50 + Designers, Agencies, Books, Websites, Blogs and Conferences!

At the end of 2016, as I draw closer to my final week with CTTC Design, I had been handing over as much information as I could to my then design team, to which I extend you all on this list now. I know that many have often laughed at me being such a design groupie… I promise that it comes from my love of what I do! To this end, before I left, I had decided to note down a few of the things that have helped to bring great joy, learning and passion to my design life over the years, and now wondered if you would also be interested to see what I had written. 

Its really a “for what it’s worth” list of designers, books, websites and blogs. I do hope that it is of some interest to you, and also that it maybe even helps to bring some creative passion and inspiration to your lives… I also don’t mind if it’s banished to the 'read later' part of your blog readers - you know the one I mean... AKA the bin ;-).

Below is what I had sent to the team at CTTC Design, a couple of days before leaving the business...

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Hello team,

So as we all prepare to go forth and conquer in our new design challenges, I hope that the list below will be of some help and will inject energy into all of your creative passion buckets!

As with our supply base of printers and manufacturers, this list of designers, design books, agencies, and blogs has taken my career thus far, to get to know and love. In your creative journey you will also come across your own personal stimuli and I always get a great deal from sharing a good book or a website, where Ive seen an inspirational article or presentation. Please continue to build on this list and let me know! I am always hungry to learn...

This is a very small list. Believe me I could go on, just ask the design team, but I feel that this is a good place to start building your knowledge of design.

I hope that this list will also help you grow and build your passion for great design and designers. Its one of my deep loves and I hope that you get out of it what I do! Don’t forget, everything around us, everything we use, is at some point been designed… Keep asking why and looking in the opposite direction to everyone else. 

Do what you love and love what you do. Enjoy!

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Design Books… Books, books glorious books!!!

I read a lot of design books. It really helps to get a good grip of the pioneers of design and to learn some of their principles. I often get asked about which fonts to use or how to get inspiration. Many of these book will help you get a good understanding of this and so much more. There are far too many books to list, so I have featured below some of my favourites. Let me know if you get through these and I will give you more!

Important design books:

Thoughts on Design By Paul Rand - The best book ever written on design!!!

Michael Bierut 79 short essays on design

Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Muller-Brockmann (A must read!)

The Vignelli Cannon by Massimo Vignelli (You will never need to ever ask again, "which font do I use!”)

How to be a graphic designer without loosing your soul by Adrian Shaughnessy

A Designers Art by Paul Rand

A smile in the mind by Beryl McAlhone and David Stuart

The art of looking sideways by Alan Fletcher (A must read!)

Beware wet Paint by Alan Fletcher

100 Ideas that changes design by Steven Heller

Damn Good Advice For People With Talent by George Lois

Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton

Symbol by Steven Bateman and Angus Hyland

Design Your Life by Vince Frost

The Design Method by Eric Karjaluoto

Creativity Inc - Ed Catmull (Amazing - a must read!)

Hegarty on Creativity by Sir John Hegarty

Saul Bass: A Life in Film & Design

Steve Jobs By Walter Isaacson

Design To Grow By David Butler - Just read this and it’s an eye opener for any package designer

… Let me know if you want more, believe me I can go on… and on etc!

Design Agencies to know and reference often

Pearlfisher

JKR (Jones Knowles Richie)

Design Bridge

Bulletproof

Landor

Why Not Associates

Form Design

Frost Design

Pentagram

Interbrand

Big Fish

Bloom

Brand on Shelf

Brand Opus

Brand Union

Coley Porter Bell

Dragon Rouge

Elmwood

Homes & Marchant

Identica

Path

R Design

Stranger & Stranger

Turner Duckworth

1HQ

Research Studios

Design / Brand & Packaging Blogs

The Dileine

Band New

David Airey

Design Observer by Michael Bierut

Packaging of the World

Lovely Package

Aisle One

AceJet 170

Colossal

Daniel Gray

Creative Review

Design Work Life

FormFiftyFive

Graphic Journey

Ideas on Ideas by Eric Karjaluoto

Noisy Decent Graphics

Russell Davies

Subtraction

Design Intellect - This is a great website, where you can continue to reference links to the top 50, global branding and packaging design studios. The website is also ran by my old mate Matt, so it’s also great to support him… Originally, I don’t even realise that it was his site!!!

