UEFA EURO 2008™ Championship competition kicked off this afternoon, and it seems like a good time to discuss the identity and branding used for this tournament.

Back in June 2005, the UEFA EURO 2008™ logo was launched at a special ceremony at the Hofburg Place in Vienna, Austria. We were also introduced to “Flix and Trix”, seen in the header of this post. These two mascots, and the logo for the tournament were created by “English and Pockett Associates“, a London based creative agency.

The design evokes Switzerland and Austria’s mountain scenery and also the red and white colours common to both countries’ national flags.

The UEFA EURO 2008™ brand comprises of a variety of logo formats with a visual identity made of six individual and collective graphic icons, including three dimensional perspectives. The visual identity is produced in ten different color palettes.

Logo elements
The logo includes a variety of elements:

• Mountains
Welcoming. The love for nature and football is symbolized by the mountain embracing the football. The mountains’ stunning backdrop are central to the host nations, Austria and Switzerland.

• Typography
The word EURO is rendered in shades of red and symbolizes the unification of both Austria and Switzerland in staging this great event. The host country names are set in a confident and contemporary type face, with a rounded friendly feel.

• Ball
Inspired by the pure and rugged surroundings. The football is sculpted from stone and features the green forests and valleys of both countries. The pattern is based on contour maps of the Alps.

• UEFA arch
The mark of top European football.

• Colors
Red and white are the national flag colors of both host countries. The green core of the ball reflects the importance of nature in the region.

“Trix and Flix” have also been featured in a promotional video to further the branding and imagery of the competition. You can view the video here

Mascot action
The video sees Trix and Flix playing football and dancing in the mountains of Austria and Switzerland and in football stadiums, giving their growing legion of fans a chance to see the striking twosome in action. The video has been targeted at children and young people, but the organizers of UEFA EURO 2008™ hope Trix and Flix’s signature tune will be a hit with adults too.

Infectious spirit
With the real Trix and Flix being kept busy with their commitments to promoting UEFA EURO 2008™, the video will help the official tournament mascots spread their passion to parts of the world they cannot visit in person. While the video amply demonstrated their footballing skills, it is also hoped that their infectious spirit will give fans a taste of the great footballing celebration to come in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

Video signatures
Produced by Swedish animators KAKTUS, the project has been in development since last summer and is expected to be the first of a number of animated clips involving Trix and Flix released as the final tournament approaches. A 20-second animation of Trix and Flix’s unforgettable goal celebration is being planned which, along with a number of other sequences, may be used in the stadiums at the finals to capture the imagination of fans and players.

source: http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/

Related Links to this post:
About UEFA : The Organization
Official UEFA Euro 2008 Tournament Website

Previous UEFA Euro Logos and Identities:
UEFA Euro 2004 – Portgual
UEFA Euro 2000 – Belgium / Netherlands
UEFA Euro 1996 – England

What do you think of the current 2008 identity, with “Flix and Trix”? Do you think it will appeal to adults as well as children? Do you think these characters can inspire an atmosphere around the stadiums and cities hosting this tournament?

Last time in Part 3, we discussed “Proportions” in Logo Design Composition. This week,

The combination of different elements

When combining different elements in a logo, you run the risk of making the statement of the logo more imprecise. Hence you should weigh up which elements are necessary, and which elements degrade the statement.

Creating a logo that contains both an identity mark and text is not too hard, as is creating a text only logo. However, you need to sit back from the logo you have designed and determine if the balance of all these parts occur in combination.

It is better to not “load” logos that are made up of many stilystic elements with lots of text. Often, you will see a logo with a mark, a text element and a smaller mark or creative icon within the text. This can often lead to a busy overall logo design that fails to achieve what it needs to.

Next week, Part 5 – Distortion

Read all previous part of this series so far

Last week we discussed “Symmetry” as Part 2 of our seven part series on Logo Design Composition.

This week:

Part 3: Proportions

The relative size of the elements

Differences in size between the individual elements are often used to create a contrast. However, you should pay attention to not force the smaller element into the background.

All elements combined should result in a harmonical image.

It is often helpful to use a grid. For example, an element’s width in the logo could be used as the base of such a grid. To achieve a harmonical image, you could use half the width of the first element as the appropriate spacing from other objects or a scripture.

