http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:40:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4944 Meaningless logos too can get the job done Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:25:20 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4944 [...] brands, especially those competing for the same consumers. Apart from form of an identity, colour is heavily relied on to communicate something or evoke a feeling about the brand the mark [...] http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4894 Traditional graphic designers, endangered species of modern day - Mokokoma Mokhonoana Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:44:47 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4894 [...] rare that the person would buy the product because of the great use and choice of typography and colours on the package. Graphic design that is solely focused on the beauty of the layout is becoming more [...] http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4722 Logo design for Bothakga Design Studio — by — Mokokoma Mokhonoana Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:38:33 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4722 [...] apart from the clients mentioning that they didn’t have any colour preferences, I believe it’s a good practice not to rely (entirely) on colour as some (or all) meaning will be lost when the logo is forced to be produced in black+white or [...] http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4641 Mokokoma Mokhonoana Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:17:16 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4641 NguJaz, Thanks for the creative rationale for Nike's logo. I get your argument, all I'm saying is that "identity" in this context refers to a logo. And my argument is that you don't really have to understand a brand message to identify the brand — the more distinct the logo is the easier it is for people to identify the brand through its logo. The thing is that most identities have a meaning behind them, but we identify the brands behind the logos by the logos NOT the story or message behind. Thanks for sharing your views.
Thanks for the creative rationale for Nike’s logo. I get your argument, all I’m saying is that “identity” in this context refers to a logo.

And my argument is that you don’t really have to understand a brand message to identify the brand — the more distinct the logo is the easier it is for people to identify the brand through its logo.

The thing is that most identities have a meaning behind them, but we identify the brands behind the logos by the logos NOT the story or message behind.

Thanks for sharing your views.]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4640 NguJaz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:40:36 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4640 "A letter to my beloved potential client" was no doubt an insightful view point -- thanks for that. Although -- Nike, in it's emblem, DOES in fact suggest message of the origin its name, and connotes the "feeling" of the running shoes: 1. Nike is the name of the Greet God of Victory. 2. The god is depicted with wings on her back, or as winglets on the ankles of athletes. Erego -- The symbol depicts flight. The symbol is a "swish" and not a "tick"
Although — Nike, in it’s emblem, DOES in fact suggest message of the origin its name, and connotes the “feeling” of the running shoes:
1. Nike is the name of the Greet God of Victory.
2. The god is depicted with wings on her back, or as winglets on the ankles of athletes. Erego –
The symbol depicts flight.
The symbol is a “swish” and not a “tick”]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4639 NguJaz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:13:28 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4639 i'll make time to read the article perhaps we're speaking past each other. my argument is simple: to identify something, is to have understood the message of something --
perhaps we’re speaking past each other.
my argument is simple: to identify something, is to have understood the message of something –]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4638 Mokokoma Mokhonoana Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:16:07 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4638 NguJaz, <b>In short, for me a logo is more of a success when it communicates the intended client message mainly through it's form not colour.</b> Let's take Apple's logo for example, for as long as one doesn't temper with it's original form — it will not lose even a bit of what it communicates. Isn't a logo supposed to communicate the same thing regardless of how and where it's used? Same with people, I expect you to be of the same character, whether you're at home, work or church. To answer your third question: <b>I don't think an identity is the message, its core responsibility is to identify NOT communicate a message.</b> It just happens that some identities have a messages within them — both in, form and colour. A simple analogy: Mokokoma might be what I'm identified with but the name communicates nothing about the person being the 'name' — again, identity not message. This post <a href="http://mokokoma.co.za/a-letter-to-my-beloved-potential-client/" rel="nofollow">A letter to my beloved potential client</a> explains my last point best — to sum it up (should you have no time to read the article): <b>A logo's responsibility is to Identify NOT explain.</b> Thanks for your comment!
In short, for me a logo is more of a success when it communicates the intended client message mainly through it’s form not colour.

Let’s take Apple’s logo for example, for as long as one doesn’t temper with it’s original form — it will not lose even a bit of what it communicates.

Isn’t a logo supposed to communicate the same thing regardless of how and where it’s used?

Same with people, I expect you to be of the same character, whether you’re at home, work or church.

To answer your third question:

I don’t think an identity is the message, its core responsibility is to identify NOT communicate a message.

It just happens that some identities have a messages within them — both in, form and colour.

A simple analogy: Mokokoma might be what I’m identified with but the name communicates nothing about the person being the ‘name’ — again, identity not message.

This post A letter to my beloved potential client explains my last point best — to sum it up (should you have no time to read the article):

A logo’s responsibility is to Identify NOT explain.

Thanks for your comment!]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/does-your-letterhead-and-fax-sheet-communicate-the-same-message/#comment-4637 NguJaz Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:35:55 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/?p=2487#comment-4637 I have issues understanding this article: what are you saying exactly?! 1. Are you saying that designers should not create logos in colour? 2. Are you saying that companies who will be forced to use black & white versions of their logos not bother with colour versions since they will lose the colour message in black & white use? 3. Is an "identity" not inherently the "message" or "idea" of the brand? I don't know about you -- but I found most designers don't generically "advise" one-colour jobs, unless restricted by budget. And we're most always restricted by budget. 1. Are you saying that designers should not create logos in colour?
2. Are you saying that companies who will be forced to use black & white versions of their logos not bother with colour versions since they will lose the colour message in black & white use?
3. Is an “identity” not inherently the “message” or “idea” of the brand?

I don’t know about you — but I found most designers don’t generically “advise” one-colour jobs, unless restricted by budget. And we’re most always restricted by budget.]]>