Advances in design.
by phill
Thanks to Chip Kidd, I’ve started looking at signage for the businesses along my commute. I’m no design student, but anything that distracts me from Perth drivers is fine by me. So just like the protagonist in his book, I’ve been noticing the annoying little quirks that a lot of the advertising around these parts has. My drive to university includes the industrial sprawl that is Welshpool Road. It’s filled with steel contractors, mining companies, heavy duty vehicle hire, all that sort of stuff.
Perhaps I’m being unfair then, in picking on places that probably need better sign design like they need a ban on wifebeaters. But this particular logo has stuck and continues to stick every time I drive past it. Take a look, and tell me if you can place it:
That’s right, it’s Office ‘97 Word Art! I used to use this to title loads of my reports in my first years of high school. High school. That’s around ten years ago. Like I said, these guys probably don’t need a lot of advertising to do their thing, but come on. Anyway, now I’ve got to look at this ugly thing every day. Thanks Chip Kidd. Really.
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Comments
Are you honestly telling me you’re only just seeing these terrible designs? I suppose after doing that graphics course probably spurred me into noticing them then, but geeez.
And be aware, you’ll start thinking, “Hey, maybe I could set up some kind of graphic design business and simply fix all of these abominations for a cash reward, for the owners of the business will be forever grateful I have saved them from design hell.”
I do believe someone owes someone an email, ie, you owe me, ie, start writing. Now. I’m on 6am shifts this week, I deserve it.
Well no, I’ve been noticing this one for about the last five and a half years. I was just spurred on by the read.
Hah, I’ll get around to it. Right after I work out how to sleep, drink coffee, and work at the same time.
No excuse! Be in three places at once! Cut my milk!
My oven can cook…bits of oven!
Phil, try living with a graphic designer who points these things out -everywhere you go.-
In MineArc’s defense, they did choose a fitting gradient, assuming the “Mine” part has to do with tearing up the lush green ground and getting to the dirt underneath. It’s the small details that really make a difference in design. Kudos, MineArc, kudos.
…and, of course, the name is written IN an arc. So, in effect, they are playing a witty joke on you and it went right over your head, college boy.
Alternatively, they got the work experience kid to do it while they whistled at nudey mags. Either way d:
Dude, I’m not looking forward to working our way around Europe:
Lou: “Oh look at that building! The curves, the sleek integration of space into the functionality of uniform urbanalitilisationaryness…”
Me: “Where’s my drink.”
(please don’t hurt me lou)
Bring out Hulk Lou!!
i’d like to see hulk lou :P
Yes that extrusion is excessive and the grad is truly aboniable, in the words of Buzz LightYear – “you have my pity!”
Hehe, that’s funny. In Bangalore, we have an artist/photographer type who takes pictures of funny signs (not necessarily billboards) and makes huge collages of them. One I remember was a little shop that sold soft drinks and candy and newspapers that said “Sprite and Cock available here”. You’ll find lots of hilarious stuff like that here. I best part is how the maker of the sign managed to spell “available” correctly, but not a relatively easy four-letter word.
Anyway, not a design issue really.