in the past on gnome flash, we’ve featured a few kickstarter projects. while doing this and becoming more acquainted with this site, it became clear that it was the perfect place to encourage one of our very own to try and get a project of hers off the ground. you can find the project here:

let me briefly tell you what it’s all about… sustainable print design is a book necessitated by the current concerns for the environment and the impact design, and more specifically print design has. the form and content is driven by the current lack of a comprehensive resource that provides unbiased views on every choice available to a designer throughout the design process from beginning to end. this resource enables them to make sound decisions for each project without having to consult multiple resources. most of the currently available material primarily spends time verbalizing why designers should go green, and few demonstrate how. this book not only discusses the how, but it visually demonstrates the points in action, proving to designers they don’t have to compromise on quality or aesthetics.

how cool is this? well, let me tell you, it is pretty damn cool. i’ve seen the prototype and i want one – not just because its eye candy and makes me happy but because i want to be able to make the best decisions and help clients understand why it is important to them as well.

we are extremely proud of our fellow brandling and so, we here at welt ask you to go check it out. i think you’ll agree with us and if you do, give a pledge and of course share this project with all your friends and colleagues. thanks!

as creatives we search for inspiration like the fabled fountain of youth. professionally, though, we have to take that inspiration and interpret and transform the input to make it our own. The line is too easily crossed from an homage to copyright infringement. how do you ensure that the later is avoided? using other branches of the design industry is a nice way to still find great visuals without the risk of literally ripping-off designs.

fall fashion week has consumed new york city, and with it a spring of ideas. here are a few color palettes inspired by the clothes found on the runways.

elie tahari and jeremy scott fall 2012

threeASFOUR and anna sui fall 2012

whether you believe valentine’s day is a legitimate holiday or you are a chocoholic at heart, here is a round-up of chocolate packaging to satisfy both camps.

1 // olive & sinclair chocolate company designed by anderson design group

2 // chocolates with attitude designed by bessermachen design studio

3 // dude, sweet chocolate designed by tractorbeam

4 // the grown up chocolate club designed by toast design

on the 26th, brand new scooped jcpenney’s logo launch. there was plenty of uproar at the time. in light of last year’s gap-gate, judgement has been reserved, awaiting more information. well the information is in. here is some of the new information coming to light:

1 // you can find a brief justification of the design process that got jcpenny from point a to point b here.

2 // penney’s isn’t just changing the logo, they’re rethinking their business model, details outlined by the huffington post and the ny times.

3 // according to breakingcopy the logo was designed by brand advisiors.

4 // here are two examples of a current television ads addressing these impending changes:

5 // and thanks to the usps here is a look at the mailer campaign

drawing conclusions:
so, the logo seems like it’s almost there. we get the red square, but the type in the blue box needs finessing… primarily a visual adjustment to the left to compensate for the roundness of the “p.” the interaction of the blue box and the red square is creating a lot of tension; visually the blue box doesn’t read a quarter of the whole and the juxtaposition of the red and blue shape seems un- or under-considered. the red and the blue are very primary and don’t print or screen well; they also do not play well with other colors [of which their print application is filled with]. the red, white, and blue- the flag, it all seems very literal. there is by no means any subtlety of suggestion or layers of communication to this logo.

the thing that seems to be throwing viewers for a loop is that the applications are pleasing, harkening to an aesthetic akin to real simple magazine. particularly in print, the applications seem fresh and modern, however a solid application is not an identity. try as it might, great photography and graphic elements can’t make up for the lack-luster logo. a great brand comes from all the pieces individually being great; when one is sub-par then the whole brand can only compensate so much. a logo is the base of an identity. the almost-there americana is holding back the whole brand.

this whole situation seems a bit daunting. overall analysis would suggest that jcpenney should note the positive response to the applications and employ that learning to the logo.