Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: Anyone can do design.

164 Responses

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  • Angus Robertson,

    Selection will come down to who can facilitate a mutual reach around with John Banks/Len Brown/Rodney Hide, a job perhaps best suited to visual communication professionals.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    The fact is we don't need a Logo for the Council, we don't need to "Advertise" the Council. Do we have a choice of which Council we pay our rates to?.

    That seems a bit foolish. City councils take thousands of dollars off people every year, in return for providing services. If you're going to make people aware of what they get for their rates, branding all those things with your logo is the best and easiest way to do it.

    The idea that logos are only for organisations that are selling things misses the point.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    The idea that logos are only for organisations that are selling things misses the point.

    No the idea that a logo is important misses the point.

    The idea that a logo must be changed regularly misses the point.

    The idea that a logo must be perfect misses the point.

    The idea that a logo will make up for inadequacies in real services misses the point.

    Yeah it's nice if people can recognize that service x is actually provided by the council, but dear god first you have to get service x working and have money for it. That is the point.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    No effort is more important than ensuring a city logo is created, by professionals, that can carry us through the next century.

    Since there will be a logo, regardless of how ridiculous some of you seem to think that it is, would it be too much to ask that it's one created by professionals?

    Is this dismissal of design as a profession also, as Patrick Reynolds put it in his guest-blog

    ..a neat and neurotic corollary to our self-avowed anti-sophistication

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Since there will be a logo...

    Stop right there. We are not obliged to have a logo. We could become the world's first No Logo supercity.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    would it be too much to ask that it's one created by professionals?
    Is this dismissal of design as a profession

    Let me be clear. I think design is tremendously important. Good design makes a huge difference to how people live and the enjoyment they have in their activities.

    My sarcasm and loathing is directed at logos and people who's contribution to society is the perfect squiggle. To waste time effort money and creative designers on such nonsense makes me go argh.

    Design as a profession, yes.

    Logo design ... er not for me thanks, but feel free to spend your rates on it if you like.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    No the idea that a logo is important misses the point.

    The idea that a logo must be changed regularly misses the point.

    The idea that a logo must be perfect misses the point.

    Well I never claimed the 2nd or 3rd. But logos are very useful tools for an organisation that provides services, particularly a compulsory service like those funded by rates. Most people couldn't list all the services that their city council provides. Putting a recognisable city council logo on all those services helps address that. If you want buy in to a community organisation, people should know what it provides.

    Having a new logo for a newly mashed together city council is important. Currently all those services and buildings will have any one of half a dozen different identities on them. They all will need to be changed at some stage, so the new identity needs to be logo-ised before that happens.

    Yeah it's nice if people can recognize that service x is actually provided by the council, but dear god first you have to get service x working and have money for it. That is the point.

    Because clearly it's a zero sum game. All money for providing quality services by the Auckland Council is being redirected to a $10,000 logo competition.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Because clearly it's a zero sum game. All money for providing quality services by the Auckland Council is being redirected to a $10,000 logo competition.

    Which I agree is cheap. More than I would spend but still not too bad.

    But the OP wanted a "professional" to do it. Any guesses what that might cost.

    The real question is "why can't all those building have Auckland City painted on them and be done with it?" see, no logo needed really.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    We could become the world's first No Logo supercity.

    True. Although it's only a supercity for those familiar with the historical separation of Auckland into different councils. We're not yet at the stage of Judge Dredd's New Pacific City.

    Logo design ... er not for me thanks, but feel free to spend your rates on it if you like.

    Fair enough. We'll just have to disagree.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Stop right there. We are not obliged to have a logo. We could become the world's first No Logo supercity.

    Aucklands new logo, see below:







    Shall we request $80,000 or $100,000 for the design work?

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Not that I'd know, but I can't help thinking working up a winning public design into an actual specification might cost a bit.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    The real question is "why can't all those building have Auckland City painted on them and be done with it?" see, no logo needed really.

    If it's done consistently in terms of font and colour, then it is a logo.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Alien Lizard (anag),

    Aucklands new logo, see below:

    que? But, the emperor has no clothes!
    or is there a missing link?

    The Arrrgh Complex • Since Jan 2010 • 158 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Auckland. The space in between.

    (I think he was being existential. You know, the absence of expected presence)

    Come to think of it;

    Auckland. The absence of expected presence.

    Prefect!