#Note any blog by David Airey (he has 3) or Eric Karjaluoto is worth a read!

Designers to know:

Paul Rand

Saul Bass

Michael Bierut

Paula Scher (she truly is amazing)

Massimo Vignelli

Neville Brody

David Carson (Check out his TED talk… It will blow your mind!))

Alan Fletcher

Margaret Calvert (obe)

Sir John Hegarty

Michael Wolff (One of the nicest and most inspiring men I have ever had the pleasure to meet)

Dan Wieden

Lindon Leader

Conferences

The Design Indaba - Cape Town, South Africa - (Worlds best design conference)

100% Design - Began in London UK but also in Johannesburg SA now.

Cosmosprof - Bologna, Italy

Mason & Objet - Paris, France

Brand New Conference - under consideration - USA

The Dieline - Conference - USA
The Global Leadership Summit - USA

New Designers - UK

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I hope you get a lot out of this and enjoy the industry as much as I do!!!

Love and design, Todd

David Carson - All For a Few Good Waves

David Carson is arguably one of the worlds most recognised graphic designers. his experimental, deconstructed typographic style is a fusion of the commercial and the expressive, graphic design and art.

From 1982 to 1987, Carson worked as a teacher and also at that time was also a professional surfer, reaching 9th in the world ranking. Carson himself often attributes his recognisable style to discovering graphic design and never being taught it. Without knowing any of the rules has allowed him the freedom to not be confined by convention. To read more on Carson click link to visit his website: David Carson Design.

I also love his humour filed, motivating TED presentation. Click here to view.

Quotes by David Carson:

“Graphic design will save the world right after rock and roll does.”

“I’ve never had a problem with a dumb client. There is no such thing as a bad client. Part of our job is to do good work and get the client to accept it.”
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All For a Few Good Waves is a short, beautifully shot documentary that presents an interesting insight into the reclusive side of the designers life, almost at odds with him being one of the worlds most renown graphic designers. We get to witness his love of surfing and some of his unconventional working practices.

Below is a short write up from the films creators, Dress Code:

David Carson is arguably the world’s most well known graphic designer. All For a Few Good Waves is a short documentary portrait offering a raw glimpse into the life and work of David, an uncompromising genius, who refuses to be anyone but himself.

After a career as a top ranked pro surfer and high school sociology teacher, he rose to prominence in the 90’s after art directing Transworld, Beach Culture and Ray Gun Magazines before going on to start his studio. With no formal design training, Carson took the design world by storm, upending conventions and breaking traditional rules he didn’t even know existed.

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Credits:

Starring: David Carson + Ola Carson

Produced and Directed by: Dress Code (dresscodeny.com)
Executive Producers: Dan Covert + Andre Andreev
Producer: Tara Rose Stromberg
Cinematography + Sound Record: Andre Andreev
Edit + Color: Mike Cook
Assistant Camera: Mercy Lomelin
Production Cordinator: Rose Glaeser
End Titles: Mike Cook + Mercy Lomelin

Music + Sound Design: YouTooCanWoo

Shot on Location in Tortola, BVI over a couple years on:
A Red Epic, a GoPro Hero 3, and a Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera

The History of the Shell Logo

This is the history of one of the worlds most recognised brands. 

For more than 100 years the Shell pecten emblem and distinctive red and yellow colours have visualised the Shell brand and promoted the company's products and services all over the world.

The Shell logo has changed considerably since it's inception in 1900, yet you can still apreciate it's iconic form, whether viewing the original logo or in its current form.

I always remember Michael Wolff recounting his work on a redesign of the Shell logo, whilst running his agency, Wolff Olins. Wolff chose to simply warm up the colours. As he says, sometimes its what you don't change, that can be as important as what you do. That couldn't be more true than with the the iconic symbol of the red and yellow shell icon.

I stumbled across this brief history of the brand on the company website and thought it was well worth a read.

The word Shell first appeared in 1891, as the trademark for kerosene shipped to the Far East by Marcus Samuel and Company. This small London business dealt originally in antiques, curios and oriental seashells. These became so popular – the Victorians used them to decorate trinket boxes in particular – that soon they formed the basis of the company’s profitable import and export trade with the Far East.

