the Six Universal Attributes of a Great Mark

If we weren't in the room when the decisions were made, if we don't know what the CEO's intentions were, how can we say one logo is "better" than another?

As in ice skating, technical merit can be judged independently of communications content, and we can all see the skater fall. The first five things that distinguish great marks from ordinary ones are technical; the last one addresses content. Great marks are always:

1. Distinctive. The design idea need not be unique in the world, just distinctive enough so you can "own" it in your particular marketplace.

2. Practical. Can be printed small, in ink or pixels; works in black on white as well as in colors; works in reverse too, white on black. (Faces, human or animal, usually flunk this last test; the eyes turn white.)

3. Graphic. Communicates purely in visual terms, to the right brain hemisphere; doesn't depend on verbal, intellectual interpretation. (Example: Tenneco seriously considered and rejected a "10ECO" logo design. Clever, but it's not a mark, it's a pun.) If a wordmark, it can be recognized by form alone (you don't have to "read" Coca-Cola's logo more than once or twice).

4. Simple in form. Contains only one graphic idea, one gimmick, one dingbat. Thus if there's a symbol, the accompanying name is plain and unadorned. And if it is a wordmark, one idea or device makes it special-like IBM's stripes. (The more unique the name, the simpler the graphics can be.)

5. One message. In content too, great designs try to express no more than one attribute (such as stature or speed or dynamism) and support a single aspect of positioning.

6. Appropriate. In the end, of course, the content's got to be right. An otherwise-great mark fails if the reputation, positioning, and personality expressed are at odds with management intentions. -T.S.

By: Tony Spaeth / www.identityworks.com
Source: www.logoorange.com

top 10 Tips to a Great Web Page

Make Your Site Valuable to Your Readers

There aren't any magic pills to create a great Web page that everyone will visit again and again, but if you follow these ten tips your site will be more popular and easier for people to read.

1) Know your audience, and keep them in mind when you write.
If your Web pages are frequented by people with slower modems then designing a page that looks best over a T1 is not a successful strategy.

2) Keep your pages short.
If you minimize the scrolling, chances are, your readers will get your message. A good screen size is 640 pixels wide by 480 tall.

3) Use tables of contents.
According to Jakob Nielsen only 10% of users will scroll beyond the first screen of text. If that first screen has a table of contents viewers will click on the links to the explanatory text.

4) Keep images small.
Large images annoy people. If it takes too long to download, many people will never see it, as they will have browsed somewhere.

5) Use Web colors.
The browser-safe color palette will ensure that most people will see your page and images in the colors you intended.

6) Avoid lots of text.
People don't read the Web, they skim it.

7) Check your spelling.
Use a spell checker, either in your editor or on-line.

8) Keep links current.
Check your links often to make sure they are still valid. Using a link checker speeds up pages with many links.

9) Annotate your links.
If a page is good enough to link to, then it's good enough to explain why you like it.

10) Put contact information on your pages.
The Web is interactive and dynamic, and you should welcome comments on your pages. Also, if there is a broken link or other problem, your readers can let you know, easily.

By: Jennifer Kyrnin / http://webdesign.about.com

the power of Graphic Design

Basically, we can find anything that has ‘graphic design’ (in term of composition on a surface) in our daily basis. For example, take a look at your shirt, you can see the composition on it (buttons, pocket(s), motifs, color(s)). Or try to find any other items, let say… your television, it consist of composition as well (the screen, the button(s), etc.).

It also happens to any other items (clocks/watches, magazines, signage, any apparel, households, etc.)When you buy something (well.., almost anything), what is the most get your attention? I bet it must be the design (in term of composition of any element on it). In the contrary, if you choose to buy specific items (cellular phone in this case) for certain features, would you buy it if that item has an ugly design?! Maybe you would, but at least you think twice before you make your decision. Things that might bother you could be: the color(s), how the way they composed the screen, keypads, buttons. It just not fit to your style.

Can you imagine how much Graphic Design affects in industrial field? No matter how sophisticated the device or how good the content of the magazine is, it won’t get a big market if it doesn’t supported by a good design.

That’s what I call “The Power of Graphic Design”. A good Graphic Design must be able to catch the viewers’ attention. How many magazines, logo, flyers, posters, newsletter, web, brochures out there?! The graphic designers are competing to produce the best design they can do. What they do would be the first impression of viewers, especially when it comes to advertise new products or publishing new magazines. The cover design (composition, colors, typo, images) would be the first thing that affects the viewers/readers.

Graphic Design becomes a promising career nowadays, because of the strength of they can do.

By: anton ardjanggi / www.anarddesign.com

graphic design principles - Basic

Graphic Design is a composition (lay out) of some elements which are shape, form, line, typography, color and image as well.

Graphic design communicates visually using text or images to present information, or deliver a message. The art of graphic design strives for a range of skills and crafts including typography, image development and page layout. Graphic design is applied in communication design. Like other forms of communication, graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created, and the products (designs) such as creative solutions, imagery and multimedia compositions. Graphic design is basically applied to static media, such as posters, flyers, magazines and brochures.

Things to be considered when you do Graphic Design:
- Harmony
- Rhythm
- Balance
- Repetition
- Unity
- Color Scheme

There are varying degrees of graphic design. Graphic designer involvement may range from verbally communicated ideas, to visual rough drafts, to final production. In commercial art, client edits, technical preparation and mass production are usually required, but usually not considered to be within the scope of graphic design unless the client is also a graphic designer.

By: anton ardjanggi / www.anarddesign.com