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Wonderful design Angus. Shall we say "Minimalist"?
    I have to agree with most of what Bart said for this main reason.
    Design is about the balance between form and function, there is nothing good about a great looking machine that is awkward to use or functions badly for the sake of its looks. The utilitarian school of design had its place when utilitarianism was the fashion, PoMo is the current "Rasin De Turd" as they say in confused and pretentious circles of jerks, hence the Cat's Bum of Telecom.
    And that is the problem, fashion dictates taste, a self fulfilling disaster. As soon as we get used to identifying an entity by its symbol or logo we have some smart arse telling us that PoPoMo is De Rigueur and we are "falling behind in terms of current thinking and practice" squillions of megabucks later we are reintroduced to Neo-Clasicism and are forced to reinvent the wheel of fortune cookies or whatever.
    All we really need, as has been said before, is "Auckland Council" in a simple, readable and memorable font but if we want to play around here is an idea I think our resident Lizard would love.
    Nu Council Lack Ad

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Cloak unlucid can.
    Calico annul duck.
    Annual lucid cock. (Sorry!)
    Cacao duck ill nun.
    Caulk nun oil ac dc.

    And yes, I cheated.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I couldn't resist, honest.
    Anal Council Duck

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Here's a Logo for you "Auckland City Council" 20 letters and 2 spaces, I don't even care which font you use as long as it's readable.

    I count 18 spaces, not to mention the space above and below the words.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Typographer :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I count 18 spaces, not to mention the space above and below the words.

    Pendant. 22 actually if you count the contained space within the letters.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rik,

    Hahaha

    those works need experienced, professional, trained experts? Just like graphic design actually.

    Possibly nothing is quite as funny as a graphic designer or an information architect or whatever who feels professionally slighted by this sort of idiocy. ;)

    Yes, someone's being a wee bit precious here.

    There's lots of examples of people who are not particularly qualified to do something having a crack at it. I'm thinking...Michael Cullen, running a country's finances.

    There is a long-standing tradition for punters to provide artwork for the covers of the White Pages. You don't get professional artists forming picket lines and demanding that only they are qualified to provide said artistry.

    Perhaps an essential quality for a good designer would be a sense of humour?

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Holt,

    Not even a designer would suggest that a logo is going to address all Auckland's ills. However, if the city is saying "we want a logo", in the same way as say "we want a new parking building", or "a waterfront promenade", then why not get a pro to do it properly? Whether the city 'needs' a logo or not is a different discussion...but if the city decides it does, then a good designer will simply say "okay, so what are the requirements... what must the logo attempt to do, for whom and to whom?" Perhaps that's the area best left for public engagement: developing the brief.
    Something as diverse as a city is a pretty tough assignment as well, and no matter what is created, by whomever does it, the outcome will be derided and criticised... by many in this country (and PA forum) who seem to take a considerable amount of glee in criticising almost everything.
    One thing that NZers often take pride in is our creative community and how both art and design is well developed across a broad spectrum of amateur and professional forms. However, this needs better care and better regard from Auckland city, in this and other aspects... especially given their poor recent record in managing creative projects.
    Michael Holt http://www.gardyneholt.co.nz

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • James W,

    There's lots of examples of people who are not particularly qualified to do something having a crack at it.

    These people are called amateurs. When they get good at the thing they're having a crack at, they can become professionals. This is not to say an amateur will necessarily do a worse job than a professional, but experience and qualifications aren't just long words.

    This anti-artistry has tinges of the anti-intellectual movement to it. "What do the experts know? Bah, I could do that!"

    Since Jul 2008 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Alien Lizard (anag),

    Nu Council Lack Ad

    Nice!
    Taking a break from basking and tail regeneration, I'll rise to the bait....
    and see what we find hidden in there:

    click - laud noun ac

    u lick a cloud canon

    an icon, a duck cull

    annul a lucid cock

    lacuna - dock u c nil
    (tenuous waterfront reference perhaps)

    - all done by hand
    - the joys of procrastination!
    :- )

    The Arrrgh Complex • Since Jan 2010 • 158 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    There's lots of examples of people who are not particularly qualified to do something having a crack at it

    I blame these idol and cooking shows on tv for the idea that the whole amateur vs professional distinction is a con.

    But why stop at singing or cooking or graphic design? Why not let everyone have a crack at being an architect? Or an engineer? Or a neurosurgeon.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

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