Toot! Toot!*:
"Killed Ideas, Vol. 1" gives second life to rejected C.A.T. design from Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

A logo concept by Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based design firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, is one of 50 projects selected from around the world to appear in the book "Killed Ideas, Vol 1." The volume, released by the creative online publishing entity Blurb®, showcases some of the best creative marketing ideas that never saw the light of day. Curated by AdRants founder Steve Hall, the book has been released as a special limited edition and is not for sale, but will be popping up in various places around the world in the coming weeks.

Fisher's selected design was the result of a request from the Cat Adoption Team organization to participate in a pro bono effort to create a new identity for the "no-kill" feline facility. In an "a-ha" design moment, while doodling one day, the designer came up with C, A and T letterforms creating a cat image. Confidently presented to the nonprofit's appreciative marketing, advertising and design-savvy Executive Director, the identity idea still required approval of the Board of Directors. With the governing body, the concept was DOA for not being "warm and friendly enough."

The ideas in "Killed Ideas, Vol. 1" represent the blood, sweat and tears of many creatives who poured the best of themselves into their work, which never ultimately saw production. Photographers, designers, artists and creative agencies representing more than 31 countries and 170 brands submitted their best killed ideas to be considered for inclusion in the book. Book curator Hall selected 50 finalists whose work has now been brought back to life in "Killed Ideas, Vol. 1." From print to radio to interactive, "Killed Ideas, Vol. 1" applauds creativity in all forms.

"I was blown away by the creativity we were exposed to over the course of this project - it's astonishing that some of these ideas remained on the cutting room floor until now," said Steve Hall, Curator of Killed Ideas, Vol. 1. "Inside this book, you will find fifty wonderful ideas. Great ideas. Insightful ideas. Ideas that should be appreciated. Ideas that should have an audience beyond their creator."

"For the Blurb team, it was truly inspiring to be involved in this project, and to bring these ideas to life in a book for them to be shared, kept, and experienced," said Eileen Gittins, founder and CEO, Blurb. "Congratulations to all whose work is represented in Killed Ideas, Vol. 1. We celebrate rampant creativity daily, and you're the reason we do what we do - awesome work, all!"

Others may now express their opinions of the 50 selected projects, through June 30th, by voting for the book's People's Choice Award at KilledIdeas.com. Through registering their emails, site visitors have the chance to win the one copy of "Killed Ideas, Vol. 1" made available each day during that time period. Fisher will also make several copies available during the 2009 HOW Conference in Austin, Texas. He will make use of social networking tools to give the books away.

Designer Jeff Fisher is the author of Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands (HOW Books, 2007). He has received over 600 regional, national and international graphic design awards for his logo and corporate identity efforts and his work is featured in more than over 100 books on the design of logos, the business of graphic design, and small business marketing. His first HOW Books offering, The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success, appeared on bookstore shelves in late 2004, and has been re-released in PDF format on CD. Fisher is currently writing a book about typography in identity design.

In January, Fisher was named one of design industry publication Graphic Design USA’sPeople to Watch in 2009.” In 2008, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives was recognized as one of the top 100 U.S. home-based businesses by the web presence StartupNation.

More information about Jeff Fisher, and his design and writing efforts, may be found on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blogfolio.

(* If I don’t "toot!" my own horn, no one else will.)

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

LogoMotives Design Tracks: Critters • Part 2

Animal life has been the subject of a large number of my logo design efforts - back to my college days in the late 1970s. Below are some examples, presented as "Critters • Part 2."

Virtual Office
Client: Virtual Office
Location: Yachats, OR USA

The logo for a virtual office assistant, with the lizard imagery being a personal request of the client. The design is featured in New Logo & Trademark Design (Japan), The New Big Book of Logos, and New Logo: One (Singapore).

Good Pig, Bad Pig
Client: Good Pig, Bad Pig
Location: Portland, OR USA

Owner Brett Bigham provided the illustration for his greeting card company identity. The logo appears in the books Really Good Logos, Explained, 100's Visual Logos and Letterheads and Logos from North to South America (Spain).