The word was elevated to corporate status in 1897, when Samuel formed the Shell Transport and Trading Company. The first logo in 1901 was a mussel shell, but by 1904 a scallop shell or pecten emblem had been introduced to give a visual representation of the corporate and brand name.

When the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and Shell Transport and Trading merged in 1907, the latter’s brand name and symbol (Shell and the pecten) became the short-form name and emblem of the new Royal Dutch Shell Group. And so it has remained ever since.

The form of the Shell emblem has changed gradually over the years in line with trends in graphic design. The current emblem was introduced in 1971. Thirty years on it stands the test of time as one of the world’s most recognised symbols.

10 Ways To Be More Creative

Ever wondered how to improve your creativity and stay inspired? Why some designers have been a lot more successful than others? Well read on...

I recently wrote a post for the design life, which also featured here, titled, "The Most Important Word You Use Is Why!" The post was inspired by an incredibly motivating Design Indaba presentation by Sir John Hegarty, that I was lucky enough to attend back in 2013. Just the other day, I was reading through the design press and I stumbled upon a fantastic article at The Drum by Ishbel Macleod. The feature was based on Sir John Hegarty's 2014 book, 'Hegarty on Creativity' and lists his top 10 ways to be more creative. Check out number 8... 'Ask Why? A lot!' I have re blogged the list below as it makes for super reading:

1 Be fearless - be single minded in the face of opposition

2 Keep it simple - don't try to say or do too many things at once

3 Stop thinking, start feeling -creativity is driven by the heart, we respond more to emotions than logic

4 Get angry - channel the things that annoy/upset you into more creative tasks rather than getting stressed

5 Juxtaposition - don't be afraid to place two things next to one another that wouldn't normally sit together - even in your head

6 When the world zigs, zag - look in the opposite direction to everyone else

7 Avoid cynics - they drain your confidence - see number one

8 Ask Why? a lot - question everything like a child

9 Philosophy - always be looking, thinking, watching. Absorb everything around you

10 Remove your headphones! - don't cut yourself off from your environment.

You can read the whole article at The Drum by clicking here.

'Hegarty on Creativity' is Printed by Thames & Hudson Ltd and you can buy it here. 

Maclean writes that the book, "looks to guide readers through the process of creativity, from choosing your best ideas to dealing with fame when your product becomes successful."

Sainsbury's Design Studio 1962-1977

I am an avid collector of design books and on a recent trip back to the UK, I stumbled across a fantastic book containing a veritable gold mine of vintage Sainsbury’s packaging, chronicling the years 1962 to 1977.

The books forward tells the story of the author, Jonny Trunk and his search for a particular 1970 Sainsbury’s pack design for cornflakes that he had memories of from his childhood. On calling the retailers head office, he discovers that there’s a huge archive of pristine Sainsbury’s own label packaging dating back from the 1960’s and onwards. An ideal subject for a book!

There is also an essay from Emily King, which gives an insight into the relationship between the company director, forward thinking JD Sainsbury and the visionary designer Peter Dixon who founded the Sainsbury’s in house creative studio and spearheaded it’s unique pack designs.

  

 

Also of note is the important role that the company played in society. Britain was going through a period of social change in the 1960’s/70’s and the supermarket evolved with its costumers. This including working mothers who strived for quick, convenient meals to fit with their busy lives and those who had just taken their first foreign holidays and wanted more exotic ingredients. Although my family didn’t travel overseas whilst I was growing up (our holidays were in North Devon), I can still fondly remember the introduction from meat and two veg, to Indian curries and Italian spaghetti bolognese. With its use of san serif typography, bold colour and form, the packaging design represented modernity within this time of great social and economic change.

Being born in Britain in the early seventies, I had huge waves of nostalgia looking through the pages and remembering some of the distinctive designs. These works really did become the fabric of daily life in Britain. The design for the coke tin, using the company logo on a slant to represent a straw would never get through the rigid rules and guidelines set out by the brand experts of today, but somehow gives so much character and identity to the design. These days, some may see naivety from a time gone by, yet others (like me) will appreciate its concept! JD Sainsbury wasn’t always keen on the slanting of the company logo but this further emphasises the full backing that he gave to designer Peter Dixon. The book also recalls how teachers would cut out the orange discs from the cornflakes packs to represent coins whilst teaching school children about money!

