Hells Angels Canadian Colours
Design:
Client: The Hells Angels
Date:
Add comment August 27th, 2010
Brand
The Pop Shoppe Repackaging
Design: Amoeba Corp
Client: The Pop Shoppe
Date: 2009
Drawing deeply on consumers memories of this 70′s summer brand, with its wild flavours and colours, the designers created a familiar but fresh update.
Add comment August 26th, 2010
Snow White Soda re-branding
Design: POC Communications, Mario Berthiaume
Client: Technobev, St-Félix-de-Valois, Quebec
Date: summer 2010
Add comment July 21st, 2010
Westwood Hotel Identity/Branding
Design: Julien De Repentigny
Client: Westwood Hotel
Date: 2009
Add comment July 21st, 2010
Level Ground Trademark
Design: Subplot, Vancouver, BC
Client: Level Ground Trading, Victoria, BC
Date: 2010
The highlight of Subplot’s Okanagan Springs rebrand was a stylized wheat/hand symbol, emphasizing the brewery’s ‘hand-crafted’ product. Now the studio has created this two-handed mark for Victoria based coffee company, Level Ground Trading.
The logo is the centerpiece of a complete rebranding effort, which emphasizes the company’s focus on quality product and direct fair trade with small-scale growers. The design features two shaking hands styled as conversation bubbles; at the centre, an equal sign is formed by their overlapping shapes. While it’s tempting to question the anatomical correctness of this handshake and the negative connotations that go with it (two thumbs down), these are minor quibbles. The strength of the design is that it doesn’t demand this kind of over analysis – shaking hands and an equal sign – the message is loud and clear.
-Michael Erdmann
3 comments June 22nd, 2010
New Whitecaps Logo
Design:
Client: Whitecaps FC
Date: 2010
The much-loved Vancouver Whitecaps unveiled their new logo yesterday, in anticipation of the club’s first season with Major League Soccer (MLS). The new design dispenses with the familiar (and too literal) soccer ball on a wave motif, but tries to maintain some of the brand heritage with a blue and white colour palette.
In North America, garish, comic book style, team logos reign supreme and in this regard, the Whitecaps’ attempt at a “clean and efficient” design is refreshing. On paper it even sounds good – inverted Vs form abstract mountain peaks that are reflected in the ‘water’ below and compose the letters VW – the kind of concept that Rolf Harder, Ernst Roch or Hans Kleefeld might have knocked out of the park in their day. Unfortunately, the execution here is dull and amateurish. The static composition of the Vs, their clumsy relationship to the type, and an arbitrary silver border, all contribute to the visual clutter. While the club and the media describe the new look as minimal (presumably because it’s abstract and geometric), in reality the design is begging for a good edit.
It’s not clear from the official press release exactly who’s responsible for the final design; however, there are hints that ‘design by committee’ and a heavy-handed client might be to blame.
“… the new brand and logo following a 10-month consultation process that included world-renowned soccer brand adidas, Publicis Canada, Whitecaps FC ownership group, staff, fans, and season ticket holders.” – Whitecaps FC Press Release
“Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi, who has seen at least six Whitecaps-86ers logo changes in his years with the club, said there has never been more collaboration on a logo project than this one… …”Our owner [majority owner Greg Kerfoot] does not get involved much publicly, but this, for him, was a labour of love,” Lenarduzzi said. “He was very particular and very hands on — right down to the shade of the blues.” – Vancouver Sun
Understandably, reaction to the rebrand seems fairly underwhelming – it’s hard to imagine fans getting too worked up about such a banal design. With any luck, the club will see this design as a half step in the right direction and rework it sooner rather than later.
-Michael Erdmann
3 comments June 9th, 2010
Honibe Honey Drop
Design:
Client: Honibe/Island Abbey Foods Ltd.
Date:
This packaging reminds me of the brightly coloured, adorable products I found in shops while living in Taiwan, but it is actually homegrown on Prince Edward Island. Contained in this charming honeycomb-inspired box, the Honey Drops are individual servings of 100% dry honey, also honeycomb shaped. Trademarked, it is apparently the only product of its kind: portable, non-sticky dry honey. Seems slightly packaging-heavy (individually wrapped), but it definitely stood out on the shelf. The colours pop and the box is cute and unique, but the brand name “Honibe” gets to me a little as my eyes want to read it as “h-on-eyeb” even though I know it must be “honey bee”.
