What do you get when you mix a little American ingenuity with German engineering? No, not a VW, but something just as cute. A new logo? Perhaps. Here at openbox9 we recently wrapped up a new logo for American Institute of Contemporary German Studies (AICGS), and would like to share with you our process of creating their new identity.

AICGS works to strengthen relationships between the US and Germany in an ever-changing economic and political landscape. They analyze developments and trends in Germany, Europe and the US, providing networks and promoting dialogue among business, political, and academic communities. The new AICGS logo needed to convey partnership between US and Germany while remaining neutral, as well as hinting at the global nature of AICGS’ research and analysis.

In this case study I’ll be focusing on the process of creation for the final logo. We presented 6 concepts initially, after sketching pages upon pages of ideas. Below is a progression of a few initial sketches– from one of the earlier ideas on the top left corner to the one we chose to work with on the bottom right. The concept for the logo was motion and interaction between two points of the globe, taking visual cues from bridges and transatlantic flight routes.

After working with the idea on the computer, this was the rough black and white concept we presented to AICGS:

Some merits of this idea were that it portrayed the idea of partnership and that the icon and name were contained in one mark, but it needed to be pushed to show more motion and dimension. So we worked on refining the shapes while also starting to work with color.

During refinement, we explored several options to beef up the curves and create more depth to the logo. A large part of the refinement involved getting the curves drawn correctly, with consistent widths and ending points to fit the typeface.

After rounds of revisions and refinements, we arrived at the final mark. We explored many options for color but decided it was best to stay within the color scheme of the previous logo, to help carry over some recognition between the two identities. Adding additional blues to the logo helped create depth to the mark as well. Once the mark was approved we developed the lock-up with the mark and full name. I could probably write another post just on the process of refinement of the typography, but I won’t bore you with those details.

The final logo reinforces AICGS as an organization that is focused on building a strong partnership between the U.S. and Germany. Like the partnership they aim to achieve, the overlapping lines signify motion and interaction between America and Germany, forming a circular shape that conveys a global network.

It’s been great to help move the visual identity of AICGS forward in a fresh direction, and a great experience working with them on this project. Looking forward to collaborating on many more!

View the accompanying stationary, new website and other AICGS projects »

Be cool.

A chair is something you’ll be seen a lot in, so look good sitting in one. When thinking ideal, one has to suspend reality that one can afford these chairs…

Be cool some more.

Nothing irritates a human more that an uncomfortable chair. Make sure the lower back feels your love for it – prove it with cushions made of twinkies (added benefit – warmed snacks for the team after about an hour of sitting)

Swivel n Roll

Getting up from a chair to talk with folks should never happen. My chair will swivel and if needed, roll over to a person despite the terrain — I’m talking Tonka truck wheels.

Refreshments

Hydrating is important to staying alive and a chair should not jeopardize my life. My chair will house a tub of watercooler quality liquid.

Stay fresh

Some might want to roll their chairs to you — a chair should help you smell your best and spare you from bathing. The fabric of my chair would be made of wet-wipes.

Reduce number of seats

Why do we need so many personal chairs? Parents know that their baby’s car seat also makes for a great carrier and rocker. My cool-guy chair would have a dual function by latching into my car.

Weather Controls

I barely have to write anything here – everybody knows your back gets hot while your limbs go frigid. Temperature control is a must. While I’m at it, I want a chair that recreates the feeling of being outside during a crisp Autumn day.

Behold the Schafer BoBimBap-Seat 3000…

Ethnotraveler
Experience the crossroads of culture from your livingroom.  www.ethnotraveler.com

East Africa Ventures
A wonderful group of bighearts working to relieve Sudan through micro-enterprise strategies. eastafricaventures.org

GraceDC Downtown
An outstanding church with a new look and dynamite custom built features. www.gracedc.net

Mckinley Marketing Partners
Partnered with our friends at Design Army to develop a crafty recruiting tool for marketing geniuses. mckinleymarketingpartners.com

Atlas Theatre
We love the arts here, so we loved developing this WordPress site with our friends at The General Design Company. atlasarts.org

