Est. 2000) “Electric is a global, premium, sport and lifestyle accessory brand rooted in southern California’s rich action sports, music, art and customization culture. Electric designs and markets an extensive line of sunglasses, snow goggles, backpacks, luggage and accessories through a primarily action sport and sporting good global retail network including the Americas, Europe, Japan, China and Australasia. Since 2011 Electric has been a part of PPR, a worldwide leading Luxury and Sport & Lifestyle group.”

Design by: In-house.

Ed.’s Notes: Bigger view of the logo below (or after the jump). Hipster branding at its best! (And I’m not being sarcastic).

Relevant links: Press Release.

Select quote: “The new ‘VOLT’ logo, photography style and brand design celebrates Electric’s Southern California roots with an emphasis on premium quality and timeless style.”

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FSE Energy

About: (Est. 1935) “FSE Energy specializes in the design, manufacture and installation of biomass and solid fuel boilers. Boilers account for more than 80% of the world’s power through nuclear, coal, and biomass, which is renewable energy converted from plants and animals.”

Design by: MetaDesign.

Ed.’s Notes: Bigger view of the logo and sample applications below (or after the jump). See link for additional images and project description.

Relevant links: MetaDesign case study.

Select quote: “A contemporary abstraction of flame, the logo depicts the transfer of biomass to fuel through fire — the heart of FSE’s business and the most dependable source of renewable energy.”

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Boston.com

About: “Boston.com is a regional website that offers news and information about the Boston, Massachusetts area. Boston.com was launched in late October 1995 by Boston Globe Electronic Publishing Inc., the Internet subsidiary of the Boston Globe.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Design by: In-house.

Ed.’s Notes: This is not the most groundbreaking story but every time I visited Boston.com’s magnificent The Big Picture feature I cringed at the ridiculousness of that curved logo. Good riddance.

Relevant links: Boston.com Tumblr Post.

Thanks to Hal Tepfer for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Enterprise Florida

About: Enterprise Florida, Inc. is a partnership between Florida’s business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida. Headquartered in Orlando, Enterprise Florida’s mission is to facilitate job growth for Florida’s businesses and citizens leading to a vibrant statewide economy. In pursuit of its mission, Enterprise Florida works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.”

Design by: On Ideas.

Ed.’s Notes: The logo has been met with controversy for its focus on men by using a tie in its logo, earning the label of being sexist. I couldn’t agree more, this logo is sexist because it offends both men and women because it’s a bad concept executed badly.

Relevant links: Tampa Bay Business Journal story.

Thanks to James I. Bowie for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Actavis

About: (Est. 1956) “Actavis [combination of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Actavis Group] is a global, integrated specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and distributing generic, brand and biosimilar products. The Company has global and U.S. headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA, and international headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. Actavis is the world’s third-largest generics prescription drug manufacturer.”

Design by: Lippincott.

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

Relevant links: Actavis CEO message. Lippincott press release.

Select quote: “Our new icon speaks to our Company’s fast-evolving business, as well as its dynamic culture. A close look reveals a “W” shape emerging from a shaded “A”, a subtle historical reference to the Watson heritage and acquisition of Actavis.

Our new color stands out in the universe of pharmaceutical industry competitors and reflects growth — a fundamental foundation for our Company and its future. The result is a new, powerful and accessible visualization that celebrates our Company’s emergence as a global pharmaceutical leader, and visually defines our focus on growth and success in the future.”

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Opinion BY Armin

Billbold

First published in 1894, Billboard is a weekly magazine devoted to the music industry and issuing weekly charts of the top songs, including the popular and industry-leading Hot 100 of the top singles, which then spawned an endless inventory of CDs. This week, Billboard is introducing a redesigned magazine featuring a new logo, both by Pentagram partner Michael Bierut. The new identity will be introduced unto the website on January 26 when it relaunches.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Brooklyn Public Library

About: (Est. 1896) “As an independent system, separate from the New York City and Queens libraries, Brooklyn Public Library serves the borough’s 2.5 million residents, offering thousands of public programs, millions of books and use of more than 1,100 free Internet-accessible computers.”

Design by: Eight and a Half.

Ed.’s Notes: I’m not usually the correct-English-police but there is something odd about the library using the slang-ish abbreviation of the borough. It’s far more readable at smaller sizes, that’s for sure.

Relevant links: BPL blog post with historical logos.

Select quote: “Gone is the sad little black box that for so long meekly defined our presence in the digital realm. There’s something invigorating about the facelift that comes with rebranding — it seems to signify a fresh start, a new direction.”

