More logos

This three-color logo is visually interesting, but it is not clear why the V is a pink stroke. Again, they have a great slogan. Bravo to them for shying away from using a book in the design.

Looking closer at the sun icon, we can see a problem. Laying the gold over the pink could cause a printing issue such as blur or discoloration. It also looks a bit messy. The solution? Pull the stroke down a bit.

This logo is an animated gif. Click on the pic to see it in action. While it is neat to see different images of North Carolina, the logo needs some attention. It might not fax or copy well, and overall it does not have a positive visual impact. I want this logo to be more sophisticated and clean, befitting the organization.

Library Logos

A solid logo is one of the cornerstones of your library’s brand, and designing a logo takes a great deal of thought and skill. Three considerations should be made when creating this unique image:

1. Color: will the image look good in print and on the web?
2. Relevance: does the logo represent your library adequately?
3. Usability: what does the image look like faxed? can it be vectorized?

I randomly selected a few logos to analyze. Please don’t be upset if your library’s logo did not receive glowing reviews. Images are only used as examples to teach others.

I like this logo a lot! The boat represents their community very well, the colors are well chosen and easily reproducible, and the entire image could be converted to grayscale for faxing or laser copies.

The slogan in this logo is great, but it is hard to read on the curve. While this logo would probably look decent on a copy or fax, the small-sized font and sketch in the middle might not be readable. This image uses three colors (red, black, and blue), and could save some ink by making the blue text at the bottom black.

Academic Library Web Site Design

In her article “Engaging Users: the Future of Academic Library Web Sites,” Shu Liu compares the content, function, and design of 111 ARL college library web sites. She concludes it would be best for schools to implement a portal design (similar to the Harvard site below) but divide the splash page into user types such as student, faculty, etc. It’s an interesting read.

Liu noticed recurring design patterns on the analyzed sites:

• columns by category
• horizontal sections by category
• mixed columns and horizontal sections
• four equally divided sections with sidebar(s) (Liu, 2008)

She recommends that designers,

Reduce the intimidating appearance of library homepages’ by using as little text as possible to convey only the most necessary access points and by employing an appealing graphical design that accomodates usability and accessibility requirements. (Liu, 2008)

Her ideas are definitely something to keep in mind for your library’s web presence.

Liu, S. (2008). Engaging users: the future of academic library web sites.
    College & Research Libraries, 69.1, 6-27.

Harvard College Library

This gateway site for the Harvard College Library is a good example of simple, grid-based design. The colors are vibrant and inviting, the text is easy to read, and navigation is intuitive. The seal in the background is a nice touch. Notice how each area of the site works from left to right. I especially like the feature under “Hours” that lets you know the library is “Open Right Now”. It reminds me of Krispy Kreme doughnut’s neon beacon.

The Grid

Grid Systems by Kimberly Elam is one of my favorite graphic design books. It helped me to understand the importance of viewing type as a visual element instead of the words that are near elements. Dividing up the project space into a grid allows you to balance type, images, and white space. This layout strategy promotes a visual hierarchy in your design, and enhances visual communication.

Beginning with basic grids, Elam shows the internal structure of several designs. Velum overlays with diagrams illustrate the technical skill of typography. The examples in Elam’s book are drawn from advertising, both print and on-line. But you can apply these ideas to each piece you design.

Grid use is not only useful for high impact advertising; interactive tutorials should also be thoughfully designed. How does type placement affect learning? Where is the best place to put navigation buttons? Check out Elam’s book and watch your designs change for the better.

Amazon has it on sale right now for dirt cheap.

Call for Help

My singing teacher once told me that if I could think a note, I could sing it. It took me years to realize that she lied. I never quit singing (I am a legend in my living room) but I learned to stay in my range. Thinking those airy notes does not make them come out of my mouth correctly. And I know some soprano power houses to call should I ever need one. Hey, I can’t be an alto superstar and a bag of chips. This trot down memory lane is actually leading somewhere — know your limits and where to get help.

I was reading the latest post over at Jill Stover’s excellent blog, Library Marketing. Jill posted a library marketing initiative used at Lafayette College. Really cool postcards were created to promote individual research appointments with librarians. Who did the graphic design? Students workers!

No one can be good at everything, and the smartest people I know are the ones who know how much they don’t know. What would have happened to the postcard idea at Lafayette College if no one thought to ask students for help? Even the greatest ideas can bomb if they are not executed properly.

Students are a wonderful asset, and they are eager to show off their skills. Look in the art and journalism departments the next time you get stuck. Don’t let a great idea get away!

ALA Website Survey

If you haven’t had the chance already, drop in and take a look at the proposed redesign of the ALA website. This link will take you to the viewing pages, and you can complete a survey after looking at the new features. These pages will not function after January 31.

The survey asks some interesting questions about the impact of site design.

Old Vegetables

I buy vegetables from our local market, Richard’s Market Basket. The prices are better than major stores, and I like the owner. Richard, the shop’s namesake, knows everything about produce. He has been in the business since he was about twelve, and is now in his seventies.

One shelf in the store is reserved for wilted, bruised, or aging vegetables. This morning, I asked Richard who would buy these packages. They don’t look appetizing or healthy. He looked shocked at my question, and told me that value-minded people buy the old stuff. Looking past the spoiled outer layers, folks can get a good deal on the inside of an onion or the good parts of a squash.

He told me to watch a lady looking at grapes. She picked them up and quickly put them down. Richard said, “See, they don’t look pretty. In the big stores, produce is all about looks. If it’s not pretty it won’t sell.”

Marketing materials are like that, too. Our patrons are used to seeing high-end professional graphics everywhere they look. Why should things be any different at the library? Finely crafted handouts exude integrity. Given the choice, people will trust a message that looks good.

A side note on Richard: I was picking out a cantaloupe one day, and he came up and informed me that the one I had was not ready. He selected a melon that had brown streaks forming at the bottom end. Richard said that fruits begin to turn brown when their sugar is sweetest. Then, pointing to the top of his liver spotted hand, he said, “Just like me.”

Junk Mail

I just read this great post over at You the Designer about Direct Mail. Gino discusses the increased number of square direct mail pieces popping up recently.

But the best part of the post was the suggestion to collect direct mail. Yes, I mean KEEP your junk mail. Not everything, of course. But it is helpful to have inspiration pieces when you need a jump start. So next time the mail comes, sift through and decide what might be classified as keepable junk.

Color Preference

Everyone has color likes and dislikes, and these colors can change depending on our moods, age, and geographical location. I found an interesting study done by Joe Hallock in 2003. Click here to explore Hallock’s “Colour Assignment”. I think it is an interesting study, especially the section on associations. His findings are definitely something to consider the next time you start a new design.