  

This gem of a book currently sits in pride of place at my design studio. After being based in Cape Town for over half a decade it feels like a fantastic snap shot of design and of a changing society in a country and time for which I was born and raised. A time long before the invention of the Apple Mac and Adobe software it shows how concept rules over tools and technology! I can’t recommend this book enough.

The book is written by Jonny Trunk and published by Fuel: www.fuel-design.com

Article originally published by Todd Anderson at The Design Life

What Makes A Truly Great Logo?

Joe Posner at Vox Video asked the legendary graphic designer Michael Beirut to explain the elements of a great logo design.

Meeting My Design Heroes - Michael Wolff

Its spring in Cape Town and this time of year is filled with colour as the wonderful varieties of flower open up to display an impressive palette. People travel from far and wide to visit the Westcoast national park where for a limited time (1 month) the impressive bloom is in its full beauty. I get a lot of my colour ideas from nature and this is such a fantastic time of year to discover brilliant combinations.

I will always remember a presentation by renown brand designer Michael Wolff where he explains how we often overlook the rich source of colour that nature offers and how we shouldn't just rely on our Pantone swatch books. He told the story of his business partner, the late Wally Olins, returning from a meeting to find the entire Wolff Olins design team away from their desks. When eventually the designers return, a furious Olins demands an explanation as to their whereabouts. To his surprise his partner Wolff explains that he took the whole team to Hyde Park for the afternoon to study the colour of leaves. I could only imagine the sparks that followed! I love this story as it really illustrates the difference between the two partners; the business executive and the intellectual designer.

I have a huge admiration for Michael Wolff. At University I still remember reading about the incredible work of Wolff Olins. The branding for BP, Shell, Bovis and Mitsubishi to name just a few.

I have had the great pleasure of meeting Michael twice. He is someone that I look up to and I often suggest to those who I mentor to find out more about. His views on design and design thinking are inspirational. Don't take my word for it. Click here to see for yourself. I guarantee you will be inspired!

I recently wrote a post about the time when I met my design hero, the late Massimo Vignelli. Incredibly, the first time I met Michael Wolff was in that very same week back in 2011. Below is what I wrote the day after I met another of my design heroes, Michael Wolff...
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I was very honored and fortunate to meet two of my design hero's Micheal Wolff and Massimo Vignelli.

I will never forget meeting Micheal Wolff. He was wearing a sharp black suit with a pair of bright blue Crocs. He was so warm, and unassuming. I asked if I could shake his hand for being a huge influence. While shaking my hand, with a smile on his face, the man that I had studied at University, enjoyed the work of for so many years and one of the worlds most iconic knowledge's on design and brand replies, "What me."

That meeting will always stay with me. That "What me", really sums up the man that Michael Wolff is. For all his achievements he is still unassuming, gentle, incredibly alert and interested. His insight, intellect and youthful energy blew me away! If you've not heard Micheal speak on the Three Muscles of Creativity then your missing out. (Ive added it to my list of presentations by Michael). We also spoke about one of his quotes that I love, "I look at a shop door and it says closed, and I think, why doesn't it say open tomorrow at 8.30.”

His presentation was incredible, speaking about brand perception. I remember him asking, could it be possible to make an object like a wheel chair have the same appeal as a top of the range bycicle?


I think the thing that stays with me the most though was just what a lovely down to earth guy he was... Oh and the blue Crocs of course.
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Meeting My Design Heroes - Massimo Vignelli

I recently moved house. Living in Cape Town I have managed to built up a pretty good collection of local wine. One by one I pulled out each bottle from my old wooden wine rack (which I once saved from someone chucking out!!!) and covered them in bubble wrap, in preparation for the big move!

Within the collection was one very special bottle that I knew I would eventually re discover. I'm not sure that I will ever drink it. Not because of the wine inside (I don't even know what wine is inside!), but isntead for the memory of how I received it. The bottle has been over labelled with one that is beautifully designed and reads, "Massimo Vignelli 80th Birthday Celebration". When I eventually found the bottle I wiped away the light covering of dust and just stared at it for a moment, recalling my memories from the day that I met my design hero, Massimo Vignelli.