Thanks to Ricardo Cordoba for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

Saab’s Griffin Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Established publicly in 1949 with the launch of its first model, the Saab 92, Saab Automobile AB is a Swedish car manufacturer with a strong history of safe, sturdy, well-performing cars — unfortunately the same can’t be said for the stability and continuity of those cars’ parent company. Read on for the soap opera-ish story.

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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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Opinion BY Armin

Tazo Drops the Gothic Act

Established in 1994 as an independent company and purchased by Starbucks in 1999, Tazo makes tea products and markets them as if tea were a higher calling. (I’m not knocking it, that’s just the way they do it — example of copywriting: “We experience the goodness of the leaves with all our senses, but most of all with our imaginations.”) Back in November new packaging started to appear in grocery stores and Starbucks and with the opening of the first Tazo store at University Village in Seattle a whole new identity has been introduced. No press release issue or design credit given. My guess is that it was internal, since Starbucks has such a strong in-house team. All the images below have been cobbled together from around the internet so it’s a little hodgepodge in terms of presentation, but you’ll get the point.

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Opinion BY Armin

VH1’s own Plus One

Launched in 1985 (as VH-1 for “Video Hits One”), VH1 is a cable channel operated by MTV Networks and owned by Viacom with programming that includes music videos, exclusive events, live performances, music documentaries, and TV series. Like its sister channel, MTV, VH1 has mutated into a reality TV channel — i.e., Mob Wives, Basketball Wives, Hollywood Exes, Mama Drama, Rehab with Dr. Drew, etc. — where sometimes you might catch a music video or two. Over the weekend, and to start off the new year with a large rebrand, VH1 introduced a new logo and on-air look that signify what the channel has, reportedly, always been: “The Ultimate Mash Up”. No design credit given or press release issued but you can follow the launch with the #plussed hash tag. The logo and on-air package have been designed by New York, NY-based Gretel.

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A B-Side BY Armin

PONCHO

About: (Est. 1963) “PONCHO (Patrons of Northwest Civic, Cultural and Charitable Organizations) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Puget Sound through increasing resources and community support for the arts. PONCHO acts as a catalyst for change in the arts sector by leveraging relationships with arts, philanthropic and education communities to build our civic and cultural life. PONCHO has provided over $35 million in support for 200+ arts organizations.”

Design by: The Garrigan Lyman Group.

Ed.’s Notes: Personally I would have started with changing the name or acronym.

Relevant links: N/A.

A B-Side BY Armin

Brno Airport

About: “Brno Airport is the second largest international airport in the Czech Republic and it is an important junction of the region and remote destinations. It handles over 500,000 passengers and more than 25,000 aircrafts annually.” (Provided by design firm).

Design by: Studio Kutululu.

Ed.’s Notes: A couple of application images below (or after the jump) and plenty more at Kutululu’s link below.

Relevant links: Kutululu case study.

Provided quote: “The corpulent word BRNO bears characteristics of the exterior shape of the terminal building and aircrafts. Broad in appearance and causing respect by their size. In contrast to monolithic, compactness and organicity was put the word AIRPORT, of which design draws inspiration from very rugged interior of the building and also represents airiness and technicality. The graphic symbol brings an element of the airport to the logo itself — a take-off and landing of aircraft on runway.” (Provided description).

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Opinion BY Armin

Typographic Tolerance

Inaugurated this November, the Jewish Museum & Tolerance Center is a 27,000-square-foot, state of the art, 50-million-dollar museum in Moscow, becoming one of the world’s largest museums to chronicle the history of the Jewish people and Israel. Housed in the Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage, the museum’s design was conceived by New York, NY-based Ralph Appelbaum and Associates and features interactive tables, hologram projections, and even a recreation of a Shtetl (small areas within a city with lots and lots and lots of Jews). The identity has been designed by Moscow-based Fleve.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Centrum Kultury Zamek

About: “Centrum Kultury Zamek (Culture Centre Castle) is the largest institution in the greater dissemination of culture and one of the largest institutions of its kind in Poland. During the year [we] organizes hundreds of events: concerts, exhibitions, meetings, film screenings, workshops and lectures. Our headquarters is the former imperial castle, one of the most unique buildings in Poznan. It was built in the years 1905-1910 as a residence Poznan last German Emperor Wilhelm II.”

Design by: Motor Studio.

Ed.’s Notes: Sample of the logo in application below (or after the jump) and a few more images at the Motor Studio case study link. I really love the abstraction and loose spacing of the logo.

Relevant links: CKZ Facebook post. Motor Studio case study.

Select quote (with Google Translate): “The graphic symbol consists of four simple elements that could be a reference to an abstract architectural forms found in building the imperial residence.”

