Our logo for a toy collector community got ripped off

I rarely get any notices of logo ripoff’s on this site but when it’s a logo that we made for a for a local community of high-end collectibles, I think it deserves a feature somehow.

So I just have been notified that a certain Instagram account, Toy Spot Collector, has clearly been doing some ‘minor’ shifting to the original Hot Toys Philippines logo.

ToySpot aka ‘the ripper’ is also using the copied logo on the same theme and items as the original ones. Not that it wouldn’t also hurt to see the copied logo on say, a beverage one for example, but this is just a direct lifting and re-editing of a logo then using it as your own, for your own toy collectible community.

Some costumes in the @prcomiccon #hottoys #hottoyscollector #hottoyscollectors #hottoyscollection #toyrevolution #toycrewbuddies #actionfigures # #actionfigure #toyspot #toys #toygram #toylife #gamer #gamers #toycollector #figurasdeaccion #toyphotography #toy4life #toyslagram #toyartistry #toyelites #toysaremydrug #toptoyphotos #toygroup_alliance #prcomicon2015 #cosplay

A photo posted by Toyspot Collector (@toyspotcollector) on May 22, 2016 at 6:30pm PDT

The logo clearly lifted the “Toys” portion in all its form and edited in the P and T along with the exact same letter O on their copy. I also find the detail on the merging P and T quite cunning since it lifted the curved cut on the red line just below the S on the original one.

This is really not a big brand logo and just a local fan community for a specific line of collections and collectors. I just want to bring this out in the open and address it officially hence we may look like the ones who did the copying down the line – plus, the fact that stealing is just plain wrong.

Their account photo uploads look quite good actually - but the logo, the one that is emblazoned on every Instagram photo and some of their shirts, is not originally theirs and just a ripoff of the original Hot Toys Philippines.

http://hottoysph.com/forums/
https://www.facebook.com/hottoysph
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hottoysphilippines

PLDT and Smart New Logo: Delta and this is no beta.

Smart just introduced their newest logo change since 2011 which I also wrote about back then. This new one removes the iconic blue logo that has stuck since the last rebrand and makes green its primary color.

Its three sides represent the three things we value most: our Customers, our People, and our Technology. 

– Smart website’s brief explanation on the new logo emblem

This logo simply represents our journey to create a better tomorrow for the Filipino consumer. – vague explanation over at Smart’s website

I’m not really sure how this looks because while I didn’t really liked the new ‘old’ one back in the day, it has since grown on me as a modern-looking logo that seemed flexible enough to stand a couple of years and various creative applications.

Instant reaction to this was. Okay, Globe is Blue, now Smart chose to be Green. Niicee or not? I really liked the blue color of the old one. I feel like the green they used here just has no modern vibe to it and just plainly looks like a menthol candy brand - even changing the color doesn’t help the inverted Vick’s-shaped logomark.

It also seems that this isn’t just a simple brand change for Smart Communications. It appears to be a family-wide brand overhaul which also includes the changing of the ‘iconic’ PLDT logo into this:

aaand my instant reactions is:

 

I can’t even unsee the uneven thickness of the letter D in PLDT

They even had their building’s facade emblazoned with the new logo on launch.

Upon checking out PLDT’s news page, they have provided a more thorough explanation on these new brand changes.

The new logo symbolizes the powerful convergence of PLDT and Smart, combining fixed and wireless technologies to serve individual and enterprise customers.

The new PLDT and Smart logo is shaped like a triangle with the three sides representing the Company's business pillars - exceptional people, meaningful innovations, and our valuable customers.

The triangle is also the symbol for Delta, the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet, which stands for “Change”.

"Taken together, these three pillars create tremendous energy that will enable our customers to achieve their limitless potential. The triangle’s three sides support each other. Thus, an inherent strength flows harmoniously among the sides to sustain the structure," Pangilinan said.

The new logo replaces the iconic 33-year old PLDT logo which was formed through a repetition of the abstract figure of the telephone receiver to complete four sides. Smart has also changed its logo.

- PLDT on its new logos

What do you guys think about this change? Any thoughts and opinions, you know what to do! share it below!