Chinese Student Association
Client: Chinese Student Association - University of Oregon
Location: Eugene, OR USA

One of my earliest logo designs, done while I was in college - and the first for which I won a design award.

Sisters Rodeo
Client: Sisters Rodeo Association
Location: Sisters, OR USA

This identity was included when the Sisters Rodeo was inducted into the Library of Congress “Local Legacies" archive. The rodeo logo received an Award of Merit in the Central Oregon Drake Awards and a Silver in the Summit Creative Awards. It also is featured in The Big Book of Logos 3, LogoLounge - Volume 1 and Design for Special Events.

The Kelly Wedding
Client: Tim & Kristin Kelly
Location: Portland, OR USA

Some friends asked me to create a personal icon to be used on their wedding invitation, napkins, thank you cards and a calling card. Her nickname is 'Fish;' his is 'Bird." The image appears in the books International Logos & Trademarks IV, New Logo & Trademark Design (Japan), New Business Card Graphics 2 (Japan) and The New Big Book of Logos.

Chameleon
Client: Micki King/Chameleon Salon
Location: Portland, OR USA

Personal logo for a hairstylist who desired images of swirls, and a yin/yang reference, in her identity featuring a chameleon. The font is Kells Round from P22. The logo appears in the books LogoLounge 4 and 100's Visual Logos and Letterheads.

Check out other Logo Design Tracks from Jeff Fisher LogoMotives.

Note: Many of the books mentioned in this post may be found at the LogoMotives Design Depot Bookstore.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Toot! Toot!*: Jeff Fisher LogoMotives business card featured in new Japanese design book

The business card of Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, is featured in the new Japanese design volume MEISHI: Little Graphic Art Gallery of the World. Produced by the International Creators' Organization, the 272-page book displays business cards from designers in 28 countries.

This past year Fisher updated his business card, from a similar design, to reflect the growing aspects of his business. The previous card, a letter press effort, is featured in the book The Big Book of Business Cards. The latest version of the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives card also appears in the German volume Letterhead and Business Cards from publisher zeixs.

Designer Jeff Fisher is the author of Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands (HOW Books, 2007). He has received over 600 regional, national and international graphic design awards for his logo and corporate identity efforts and his work is featured in more than over 100 books on the design of logos, the business of graphic design, and small business marketing. His first HOW Books offering, The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success, appeared on bookstore shelves in late 2004, and has been re-released in PDF format on CD. Fisher is currently writing a book about typography in identity design.

In January, Fisher was named one of design industry publication Graphic Design USA’sPeople to Watch in 2009.” In 2008, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives was recognized as one of the top 100 U.S. home-based businesses by the web presence StartupNation.

More information about Jeff Fisher, and his design and writing efforts, may be found on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blogfolio.

(* If I don’t "toot!" my own horn, no one else will.)

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Retail Logos

(Clockwise from upper left)

Black Dog Furniture Design
Client: Black Dog Furniture Design
Location: Portland, OR USA

Brett Bigham, the designer of new furniture from recycled parts, had his own drawing of his dog incorporated into the logo for the business. The logo was honored with a 2002 American Graphic Design Award. It also is represented in the The New Big Book of Logos (HBI, USA, 2000), Letterhead and Logo Design 7 (Rockport Publishers, USA, 2001), Graphically Speaking (HOW Design Books, USA, 2002), American Corporate Identity 18 (HBI, USA, 2003), Global Corporate Identity (HBI, USA, 2003), the 2002 PRINT Regional Design Annual , Logo Design for Small Business 2 (Signcraft, USA, 2004), Graphis Logo 6 (Graphis, 2004), 100's Visual Logos and Letterheads (Angela Patchell Books, UK, 2008), The Best of Letterhead and Logo Design (Rockport Publishers, USA, 2010), LogoLounge: Master Library, Volume 2: 3000 Animal and Mythology Logos (Rockport Publishers, USA, 2010), and The Best of Letterhead and Logo Design (Paperback, Rockport Publishers, USA, 2012).