Cause Placement
Heard of ‘product placement’? Now wouldn’t it be great if non-profits could promote their causes in the media? www.causeplacement.com

Revive Your Heart also revived their website with our design and the crafty development work of Five Q. www.reviveourhearts.com

Razoo’s Live PC Give PC
24 hour barnburner event raising money for the causes of Park City Utah. livepcgivepc.razoo.com

Razoo’s Give to the Max Day DC
24 hour hootenanny event raising money for the causes of the Wasington DC area. give2max.razoo.com

Public Religion Research Institute
At the intersection of Religion and the Public square you’ll find this content rich gem of a site www.publicreligion.org

AICGS’s Global Leadership Awards Dinner
I love RunDMC, which means I love adidas. What great joy to design a site for the CEO of adidas who is being being honored. www.aicgsglad.org

Kathy Worek Group
Homes need a champion like Kathy to sell them, that’s why she needed a team like the designers General Design Company and developers openbox9 to build her a superhero website. www.kathyworekgroup.com

Printed projects can’t launch but people can now physically hand this to someone:

National Wildlife Federation’s 2010 annual report covering their work in the Gulf

What can openbox9 launch for you?!

Richmond Flying Squirrels

Not many Minor League team mascots have a reputation for being menacing, and the Richmond, Virginia Flying Squirrels might actually take the prize as Most Cuddly. The dynamic angle of the squirrel, the dark colors, and clever usage of an acorn make up for what it should lack in fierceness.

Asheville Tourists

Asheville, NC is known for the Biltmore, a 300-room estate on an 8,000 acre property. Gawkers come from all over to see it, prompting the local baseball team to name themselves the Tourists. Featuring a moon-headed kid (the team was once called the Moonshiners) swinging a bat made up of a traveler’s pack, this logo is sleek and historical. Who said graphic designers can’t be historians too?

Toledo Mud Hens

About as frightening a concept as the Flying Squirrels, the Toledo, Ohio Mud Hens actually pulls through and makes a Hen seem like one tough cookie. Never mind that a hen is technically a female; this bird’s got ferocity written all over him.

Frederick Keys

Frederick, Maryland is the birthplace of Francis Scott Key, the writer of the Star Spangled Banner. The logo pays homage to this, celebrating the “rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air” that made Key and his home famous. Its black and orange comes from its affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles.

Fort Wayne Tin Caps

The Tin Caps insignia features an apple wearing a little tin cap (surprise!) Why though? As history has it, Fort Wayne, Indiana is where John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, spent his last years. He’s even buried in the city. The typography drives home the “tin” look, with bolts in the corners of the letters.

While they might not be as well known as their Major League affiliate, they sure do have a lot more spunk and history involved in every bit of their designs. As the summer finishes up and you head to one last baseball game or two, be sure to check out their logo. A little thought goes a long way.

Did we miss your favorite? Disagree with these? Let us know in the comments box below!

If millions of people have been affected by this series, wouldn’t it make sense for its influence to creep into our lives in unexpected ways? I’m sure you’ve heard of the College Quidditch Leagues (Go Virginia Tech Phoenixes!), and how wearing scarves with thick stripes is considered very cool (or maybe I’m just very dorky) but it is much more subtle than that. Designers take cues in all shapes and forms from the series whether they directly know it or not.

Harry Potter influenced design is like the boy himself: strong, genuine, honorable, and whimsical. Harry is full of heart and sincerity and when a design emulates that, it’s easy to see his qualities shine through. The edges are rough, the colors are subdued, and there’s something that makes you stop and stay a while.

Harry Potter influence: the Library effect

Colors are neutral, books are everywhere, and the message is to the point. Hermione would be so proud.

Harry Potter influence: Badges

Badges are big in Harry Potter. They symbolize which house you belong to, but more importantly unify a group of people with similar qualities and character traits. Wouldn’t you like to stand behind something honorable and steadfast?

Harry Potter influence: Letterforms

The well known “Harry Potter typeface” is the epitome of the brand. This look of “old school lettering” – Serif fonts and script faces – is on the rise.

