Its not a surprise that companies like Pepsi and Coke which have been around since the late 1800’s sometimes feel the need to update their corporate identities. But the question remains, are these updates always needed? Do companies need to redo their entire identities to please customers?

Coca-Cola has had a consistent logo throughout the years. Once in awhile they will make small changes that stick very closely to the original design. Many feel (including me) that Coca-Cola is a true example of a timeless classic brand that is ultimately more effective than the Pepsi logo. Pepsi seems to be marketing itself as a kind of perpetual fad, always new, always exciting. Unfortunately in my opinion, they have been unable to obtain that classic feel that everyone recognizes as Coca-Cola. Instead, they launch mediocre logos constantly. For example, their latest logo has a minor change that adds nothing to their branding.

Making unnecessary changes is a waste of time. A designer’s job is to create a recognizable logo that will be able to promote the company for years to come.

Which do you perfer….Pepsi or Coke?

As a graphic designer, who wouldn’t want to receive these messages in their fortune cookies? I suppose they could apply to various other job genres as well, but I like to think that these fortunes were meant for me.

I was browsing the web just now and I came across this article on Logo Design Blog called How to use color in logo design to effectively communicate the right message.  Many people don’t realize this, but color can make or break a design. Color can be used as a tool to communicate as well as evoke emotion. Using the proper colors in design is an important skill to learn as an artist. Perhaps you want to create a feminine feel for a particular design. Although cliche, pink evokes femininity, innocence, softness and health. Take for instance the breast cancer logo below; a pink ribbon meant to imply femininity and health.

Its fairly common for companies to feel that its time for a corporate identity update. Whether it be a fresh new look, or something more modern, even the most famous companies who have world wide recognition of their branding, sometimes feel the need for some updates. However, the end result can be awesome, or a complete disaster. 25 Exciting Redesigned Logos Of 2008 is a look into famous corporate identities that have been around for years, but recently decided to try something new. Be sure to check the article out. Which redesigns are awesome, and which are a disaster?

As a designer, inspiration is key to coming with unique and creative ideas. Why not get inspired daily by adding some creativity to your workspace? 25 Creative Office Ideas To Make Your Workplace Look REALLY Cool shows some of the most creative office tools and gadgets that designers could come up with. My personal favorite, the delete key eraser, is below. Be sure to check out the link above for more fun and inspirational ideas!

Designers are always in need of stock photos. While I was in class yesterday, my professor directed us towards this amazing website called stock.xchng. Stock.xchng carries FREE royalty photos for commercial and personal use! These photos aren’t like the ones that you find on Google images which may be low resolution or even copyrighted. You can actually find a wide variety of high resolution images that are free to download! The idea is to exchange photographs between people who need them and people who are creating them which gives many an alternative to the expense of stock photography. You can browse the photos as much as you like, and if you find a photo you’d like to download, all you need is a free account.

Adobe Photoshop has managed to bring artist’s creativity to a whole new level. The powerful software makes it possible for artists to think outside of the box and allows for even the most unique images to be altered and created. Although most people use Photoshop for simple image manipulations such as lighting, cropping, etc… others take the software to extremes.

I came across 45 strange and funny Photoshop manipulations on the web this morning. Some of these images are extremely disturbing but some will leave you in awe.

Below is my favorite image out of the group. Check out the original blog entry on a site called  Graphic Design Blog. It will certainly add some inspiration to your day.

Check out this neat Vector Panda tutorial. The author shows step by step instructions on how to create a panda face icon from ellipses using Adobe Illustrator.  The great part about this tutorial, is that you can easily apply the techniques to other icons, illustrations, logos, or other projects that you may work on in the future. Below is my finished panda icon customized with a purple background of course!

Vector Panda: Final Image

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with The Pantone Formula Guide, this resource helps better manage print jobs and is an essential tool for graphic designers, pre-press professionals and printers.

The simple design of the Guide provides a convenient and portable color reference library that can accompany you at client presentations or on press runs. The guide contains a full range of 1,114 colors from the Pantone Matching System, with corresponding ink mixing formulas in parts and percentages to ensure the correct ink formulations are prepared.

I personally have found this guide to be VERY useful. People tend to get caught up with what color looks like on a monitor, but unfortunately when it goes to print, the spectral properties of the paper and or ink may change the perceived color. The Pantone Matching System allows for a more accurate color selection process and helps provide designers with a resource to present to clients.

Another useful feature for designers is that Adobe software actually includes swatch libraries with Pantone formulas preloaded. This allows designers to preview the color with realistic paper and lighting and easily find the exact same color with in the swatch library.

Healing Touch Massage Company Branding

This company branding package was made for a Massage Therapist who I actually work with at my “day” job. She decided to start her own massage business on the side, and needed some help with her company branding. As you can see above, I created her a logo, company letterhead, envelope, and a front and back business card. The look we were trying to relay was a sense of health, nature, relaxation, and peace. This was a fun design to work on and I believe the goal of the project was definitely achieved!