Pajama Parties
Client: Pajama Parties
Location: Warrington, PA USA

Pajama Parties presents in-home adult party programs for women - featuring luxurious lotions, massage oils & gels, sensual bedroom accessories, lingerie and educational books.

City Laundry Northwest
Client: City Laundry Northwest
Location: Portland, OR USA

This identity for a laundromat and dry cleaners appears in the books Letterhead and Logo Design 4, Bullet-Proof Logos and The Best of Letterhead and Logo Design. Everyone referred to the business as the place with the dancing washer and dryer.

Harrison Flowers
Client: Harrison Flowers
Location: Hood River, OR USA

The logo for a flower grower who supplies local florists. The identity, which captured the playful personality of the owner, is featured in the books New Logo World (Japan) and Logos From North to South America (Spain).

See more retail logo designs by Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

All logo designs © 2015 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives. All rights reserved.

LogoMotives Design Tracks: Critters • Part 1

In organizing 30+ years of design work, I've noticed that many past logo design projects can be sorted by themes, such as colors, shapes, typographic treatments, style, or certain types of images. Future "LogoMotives Design Tracks" will focus on presenting the identity design projects of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives in a variety of categories.

Animal life has been the subject of a large number of my logo design efforts - back to my college days in the late 1970s. Below are some examples, presented as "Critters • Part 1."

A Rubber's Ducky
Client: Jeff Fisher LogoMotives
Location: Portland, OR USA

The duck's head being the shape of a condom with a reservoir-tip was a subtle "life preserver" message in this safe sex image. The logo appears in the books New Logo & Trademark Design (Japan), The New Big Book of Logos, LogoLounge - Volume 1, New Logo & Trademark Collection (Japan), and Logos from North to South America (Spain).

Read more about the A Rubber's Ducky logo

The Food Chain
Client: triangle productions!
Location: Portland, OR USA

This logo, for a production of playwright Nicky Silver's dark comedy, has been featured in the books New Logo & Trademark Design (Japan), The New Big Book of Logos, Letterhead and Logo Design 7, Graphically Speaking, LogoLounge - Volume 1, and New Logo: One (Singapore).

For The Birds
Client: For The Birds
Location: Portland, OR USA

For The Birds was created for a friend who was planning on opening a bird house store. The logo is featured in the books New Logo & Trademark Design (Japan), Bullet-Proof Logos and The New Big Book of Logos.

Read more about the For The Birds logo.

Black Dog Furniture Design
Client: Black Dog Furniture Design
Location: Portland, OR USA

Brett Bigham, the designer of new furniture from recycled parts, had his own drawing of his dog incorporated into the logo for the business. The logo was honored with a 2002 American Graphic Design Award. It also is represented in the The New Big Book of Logos, Letterhead and Logo Design 7, Graphically Speaking, American Corporate Identity 18, Global Corporate Identity, the 2002 PRINT Regional Design Annual, Logo Design for Small Business 2, 100's Visual Logos and Letterheads and Graphis Logo 6.

Crossings
Client: Crossings at the Riverhouse
Location: Bend, OR USA

The resort hotel restaurant Crossings is located on the Deschutes River at the site of a historical cattle drive crossing. Lettering in the name is "off" a bit on purpose - to give the word Crossings the look of a hand set 1800's western poster. The logo won a Drake Award from the Central Oregon Ad Club. It also appears in the books Restaurant Graphics 2, New Logo & Trademark Design (Japan), LogoLounge, Volume 1 and Logo Design for Small Business 2.

North Bank Cafe
Client: North Bank Cafe
Location: Portland, OR USA

The television show Northern Exposure meets a cross-dressing, winking moose in this restaurant identity. It appears in the books Logo Design for Small Business 2, 1000 Restaurant Bar & Cafe Graphics and 100's Visual Logos and Letterheads.

Note: Many of the books mentioned in this post may be found at the LogoMotives Design Depot Bookstore.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives