So what kind of logo do you design for a urologist with a website called peedoc.com? Should be obvious right? What do you think, did we hit the mark?

Shamrock Farms - Private Label, Non-Dairy Creamer

Hi everyone. In addition to posting today's Rule Number 2 for Designing a Successful logo, I've decided to post a new package for a non-dairy creamer we designed for Shamrock Farms. You'll find it on shelves now in convenient stores and grocery stores like Albertsons. And, while your at the grocery store check out all the other Shamrock Farm packages we've designed.

10 Rules For Designing a Successful Logo - Rule 2

2. Crave a Concept

A concept is a big idea—something that causes the viewer to ascribe positive feelings to the logo design. A concept could be as simple as a letterform that morphs into the shape of the product or service offered by the company. It could be a rendering style from a historical period intended to convey the long-term heritage of the company. It could be color choices that impart a sense of playfulness or seriousness or any other device that communicates meaning and links the viewer with the brand’s position. I know what you’re thinking. That’s right. Yes, very few logos in the world have concept. If you think strategically before you act creatively you’re mark will be remarkable.

10 Rules For Designing a Successful Logo - Rule 1

Today I've decided to post some content from our website. This is from an article I wrote for our website called Ten Rules for Designing a Successful Logo. And, since nobody really wants to read a long blog in one sitting I'll just post one rule per day for 10 days. I guess if you really want to read the whole article you can check it out on the website at www.catapultu.com

Today’s Rule:

1. Reflect the Brand

If you’ve not established a formal brand position statement for your product, service or company, this is the place to start before embarking on a new logo design project, a logo redesign or even a logo-update project. The brand position statement will guide the design process and serve as a benchmark to judge all design concepts. A good brand position statement is one that includes three highly inter-related components: the target market, the frame of reference and the point of difference. If you don’t know how to develop a brand positioning statement and equally important creative strategy, then find someone who does. If done properly and implemented effectively, it will be the best money you will ever spend on building your brand. You’ll move from a “me too” representation of your brand to “this is what makes me different in the minds of my consumers.”

WorldEdventures Stationery

OK. just one more post about the Graphis Design Annual winning entries. I wanted to just post one more image. This is stationery we did for WorldEdventures. WorldEdventures provides study abroad programs for students in countries around the world. I suppose that's a redundant statement isn't it?

PrismaGraphic

Oops, I forgot to mention that PrismaGraphic, located in Phoenix, is one of the finest printers in the Southwest. We also designed building signage, stationery and interior graphics for PrismaGraphics. They are what we refer to as the ideal client.

Logos

Here are two logos that were published in the Graphis Design Annual for 2009. One for Zwick Construction and one for PrismaGraphic. I think you can figure out which logo belongs to which company. The Zwick Construction mark was also featured in Communication Arts Design Annual a couple years ago.

EFD Large Wall graphics

And, here's yet another photograph from the EFD environmental graphics series. If I remember right there were 23 large wall graphic installations throughout the 5 floors occupied by EFD.

Hah! I just realized that the posts will be read in reverse order so…uh, well…uh, maybe you'll be able to figure it out. I'll try to keep that in mind for the future. I'll try to have all my ducks in a row before I create a post.

EFD Environmental Graphics

Here's another image from the EFD environmental graphics series. Please be patient while I figure out how to create images in the proper formats and get them posted. I can't believe how slow I am at this.

Graphis Design Annual 2009

BIG NEWS FROM CATAPULT!

I should have posted this a few months ago, but then we didn't have a blog a few months ago. We received our new copies of the beautifully designed book Graphis Design Annual 2009. We're pleased as punch to announce that Catapult Strategic Design has 5 of our projects included in this publication. One of our design projects is even feature across two pages which doesn't happen very often. It's an environmental graphics project we did for EFD to brand and liven up their corporate headquarters.

2010 Sustainability Annual Report for Republic Services

WealthPlan Advisors Logo

Catapult is rebranding WealthPlan Advisors a financial planning firm in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here is their new logo. New stationery and website will be introduced in the near future.

Here We Go!

I feel like Catapult is undergoing a reluctant metamorphosis of sorts. I don't know if it's as sudden or drastic as when I first began producing mock ups with my Mac II back in the late 80's, only time will tell. Catapult has, since 1999, been a fairly traditional multidisciplinary design firm, involved in print, web and environmental graphics with an emphasis on creating identities and developing brands. Just as I was excited yet uncertain about the impact of the computer on the design process back in the 80's, I find myself feeling the same way as I am being introduced—somewhat belatedly—to the world of social media and social marketing. I don't even know if I have those terms correct. I don't even know why we're doing this except that our interns tell me we need to and if I've learned anything since I started in the design business back in 1982, it is that it's important to listen to young aspiring designers

Let it Begin

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