The fat man made it through...

This large guy has lasted for ever and is a great example of symbolism in branding. He's simple, versatile, fun and playful – everything you need to keep communicating all the good stuff about your brand.

His name is Bibendum or the Michelin Man and he is over 100 years old. Created by Marius Rossillon, Edouard and André Michelin, he is one of the world's oldest trademarks.

According to graphic design legend the creation of this great symbol almost didnt make it and came about through an incidental meeting:

"While attending the Universal and Colonial Exposition in Lyon in 1894, Edouard and André Michelin noticed a stack of tires that suggested to Edouard the figure of a man without arms. Four years later, André met French cartoonist Marius Rossillon, popularly known as O'Galop, who showed him a rejected image he had created for Munich brewery—a large, regal figure holding a huge glass of beer and quoting Horace's phrase "Nunc est bibendum". André immediately suggested replacing the man with a figure made from tires. Thus O'Galop transformed the earlier image into Michelin's symbol. Today, Bibendum is one of the world's most recognised trademarks, representing Michelin in over 150 countries." (Wikipedia 2011)

 

But surely he is testament to the leadership in the organisation to continually improve and refine this great symbol and be brave enough to carry on.

 

 

www.michelin.com 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibendum 

The BA way by the way

Today BA helped us all understand why it is they do what they do. But how effective is their approach to building the BA brand, shouldn't the essence be more subtle and implicit? Then a friend pointed out that Apple promoted Think Different, with Steve Jobs leading the way. Check out the link below – a more interesting approach to introducing your brand essence?

rayvellest.com
Source: Metro

We're going back to university!

We are really excited to be appointed by Cranfield University to help refresh Cranfield University School of Management marketing communications. With a fresh new illustrative approach the team really focused on those 'Cranfield moments' that make the courses so successful.

A new member of the team!

We're really excited to welcome a new member of the team here at ABA – Lola! Well it may be a little while before she's opening Photoshop but designers do seem to be getting younger ;-)

When an old favourite comes home

We recently met up with our friends at Sedus in their freshly refurbished showroom in Clerkenwell. This chair caught my eye amongst all the new shiny ones. A 1930’s original Sedus office chair with a lovely piece of typography on the back.

 

I pointed it out and was warmed inside when I heard the chairs story.

The chair had traveled a long way. Starting life in Germany many years ago it somehow found it's way to London. A couple of months ago the owner of a office in Clerkenwell was clearing out and noticed a logo on the back of an old office chair, it triggered something in his memory. Then he had a light bulb moment! As he looked out of the window and across the street below he saw the London Sedus showroom, the old chair was nearly home. And so from Germany to Clerkenwell and many bottoms in between he returned the chair back from whence it came. 

And here's Greg from Sedus just giving it a gentle test ride!

Studio Ghibli will lift your spirit

When I feel slightly battered down and my creative energy is sapped I know it's time to sit down with the family and watch a Ghibli film. The story telling always surprises and delights, the visuals are inspiring and heart warming. We started a few years ago with Spirited Away and have worked our way back through more than 15 or so films, each time discovering more.

The Studio has a 'no-edits' policy when the films are released abroad, I respect this and really appreciate it as a fan. The films are very story based and you are always left feeling touched by the lives of the characters.

Most of these are great family films, if you want get started look here.

Studio Ghibli are based in Japan and are headed up by two directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.

Cool multi-touch watch at ABA!

Rory, one of our design team, is now the proud owner of a great new product from Lunatik. Rory pledged $50 towards the development of this project at KickStarter and then received the product when Lunatik successfully started manufacturing.

What you are actually looking at is an iPod Nano in a really cool case and watch strap. Hey presto! A really neat adaption and maybe an Apple product of the future? Rory now resides amongst his peers with envious looks.

This is Gatwick.

On the return from a recent trip I made this short film traveling through Gatwick Airport, but how?

Children with powerful brand recognition

Asking a group of children to 'guess the logo' proved very interesting. Aged between 7-11 they ripped through 20 logos in under 5 mins, only getting the more corporate Nokia wrong, matching category for BP and Kellogg's but getting all the others right!

The exercise was carried out as part of a session on 'What is advertising'.

Is the hare smiling?

Dishoom Dishoom

Helping a friend develop an identity for a business selling products inspired by Bollywood. Initially the business will focus on modern art with a twist on iconic imagery from the 70’s and 80’s.

This era of Bollywood was called the 'Dishoom Dishoom' era – what a great theme to base an image!

Doodle from meeting at 12.50

The thing that makes doodles different is that we do them without thinking them through. There's a raw purity to them, an inward expression briefly comes out, but is often lost or discarded.

So the doodle lives briefly on note pads, beside briefing notes and on layout pads and should be saved – it may help you in the future!

What mums keep in the loft

Recently my mum popped round and she usually brings a gift. This time it was our 1980's Subbuteo set she had discovered in the outer regions of her loft. Full Queens Park Ranger squad and all but one of West Ham.

Comparing this old set with my son's current set was interesting, today's photo realistic cards on bases has replaced the cool light weight hand painted figures of the 80's.

We also found a TV tower, complete pitch fencing and corner kickers! So thanks mum for holding on to such a special memory.

A day at the blacksmiths

We recently spent a day with Will Barker a blacksmith whose forge is in Kew Bridge Steam Museum. It was a very refreshing time to be free from technology and be designing and creating by hand.
Photos shot on a Nikon D70

Toy store

Now that's the way to organise your toys!

Time for kids to create

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Location:Castle Hill Terrace,Maidenhead,United Kingdom

Listening to David Lyre

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Location:Notting Hill Arts Club