Redesign Manila by Go Motion Productions

Redesign Manila

If you don’t like what you see, how can you make it a thing of beauty? If you can’t stand seeing the intolerable, how can you make it admirable?We believe Manila can look, feel and live better. We deserve it. Manila deserves it.#RedesignManila is a Go Motion Productions creative initiative that aims to showcase and invite Filipinos to re-imagine and revive beautiful Manila. This musical-narrative is in collaboration with Hotdog’s Dennis Garcia and Rene Garcia — geniuses of Manila’s very own beautiful sound.What’s your #RedesignManila?Video Credits:Art Directors : Paolo Joaquin, Pam Queri, Tyron Gonzales, Meg BagadionPost Creatives : Neil Mendoza, Jeremiah Garcia, Jay-Ar Villarojas, Gem Llave, Adre EstebanDOP : Anton AngelesDrone Operator : Gabo PagcaliwaganExecutive Producer : Cat SyProduction Manager : Mariea Ellaine SantosTraffic Supervisor : Maj Delos SantosProduction Assistants : Jai Payas, Gio GordevillaOn-Cam Talents : Meg Bagadion, Majo Calubay, Paolo Joaquin, Gem Llave, Tyron Gonzales, Mariea Ellaine SantosSoundtrack : “Uuwi” by Hotdog (Dennis Garcia, Rene Garcia)Creative Director, Copywriter : Ringo MendozaConcept : Paolo JoaquinDirector : Paolo Joaquin

Posted by Redesign Manila on Sunday, February 14, 2016

UX Philippines Design Conference 2014

UXPH 2014 is happening on November 15, 2014 at 9:00AM to 4:30PM and held at De La Salle University in Taft. Speakers include Whitney Hess, Patti Hunt, Kristin Low, Pamela Cajilig, Jourdan Sebastian and Justin Capen.

General admission tickets at priced at 6,000 pesos. Check out uxphilippines.com for more information.

Type Kita Typography Exhibit

TypeKita Typography Exhibit will happen on October 18 and 19 (11am to 7pm) at 10a Alabama. There is a 50 peso entrance fee. Follow their Facebook page for the activity list and schedules.

ClassAct: Active School

A Kickstarter project from ClassAct is raising $30,000 for pledges to fund a low-cost school construction and design project. The organizations plans to rebuild the St. Vincent Institute in the town of Maribojoc, Bohol after the the school was among those destroyed by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) last year.

The money we raise through Kickstarter will go towards the construction of one of the three classrooms at Maribojoc, Bohol. We've raised enough to build the first; our target of $30,000 will go to the second; and $50,000 will allow us to build a third.

The design of the school draws inspiration from the traditional Filipino “verandah” open living spaces. The structures and materials are well-thought of and use modern engineering and local materials such as

Beyond Maribojoc, ClassAct hopes to bring its transformative social model to the rest of the Haiyan-affected areas of the Visayas (Tacloban, Samar, Leyte, and Cebu) in need of new facilities. Funding is already secured for a second set of classrooms for the municipal of Loon, Bohol.

 

class-act.ph

Noted: New Disney Channel Logo

 

The Disney Channel is changing its global logo to the one being used by Disney Germany.

We are in the middle of a Disney project right now and was notified about an impending rebrand, a simple Google search yielded the result and to confirm the global rebrand, I was just sent this final logo.

The rebrand is done by BDA Creative Munich. Description from their website notes:

After a pitch won in Summer 2013, BDA Creative Munich is happy to work as lead agency on the global rebranding of the famous Disney Channel.

Old renders had the standard letter I on the word Disney but subsequent changes and seemingly the final logo will include and bring back the famous Mickey Mouse ears. You can still see the old logo used in this promo video.

Check out this Youtube link to see the recent TV idents in action.

Seeing from the video identities, the new logo may not have a specific color scheme. It will be a flexible logo and will adapt to specific shows and existing brands which is quite similar to the applications of the old version.

I like it and prefer it over the older boxy logo. Laying it out together with Disney Junior and Disney XD now looks more consistent without sacrificing a smaller footprint for the ‘mother’ channel which is Disney Channel.