Another example is the logo’s “safety clearance“, or the space around a logo that should always be left blank. Considering a logo that consists of a figure part and a text part you could use the width of the figure part to define the safety clearance around the entire logo.

Take care when you design a logo with different proportions of the elements: The smaller part must be easily recognizable or legible also when the logo is used at a small size! Logos should still work down to a size of 2 cm

Next week: Part 4 : Combination

Last week we discussed “Format” as Part 1 of this 7 part series on Logo Design Composition.

Part 2: Symmetry

Humans perceive symmetry as harmonical. Visual things that are symmetrical provide a calming effect, and we recognize them more easily. Symmetry signalizes a form of stability. This is why we often use symmetry unconsciously in logo design.

Symmetry can be utilized in many kinds of ways:

Fourfold – that is, three times at angles of 90° – to create a symmetrical logo. You can also just mirror an element horizontally or vertically, so the elements occur twice.

Sometimes, symmetry is used to create an effect of reflection, e.g. the reflection on water or a shiny floor.

Next Week, Part 3 : Proportions

Is this too close for comfort?

In the latest installment in the Logo Lounge book series, “Logo Lounge 4″, 2 logos are featured within a page of each other.

Both use the exact same idea of the needle and thread.
Both were uploaded to Logo Lounge’s website in 2007.

“ZoomLoom” logo was created by Copia Creative, Inc. for the company “Styetex”

“Custom Stitch” logo was created by Admarc, also known as Senterbrands (Bart O’Dell).

It is always difficult to know which one to appreciate, or do we appreciate both of them for a design like this? Is this just coincidence that they both came up with a logo so similar around the same time period, and are both obviously members of the logo lounge website?

This post is not meant to say anything bad about any designers. It’s purpose is to bring up the topic of when logo designs cross!

What do you think? Too similar? Just a good design that two different designers had originally?

Other interesting blog posts about graphic design rip offs:

Just Creative Design – (Jacob Cass) – Graphic Design Plagiarism and Rip Offs
Mashable.com – Exposed: The 7 Most Blatant Web 2.0 Rip Offs
Godbit.com – LogoMaid : Imitation or Theft?
YouThoughtWeWouldntNotice.com

We met with the client in person and discussed the logo design brief. Here is a summary from the client on what the logo design should be:

“Simple and clean. I am going for a very professional yet fun and young image”

After a one hour meeting, we had developed a good idea of what the client’s business was about, what he wanted to achieve and what image the logo needed to present to his market. We created a document detailing the information for our logo designers and artists, and got to work.

We brainstormed one Friday morning, coming up with sketches and ideas for inspiration for this logo design. Here are a few ideas we came up with, and how they were developed.

1. VMA initials: The client wanted to see one concept using the intials of the company as the main image of the logo. The letter “VMA” are very similar in linear style, so we displayed them together with a custom font. Adding a slight gradient to the lettering and giving it a black background added that professional feel to the logo.

2. Circle mark, universal sign for victory: The inspiration for this logo came from the universal symbol of victory; the index finger and the middle finger pointed up together turned forward. We created a minimal and modern design for this symbolsim and enclosed it in a circle to balance the overall mark of the logo.

The victory symbolism also used the shape of the “V” in victory so it was used as an image with double purpose.

3. Font, and style: The third concept was a more text based identity, using a more stylish typeface.

The client chose the circle mark logo with the company name below as the preferred logo design to bring into the revision stages.

We agreed that this logo was the one that matched the brief perfectly and would allow us to really develop the concept into something special through revisions.

After more development and concept ideas came together, we hit it right on the mark!
We further enhanced the concpet of the victory symbol and the large “V”, and then we added another piece of inspiration to this concept.

Victory Marketing Agency will be a leading event staffing agency, so…with this in mind, we started to think about events, and staff, and what imagery and inspiration we could pull from this service.

The victory symbol of the two fingers, along with the “V”, provided the platform for the final piece to be added to the logo. Spotlights are a popular feature at events of all sizes, and instantly recognizable when beaming into a night sky. We added a bit of gradient styling to the logo and voila! We had a subtle spotlight symbol! The logo was done and the client was very happy with the outcome.