Thanks to Jakub Swiadek for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

Comcast Takes NBC Peacock Hostage

Established in 1963, Comcast is a global media and technology company and it operates two main businesses. The first, and what most people associate the company with, Comcast Cable — although it’s not called Comcast Cable, but Xfinity — which is the the largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider for residential and business use in the U.S. with a combined 50.8 million customers. Under the Comcast name there is also venture capital firm Comcast Ventures and sports and entertainment company Comcast-Spectacor. The other primary business is NBCUniversal, only one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies that manages the namesake television network and movie production company, as well as specialty channels like USA Network, Syfy, E!, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, and more. In other words, Comcast is huge and influential. Yesterday, without any fanfare or release, Comcast flipped the switch on a fancy new website that features a new corporate logo.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Vancouver Community College

About: (Est. 1965) “Vancouver Community College is a public community college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest and oldest community college in British Columbia, with over 140 certificate and diploma programs.[1] VCC has two campuses, Broadway and Downtown, both located in the city of Vancouver. The college accommodates 26,000 students each year from a variety of nations, about 8 percent of whom are international students.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Very swooshy, sparkle-dusty video below (or after the jump) and a quote from the press release that pretty much explains it all.

Relevant links: Press release.

Select quote: “The logo development, part of VCC’s 2011 - 2014 Strategic Plan, included considerable input from internal and external groups, including staff, faculty, students, administrators, as well as stakeholders from business, industry and the community. The final logo selection represents the voices and insights of over 700 individuals.” (Emphasis mine).

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Opinion BY Armin

Follow-up: Rebel

I originally posted about Rebel in the B-Side on Monday, which I thought was an interesting redesign but there wasn’t much info about it. At the end of the day I had more info. To recap who Rebel is: Established in 1985 with a single store in Bankstown, NSW, Rebel — retailer of sporting and leisure equipment, apparel and footwear — now has 90 stores across Australia with over 4,500 employees and by the end of 2017 they aim to have over 180 stores open. The new identity started appearing in November and now is in full swing. It was designed by Sydney-based Hulsbosch and the retail store and interiors by neighboring firm McCartney Design.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Rexall

About: (Est. 1904, Canada) “Katz Group Canada Ltd. is a leading drugstore operator with a dynamic history of innovation and growth. Our flagship chain, Rexall, is among the most trusted names in pharmacy with a heritage of serving the health care needs of the community through patient and medication services and quality health products since 1904. Katz Group Canada Ltd. is proudly Canadian owned and operated with more than 400 convenient Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus locations across Central and Western Canada and more than 8,500 employees.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: No press release and no change on their site yet, but their store in the renovated First Canadian Place in Toronto shows the new logo (below or after the jump).

Relevant links: N/A.

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Opinion BY Armin

Triangle is as Triangle does

Established in 1880 and selling educational materials since the 1890s, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) today is one of the leading and the world’s largest providers of pre-K-12 education solutions and one of the longest-established publishing houses. Further official description: “HMH’s interactive, results-driven education solutions are utilized by 60 million students in 120 countries, and its renowned and awarded novels, non-fiction, children’s books and reference works are enjoyed by readers throughout the world.” Today, HMH introduced a new identity designed by New York, NY-based Lippincott.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Rebel

About: (Est. 2010) “Rebel offers a wide range of the latest release, quality, branded sporting and leisure goods. With an extensive list of product categories for the casual and serious fitness enthusiast, Rebel’s range includes fitness equipment, sports equipment, apparel and associated accessories for both the casual enthusiast and serious competitor. [It] has grown to become an extensive network of more than 90 stores located in every state and territory in Australia with the exception of the Northern Territory & Tasmania”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: See what they did there? The second “e” is flipped, going against the grain. You know, like a rebel.

Relevant links: N/A.

Thanks to Jarrad Langdon for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Lark

About: (Est. 2010) “Lark is a consumer electronic company that makes wearable wellness monitors, most notably the Lark Pro, a personal sleeping trainer that helps consumers analyze sleep patterns while coaching them to improve and assess better sleep behavior. Lark recently released the new LarkLife wristband: a wearable diet, fitness, sleep tracking and coaching system.”

Design by: Ammunition.

Ed.’s Notes: Packaging and actual product (also designed at Ammunition) below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: LarkLife on Gizomodo.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Breathe Right

About: “Breathe Right nasal strips are drug-free and clinically proven to lift nasal passages and open your nose the minute you put them on and work for as long as you have them on, relieving nasal congestion and improving airflow.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: I’m not usually one to ask “Aren’t the before/after images mistakenly reversed?” but when I got this tip I really thought the new one was the old one. The generic happy script typography of mass packaging isn’t necessarily my thing but this new logo makes me yearn for it. Before/after of the packaging below (or after the jump)

Relevant links: N/A.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Change.org

About: (Est. 2007) “Change.org is the world’s largest petition platform, empowering people everywhere to create the change they want to see.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Nice type selection and I like the use of the “c.” mark a little more — seen below (or after the jump). And their new website is slick.