A' Design Award & Competition - Call for Entries

Every year, projects that focus on innovation, technology, design and creativity are awarded with the A' Design Award. Entries are accepted annually till February 28th and results are announced every year on April 15. Designers worldwide are called to take part in the accolades by entering their best works, projects and products. Entries are accepted as long as they were designed in the last 10 years. - http://www.designaward.com/

Read the complete Press Release

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ABS-CBN New Logo: Kapamilya Semi Sans

The last time ABS-CBN changed its logo was on the year 2000. It was the biggest change since the old boxed logo where ABS was on top and CBN was at the bottom.

This 2014, ABS-CBN has launched a slightly tweaked version of its iconic logo. The 3 rings, symbolizing TV’s RGB colors and the country’s LuzViMinda regions, are now noticeably thicker. The modified Rotis font of the original lost its serif hooks on most of the new letters, the C was also changed to reflect the overall adjustments of dropping the ‘classic’ look.

The new logo was said to have been used as a secondary logo to the original and was used since October 2013. However, on January 1st, 2014, the old logo was officially retired and the new one used on the opening year theme “Masayang Muli ang Kwento Natin”.

 

The new logo can also be seen on the recently launch ABS-CBN Mobile (just all rounded) and the upcoming ABS-CBN Sports+Action channel which replaces Studio 23 starting January 18, 2014. Hopefully we can talk more about the sad demise of my once favorite station, Studio 23, on a future article.

Graphika Manila 2014

Graphika Manila is happening on February 1, 2014 at the SM Convention Center from 10AM to 5PM. Speakers this year are Jessica Hische, Sara Blake, Devein, Ash Throp, Isabel Gatuslao and The Mill.

Ticket prices are:
₱1,750 (early bird till Dec. 20)  / ₱2,000 (regular)
₱1,550 (students early-bird till Dec. 20)  / ₱1,800 (regular)

graphikamanila.com

ABS-CBN Mobile is getting ready to launch

Last time we’ve heard about ABS-CBN Mobile was when they announced it last May 2013. There has been a ‘operational issues’ along the way that they decided to delay the planned October launch but ABS-CBN has said that it will roll out its mobile service before the year ends.

ABS-CBN has agreed to buy bandwidth from Globe Telecom in a sort of network-sharing partnership that will allow ABS-CBN to provide traditional voice, sms and data services under it’s own ABS-CBN Convergence unit.

The logo is a softer ABS-CBN. Instead of the sharp signal logo mark, we get a softer one probably since a mobile phone’s receiver is simpler that the networks huge transmitter in Mother Ignacia. Even the ABS-CBN brand typeface Rotis (Semi Serif) was softened on the corners for that next-gen youth-vibe.

I’m not sure how the branding will pan out giving that it’s still a similar logo with the TV network. In small sizes, it’s going to be probably indistinguishable but then again there is that “mobile” word below.

Come to think of it, If they chose to name theirs Star Mobile Cellular, being known as the star network forever, it would fit perfectly with Globe and Sun right?

New LBC Logo: From King to Mover

Reader Nicolo Cervantes has spotted a likely LBC rebrand coming from Tangible Singapore. This is the same company that rebranded Insular Life and UCPB.

The new logo softens the sharp corners of the old one with curved type inside a ‘guitar pick’ or shield-like container. The iconic LBC red was retained but much of the original brand is now gone including the tagalog tagline “Hari ng Padala” which was changed to “We like to move it” (no, hopefully not this one)

The rebrand aims to become more customer focused by integrating its different businesses under one LBC brand (with the exception of LBC Money Express and Business Solutions)

Both verbal & visual identities were completely overhauled to reflect the new service centric brand promise of ‘ A friend who makes your day’. The smiling global logo has 3 sides to remind staff of their 3Cs (Brand Attributes & Services Principles) & the logotype of LBC remained iconic & red while a new tagline of ‘we like to move it’ reset the tone.

A major overhaul of the company’s website, logistic vehicles and parcel packagings are also on the way. I like the pipe/tubes graphic application on the vehicle wraps but feel that the one-color application of the same on parcel boxes looks a little bit busy for my taste.

You can read the complete brand rationale on Tangible’s website: LBC Philippines - Tangible Singapore.