Like this logo and how it was developed? We can provide you with the same level of creativity and expertise in logo design. Contact us now

I received my copy of Logo Lounge 4 in the mail yesterday. If you don’t know what the Logo Lounge books are about here is a small summary from LogoLounge.com

The LogoLounge books have quickly become the best-selling series of design books in the Rockport line. That’s thanks to designers like you, who have become members of the LogoLounge.com site, simultaneously offering their work for consideration in future books.

The book presents the year’s best of the best corporate identities uploaded to the LogoLounge.com website by it’s huge member list. There is currently over 50,000 logos in their searchable database!

A small sampling of that, 2,000 to be exact, are included in LogoLounge 4, and as always, it will be a great book to escape in for some logo design inspiration.

One of my favorite things about these books is that it gives me a visual summary of the year’s logo design trends. There are many styles but most can be attached to a certain trend.

I particularly enjoyed learning about the "Autism" logo designed by Dino Design.

"I really liked the idea of using a classic, beautiful typeface like Caslon that is highly legible, and then deconstructing it with a few deft deletions. The missing strokes create an impression of strength and potential but with gaps. It is a word that is there, but not there. I think it is a perfect metaphor to represent this condition which affects communication skills and cognitive functions in increasing numbers of children."

Here are a few from LogoLounge.com where they discuss these trends for 2007.

Dos Helix

1.Design Firm: lwdgraphics Client: Chillosophy 2.Design Firm: Sumo Client: Science City 3.Design Firm: Demasi Jones Client: RCRH 4.Design Firm: Gibson Client: Women for Women

(read more about this trend here ) Rubber Bands

1.Design Firm: Koch Creative Group Client: MBM Study 5 2.Design Firm: Substrate Client: Zilo 3.Design Firm: Grafikonline Client: Guba 4.Design Firm: Enterprise IG Client: Invista

(read more about this trend here )

Radiance
1.Design Firm: Cato Purnell Partners Client: Skywest Airlines 2.Design Firm: Gardner Design Client: The Center 3.Design Firm: LandDesign Client: Sunhaven 4.Design Firm: Siegel+Gale Client: SunTrust (read more about this trend here )
Eco Smart

1.Design Firm: Gardner Design Client: Dandurand 2.Design Firm: Ulrichpinciotti Design Group Client: Resources for Healthy Living 3.Design Firm: Eggnerd Client: Greenhill Academy 4.Design Firm: Steve’s Portfolio Client: Small Planet

(read more about this trend here )

Lit

1.Design Firm: Zed+Zed+Eye Creative Communications Client: Ebert Pool Construction 2.Design Firm: FutureBrand Client: Pure Tasmania 3.Design Firm: Sebastiany Branding Client: Caf?ao Lar 4.Design Firm: Cato Purnell Partners Client: Flower Factory

(read more about this trend here )

Pseudo Crest
1.Design Firm: Office Client: Independent Studies/Target 2.Design Firm: Reaves Design Client: JCPenny Nation 3.Design Firm: Miles Design Client: 12 Gauge Wakeskates 4.Design Firm: Launchpad Creative Client: Astonish Entertainment (read more about this trend here ) Urban Vinyl

1.Design Firm: San Markos Client: webpublica 2.Design Firm: Innfusion Studios Client: Innfusor 3.Design Firm: Glitschka Studios Client: Fire Squad 4.Design Firm: Tactix Creative Client: Cyclops

(read more about this trend here )

Hubs
1.Design Firm: Selikoff+Co Client: Pomology 2.Design Firm: Starlight Studio Client: RM Custom Creations 3. Design Firm: Brent Leland Design Client: Haciendo 4. Design Firm: Demasi Jones Client: Fibre Optic Australia (read more about this trend here ) Descending Dots

1.Design Firm: Ardoise Design Client: Raymond Engineering 2.Design Firm: Aron Creative Client: Springboard 3. Design Firm: Glitschka Studios Client: Windows Gaming 4. Design Firm: Brand Bird Client: Arby’s Franchise Association

(read more about this trend here )

Half

1.Design Firm: Fresh Oil Client: Spats Logo Concept 2.Design Firm: Thomas Manss & Company Client: Cutcost.com 3. Design Firm: Meme Design Client: Edge 4. Design Firm: Miles Design Client: Urban Forward

(read more about this trend here )