-Hannah Wise
Add comment June 1st, 2010
President’s Choice Tiger Tail Ice Cream
Design:
Client: President’s Choice
Date: 2010
I am not sure whether Tiger Tail (a.k.a. Tiger Tiger or Orange/Black Licorice) is a specifically Canadian flavour of ice cream, but I know from experience that ice cream parlours across our fair nation have been phasing it out over the past many years. It has become increasingly difficult to find until now! PC is bringing it back and I know some avid fans are going to be very happy to once again have easy access to this quirky flavoured treat!
-Hannah Wise
4 comments May 30th, 2010
Toronto Unlimited Logo
Design: Brand Architecture International and TBWA\Toronto
Client: City of Toronto / Tourism Toronto
Date: 2005
Launched on June 23, 2005 amid controversy and criticism, the Toronto Unlimited logo seems to have retreated from its initial push. Put out there to represent Toronto and its limitless possibilities, it seems more like a generic logo to punctuate tourism campaigns in other locations. I personally fail to see how this little drop graphic represents the incredible diversity and possibility that is our fair Hogtown. I still wonder about the undeniably similar Bahamas campaign, which apparently came first. Coincidence? Or does it even matter at this point?
Click here for more information on Toronto Unlimited.
-Hannah Wise
4 comments May 7th, 2010
Preventable.ca Campaign
Design: Wasserman + Partners, Vancouver BC
Creative Director: Liam Greenlaw
Client: Preventable.ca
Date: 2009
The campaign is all about awareness and the prevention of injuries in everyday life. The campaign has been designed to drive traffic to preventable.ca, where visitors can share stories and discover how to prevent catastrophe. Preventable injuries are one of the leading causes of death for British Columbians, claiming the lives of more children in the province than all other causes combined.
-Todd Falkowsky
Add comment April 29th, 2010
The Blanket Statement
Design: various
Client: Hudson’s Bay Company
Date: 2009
Photo: www.iwantigot.geekigirl.com
In December 2009 The Bay introduced its new Hudson’s Bay Company collection – an aspirational Canadian lifestyle brand featuring fashion apparel, accessories, home decor and specialty seasonal items. To celebrate the launch of the collection, ten Canadian fashion designers were invited to create one-of-a-kind coats from a Hudson’s Bay Company Point Blanket. Comrags, Erdem Moralioglu, Harricana par Mariouche, Jeremy Laing, Klaxon Howl, Krane, Lida Baday, Pink Tartan, Smythe and Todd Lynn participated. Each was given a Point Blanket in the colour of their choice to create a contemporary coat.
There were no limitations on the imagination and creativity the designers brought to the table. The resulting gallery-worthy showcase pieces included a vast range of styles, including: bomber jacket, three-quarter length men’s and women’s car coats, capelet, and a full-length fur-trimmed coat – including one silhouette with a bustle!
A special order of 100 units of the Smythe design – a hooded swing coat – was made for sale at the 2010 Winter Olympic Superstore in Vancouver. The coat retailed for $695. Its success may help convince The Bay to once more consider producing blanket coats commercially.
-Via
Add comment April 14th, 2010
Blundstone #494: The Eh! Boot
Design:
Client: Blundstone Footwear
Date:
To celebrate 10 years of Blundstone in Canada, we proudly offer you the Eh! boot. Built on the fantastic new Chunk Sole sole with the distinct kick toe styling, this limited offering allows you to celebrate being Canadian while at the same time allowing your feet to celebrate comfort. On their own or in conjunction with the Canadian flag on your knapsack – the Eh! boot is a great way to let the world know where you’re from. - Via
The sentiment might be a bit kitschy (I never wanted to be the Canuck with the flag on her backpack), but when I saw these on a friend I was struck by the playful homage to our cultural heritage: a subdued flag on the side of the boot, with a small, almost hidden “EH!” on the rear tag. A limited edition celebrating the company’s presence (and seeming success) in our country. Nice.
- Hannah Wise
Add comment April 6th, 2010
Regina City Brand (logo)
Design: McKim Cringan George, Winnipeg MB
Client: City of Regina, SK
Date: 2009
More on this story VIA.
2 comments March 23rd, 2010
Green Capital Campaign
Design: Haymaker Creative
Client: City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission
Date: 2009
1 comment March 21st, 2010