In 2009 I was offered the fantastic opportunity to live and work in Cape Town, South Africa. When my wife and I stepped on that plane from London to Cape Town, I had only signed up for a period of six month to a year as creative director of a start up business, to employ, mentor and grow a design studio. I would of never believed in my wildest dreams that over six years later we would still be here, let alone, also have our son born in the country. The business has also established itself and over the years we have picked up some pretty impressive clients.

I would also of not believed that I would get the great opportunity to meet (and in some cases even work with) some of designs most respected figures, but that is indeed what happened. Massimo Vignelli, Michael Wolff, Vince Frost, Neville Brody, Michael Bierut to name just a few!!!

In 2011 I had the great pleasure to meet Massimo Vignelli. He had been re branding one of South Africa's largest retailers who were also clients of the business that I had moved to Cape Town to work with. I had been kindly invited to Massimo's Cape Town leg of his 80th birthday party. It's not everyday you get to meet one of your heroes and this meeting will always stay with me.

Below is an article that I wrote back in 2011, the day after my meeting with Massimo...

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I must say a huge thank you to the kindness of the Woolworths design and beauty team who are far more than just clients to me, but a team of guys who I have had the great pleasure to work alongside, learn from and have made some super friendships with over the past three years. It was thanks to them I got the invite to the Cape Town leg of Massimo Vignelli's 80th birthday party, that also coincided with the Design Indaba.

Massimo was another hero of mine that didn't disappoint. To hear him and his wife Lella speaking will always stay with me. The couple spoke with such grace and integrity, both looking so, so stylish.

The venue was Cape Towns 'Lookout bar', situated close to the V&A with amazing sea views and it was jam packed full with well known designers and industry leading figures, many who had spoken earlier at the design Indaba, including Pentagrams Michael Bierut, Coca-Cola’s vice president of innovation David Butler, VSA Partners Dana Arnett, title sequence designer Karin Fong and co-founder of Wolff-Olins Michael Wolf (also a hero of mine).

My expectation on meeting well known designers is that they will be temperamental and offish with me but more times than not, I am surprised to find that they are instead unassuming and friendly, more so in Massimo's case also hugely inspirational and motivating

As I walked up to Massimo, I would be lying if I didn't say that I felt just a little bit intimidating by his presence. It wasn't anything that he did but instead how I had viewed him. He was the creator of so many of the worlds most recognised brands and someone who I had studied and admired from afar since I discovered his work at secondary school. Some people admire celebrities of television, film or music but for me it was designers and their work and now there was Massimo, stood in front of me in his black turtleneck. After I introduced myself and our conversation began. He was interested in what I said and spoke with an enormous amount passion… Any intimidation I had suddenly receded and I began to really enjoy our conversation. I remember discussing his thoughts on hthe work he had done for the new Woolworths, about fonts, and a little about his book the Vignelli Cannon.

At 80 years old, Massimo's was still actively designing brand identities for some of the worlds largest companys. You only do that when your doing something that is your passion.. When you love it. I left our meeting inspired and hoping that I too will my work enough to also practice long after the time that many decide to retire.

If your a young or aspiring designer and you haven't read the Vignelli cannon, then your doing yourself a huge disservice. get yourself over to his website now and download it for free.

So we are almost at the close of 2011 and tickets are already on sale for next years Cape Town Design Indaba. Don't miss out. It's an incredible event, and who knows. You may get to meet some of your design heroes.

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Seventy-Nine Short Essays on Design by Michael Bierut

Michael Bierut is without doubt one of the most admired and respected designers of our time. Ive had the great fortune to meet Michael twice and both times I have walked away feeling incredibly inspired by his immense knowledge of design. Even with his notoriety and industry standing, he comes across as unassuming, humorous and with a great deal of warmth. He was a real pleasure to speak with about design. He has hosted the Cape Town's Design Indaba for many years and this is where on both occasions I had been lucky enough to meet him.

Micheal Bierut has won many design awards. He previously worked as vice president of graphic design at Vignelli Associates. In 1990 he joined Pentagram's New York office as a Partner where he continues today to run a team of designers, working across many disciplines of design.