Relevant links: N/A.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Lupus Foundation of America

About: (Est. 1977) “The Lupus Foundation of America is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world’s cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact.”

Design by: Siegelvision.

Ed.’s Notes: I get the concept, I just wish the execution were competent. The result is painfully amateurish.

Relevant links: Press release.

Select quote: “The organization’s new positioning strategy, messages, and tag line — Help Us Solve the Cruel Mystery — were created in collaboration with the New York branding team Siegelvision, headed by brand guru Alan Siegel. The riveting phrase “cruel mystery” inspired the Siegelvision team to create the new Lupus Foundation of America logo which features a strikingly positioned question mark in place of the letter “P” in the word lupus.”

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Opinion BY Armin

Good Lookin’ Parasites, Bacteria, and Viruses

Established in 2011, The Bloomsbury Institute for Pathogen Research is a joint initiative between University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to “form a centre for excellence in experimental medicine” by bringing together cutting-edge pathogen research, experimental medicine and clinical development; translating research on bacteria, parasites and viruses into new modes of detection, treatment and control. A new identity was introduced earlier this month, designed by London-based Igloo.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Quadrigam

About: (Est. 2010, formerly Impure) “Quadigram is the solution for any individual or organization that works intensively with information. Quadrigram enables you to prototype and share ideas with your data rapidly as well as produce compelling solutions in the forms of interactive visualizations, animations or dashboards.”

Design by: Brava Buero.

Ed.’s Notes: The logo is some kind of chart-turned-book thing. Is nice. Logo animation and detail of book thing below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Brava Buero case study. Quadrigam launch blog post.

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Opinion BY Armin

Galavisión Lacks Vision

Launched in 1979 and owned by Univision, Galavisión is the leading Spanish language cable network in the United States and is described as “the direct, sexy, funny and alternative cable network that brings the best of modern Mexico to U.S. Hispanics.” The channel’s programming is a mix of comedy, lifestyle, documentary, “supernatural-themed programs”, and, of course, telenovelas, drawing much of its content from the Mexican TV superpower, Televisa. Earlier this month, Galavisión introduced a new logo designed by New York, NY-based PMcD Design.

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Opinion BY Armin

Moustache Makeover

Established last Friday, November 2, 2012, team Brand Moustache is an initiative launched by Armin Vit to mobilize the male audience of Brand New to grow facial hair between their upper lips and noses to benefit Movember, the worldwide movement to generate awareness and raise funds to support prostate cancer and testicular cancer initiatives. On a whim, Armin decided to join Movember and lead a team of willing participants as captain of team Brand Moustache, for which he designed a logo that, upon unveiling, ignited controversy among the very readers he was trying to rally: the logo, various of them claimed, looked like Hitler and his iconic rectangle moustache. Armin is Jewish. Armin hates Hitler. Upset, Armin denied the claim and proceeded to call said readers doofuses — then removed the Hitler moustache in exchange for a more walrus-y one and, in a hissy fit, declared he might as well just be designing for “the lowest common denominator.” The PR department of UnderConsideration LLC convened with its C-level executives and after circulating a memo around the office decided the best thing would be to signal change by redesigning team Brand Moustache’s logo. Today, team Brand Moustache unveils its new, flexible identity designed by Austin, TX-based Armin.

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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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A B-Side BY Armin

Republic Records

About: Republic Records, formerly known as Universal Republic Records, is a music label for top-selling artists like Nicki Minaj, Drake, Gotye, and the Avett Brothers.

Design by: Pentagram (Paula Scher)

Ed.’s Notes: Plenty of applications at the link below.

Relevant links: Pentagram news.

A B-Side BY Armin

Citi Habitats

About: Citi Habitats is a real estate agency in New York.

Design by: Ammirati

Ed.’s Notes: Sample applications below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Ammirati case study. News story.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Warta

About: (Est. 1920) “Warta is a subsidiary of Talanx International AG, which concentrates the activities of the Retail International division within the Talanx Group. The Warta Group provides property, liability and personal insurance and life insurance. Warta has a customer base of around 1.5 million The Group employs a staff of more than 2,700 people and has a sales network with approximately 8,000 tied and free agents, 4,000 agencies and some 240 branch offices.”

Design by: N/A

Ed.’s Notes: The new logo is based on Talanx’s logo, the new parent company of Warta. Warta is a Polish company.

Relevant links: Press release. PDF of “What’s behind the new logo of Warta?”

