I’m having a hard time deciding if it’s the best or worst logo redesign of the year, but either way Urban Outfitters has unveiled a logo that’s so intentionally awful, just a month after Gap’s botched rebranding, that it’s really kind of genius.

Earlier this month, with a noticeable absence of fanfare, Gap unveiled a newly redesigned logo on their Facebook page, calling it “the natural next step” of their brand evolution. A day or two went by and the transition seemed to be going smoothly until users on Facebook and Twitter caught wind of the change and started airing their grievances. Common complaints were that it looked cheap and others predicted it would be the next Tropicana flop.

Less than a week later, Gap released a statement via Facebook announcing they would be abandoning the new look and looking to their fans for new logo options, a proposition that had some making accusations that the failed logo followed by an open call for designs smelled like a PR stunt. These further hostile reactions lead the brand to release one final statement announcing the cancellation of the crowdsourcing effort and return of the classic Gap logo, stating, “We’ve learned a lot in this process. And we are clear that we did not go about this in the right way. We recognize that we missed the opportunity to engage with the online community…There may be a time to evolve our logo, but if and when that time comes, we’ll handle it in a different way.”

Is social media a fad? Or is it a fundamental shift in the way we communicate?

“Social Media Revolution,” a video inspired by Erik Qualman’s Socialnomics™ blog, proves the overwhelming relevance of social media to YOUR brand.

We no longer search for the news. The news finds us. Welcome to the revolution!

I’m a list maker. Things to Do. Errands to Run. People to Call/Text/Email. I read once that the first item you should put on your list of things to do is “make a list” so you can cross it off immediately and feel an instant sense of accomplishment. I do this mentally on a daily basis.  I start out each work day with a task list, sometimes organized by priority. When I go to a meeting or have a conference call, I always have a notepad on hand so that I can take notes and add items to my “to do” list.

Making lists and taking notes is probably the easiest way to advance in your career and be viewed as a responsible employee. When your boss asks you to do something, write it down. When a client asks you to do something, write it down. That way, when you are questioned on the status of a project, you’ll never have to say you forgot. It’s that simple.

It’s Friday! So time for another fun-filled post on powerpoint tips. This week’s hot topic is: SIZES.  Believe it or not, size plays a crucial part in presentations.

If you’re presenting to a very important client, you don’t want them to have to squint to make out what’s on the screen. I’ve heard that the rule of thumb is to never have a size less then half the age of the oldest person in the room. Personally, I think 20pt is the smallest you should go, as it’s small enough to get in some more information if needed, but large enough to be able to read. You want everything on that slide to be easy to read and easy to follow.

Another important note is maintain a level of consistency throughout the presentation. All headers should be the same size and body copy or your content the same size. If you need to make  the fonts smaller to fit more content, make sure that’s its still clearly visible for the client to read on a screen.

When is it appropriate to compromise your designs? When is it ok to deviate from being the perfectionist you have trained yourself to be in order to handle a quick-turn project? When deadlines become unrealistically short, is the quality of a project supposed to follow suit?

I have come to the realization that the answer to these questions is Yes… but only when it’s absolutely necessary. Of course every designer wants to put their all into a design and have the final result be an award winning masterpiece. But all too often there are obstacles that impede the process and make it difficult to live up to the standards that we as designers set for ourselves. In the end, our goal is to do whatever it takes to make the client happy. It is their opinion that matters most and not whether the final piece is something I’d put in my portfolio or not. If the client gives the old “pat on the back” and says “good job” at the end of the project, then that’s the important thing.

The real challenge is when clients and account teams still expect the masterpiece on a minimal budget and short timeframe. The answer to that dilemma I’m afraid is not so easy. The best I can offer is to always strive to do great work. Start off with the idea that the project will be great despite the timeframe or budget… rather than just doing something to get it done but isn’t up to anyone’s standards. That way, you come across to your clients as a person who is proud of their craft and strives to do great work no matter what the situation. In most, but not all cases, clients will listen to your recommendations about the situation and allow you to make compromises to complete the existing task. Utilizing this philosophy, you will demonstrate to them your dedication to their business and to your work as a true creative.

Acclaimed money Magazine BusinessWeek plans to relaunch this week with a complete rebranding. The new format includes a new name, a new design and a new editorial vision courtesy of their new owner Bloomberg LP.

The publication will definitely have some adversity to overcome. Reports show that the ailing magazine lost $40 million in 2008 and close to $60 million in 2009. The question is how Bloomberg Businessweek can invigorate the brand with a complete overhaul and turn itself around.

Anyone can see the obvious attraction Mr. Bloomberg sees in the potential of the magazine. It will almost overnight increase his prominence as a brand name provider of business content by 4.5 million impressions.

This is all very interesting business mumbo jumbo. But for me, I’m just dying to see the new format. So, just how does Mr Bloomberg think he can resurrect this ailing magazine with a rebranding? I suppose we shall soon see.

Boston.com has posted their three part “2009 in Photos” feature. The incredible collection of 120 photos includes everything from intimate portraits to massive mosaics of entire planets, and sums up another unforgettable year.

One of my very talented coworkers stumbled on this awesome video. It’s amazing how ridiculous these conversations are when applied to real life… yet these are the same issues we deal with every day with our clients and potential clients. See for yourself:

As a designer, I’m always researching new ways to create visual displays or engaging designs. From huge 12 foot wall displays, to a simple email announcement, design comes in all shapes and sizes. Even…. ( cue dramatic music ) … POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS.

While searching through numerous sources, I’ve compiled a list of simple tips that anyone, not just a professional designer, should keep in mind to make any presentation look great. So without further adieu, my first tip is…

Fonts – When choosing fonts, my recommendation is to use either Arial or Times. The reason for this is because all computers have these fonts, as they are standard fonts. I know many people want to use really cool fonts, like Grandesign Neue Serif^TM or Cheboygan^TM. Though these fonts look great and add a bit of flare to the design, not all computers have them installed and when you try to use another computer they will drop out and will be replaced by standard fonts, ruining any type treatment or layout you created. Also, displaying it on your computer allows you to use different fonts, but what if there is a problem and the fonts won’t load? Or something crashes? Using Arial or Times are safe bets and won’t let you down.

Stay tuned next week for another exciting entry!