Logo Love Playoff

@Alen Type08 Pavlovic Challenged logo designers to post their three favorite logos that either inspired them to be designers or just flat out loved. These are my top three, which each represent something special to me about logo design.

I came from much more of an art and music background originally, where "graphic art and design" was something that my mom always told me she would have done if she had gone to college. I always loved art but was never good at just making things for myself just for the hell of it. I was always more inspired when I had an assignment, a problem to solve, and—like it or not—when a deadline was looming. This is what I came to know as design and what I continue to build a career on.

The Guild of Food Writers: I still remember seeing this one in one of my foundation design classes. The simplicity of the mark and that extra layer of gratification when you find what's hidden in the negative space still gets me.

Element: I always liked this mark when I was younger, but I remember when I finally saw the E's nestled in there and it brought my appreciation of the brand up to a whole new level. And so began a lifetime of choosing one product and brand over another for the sake of supporting good design. Incorporating type subtly into marks is still one of my favorite approaches.

Herb Lubalin: Herb was without a doubt the strongest force in sparking my passion and understanding for design. Again, I was introduced to him in one of my design classes and was completely enamored with the way he created clever solutions in his work, but also wasn't afraid to add embellishment. Most of the logos I'd seen up until that point had been simple and minimal, but this was the first time I saw smart design that could also be just the right amount of ornate. I was completely obsessed. Fast forward to my obsession with calligraphy, lettering, and swashery. I have Herb to thank for all of it.

Thanks so much for this opportunity to get a peek into what inspires so many great designers in this community. Made for a much brighter Wednesday morning for sure. :)