Overlap

1.Design Firm: Fitting Group Client: i-Squared 2.Design Firm: Cacao Design Client: Renza Morello 3. Design Firm: Matthew Schwart Design Studio Client: Agency Access 4. Design Firm: Gillen’s Army Client: The Electric Company

(read more about this trend here )

3D

1.Design Firm: Wolff Olins Client: djuice 2. Design Firm: Miles Newlyn Client: B 3. Design Firm: GrafikOnline Client: Aramova 4. Design Firm: Substrate Client: Palio

(read more about this trend here )
OpticaLine

1.Design Firm: MINE Client: Paradox 2.Design Firm: Face Client: Institute of Cancer Therapeutics 3.Design Firm: JDK Design Client: Zune 4.Design Firm: Elixer Design Client: Perspecta, Inc.

(read more about this trend here )

Ribbons

1.Design Firm: Seamer Design Client: Motek Trading 2.Design Firm: Ty Wilkins Client: Tulsa AIDS Walk 3. Design Firm: Square One Client: Cinema Fighting Cancer 4. Design Firm: Felix Sockwell Client: AIDS National Quality Center

(read more about this trend here )

Other trends that are here and emerging:

• Animotion: Noted at the start of this article, these logos are designed to be in motion as opposed to logos that are designed flat and then animated.
• Wreaths: Lots of elements, sometimes so delicate that they would not have previously been considered to be part of a logo design, assembled into a patterned whole.
• Rainbows: Possibly growing from the buzzword “inclusiveness,?likely emerging from clients?greater tolerance for brighter colors, but definitely fed by RGB.
• Numbers: Inserting a numeral into a word in place of a letter, ideally to further the meaning of a wordmark. Text messaging and IM-speak is everywhere.
• Holes: Designers are playing with the apparent surface of the paper. Designs appear to disappear into or emerge from sinkholes or cuts.
• Dragons: Lots and lots of dragons.
• Big benday: Hyper close-ups of benday dots. These dots overlap and randomize.
• Cartouches: Look for more and more shapes that are bracketed in one way or another. Resource: LogoLounge.com What are your thoughts on the logo design trends of 2007? Any favorites? Any trends you think LogoLounge.com missed? My current favorite from this list is the Rubber Band trend. It just presents a free-flowing image that is modern and relaxed. I may be a little weak as a mark on its own, depending on how it is designed though.

I recently found a contest website for designers, thanks to Michael McAlister, recently featured on the Freelancer Focus project. The site allows users to create contests, asking designers to submit entries to win the cash prize. I decided to play with this for a while last weekend, and it was definitely an enjoyable experience.

The first contest I entered was for a juicing distribution company, planning on opening up juice bars and printing their brand on all products and packaging. They created the contest to get a new logo for their company. So, I read the brief:

“We would like to see something that would fit our distribution aspect of the business and our retail aspect of the business.We need something smart and unique and something that would fit our distribution side of the business where we distribute juicing machines, and our retail side of the business where we open juice bars that sell freshly squeezed juices such as pomegranate, orange, kiwi, pineapple and many others including vegetable juice and wheat grass.

Our logo can be trendy, and fun, with a hint of sophistication and business like manner.”

 

This project seemed to me to be a fun first entry into the logo contest experience on this website, so I entered a logo after coming up with a creative, professional concept. They liked it right away and immediately I received 4/5 stars for my entry. There was also one other designer that received 4/5 stars, and I liked his entry also. Here are a few of the better entries for this specific contest.

Out of over 120 entries, my logo was chosen to be the best match for the client. The client had a few nice words to say and privately emailed me with this:

“Hi Brian, thanks a lot for all your designs, you are our favorite designer. You are very talented.”

Here is my winning logo, and a few variations of it, to present the possibilities for other media:

So, for designers, my question is this; Do you agree with logo design competitions like this? Have you ever entered a contest on logo design contest site like this? What was your experience?

I am slightly torn on this subject. On the one hand, these contests sort of cheapen the work of the designers (most logo design contests only have a prize of $100), they also remove the development process and close interaction between the client and the designer (this is often an extremely valuable process for creating a powerful logo for the client). On the other hand, it is a fun way for the designer to build up his or her portfolio along with the opportunity to make a bit of cash along the way.

I imagine that some designers make a living from almost solely spending their time on these design contests, but I am unsure whether or not this is a good thing for our market, as logo designers.

What do you think?