Comments on: Urban Green brand identity design

By: Michael Bierut talking logos | Logo Design Love

Michael Bierut talking logos | Logo Design Love — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:21:59 +0000

[...] Urban Green [...]

By: Ren

Ren — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:55:20 +0000

I can definitely see the “urban” but where’s the green–that is, aside from the little green bars and/or green background that aren’t really part of the logo? (Or maybe it’s just because I’m stupid, therefore can’t see the brilliance/thought-process that went to integrating the “green” part to the logo but since I’m actually part of the “normal” intelligence standard of the audience for that logo, I think my question has–at least–a little bit of validity.)

By: Clark Hewitt

Clark Hewitt — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:02:31 +0000

I used to be really interested in logos. Somehow, I talked a committe guy at IBM to send me a “non maticulated” three week class at the Rhode Island School of Design. I considered this to be the center of mass of this discipline.

Then, 20 years later, I started a business and needed a logo. Our best engineer suggested one of the thundering herd of web-based designers who discuss things for half and hour and emails 10 sample of the most confusing rats’ nest of other-worldly objects… well. That cost not much but time.

I suggested we look at some really effective, global logos: IBM’s logo is, uh, IBM. Oracle, “Oracle”. Coca Cola, on and on. All the effort I learned about in Rhode Island for 6800 bucks was about subliminal suggestion in logos. The only possible exception to this rule is a very subtle, probably NEVER noticed even by employees, is the FedEx logo. If you look closely at the EX, there is a subtle Right Pointing arrow. That’s cool, but hardly anybody knows it’s there.

I do support the stylization of company names. For example, in the “URBAN GREEN” example, will ( maybe already is) just the ticket. Any more out to the asteroid belt with symbols is the guarantee of impending logo retread.

By: Brandon Hunter

Brandon Hunter — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:02:08 +0000

I will admit that at first glance I was not feeling this logo. After reading this post it all makes a lot of sense to the choices made. The very ugly block type almost becomes beautiful as it truly makes the organization behind the logo much more communicable.

Great post!

By: Stephen Webb

Stephen Webb — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:20:37 +0000

This is certainly a well-researched logo and I’d have to agree with the designer’s comments about it reflecting the density of urban life. The usage of a bold, sharp edged condensed font certainly matches the comments, reflecting blocks and the lack of space.

There has been a nice choice of colour in this design too, with the lime green contrasting well against the black. I think the choice of font for the council text is also particularly well thought, it is clear and bold but contrasts the logo font.

The website design seems quite sparse but this works well with the concept, and usage of a large main photo draws attention to the page. The menu and usage of the green block at the top is effective, and I like the way the page has been divided into three columns. I look forward to seeing more identity designs covered, as this was a great choice.

By: Amanda Vlahakis

Amanda Vlahakis — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:06:54 +0000

I like it!

Very nice in practical use as well. Goes great with the green chosen.

Particularly like the B and the A against each other, they remind me of building plans.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:14:53 +0000

That bag looks right out of a grocery store.

This logo looks “manly” way before “urban”. I keep seeing the numbers 69 and 99, unsure about the intent there.

By: Jeremy Bolton

Jeremy Bolton — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:40:11 +0000

I love the fact that the word green never appears in the color “green”. It may seem like a small design choice, but it cleverly creates a moment for the viewer in which they have to think about what the color green looks like. I think this is one of the reasons the logo is successful in capturing the attention of viewers.

By: Luke Southwell

Luke Southwell — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:26:06 +0000

The concept is really nice. Kudos to the idea. The text looks like an ambigram in a glance. It’s not that glamorous yet not that plain, I’d say it’s just the right fit.

By: Rob Lombardi

Rob Lombardi — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:43:56 +0000

There’s a cool optical illusion going on too. I see little black squares in the spaces where the corners meet between the top and bottom letters.