I'm a huge fan of Michael’s work and achievements. I’m a regular visitor to the ‘Design Observer’ a website to which he was the founding writer. Bierut's book ‘79 Short Essays on Design’ is at pride of place within my bookshelf. Its a super book that you can either pick it up for a quick read or settle back for the afternoon with. Its one of those books that I never get bored of and I find myself going back to again and again. I often find myself mentioning parts of the book to my team and I am always suggesting they should go out and buy a copy for themselves.

An Overview of the book
A collection of essays by Michael Bierut, Pentagram partner, cofounder of the website Design Observer, and AIGA board member. Bierut is one of the best respected and most-beloved writers within the graphic design field, a spokesman for the profession, and a man pretty much universally admired within the academy and among practitioners. This collection includes writings from the 1980s through today.

Click here to order on Amazon.

The Vignelli Canon by Massimo Vignelli

In 2014 we sadly lost one of designs true pioneers Massimo Vignelli. In 2011 I had the great pleasure to meet Massimo. He had re branded one of South Africa's largest retailers who were also clients of the business that I was creative director for. I had been kindly invited to Massimo's Cape Town leg of his 80th birthday that coincided with the Design Indaba. It's not everyday you get to meet one of your heroes and this meeting will always stay with me.

Vignelli was a master of design and employed the use of simplicity and restraint through the use of basic geometric forms. His broad, multi discipline body of work includes everything from, household products, packaging, way finding and signage, but is best known for his branding work for the likes of Bloomingdales, Knoll and United Colours of Benetton. Vignelli's principle was, "If you can design one thing, you can design everything,"

Vignelli moved to New York in 1966 and founded Unimark International, which became one of the largest design companies in the world. Here he designed the branding for American Airlines and the iconic signage for the New York Subway. In 1971 Vignelli founded Vignelli Associates with his wife Lella and where he was to employ Michael Bierut.

Massimo Vignelli's Cannon is a book for which I tell everyone that works for me in my design studio to read. I am often asked what fonts to use or how to use grids and this book is an essential handbook to refer back to. I can highly recommend what I call an essential handbook for any young designer entering into the industry.

An Overview of the book

The famous Italian designer Massimo Vignelli allows us a glimpse of his understanding of good design in this book, its rules and criteria. He uses numerous examples to convey applications in practice from product design via signaletics and graphic design to Corporate Design. By doing this he is making an important manual available to young designers that in its clarity, both in terms of subject matter and visually, is entirely committed to Vignelli's modern design.

If your a designer, then there really is no reason for not reading this hand book. Do yourself a huge favor and click here to download the PDF for free... Yes free!!!

Click here to order on Amazon.

Thoughts On Design By Paul Rand

More than any other book, this is the one that I suggest to all that I mentor or employ. Even after his death in 1996, Paul Rand is still viewed as one of the (if not the) most celebrated graphic designer(s) of our time. Although a skilled master at book and poster design, Rand is best known for his brand identity work, including his logos for IBM, ABC, UPS and Steve Jobs Company Next. Rand was one of the first American designers to use the clean 'Swiss Style' of graphic design. He was a professor emeritus of graphic design at Yale University and in 1972 was inducted into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.

   

László Moholy-Nagy wrote of Rand: Among these young Americans, it seems to be that Paul Rand is one of the best and most capable [. . .] He is a painter, lecturer, industrial designer, [and] advertising artist who draws his knowledge and creativeness from the resources of this country. He is an idealist and a realist, using the language of the poet and businessman. He thinks in terms of need and function. He is able to analyze his problems but his fantasy is boundless.

Rand’s book, Thoughts on Design is truly a masterpiece, which he wrote in 1947, aged just 33. A revised version was released in 1970 and then again more recently in 2014. Please click here to read an adapted version of Michael Bieruts forward to the 2014 edition, written for the Design Observer website. For me it's the perfect introduction to what Michael Bierut calls, "the best book ever written about graphic design." I couldn't agree more! Do yourself a favour and follow the link below to buy your copy.

An Overview of the book
One of the seminal texts of graphic design, Paul Rand's Thoughts on Design is now back in print for the first time since the 1970s. Writing at the height of his career, Rand articulated in his slender volume the pioneering vision that all design should seamlessly integrate form and function. This facsimile edition preserves Rand's original 1947 essay with the adjustments he made to its text and imagery for a revised printing in 1970, and adds only an informative and inspiring new foreword by design luminary Michael Bierut. As relevant today as it was when first published, this classic treatise is an indispensable addition to the library of every designer.

