• Welcome
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Services
Jill B GilbertJill B Gilbert
  • Welcome
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Services

Renowned designer Paul Rand’s work speaks for itself

Paul Rand designed the IBM trademark, the Westinghouse “W,” the marks for American Broadcasting Company (ABC), UPS, Esquire Magazine, Harcourt-Brace and other memorable trademarks. A recent post on logodesignlove discussed a 1971/72 article by Stanley Mason on how Rand presented his work to clients. Long before the days of digital graphic arts, Rand created short-run offset print publications to present to his clients. Paul Rand avoided flashy presentations and let the work speak for itself, presenting booklets to the top decision-making executives. This was pure genius, as these printed materials helped cement the designs as finished products.

IBM Logo | Image: Wikimedia Commons

In the article, Mason wrote that the trademark “should be distinctive, memorable, and reflect in some way, however abstractly, the nature of the product or service it represents.” Rand’s rebranding of IBM added eight horizontal stripes and a brilliant blue to the previous trademark. This added movement and color made the mark more dynamic and memorable. It remains strong today.

The ABC logo is simple and understated, yet everyone remembers it. Image: Wikimedia Commons

The NeXT computer logo may not be as memorable since the company disappeared. Image: Wikimedia Commons

You can read more and download the Mason article here.

Tags: ABC, Esquire Magazine, Harcourt-Brace, IBM, logo, Paul Rand, trademarks, UPS, Westinghouse

Recent Posts

  • Should you build your own website, or hire a professional?
  • Pantone Colors of the Year | 2021
  • Watercolor “Food for Thought” Series
  • A Plethora of Possibilities with Procreate Brushes
  • Watercolor Cactus Series
  • Drawing during the pandemic improves skills measurably
  • Procreate for iPad review

Archives

Categories

Jill B Gilbert offers graphic + web design services to meet marketing communication needs.

icon-graphic-design
  • Welcome
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Services
© 2021 Jill B Gilbert. Bento theme by Satori