Comments for The Details

Comment on The Golden Triangle of Design by Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:58:51 +0000

No you can’t. You’re stuck in a fantasy land.

Comment on The Golden Triangle of Design by robert

robert — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:41:52 +0000

Sorry, that is crazy!!! You are stuck in a paradigm. Don’t be left behind. You can have all three. The manufacturing industry held this same thought 40 years again. Companies that don’t deliver all three are out of or slowly going out of buisness. Don’t be the “Swiss”!!

Comment on Jordi Parra’s Spotify Box by Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:54:17 +0000

Thanks Jordi. I’m a fan of you as well. Continue crushing that Spotify concept.

Comment on Jordi Parra’s Spotify Box by Jordi Parra

Jordi Parra — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:35:02 +0000

Thanks for the entry. I really like your blog, both content and layout!

Cheers, ;)

Comment on Another Big Life Change by Joshua Blankenship

Joshua Blankenship — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:35:48 +0000

Awesome news, amigo. Go forth and conquer.

Comment on Another Big Life Change by JP

JP — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:55:34 +0000

wow! I would have never thought that your name would be associated with AOL in any way, shape, or form without getting punched in the face by you. sounds like it could be a good move for you. God sure has a way with humbling us doesn't He. kinda like I said I would never do government contracting again, and yet, I'm back doing just that (at least it's iOS stuff). anyway, I hope it works out really well for you. I'm sure you will continue to just get more awesomer as the days go on.

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:39:10 +0000

I’d thought of that as well, Sue. My initial thoughts were outside of the marketing realm, though. How they go about marketing their brand is a completely new discussion I don’t think I want to really try and tackle.

If I wanted to slightly include their (possible) marketing strategy within the context of their rebrand, what does it say about a company that is willing to promote bad design strategies just to make waves? Wouldn’t that reflect on the company’s entire thought process and corporate structure in a negative way?

Does bad design sometimes create attention? Yes. Is it good in the long run? No.

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Sue Brettell

Sue Brettell — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:40:50 +0000

It seems to me that most of the focus is on the logo; perhaps we’re missing the obvious point that this “debacle” was a great marketing exercise, whether deliberate or accidental.

I mean does it matter what the new logo looks like when it generates so much free publicity? The cynic in me thinks maybe Gap never intended to actually use the new logo….it was just a stunt to get their Facebook fans to do all their marketing legwork for them! :)

Comment on The Golden Triangle of Design by rajesh satyarthi

rajesh satyarthi — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 04:43:01 +0000

if only clients could understand this.

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by August Martin

August Martin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 23:07:53 +0000

Aaron I am amazed at how articulate you are. I agree with most of what you say, but disagreement encourages creativity. Dad

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by The Design Tantrum | Jason VanLue | Designer, Brand Consultant, Husband, Father

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:05:02 +0000

[…] See Also: Aaron Martin’s Article […]

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 16:53:19 +0000

The analogy of knowing a movie or song is wrong or right breaks down due to a large flaw. A song or painting or movie is created to fulfill the creator’s need, not the viewer. It’s sole purpose is inward, not outward. Design has purpose, reason, and thought behind it. As a community, if we continue to yell, scream, and criticize work based solely on it’s aesthetic appeal, we lose value in our profession. If it’s solely aesthetic, who are we to say that our opinion is more founded than anyone else?

The entire GAP rebrand uprising is self defeating. Since we are only screaming at the aesthetic, all the GAP designers have to say is “our sense of aesthetic is better than yours” and we all lose the argument.

If we want to be taken seriously as a profession, we need to make sure our criticism are founded in logic, reason, and purpose while being delivered with tact, grace, and a sense of calm.

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Justin

Justin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:02:06 +0000

It’s certainly appropriate to have a subjective opinion about a design, but I would argue that professionally-voiced opinions should be communicated in a cautious and reasoned manner. @Peter has a good point. Sometimes you know a song is bad, even without hearing about the background and inspiration of the artist. Sometimes you just know a movie is awful 10 minutes into it. Sometimes you just know.

For me, I think it goes back to communication. Have your reaction. Spread it across the web however you want. But don’t be an arrogant butthead about it. Be reasoned, be humble, be respectful. Do unto others …

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Mikael

Mikael — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:00:59 +0000

“As designers and creatives, we’re a small subset of consumers. Do you think that the 45 year old husband and desk jockey is going to care that the GAP logo is in Helvetica now? He isn’t. He’s concerned with buying khakis, not with the typeface the company logo is set in.”

If that’s the case, then we can all just pack it in and give up. Then there is no need for design schools and education and professional designers. Just slap Helvetica (or Arial, whatever you have) or Times on the page and your done. It doesn’t matter, right? The target audience doesn’t notice those things, right?

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by jonathan bowden

jonathan bowden — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Aaron,
thanks for this post. You bring the discussion up a whole notch by challenging fellow designers to take steps beyond a gut reaction. thanks for reminding us to always consider that there is the likelihood of much more going on behind the scenes than we know about. Stay classy, orlando!

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Jason

Jason — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:32:19 +0000

Couldn’t have said it any better.

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Kory Westerhold

Kory Westerhold — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:14:47 +0000

spot on. or should i say “square on”

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Casey Britt

Casey Britt — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:01:14 +0000

Great post. I think a big takeaway here is… Logo != Brand. Though I think that you don’t have to be good at branding to be able to have a valid critique of branding. Most movie critics would more than likely make terrible movies.

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by peter

peter — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:44:52 +0000

I agree with the awful trend of everyone rushing to submit their ideas. With no brief, no direction, it’s simply indulgent. Designers seem to love to do this sort of thing. And I might add that the vast majority of submissions I’ve seen are much worse than the redesign.

But I dont agree with you about the widespread aesthetic complaint being somehow wrong. We are consumers. We react to design. It’s actually the purpose of design - to communicate with a unique, attractive style for a target audience - to create a reaction. If the design is awful (which i submit it truly is), it’s ok to have a strong visceral reaction to it. The purpose of a logo like this is to CREATE a kneejerk reaction. This is what they’re getting - not just from the design community, but from the general public.

You’re right, there might be some secret problem that this logo is somehow solving…but I submit that whenever you replace something good with something bad, it may solve a small problem while opening up a gaping huge new one. (pun unfortunately intended..)

Comment on The GAP Rebrand Debacle by Jarrett Fuller

Jarrett Fuller — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:12:22 +0000

BOOM! Best thing I’ve read regarding the rebrand yet. I’ve been feeling the same way. Thanks for writing this!