Select quote: “[Not] usual and fancy ‘t’ indicates the flexibility, openness and ensures clients individual treatment.” And there is plenty more at the PDF link above where this came from.

Thanks to Mateusz Piotrowski for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Rockmelt

About: (Est. 2009) “Rockmelt is providing a fundamentally better Web experience by re-imagining the browser around how you use the internet today.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: We covered Rockmelt’s logo back in 2011. I liked the end-of-the-world look to it. Bigger view of the logo below (or AtJ).

Relevant links: Detailed blog post from Rockmelt about the change.

Select quote: “The final concept started conceptually as a mobius strip, to represent the endless path you could take through the Internet. (Yes, we know a mobius strip is supposed to be connected, but that was gonna be really hard to pull off unless we changed our name to Bockmelt.)”

Thanks to Christopher Jones for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

National Rugby League Goes Corporate’er

Established in 1997, the National Rugby League (NRL) is the premier league of professional rugby football clubs in Australasia with sixteen teams competing across Australia and New Zealand through a 26-week season culminating in the Grand Final. This week, the NRL introduced a new logo for itself and a broad system that seeps down into all the different leagues, competitions, and initiatives. No design credit given.

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A B-Side BY Armin

The Rockettes

About: (Est. 1925) “The Radio City Rockettes are the world’s most famous precision dance company. The Rockettes are the stars of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular - a show that is seen by more than 2 million people a year and has played in more than 60 cities across the country.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Decent idea (synchronized “R”s as if they were the high-kicking ladies) but pretty bad execution.

Relevant links: N/A

Thanks to Michele Byrne for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation

About: (Est. 1987) “The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), is the leading global charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales and dolphins (also known as cetaceans).” They have changed their name to WDCS has become WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

Design by: Conran Design Group

Ed.’s Notes: Nice idea. Execution falls a little flat. Video below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Lengthy redesign page.

Selected quote: “We chose a new grey-blue colour for the organisation - the colour of a dolphin’s skin.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Business Software Alliance

About: (Est. 1988) “BSA | The Software Alliance is the leading global advocate for the software industry. It is an association of more than 70 world-class companies that invest billions of dollars annually to create software solutions that spark the economy and improve modern life. Through international government relations, intellectual property enforcement, and educational activities, BSA expands the horizons of the digital world and builds trust and confidence in the new technologies driving it forward.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Brand video below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Press Release.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Old Chicago

About: (Est. 1976) “In each of the nearly 100 restaurants, Old Chicago exudes the welcoming appeal of a local neighborhood restaurant. We’re a leader in the traditional casual dining segment, specializing in signature hand-crafted pizzas and a vast craft beer selection served in a comfortable environment.”

Design by: PUSH.

Ed.’s Notes: Click through the link below, plenty of material there.

Relevant links: PUSH case study (in-depth with lots of images).

Opinion BY Armin

Logo Gigante!

With a history dating back to a single television station in 1955 in San Antonio, TX, Univision (as it was named in 1986) today is the leading Spanish-language television network and media company for Hispanics in the United States. With programming that covers everything from the storied telenovelas (soap operas) to sports to the juggernaut that is Sabado Gigante, Univision is mostly known as a television channel but it also owns radio stations and websites. Yesterday, they unveiled a new logo designed by Wolff Olins.

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A B-Side BY Armin

La Trobe University

About: (Est. 1967) “La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. Since 2003, we have consistently ranked among the top 500 universities in the world.” 33,198 students were enrolled in 2011.

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Wow. Copperplate. Good riddance.

Relevant links: N/A.

Thanks to Greg Nelson for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

A Vortex of Groovy

Located in London’s Islington neighborhood and housed in an 18,000-square-foot Victorian property that was, in 1855, a post office and, later in 1911, a cinema, The Halcyon is a new retail development that will be “highlighting the best of British retail, creativity and artisan dining,” and will include a restaurant (The Thunderbolt), bar (The Sundower), artisan food hall, gallery, and a coffee house. The Halcyon’s identity has been designed by London-based SomeOne.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Better Food Foundation

About: (Est. 2002 as the Jamie Oliver Foundation) “The mission of the Better Food Foundation is to educate and empower as many people as possible to love and enjoy good food. This means learning how to cook, understanding where food comes from, and recognizing the power it can have on our health, happiness, and even finances. We do this through teaching, training and employment, and also by making good clear information available to as many people as possible.”

Design by: Pearlfisher

Ed.’s Notes: Bigger view of the logo and “call to action” badges below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Creative Review feature.

Selected quote: “We created an identity that could champion this important global fight,” explains Pearlfisher’s creative director Natalie Chung of the agency’s approach. “The megaphone icon is a universal call to action explicitly asking people to pay attention and be part of it,” she continues.