What do you think of this LBC rebranding? Hit on the comments.

Design Week Philippines 2013

This October, Design Week Philippines brings a whirl of creative inspiration with another edition of sights, sounds, and textures featuring the country’s very own creative identity. Together with Manila FAME and DeXign Global Philippines, Design Week Philippines presents an incredible roster of events and happenings that can only be summed up as Everyday DESIGN.

Designers and luminaries invited to speak at Design Talks include Philippines’ acclaimed critic and creative writer Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, British fashion experts Nikki Rowntree and Colin McDowell, Bangkok’s celebrated artist Anon Pairot, Paris-based designer Arik Levy, Olé Rauberg of DEDON – the world’s exclusive outdoor furniture company, Philippine design icon Kenneth Cobonpue, and Kyoto-6: Japan Handmade’s Masataka Hosoo, Toru Tsuji and Ryo Kagami.

Visit www.designweekphilippines.com.ph for more details.

New HBC Logo: Heart Break Curves

HBC started as Hortaleza Beauty Center in its early days and quickly became one of the dominant one-stop shop for personal care items and beauty products in the country.

They grew so big that people are confusing them with HSBC, the international bank :)

We have reinvented the hbc logo, making it softer, cleaner, younger, and more vibrant. The new logo uses a stylized “B” and “heart” to represent the brand personality of “Beauty with a Heart,” a store that is caring, approachable and knows what the customer needs. – HBC

The old logo’s shopping-man icon was really a unique, standout mark for them. It obviously look dated and too clipart-y so I don’t blame them for changing it.

While the rationale of the heart B-like shape was to mean '”Beauty with Heart” the shape looks anything but that. It looks messy and unfinished with the odd-shaped curves, specially that sharp one at the bottom. I’m just basing this visually so pardon me if I’m being too critical. The typeface is not bad but it could have been refined a little more since the “c” seems isolated from the rest and the sharp C tail also looks like it’s going to burst the belly of the B-shaped heart.

I tried creating my own version of the heart container and retained the letter script inside since it looks more feminine (which is generally their target market), it also blends well with the overall curves of the new logo.

http://www.hbc.com.ph

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Thanks to Timothy Diokno for this tip!

New JobsDB.com Logo: Artworks make it better

Remember the time when people had to scour newspaper classifieds for job openings, print a couple of resumes (don’t forget extra 2x2 pictures) and drop them personally at the company’s HR department? That was pre-internet job-hunting 101 for most of us.

Thankfully, the Internet made connecting people possible, cheaper and faster which in effect helped job-seekers find the right employers and vice-versa - with just a browser. No more xerox’d bio datas, long-distance personal applications and expensive and hassle commuting.

JobsDB.com, one of the county’s top online job hunting website with operations in 7 countries had TBWA Singapore handle the rebrand which was launched last March 2013. The new logo had a smaller “jobs” and larger “DB” containing colorful, creative imageries.

The main logo is in a typical blue-ish tint probably because blue is closest to being corporate. Various industry-related icons adorn the letters DB and the Let’s explore tagline sits on top it.

Seeing the two-tone version of the new logo however looks unfinished. The large, plumpy DB is quite distracting and dwarfs “jobs” which is what they’re providing in the first place. It doesn’t look as engaging as the full-colored version.

The different DB artworks really bring life and attitude the whole logo. The DB clipping effect is a nice touch to customize the type mark on each intended use like category, theme or country. I also like that flat illustrations were used rather than photographs because the colors just pop up more on solid tones.

The vertical “jobs” on the variations also looked nicer than the standard logo. Maybe making it a little bigger will make everything balance out along with the tagline – which in its current form looks unbalanced.

The local website still leaves much to be desired though.

What do you think about the new JobsDB.com logo? Sound off at the comments.

Designing an Effective Online Shop

Editor’s Note: This is a sponsored post.(why?)

Online shopping is currently gaining ground at a rapid rate. While a few years ago people used to visit malls and other shopping places to acquire their merchandise, development of technological infrastructure lets customers to source their goods and have them delivered to locations of their choice. Consequently, sellers have an obligation to come up with appealing online shops that gets the customer hooked and that motivates them to explore for more products and services. A good website design will go an extra mile to attract potential customers making the online shop stand out from the rest. Such a shop has to meet some of these specifications.

