NO MORE! An amazing design solution to a great challenge.

I was looking for identity designs, thinking I would find some cool company that produces innovative products...I don't know what I was looking for, really. However, what I came across that caught my eye was a blue circle with a white circle, or circular hole, inside (it looks like a donut) with the simple words, "NO MORE" underneath (using the same "donut" for the O in NO). As simple as it was, it made me want to take a closer look and find out what it was about. No more what?

It turns out to be the award-winning visual identity for the NO MORE program, which was created by a coalition of top executives from leading U.S. corporations, advocacy, and service organizations, to bring about major change by uniting companies, organizations, communities—people all over the world—in ending domestic violence and sexual assault.

It was designed by Sterling Brands who had the challenging job of creating the "public face of this unprecedented initiative." (Sterling Brands web site) They created NO MORE's name, visual identity, and application strategy. Wow. That's quite a daunting task!

The circle within a circle is a symbol with a profound meaning. This is what Sterling says about it: "At the heart of this identity is the Vanishing Point—a powerful symbol rendered in a custom-formulated shade of blue, designed to signal broad social change (akin to the ubiquitous ribbon in the cause space). It stands for hope—a light at the end of tunnel and a safe, inclusive, stigma-free zone for discussion in the charge to eradicate DV/SA."

Pretty amazing. And obviously they have numerous celebrities who are promoting and supporting the cause. I really, really like the way it draws you in with the simple design that is so powerful and important. It's easily recognizable and will hopefully be integrated into our visual culture. Some of the slogans they are using (such as "ALL FOR NONE" and "EVEN ONE IS TOO MANY") are direct and to the point. This kind of design has got to be extremely difficult, and I, for one, am very impressed.

Original source: PRINT Magazine, The 2013 Regional Design Annual, December 2013, p. 175.

Online source for these particular images and quotes used in the blog: http://www.sterlingbrands.com/design/portfolio.php?pfolio_id=77&pgbacklist=true

GREAT WAY TO SPREAD JOY TO A HOMELESS KID!

I just got the new Communication Arts Interactive Annual 20 (March/April 2014), and since the next blog assignment is to find an award-winning example of digital media design... perfect!

There was one website design that really stood out to me called Build-a-Birthday, designed by Brand Content, project design and development/ad agency in Boston. The client is a nonprofit organization called Birthday Wishes that throws birthday parties for homeless children.  The purpose of the website is to provide a way for anyone to donate any amount of money they can and be able to see exactly what even $2 or $3 can buy for a party (balloon, juice box, etc.) and know that every dollar counts.

Even though there is a two-page spread in CA (p. 92-93), rather than scan the tiny images, I took several screenshots of the actual website (which was tricky because of the animation!). I think it's a brilliant interactive design, and I love the purpose of the website.

When you click on the Build-a-Birthday link from the home page of the Birthday Wishes site, the beginning frame shows the little girl in front of her birthday cake (it's video with just a little movement), and the words appear. I just took screen shots of what I thought were the most important ones. There's pleasant music playing, happy in tone but not "cheezy" or childish. Then you're taken to the bright blue page where you actually click on items to build a birthday party! Whatever you click on goes in the cart, and when you are finished selecting what you will donate toward, you check out and pay through Paypal or a credit card. Scroll through the image and you can see how it works.
Better yet, visit the website and check it out!

The site is really easy to navigate, the colors are bright and cheerful, and the little girl is adorable, but not "model" perfect. She just represents one of millions of homeless kids out there, many of whom have not experienced a normal birthday party. I love how the shapes that need to be "filled" look chalk-drawn, but then when you click on one to donate, it turns into the photograph of that item. It's like there's a story being told. It comes to life through the process. The simple mission of providing homeless kids with a party for their birthday. As stated in the article, "A $20 donation becomes a lot more powerful when it represents a birthday cake for a child who has never had one." (p. 93) Once the party is totally funded, there is a final piece (which I didn't see) where the little girl thanks you and makes a wish, then you are encouraged to get others to do the same. 

Please visit the site and see for yourself (link is above). I think the designers really hit their mark with this one—their primary goal was to create "a simple, fast user experience that was fun [and rewarding] to use and easy to share." They wanted it to be interactive and also provide users with a positive tone and a basic overview of the charity's mission; the videos, animations, and effects achieve all of these these goals. It's really simple yet remarkably effective! 

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IMPACT - MISSION A LA MODE

What an interesting way to bring people together! Ice cream... I don't think there are many people in our society who don't like it. Many love it. Many crave it. It's sweet, refreshing, creamy, delicious. "Ice cream socials" have been around for decades. Now here's a company—Mission a la Mode— that puts a new twist on that phrase. 

From the designer's (Mason Zimbler) website, "Central Texas nonprofit Mission a la Mode’s aim is to bring community members together through a pretty sweet incentive: ice cream." 

From what I understand, these are posters advertising the company and its ice cream (perhaps they are packaging designs as well?). The phrases are witty: "Ice Cream... Social Impact," "Soft Serve the Greater Good, and "Tasty Treat Others as You Want to be Treated."

I love the design of each of the posters, from the vintage, "weathered" look to the creative decorative typefaces used for the most important words (which even signifies an ice cream flavor) to the backgrounds comprised of white silhouettes against a light pastel to the layout and obvious hierarchy to the wooden spoons with phrases on them. Another thing that is cool is that each one uses different typefaces and background colors, but the continuity lies in all of the other design elements. It's clear that they are a set. 

This makes me look forward to Project 3—packaging! 

Source: Mission a la Mode, Posters and Campaign Collateral, PRINT MAGAZINE, Issue 67, December 6, 2013

The 2013 Regional Design Annual, pages 37–38.

Mason Zimbler, Austin, Designer
Other credits: Jeff Neely (creative director), Kathy Farley (assistant creative director/writer), Jimmy Dyer (art director/designer), Lori Otto, Lauren Reichman (writers), Mission a la Mode (client)

The actual scanned image is below; the above are the online images (easier to see clearly) found at http://www.mzl.com/#/portfolio/0012

GRAPHICALLY CLEVER DESIGN FOUND IN GRAPHIS

The Sydney Dance Company "The Director's Cut" sign, by Vince Frost of Frost Design, is an design that I find extremely conceptually interesting. It caught my eye as I was looking through a Graphis Annual (Poster Annual 2007). The play on the words "DIRECTOR'S CUT" with the dancer swinging from or trying to hold on to the large C and appearing to have been cut and bleeding is brilliant (has he been cut by the letter C?). The dancer's body makes a strong and powerful shape, and the blood gives the message that what you will see from the Sydney Dance Company is cutting edge work.

Also, the typography is very clever at the bottom, the way SYDNEY and DANCE share the letters D, N, and E. It's almost like the words/letter are dancing. The font is Futura—a great choice. Very readable.

Interestingly, a case was filed at the Advertising Standards Bureau about this image, saying that the life size billboard contained "offensive and “in your face” gore. (Read the complaint file) The case was dismissed, basically because it was being used for art/dance.

I like that the image is mostly white, red, and black. Also, the photo-typography relationship is done really well. The entire design is well-balanced, and the clever concept attracts interest and curiosity about the company and the concert (or concert series). Very cool.