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Opinion BY Armin

Follow-up: Long John Silver’s

From my introduction in February 2011, when this logo last changed: “First opened in 1969 in Louisville, KY, Long John Silver’s (LJS) is a QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) seafood chain with over 1,100 locations worldwide, but mostly in the U.S. Privately owned until 1998, LJS is currently part of Yum! Brands, who also own KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.” What has changed since then is that LJS Partners LLC purchased the chain from Yum! Brands earlier this year. And back in September LJS introduced a new logo, more familiar with that they had originally, as well as a new tagline, “That’s What I Like”, that replaces “We Speak Fish”. No press release or design credit given.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Institute of Cancer Research

About: (Est. 1909) “The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes, […] ranked as the UK’s leading academic research centre, and leads the world at isolating cancer-related genes and discovering new targeted cancer drugs. […] As a college of the University of London, the ICR also provides postgraduate higher education of international distinction. It has charitable status and relies on support from partner organisations, charities and the general public.The ICR’s mission is to make the discoveries that defeat cancer.”

Design by: Saffron

Ed.’s Notes: Bigger view of the logo and some kind of logo sample sheet below (or after the jump). Logo inspired by the Fibonacci sequence.

Relevant links: Press Release. FAQs about the logo.

Selected quote: “A new logo features a series of coloured bars reminiscent of the bands on a gel, stained sections of chromosomes or drug capsules — representing the ICR’s research and the benefits it brings for patients. The bars increase in size in proportion to the mathematical Fibonacci sequence, combining with the optimistic colour palette to convey a sense of progress, discovery and innovation.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

SEAT

About: (Est. 1950) “A member of the Volkswagen Group, SEAT has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting approximately 75% of its production to 72 countries. SEAT is market leader in Spain, and in 2010 reached a turnover amounting to 4.7 billion euros, with total sales of 339,500 vehicles.SEAT Group employs 13,000 professionals at its three production centres in Barcelona — Zona Franca, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon, amongst other models.”

Design by: N/A

Ed.’s Notes: It’s not the funnest game of spot the differences, but there are some between the old and new.

Relevant links: Press Release (extensive!). More images and a timeline of the logos.

Thanks to Pierre des Courtis for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

Kraft Logo Gets Back in the Race

The saga of the Kraft logo continues and, possibly, ends this month. It all started on February 2009 when Kraft Foods Inc., the corporation, not Kraft, the consumer brand, redesigned its logo to this horrible thing. Five months later they flipped the starburst to the other side and changed the colors. Then, as reported here, Kraft Foods Inc. had announced in August of 2011 that it would split its company in two: (1) Mondelez, for the global snacks business and now (2) Kraft Foods Group (not Kraft Foods Inc.) for the North American grocery business, managing brands like the eponymous Kraft as well as Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Planters, and JELL-O. As of October 1, 2012, Kraft Foods Group is officially a start-up or, as they describe it, a “new company that has been around 109 years” that also happens to have revenues of approximately $19 billion in 2011. A new logo was introduced with the new company. No design credit given.

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A B-Side BY Armin

IG

About: (Est. 1974) IG is a financial spread betting — a flexible, tax-free way to deal on falling and rising financial markets — company.

Design by: N/A

Ed.’s Notes: Some kind of fancy graphic below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Logo and name introduction.

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Opinion BY Armin

AIG’s Bizarro World Logo

Established in 1919, AIG (American International Group) is an international insurance organization with commercial, institutional, and individual customers in more than 130 countries providing property-casualty insurance as well as life insurance and retirement services in the United States. AIG is best (worst?) known for its economic crisis in 2008 and being bailed out by the Federal Reserve Bank and the United States Treasury (i.e., some taxpayer money in there) to the tune of $90ish billion. With AIG gradually repaying its debt, it’s time to shed the logo that associated the firm with the financial crisis in preparation for a complete “rebrand of its property casualty and life and retirement segments later this fall.” No design credit given.

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A B-Side BY Armin

JA Resorts & Hotels

About: (Est. 1981) Formerly Jebel Ali International, JA Resorts & Hotels is a Dubai-based, locally-owned company with over 30 years of hospitality experience that runs six resorts and two residential properties.

Design by: Interbrand

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

Relevant links: Press release.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Hong Kong Philharmonic

About: (Est. 1957) “The Hong Kong Philharmonic (HK Phil) is one of Asia’s leading orchestras. Enriching Hong Kong’s cultural life for over a century, the HK Phil has grown into a formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents, attracting world-class artists to collaborate on its stage. The HK Phil annually touches the lives of over 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances.”

Design by: N/A

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

Relevant links: Logo introduction.

