DESIGN CHATTER
Where Did The Hood Ornaments Go?
Jan 10, 2025
Jaguar had the Leaper. Mercedes had the logo proudly standing up on the hood. But that’s all become a thing of the past: where did the hood ornaments go? Hood ornaments were a critical part of automotive design, and for a good reason: they began as clever disguises for radiator caps over a century ago. Drivers loved the look of them, and they morphed into “car mascots” and were created into stunning works of art. Over time,
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Why DIY branding could hurt your business
Jan 10, 2025
Looking for ways to save money? Cutting costs on design and branding might be one of the first places to start. If you’re a startup or established small business, DIYing your branding and design is tempting because it removes the added expense of hiring outside resources or additional team members.
But what you save by doing it on your own could cost you much more in the future. Let’s get into why DIY branding is attractive,
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Creating a memorable brand identity with few design resources
Jan 10, 2025
Around here, we believe memorable brands aren’t just born. They’re created. However, if you’re working with limited resources, creating a new brand and doing it well might feel just out of reach.
Good news. It’s not.
Even in less-than-ideal conditions, you can create a visual identity that makes your company’s brand unforgettable. We’re going to share our tips for how you can make a memorable brand and visual identity when every penny counts.
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A New Look for Good
Jan 08, 2025
Rao’s Homemade, the pasta sauce company (if you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out) stirred up something special over the past holiday season: a first-ever limited-edition marinara sauce bottle label designed by New York artist Timothy Goodman. The artist, known for his bold, playful style, reimagined the classic Rao’s label with pizzazz, adding illustrations of basil leaves, garlic bulbs, and tomatoes, as you might expect. The resulting label is as delectable as the pasta sauce inside.
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It’s Nice That’s Graphic Design Year in Review
Dec 20, 2024
The end of year means it’s time for retrospectives! One of our favorite design inspiration websites, It’s Nice That, has collected their 25 most-read design articles from the last year, covering everything from Comic Sans hate, to deeper graphic design industry issues, like unpaid pitching, and explored the rise in the nostalgic charm of retro branding. From Matty Matheson’s 1930s-inspired packaging, to Cliik’s retro-futurist pantry designs, 2024’s favorites celebrated both the past and the current influences shaping today’s graphic design.
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You’re a Mean One
Dec 18, 2024
It’s the holiday season, and the Grinch has returned, but this time, he’s taking on music legends with his own grinchy twist on notable album covers. From Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet to Beyoncé’s Lemonade, the Grinch is making his mark on the album art on the official Dr. Seuss Instagram page. Whether he’s rocking a lipstick kiss like Sabrina, mimicking Beyoncé’s fur coat post (with his own built-in fur, of course), or turning The Dark Side of the Moon rainbow prism into a monotone green,
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