Harry Potter influence: Wisps

Swirls run rampant through the books and movies. They are other-worldly and ethereal. This example in particular reminded me of one of my favorite part of the movies: an animation sequence of a story that is told to Harry and Co.

Harry Potter influence: Whimsy

While this example could also relate to the “badge” influence, there is a definite whimsical quality in both the artwork for the Harry Potter series as well as the writing itself. The Harry Potter story goes beyond just the typical doom and gloom, good vs. evil plot. JK Rowling successfully takes you on a journey where you meet up with the likes of the Weasley twins magical joke shop and flashbacks of Harry’s parents mischievous exploits among countless others. The books are above all a fun read, and fun to use as design inspiration.

Have you noticed a design somewhere that seems Harry Potter-esque? We’d love to see it. Share with us in the comments section below.

1. Pinterest.com

Open Pinterest up and feast your eyes upon hundreds of beautiful pictures. From outfits to typography to food to crafts, Pinterest has an unimaginable amount of opportunity for inspiration. In order to “re-pin” or add “pins”, you must be a member (sign up and wait in a line, or ask a friend for an invitation), however you can scroll through and see all the images without needing login info. A benefit of membership is the ability to re-pin images you like onto “boards” that you make for yourself. The more pins you collect, the larger your creative board gets.

2. Tumblr.com

Tumblr is a blogging platform with an artistic twist. Sign up and then start following all the art, design, photography, quote, architecture, food, and movie blogs that you can; all of these will start showing up on your “dashboard”. The more you follow, the more results will constantly be streaming onto the dashboard, and the more satisfied you’ll be. Best of all, Tumblr is a blog at heart, and will be there you when you want to write about your summer adventures.

3. AIGA.org

AIGA stands for the American Institute of Graphic Arts, is the national graphic design organization that is critical for design networking and credibility. The home page of the site has recently been redesigned to feature design articles, trends, and even bios of current designers. It’s colorful, fun to look at, and feels very official – if it made it to the AIGA homepage, it must be good! Just a quick read through of any of the articles is enough to encourage creativity.

4. NOTCOT.org

We might be graphic designers, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pull inspiration from anywhere! Thanks to a good friend, who is also an industrial designer and photographer, I discovered NOTCOT. It focuses mostly on innovative product design, but delves into packaging design, graphics, photography, as well as all-over silliness: one of the first images on the page was Big Foot standing atop Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. What’s not to love?

5. Typographyserved.com

A big thanks again to Matt who introduced me to Typographyserved. Much like the before-mentioned sites, Typographyserved goes a step further and focuses solely on typography. A beautiful thing about Typographyserved is that it’s part of a network of “served” sites. A drop down menu at the top of the screen reveals “industrial design served”, “photography served” among others. Once you dry those tears of joy, you’ll have a whole new world to explore.

6. Fab.com

A new site, Fab.com is a creative hub with an emphasis on purchasing the work displayed. You won’t be viewing “101 things to do with a soup can”, but you’ll see designers hard work and dedication on display to buy. Scrolling through the site is easy and pretty to look at; each picture is high quality. You don’t have to buy anything to admire the designers’ craft, after a while though, you might want to!

7. Hypebeast.org

Our final site of summer inspiration is Hypebeast. Get up to date on all the latest in shoe design, clothing design, art, music, culture, and events. Just by reading the description is exhausting. All the content is extremely up to date and very international; after taking a quick spin through the ARTS section, I now want to visit the Gagosian Gallery in Hong Kong, ASAP.


We just supplied you with enough content to keep you inspired, motivated, and creative for days – you’re welcome! However, there is no shortage of sites out there to fawn over. Have fun and don’t forget, you can find creativity anywhere!

Chicago with your baby blue and twinkling stars – this is a cutie pie design.

Can you see the stars square dancing in Tennessee? Nice use of a blue stripe.

Bold stripes with an inviting bird makes me want to visit Uganda.

Butt kicking machine for a symbol – I’ll not invade this island.

Passion. Love of Nature. Oh Canada you are huggable.

I can not think of any better simple use of stripes that create such energy.

Stars over the Potomac and Anacostia – brilliant.