Quote: “The new identity represents the swinging movements of the baton in the hand of the conductor as if it were a wand in the hand of a wizard, creating and orchestrating magical experiences that are at once elevating, enriching and enchanting.”

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Opinion BY Armin

Arby’s Goes Bland

Established in 1964, Arby’s is a fast food chain best known for its roast beef sandwiches and above-average curly fries. Formerly owned by the same company that owns Wendy’s, Arby’s is owned by Roark Capital Group as of 2011, who owns around 1,100 of the locations with the rest being franchises in the U.S. and around the world, with a total of approximately 3,600 locations. In February it was reported that Arby’s would be preparing for a big change at the end of this year and it assigned its advertising business to Crispin, Porter + Bogusky. Over the weekend a new TV (not available online) ran with a new logo. Absolutely no further information is available. The logo was developed in partnership between Adrienne Weiss Corporation and Alcone Marketing with CPB.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Flow

About: (Est. 2004) “Columbus International Inc. is a privately held diversified telecommunications company based in Barbados. The Company operates in Trinidad, Jamaica, Grenada and Curacao and provides digital cable television, broadband Internet, digital landline telephony under the brand name, FLOW and corporate data services under the brand, Columbus Business Solutions.”

Design by: N/A.

Relevant links: Press Release (PDF).

Thanks to Damien W King for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Duke Energy

About: Duke Energy is “the largest electric power holding company in the United States with more than $100 billion in total assets. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.1 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest.”

Design by: In-house.

Ed.’s Notes: Bigger view of the logo below (or after the jump) as if a bigger view explains what it is. The new logo was spurred by the merger with Progress Energy and is set to roll out in April 2013.

Relevant links: Press Release.

Quote:”The new logo depicts forward motion, representing energy for the future,” said Ginny Mackin, Duke Energy’s chief communications officer. “It draws on elements from the legacy companies’ logos: Progress Energy’s ‘star’ and the ‘swoosh’ in Duke Energy’s ‘D.’”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Polar Mobile

About: (Est. 2007) Polar Mobile is a “leading software solutions provider for media companies, with hundreds of customers in over a dozen countries. […] We help publishers better reach their audiences through all connected devices with a vision to transform the media industry with software.”

Design by: In-house in collaboration with Raja Sandhu.

Ed.’s Notes: Previous logo was result of 99designs.com competition. New logo has no polar-ness, discuss.

Relevant links: Polar Mobile Blog Post.

Thanks to John Leschinski for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

Optimum has the Last Word

Owned by Cablevision, Optimum offers cable, Internet, and voice service throughout the New York and New Jersey area, with another area of service throughout Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. Optimum has had a case of logo-itis, with far too many logos (see one of the first images below) mostly due because they separated their offerings as Optimum Online, Optimum Interactive, Optimum Voice, plus the main Optimum logo. Last week Optimum introduced a new logo designed by New York, NY-based COLLINS:, and new advertising by Mother NY.

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Opinion BY Armin

eBay Settles for Lowest Bid

Established in 1995, eBay is “the world’s largest online marketplace” with 100 million active users around the world that have generated over $10 billion through 350 million listings in seventeen years. I have contributed many times, most notably the purchase of an Atari 2600 in 2001 — not as fun as I remembered it being in 1982. But I digress. eBay has evolved from an auction-only dynamic — that could create some of the most heart-pounding moments in e-commerce if you really cared about getting an item — to a less-than-exciting but very powerful shopping platform with “Buy It Now!” buttons with fixed prices that now account for 65% of items sold. Going to Best Buy is easier and gets you better prices sometimes. With a new website and online experience reportedly coming in mic-October, eBay has announced a new logo designed by Lippincott. A dedicated announcement page is here.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Marqeta

Established in 2010, Marqeta is a customer loyalty platform for the business-consumer relationship — consumers pay in advance, via their Marqeta account, and, in return, merchants add extra money to the account. A new identity has been designed by Duncan/Channon. Case study here. Image of the credit card below (or after the jump).

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A B-Side BY Armin

Big Commerce

Launched in 2009, Big Commerce is an SAAS (Software As A Service) that allows its 25,000 users to create full-featured online stores. In July, they announced a new logo and new look for their website. Story here.

Thanks to Ethan Whaley for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

Donkey See, Donkey Do

Established in 1973 in Devon, England, The Donkey Sanctuary is the world’s largest donkey and mule charity, providing a home for 14,500 donkeys and mules and care for more than 400,000 across 28 countries over its near-thirty-year history. At its headquarters in Devon, The Donkey Sanctuary offers the opportunity to visit over 200 donkeys at its Slade House Farm. This month, the charity introduced a new identity designed by London-based The Allotment.