Click here to order on Amazon.

Logo Modernism

This fantastic new book by Jens Müller; 'Logo Modernism', recently caught my eye and is now at the top of my Christmas list! Published by Taschen the book features approximately 6000 trademarks/logo's, focusing on the forty-year period between 1940 to 1980.

Whist reading through the design press, this fantastic new book by Jens Müller; 'Logo Modernism', caught my eye and is now at the top of my Christmas list! 

Published by Taschen the book features approximately 6000 trademarks/logo's, focusing on the forty-year period between 1940 to 1980, a time where Paul Rand, Soul Bass and Massimo Vignelli were changing the industry with their modernist approach to corporate identity. The book is divided into three chapters; geometric, effect, and typographic and then broken down further into sub divisions for style and form. The book is set in three languages English, French and German and is available for pre-order through Amazon.com or the publisher Taschen, with the release date in November of this year.

The Design Masters

In another new series, I wanted to write about some of histories design icons. Everything around us has at some point been designed. The designers who produce the worlds most recognised symbols, branding and packaging, play a role in our daily lives, but the designers themselves seldom get the notoriety or the similar celebrity that is awarded to those who work in the world of music, film, sport, fashion, art or even product design (Jonathan Ive, Philippe Stark). If you were to show an image of the identity for FedEx, the V&A, ABC, AT&T or the New York Subway to a member of the general public, they would more than likely be able to identify the brands, yet if you were to ask them who created the logo's they would probably have no idea. The likes of Alan Fletcher, Micheal Wolff, Micheal Bieruit, Lindon Leader are certainly recognised figures within the world of brand design but a lot less known by the general public. For the most part, us branding and packaging designers are happy to be the figures in the background and to let our work receive the notoriety, or at most, that any recognition we do attain is only from within our industry.

For the past three years I have had the great honor to be a mentor for Icograda and the Adobe Design Achievement Awards. It's one of my absolute loves to work with incredibly talented young designers and to impart knowledge gained from two-plus decades of being a commercial designer. I am sure that many of these talented young creatives will become the industry stars of tomorrow, yet I often find myself stressing the full importance of being well read on design and to know the work of the pioneers of our industry. I am often surprised when I meet college students that are unaware of the likes of Massimo Vignelli, Soul Bass or even more contemporary designers such as Vince Frost, David Carson and Neville Brody. These designers have shaped our industry and we can only gain by standing on the shoulders of these giants.

I am hoping that this series will help to inspire and give interest to those who are unaware of the great work from designs past masters. For others that know and love the work of the greats, I hope that this series will be a nostalgic look at the men and women who have helped shape our industry and inspire us to be better designers.

In the first edition of Design Icons I am going to feature Paul Rand, who is the closest that we have to to a household name from within our industry.

Design Educators Seminar - 3 Years later

In 2013 I attended the Design Educators Indaba, which endeavoured to create a forum for educators within design to engage with each other and to increase their knowledge of creative education. The event followed the three-day Design Indaba conference in Cape Town. The seminar was hosted by Neville Brody - world-renowned designer, professor and Dean of the School of Communication at the Royal College of Art in London along with Lawrence Zeegen, (Dean of Design at London College of Communication, University of the Arts in London). The event focused on presentations and a round the table discussion which resulted in a strategy for 'Creative Education in Developing Communities'.

Back in 2013 I was working as a commercial designer for a studio in Cape Town but was also involved with a South African NGO who was helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain education, training and the skills required to find employment. The event was a great opportunity to gain a valuable insight and to meet others doing great work within design education.

There were many fantastic points and observations raised during this inspiring event which ended up running way over its two and half hour time slot. During the close of the seminar we identified six key areas of focus.

1. Recreate the village

2. Learner-focused

3. Communicate - inspire educate

4. Open / holistic learning

5. Redesign education

6. Embrace change

After the event, many of us exchanged contact details and over the two years to follow have kept in touch, continuing the discussion on improving Creative Education in Developing Communities. A huge thank you to Neville Brody, Lawrence Zeegan and of course Design Indaba for organising this very worthwhile event for which has created a valuable legacy.

