Comments for Brandacadabra

Comment on Why Should Ikea Listen to Designers? by Marius Ursache

Marius Ursache — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:20:01 +0000

Thank you, Catalin. You have a point, indeed. But I still think that Ikea should care more about design, at the same time while caring about improving quality of their products. While I cannot give a verdict regarding product quality, I can tell you I am ashamed of their new typographic approach.

Comment on Why Should Ikea Listen to Designers? by Catalin

Catalin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:46:40 +0000

Marius, I am working in the business of furniture fittings and accesories, incuding those used in Ikea furniture. Naturally, I talk to a lot of people who produced for Ikea, supply fittings to Ikea and so on.
My opinion about Ikea:
- they really do not care about the design itself, they use the design just to sell and that’s it. If Ikea will find out that using Arial and Times New Roman will give them important savings they will not hesitate to use those fonts.
- it is well known the Ikea crushes their suppliers, and the only things that matters is price. There are many stories when they gave some credit to their suppliers to buy machines to increase the capacity, and after that they used this against their suppliers and dumped them even if they went bankrupt.
- Ikea furniture is expensive comparing to the quality provided. Go with a professional small furniture producer and will show you a lot of flaws on their furniture.
So why bother if they changed a typeface?

Comment on How to Choose a New Logo by Mike Rohde

Mike Rohde — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:14:29 +0000

Marius, this is an excellent list of criteria. Thanks for capturing these thoughts in text.

I find item 7 “Intrinsic vs. acquired meaning” most challenging to sell to clients if it fits their branding needs, but most rewarding if they understand.

Sometimes intrinsic meaning is hard to ignore in a brand and the idea seems to almost present itself.

But generally speaking I like acquired meaning logos, if they fit a brand, since as you mention, they can adapt to the brand over time and are not limiting the business to the initial concept.

Thanks for featuring one of my logo design sketch photos in the article! I’m honored to appear here, on the blog of a respected colleague in the field.

Cheers!

Comment on Is Design Art or Also Science? by Bogdana Frunza

Bogdana Frunza — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:02:14 +0000

It’s funny, in architecture we are at the opposite end… (but face a similar dilemma), trying to convince clients that design is more than accommodating needs, or meeting safety issues. the typical client for the typical firm does not expect “art” to be part of design… unless it’s profitable. but you know what?… that’s how architects advertise themselves (specialists at accommodating needs and providing safe shelter).

Comment on When ugly is good by brandcore

brandcore — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:15 +0000

Cred ca logoul de mai sus…face parte si el dintr-un trend…exact ca si 3d-urile, 2.0 etc.
Stilu este peste tot..inca ma si enerveaza…toate ilustratiile si digital art-urile au mai nou un look sketch like.
Cred ca un logo ar trebui sa arate..in felul inc are la face Paul Rand.
Din pacate toti tebuie..sa ne prostituam..cu cate un gradient si un shadow pt un banut..in plus..
cheers! si felicitari pentru worku de calitate

Comment on Seven Questions Some Brands Are Asking About Twitter by Marius Ursache

Marius Ursache — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:14:50 +0000

Yes, but it’s easier to push promotions and sweepstakes, begging to get some attention (traffic in this case). Who cares that, by lacking relevance, the client initiative does not generate any valid, sustainable benefits for the brand or product.

Comment on Seven Questions Some Brands Are Asking About Twitter by ivalki

ivalki — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:09:20 +0000

thanks for this post, it makes perfect sense :)
i would underline the following line:
“Spreading only crap corporate messages will make you annoying.”
People want to take benefit/enjoyment from your messages, they don’t really enjoy corporate brainwash(that much).

Comment on When ugly is good by Stefan Liute

Stefan Liute — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:37:27 +0000

If ‘good’ means useful, then this logo may prove to be good in the end if it is the visible part of a strategy like Marius suggested above.

If ‘good’ only means ‘aesthetically pleasing’, then it’s no good indeed. But logos are rarely made for art’s sake alone.

Comment on When ugly is good by Chris Myers

Chris Myers — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:38:27 +0000

You’re right, but that does not make it a good logo.