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Opinion by Richard Baird Posted by BY Brand New

Best Use of Iceberg in a Logo Award Goes to:

Established in 1996 The New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute is the body responsible for developing and managing New Zealand’s scientific research and conservation activities in Antarctica, Southern Ocean and Ross Sea region while also raising ‘public awareness of the international significance of the continent’. The institute’s new identity, which replaces an illustrative fern and penguin mark, was designed by Auckland based BRR and delivers a broader and more scientific sensibility through symbology, metaphor, simple geometry, monochromatic colour and a neutral typeface.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Cohen Media Group

Established in 2008, Cohen Media Group (CMG) is a theatrical production and distribution company specializing in independent and foreign language films. Last month CMG introduced a new identity designed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher. Plenty of applications and story here.

Opinion BY Armin

Avis Tries Less Harder

Established in 1946, Avis is one of the biggest car rental companies in the world with approximately 5,200 locations in more than 165 countries. Founded by Warren Avis — a pilot who, NPR reports, “came up with the idea when he couldn’t find ground transportation once he landed.” — it was also the first company to provide cars directly at the airport. Late last month, Avis introduced a new slogan, “It’s Your Space”, that replaces one of the longest standing and well recognized slogans, “We try harder”, created by Doyle Dane and Bernbach (DDB) in 1963. Along with the tagline, there is a major advertising campaign that just launched, created by Leo Burnett. No acknowledgment on the new logo.

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A B-Side BY Armin

SketchUp

Released in 2000, SketchUp is an easy-to-use 3D modeling tool available for free (and as a pro-version) that became quite popular under the ownership of Google starting in 2006. This past April, SketchUp was purchased by Trimble and now with a new release a new logo has been introduced that sheds its Google past. More details and insight into the logo here.

Thanks to Phillip McKeown for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

George Washington University

Established in 1821, George Washington University (GWU) is a private university in Washington, D.C. with 25,000 students and 1,174 faculty. Last week GWU introduced a new identity designed jointly by Futurebrand and 160over90 — FutureBrand refreshed the core identity elements and 160over90 created the new look and feel for the university’s marketing and communication materials (seen in action here). Press release here. Thorough PDF with the identity guidelines here. Detail view of the logo below (or after the jump).

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A B-Side BY Armin

Mission Aviation Fellowship

With origins as far back as 1943, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) “serves people who deal with challenges due to isolation in regions such as Africa, Asia, Eurasia, and Latin America by providing aviation, communications, and learning technology services.” Its mission is to share “the love of Jesus Christ through aviation and technology so that isolated people may be physically and spiritually transformed” and that “all people have access to both the Gospel and the resources that advance God’s Kingdom.” MAF introduced a new logo earlier this month. Part of the release states: “The dove — part of MAF-US’s logos since the 1970s — was maintained in the new design and represents the Christian faith, aviation, and MAF history.” No design credit given.

Thanks to Phil Laver for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Telenav

Established in 1999, Telenav provides custom wireless location-based services for both consumers in the form of apps and as features for partners like wireless carriers, automobile manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), app developers, advertisers and agencies. Earlier this year, Telenav introduced a new logo. No press release, no design credit.

Thanks to Myles Dordick for the tip.

Opinion BY Armin

Boom goes the Sans

Established in 1800, the Rijksmuseum (State Museum in English) in Amsterdam is home to more than 900,000 items in its collection, including a large amount of masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age from artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Hals. Housed in an 1827 building, the Rijksmuseum has been under renovation since 2003 and next year will see its reopening with a design by Spanish architects Cruz y Ortiz. Yesterday, Rijksmuseum introduced their new logo and identity, designed by Irma Boom with custom lettering by Paul van der Laan of Bold Monday, replacing the 32-year-old logo designed by Studio Dumbar.

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Opinion BY Armin

Senac’s Paper Airplane Goes Down in Flames

Established in 1946, Senac — originally SENAC, short for Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial; National Commercial Training Service in English — is a vocational trade education institution in Brazil where it has presence all over the country with over 580 locations. It employs over 23,000 faculty members that teach more than 54,000 combined classes to 1,150,000 students a year. In other words: it’s big. Earlier this month, Senac introduced a new logo, designed by Rio de Janeiro-based Packaging Brands, and a new advertising campaign by Ogilvy.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Rosetta Stone

Established in 1992, Rosetta Stone provides “cutting-edge interactive technology that is changing the way the world learns languages. The company’s proprietary learning techniques—acclaimed for their power to unlock the natural language-learning ability in everyone—are used by schools, businesses, government organizations and millions of individuals around the world.” A revised logo was introduced recently, designed by Pappas Group.