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NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

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Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#31

In the trade we call this "post-rationalisation" and it's worse than worthless, it magically adds value to the worthless. Good design, especially good logo design, is self evident and doesn't need this kind of drivle. Also, it's objectivley a bad logo. Always has been. Always will be. It makes me angrier than it should, but that's why designers design I suppose.

[deleted]

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#32
post #22

In the trade we call this "post-rationalisation" and it's worse than worthless, it magically adds value to the worthless. Good design, especially good logo design, is self evident and doesn't need this kind of drivle. Also, it's objectivley a bad logo. Always has been. Always will be. It makes me angrier than it should, but that's why designers design I suppose.

My favorite example of "post-rationalization" is the BREATHTAKING Design Strategy behind the new Pepsi logo of the last decade. http://www.goldennumber.net/wp-content/uploads/pepsi-arnell-... The bit about Pepsi energy fields and globe dynamics is my favorite, but it is all kind of amazing. Edit: By comparison, this NeXT logo document seems pretty tame. Mostly describing the intent behind font choices and getting peo…

But that Pepsi logo document is obviously satire, in the spirit of "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity".

Right?

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#33

The NeXT logo probably would not be the choice today as it doesn't scale down small enough for favicons, mobile screens and so on. However, nobody really ever got to see a NeXT machine apart from Tim Berners Lee. The web really was 'next' so it all worked out well in the end.

McGill University in Montreal had an undergraduate computing lab full of NeXT machines in the early 1990s. Visiting the lab was the high point of the tour they gave to prospective students.

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I personally feel its a great logo, for just one reason: It stands out, and is instantly identifiable. And I think the "drivle" is excellent, as it gives a window to the way the designer has thought about the design. And I can relate with most of what he has to say. I am sure, with multiple iterations over the current logo (just like what Apple's main logo went through), you'd arrive with something elegant with all t…

On the face of it, you make some good points. Here's why I think you're wrong. I could point out that 'It stands out, and is instantly identifiable' is the weakest of arguments in defence of a design. I could photocopy my arse and stick the words 'Burger King' next to it, set in comic sans. That would tick all the boxes that sentence mandates. But that's as cheap a retort as it was an argument. It's not enough to be…

Paul Rand charged $100,000 for this logo design. About 20 years ago. Wouldn't you think that when charging this kind of money, you owe some kind of explanation of your thought process even if logo is self-explanatory ?

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#35
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, fair enough. I don't think you would be a good designer though. As brutal as that may sound, design is a full contact sport. I'd say the same to you in person.

Can you point us to some of your superior logos?

http://www.tomelders.com/projects/curby lol

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#36

The NeXT logo probably would not be the choice today as it doesn't scale down small enough for favicons, mobile screens and so on. However, nobody really ever got to see a NeXT machine apart from Tim Berners Lee. The web really was 'next' so it all worked out well in the end.

Surely you're playing hyberole? The machines were pretty well marketed and most universities had them. I knew people who had one. And as a teenager, I wished I had the cash to get them, used to play with them at my sister's university bookstore.

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#37
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. I think the logo is nice, I think it looks ok even in small size, I don't think it unbalanced the NeXT machines when it was put on them, I think the colors are cute and the font is sharp.

Well, fair enough. I don't think you would be a good designer though. As brutal as that may sound, design is a full contact sport. I'd say the same to you in person.

> I don't think you would be a good designer though.

I was willing to entertain the (far-fetched) notion that you actually know what you're talking about, up until that line.

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#38

In the trade we call this "post-rationalisation" and it's worse than worthless, it magically adds value to the worthless. Good design, especially good logo design, is self evident and doesn't need this kind of drivle. Also, it's objectivley a bad logo. Always has been. Always will be. It makes me angrier than it should, but that's why designers design I suppose.

> Also, it's objectivley a bad logo. Always has been. Always will be.

An objectively bad logo would be one that isn't readable, doesn't work at small sizes, doesn't work in black and white, etc. None of these things are true of the NeXT logo.

Personally, I've always been fond of it. I find it striking, timeless, and I enjoy the choice of colours: a choice of four colours brings to mind education/learning/fun, but with a bit more imagination than a classic red, blue, green and yellow (e.g. Google). Each to their own.

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#39
Paul rand writes: "There is nothing about the IBM symbol, for example, that suggests computers, except what the viewer reads into it. Stripes are now associated with computers because the initials of a great computer company happen to be stripped."

I'm very surprised that Paul Rand misses completely that the stripes in IBM symbol resembled how computers printed letters back in the time with matrix printers. There is also a metaphor with the extremely classic paper used for computer business reports (white with blue stripes).

My favorite logo design is Cisco's, that blends San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge with a network analyzer display.

Re: NeXT Logo Presentation by Paul Rand to Steve Jobs [pdf]

#40
post #32
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My favorite example of "post-rationalization" is the BREATHTAKING Design Strategy behind the new Pepsi logo of the last decade. http://www.goldennumber.net/wp-content/uploads/pepsi-arnell-... The bit about Pepsi energy fields and globe dynamics is my favorite, but it is all kind of amazing. Edit: By comparison, this NeXT logo document seems pretty tame. Mostly describing the intent behind font choices and getting peo…

But that Pepsi logo document is obviously satire, in the spirit of "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity". Right?

When it was leaked a few years ago, it was widely reported to be an actual document. All of the articles from the period said that Arnell Group wouldn't comment on its authenticity. I think it was definitely created by Arnell Group, but whether it was actually prepared for Pepsi's executives or whether it was a viral marketing campaign is still pretty much unknown.
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