Last year I was unable to attend the event, as I had just become a father. The 2015 Design Educators Indaba will feature a line up of top Dutch design-thinkers who have worked in areas ranging from water management to health and agriculture. I would really like to hear from any attendees of either the 2014 or 2015 event and weather the event was as rewarding as the original seminar.

20 Years of Design Indaba

The World-renowned 'design Indaba' conference takes place each year in February at Cape Town’s CTICC conference centre. The event sits at the top of the design community’s calendar with the three-day program including presentations and insight from both the worlds most established and celebrated creative professionals along with local up and coming talent.

Renowned graphic designer Michael Bierut has helped host the conference since 2010 and will be returned this year to also present. This years (2015) distinguished speakers included co founder of the world renown advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, Dan Wieden who was the brain child of the Nike tagline "Just Do It", Stanley Hainsworth who has held senior creative positions at Lego, Starbucks and Nike and Pentagrams Emily Oberman. Managing director and founder of the Design Indaba is RavI Naidoo who was also the brainchild behind Interactive Africa, responsible for high profile projects including the “First African in Space Mission” as well as the marketing for South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 Football World Cup.

Now in it's 20th year, the conference has seen talks from many of the greatest creative minds of our time including: Massimo Vignelli, Michael Wolff, Vince Frost, David Carson, Wally Olins, Paul Sahre, David Carson, Stefan Sagmeister, Alan Fletcher, Neville Brody, Jonathan Barnbrook, Peter Saville, Paula Scher, Erik Spiekerman, Louise Filli, Steven Heller, Matthew Carter, John Maeda, Seymour Chwast, Sir John Hegarty, Alberto Alessi. If you follow my twitter @ToddADesign you'll know that I had been re tweeting some of the inspirational quotes from this years conference. I have included just some of the highlights below.

INSPIRATION AND QUOTES FROM DESIGN INDABA 2015

STANLEY HAINSWORTH
"If you’re not doing what you love then I think you’re crazy.”
"Crazy hair has its advantages. People come up and talk to you."
Stanley Hainsworth makes it a point to talk to everyone. Human interaction is our most meaningful tool.

ROSITA MISSONI
"Colours are like musical notes. You can play endless games."

EMILY OBERMAN
It took Emily Oberman 37 minutes from brief to delivery to design logo for UN's Global Response to Ebola.

PEPE MARAIS
It tastes better and feels better, no matter how serious the issue, when you have fun.

ROBBIE BROZIN
CEO of Nandos SA "It took us 10 years to become an overnight success."

SHUBHANKAR RAY
"Get people horny for product and make a horny brand."

CASEY NEISTST
"I must be the first dad in history to skateboard to his daughter's birth."

YONI BLOCH
"Music videos need to be seamless because (as someone told me) the eyes blink but the ears don't."

DAN WEIDEN
"Chaos is the only thing demanding you make something that matters.”
"Chaos does this amazing thing that order can't do. It shows you all the weird shit that order tries to hide."
"If you want to create a creative organisation you should forget everything static. Static is the last thing you want."
"Fail harder. You have to be able to fail."
"We couldn't even afford a phone when we started. We had to use a payphone down the hall."
"You wake up one morning and you're a network."

MICHAEL BIERUT
"I go to several conferences all over world. I guarantee you this is the best conference in the world"

Please visit the Design Indaba website here.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM DESIGN INDABA EXPO 2015

2DO
These products, designed by Deanne Viljoen, don't just look beautiful but were also so smooth to open and close. The 2DO range is a stackable system and each product is made from sustainable birch plywood, water based inks and are hand finished.
For more information contact: info@desteyl.co.za

Maneki
My wife and I both loved this range of products including sugar spoons, teaspoon sets, salad and cutlery sets, ceramic tableware, leather handbags and jewellery. Beautiful products with real personality.
For more information contact: maneki@maneki.co.uk

Design Team
We also really love these patterned fabrics. The business focuses on design and print inspired by South African inspired textiles. My wife bought a folder and their range of fabrics were printed on everything from cushions and hand bags to large wall hangings.
For more information visit: www.designteamfabrics.co.za