Continue Reading »

Play & Innovate: A Design Thinking Bootcamp by Designing.PH

Venue: MINT College, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio (near Venice Piazza)
Date & Time: August 24-25, 2013, 9AM to 6PM
Fee: P 3500, inclusive of food, drinks, materials and activity transportation for 2 days

Play & Innovate: A Design Thinking Bootcamp aims to teach design thinking, and how it can be used to come up with innovative, human-centered solutions for hard-to-solve problems.

In this 2-day workshop, you will learn and actually experience the design thinking process from some of the best experts in the region. We will take you through the steps of insights gathering, framing the problem, ideating, prototyping.

The workshop will be incredibly interactive, hands-on and collaborative. It's no ordinary classroom setting: You will be given a social problem, and will go out into the city in groups to gather insights, brainstorm, and then create actual prototypes of your best ideas.

http://designing.ph

New Manila Water Logo: Goodbye Wave, Hello Whirlpool

Manila Water just rebranded themselves a few months ago with a new logo and look. Keeping the green-blue color, the new logo in all respects, looks obviously better than the original.

The brand mark created by BBDO Guerrero | Proximity Philippines initially reminded me of a certain water-themed resort somewhere down south, but upon checking it wasn’t even that close.

The whirlpool mark looks fine but I just wished they had created a more iconic symbol similar to Meralco’s M. It was a great opportunity for the creators to do a creative, stylized, hero logo (like an ‘MW’ mark) but what we got was a straightforward MANILA WATER in a round typeface instead

Manila Water also accompanies the logo with the tagline “Care in Every Drop”. Taglines like these aims to encapsulate the company’s mission statement in one very powerful phrase. It also provides the company an emotional connection with its customers.

You see these sort of taglines on big, faceless, conglomerate-run companies; Meralco’s “May Liwanag ang Bukas” or Maynilad’s “Dumadaloy ang Ginhawa” are just some examples. Apparently Ayala-led Manila Water wanted to differentiate itself and decided to have theirs in English. I personally think it works better in this case.

The graphics on the website look nice. It makes me wonder if by going with a hard typeface for the logo would also work. They must have settled with having a “clean” and ”friendly’ image more fitting than looking “fierce” and “stoic”.

Vehicle wrap application spotted online by reader James De Castro:

Karen S.M. Llana (instagram.com/apieceofapplepie) Note: All rights belong to respective owners

 

Reader Nix Cervantes also notes that the province of Laguna, a partner of Manila Water, uses a similar logo. He wonders “if they would apply it (or some sort of brand architecture) to their subsidiaries.“ I guess we’ll have to see the complete roll out this year. I’m a northern resident so I have to choice but to contend with Maynilad’s look.

What do you think about Manila Water’s new logo? Sound off at the comments below.

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Special thanks to James De Castro for the heads up and Nix Cervantes for the follow-up tip.

Richard Meier x Massimo Vignelli

Illustrious modernist Richard Meier and multi-disciplinary creator Massimo Vignelli reflect on their respective crafts, city life, and enduring friendship in this mesmeric film by Johnnie Shand Kydd. Shot at the minimalist offices of Richard Meier & Partners on 10th Avenue and West 36th Street, the two powerhouses discuss their collaboration on the firm’s forthcoming monograph, Richard Meier, Architect Volume 6.

Read on Nowness

ZXX Type by Sang Mun

With the recent uncovering of the NSA’s PRISM surveillance program, Americans and perhaps everyone using the services of Apple, Google, Microsoft and Facebook around the world, are threatened to having their personal private messages uncovered.

ZXX Type was created by Sang Mun. He designed 6 different typeface variants (Sans, Bold, Camo, False, Noise and Xed) to be virtually unreadable by machines or text scanning software. He’s also offering the font free for download

Over the course of a year, I researched and created ZXX, a disruptive typeface which takes its name from the Library of Congress’ listing of three-letter codes denoting which language a book is written in. Code “ZXX” is used when there is: “No linguistic content; Not applicable.”

http://z-x-x.org/