Journal #11

Mercedes-Benz Logo evolution 1902-Present Day

found on http://www.logodesignlove.com/

The evolution of the Mercedes-Benz logo is similar to the evolution of the NBC logo. The Mercedes-Benz logo transforms from just the word "Mercedes" to just the triangle symbol, similar to what we see today. From 1909 to 1933, the logo consisted of both the symbol and text, yet the current logo went back to the 1909 logo of just the symbol. The reason for the change to a silver symbol instead of the gold was that their first car was known as "the silver arrow". NBC's logo that we looked at in class followed a similar transformation. Their logo from 1956 had the image of a peacock with the rainbow colored feathers. This idea reappeared in 1979 and then was farther simplified in 1986 to the logo we see today that. Both logos change, and then go back to original ideas.    

 

Posters for Olivetti typewriters by Milton Glaser

Unknown date, but most likely from 1950s or 1960s
Found on ebay from seller planofinearts

These two posters by Milton Glaser advertise Olivetti typewriters. Glaser uses the same technique that Giovanni Pintori uses in his advertisment for the Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter from 1952 and 1958. The use of color and line is used in Pintori's posters suggest that the typewriter is fun, youthful and easy to use. Glaser's posters use bright colors and balls to make the typewriter playful and youthful, similar to his posters for the Valentine typewriter that we saw in class that uses illustrations of young people to suggest that the typewriters are contemporary. 

Journal #10

M&M Facebook Advertisement 

Created by Mars Candy, 2010

This advertisement for pretzel M&Ms brings to life the M&M and the pretzel by giving them humanistic qualities. The use of personification in advertisements is also seen in George Lois' Wolfschimdt's Vodka Life Magazine ad from 1960. These weekly ads followed the story line of the vodka bottle and a fruit or vegetable having a humorous conversation, which is also used in the pretzel M&M advertisement. 

Superbad Intro credits

Produced by Judd Apatow 2008

The opening credits to the movie Superbad show the silhouette of the main actors, Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, dancing. The simplicity of just two colors, shapes and music as opening credits for a movie started with Saul Bass. His introductions for Psycho, North by Northwest, Mad Mad Mad World, and other Alfred Hitchcock movies. 

Journal #9

Type used for the show Spongebob Squarepants

Nickelodeon 1999- 2015

The type used for the show Spongebob Squarepants is similar to what we looked at in class in Disney World's Enchanted Tiki Room and Trader Vic's. The culture of these places is made up to appeal to Americans, with a mix of Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Pacific Island influences. This style is attractive to people to give a tropical and beachy feel, yet it is not realistic. Spongebob uses this same idea with the creation of the fictional underwater town of Bikini Bottom that features graphics of Hawaiian flowers, Tiki designs, and typefaces that resemble what it used in the Enchanted Tiki Room. 

Pendleton Sportswear 

October 1959

found on Pinterest

This advertisement for Pendleton Sportswear from 1959 is similar to the Ohrbach's department store advertisements that we looked at in class this week. Both advertisements are image based- so the large block of text is necessary to read to get the complete information of what is being advertised. Here, the three women wearing the Pendleton Slim Jim skirts and sweaters represent high culture fashion, but shows that it is affordable for middle class women, just as the Ohrbach ad with the cat reveals. Also, there is this idea of competition and social status based upon fashion that is seen in both. The Ohrbach ad has the cat gossiping about other women and the same idea is portrayed here with the women laughing, linking arms, and seeming confident and above those who aren't wearing Pendleton Sportswear.