Karol Śliwka

Born in 1932 in the Silesian Foothills in Harbutowice, southern Poland, Karol Śliwka began his art education in 1946 at the Evening School of Painting, Sculpture and Graphics in Bielsko-Biała. “I was 13 years old and I had been disarming mines in the field. One of them exploded. To this day I work with one eye. My dad decided that I would have to stay...

1d

La Patria

There are more than 1,000 items in the collection. As well as logos you’ll find historical posters, stamps, book and record covers. “There have been few attempts to narrate or document Uruguayan design tradition; because of this, the country appears to lack a design history. A commitment to my profession, my discipline, and my nation led me to want...

Feb 2022

Logo Wave Awards

I’ve been judging the Logo Wave awards for a number of years now. It’s an independent award scheme by designer Kyle Courtright. Kyle and I have yet to meet in person, but we’ve come to know each other online over the years and I have a lot of respect for him as a family man and as a designer. Kyle kindly answered some questions to give us an insight...

Jan 2022

Marked with thought #3

The original Vancouver Canucks logo was designed in 1970 by freelance graphic designer and lifelong hockey fan Joe Borovich. Joe heard rumours that the Canucks would be entering the NHL, so he crafted a new team logo and took it to the Canucks’ stadium office for consideration. About a month later Joe got the approval call and was invited back to design...

Dec 2021

Made by James

James Martin, also known as Made by James, is a UK-based graphic designer who specialises in logos. Working from his studio in Shedfield (south England), James recently completed his hardback book, Made by James. In it he takes the reader through a journey of how he became a full-time logo specialist, and shares the tools and techniques he uses on a...

Dec 2021

Aphex Twin

There are few more memorable logos in the music profession than the alien-like ‘A’ of Aphex Twin. It was designed in 1991 in time for the 92 release of Irish-born music producer Richard David James’ seminal album Selected Ambient Works (the first track, Xtal, brings back some fine, fine memories). Paul Nicholson is the graphic designer behind...

Nov 2021

Marken und Signete

The 1957 book Marken und Signete, published by Julius Hoffmann, features logos by designers such as Helmut Salden, Roger Excoffon, Anton Stankowski, Philip Grushkin, and George Salter. Images have been archived on Flickr thanks to the Herb Lubalin Study Center and Stephen Coles. Stephen’s copy (above) was missing its dust jacket (below). A whimsical...

Oct 2021

Sait Maden

Born on May 3rd, 1931, in Çorum, Turkey, Sait Maden started writing poetry at the age of 13 and began learning French and Ottoman at the age of 16. He learned Spanish to be able to translate Lorca from his mother tongue. From 1949–55 he studied at IDGSA Painting Department in Istanbul, graduating from Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu Workshop. As a side job between...

Sep 2021

The Spirit of Ecstasy

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu was one of Britain’s motoring pioneers. As founder and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine, he employed an illustrator, Charles Sykes, and a private secretary, Eleanor Velasco Thornton. In 1909, Lord Montagu commissioned Sykes (who was also a sculptor) to make a mascot for his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Sykes produced a statue...

Aug 2021

The story of the Coca-Cola logo

It was May 8th, 1886, in Atlanta, Georgia, when Coca-Cola came to life. Local pharmacist Dr John Stith Pemberton created the syrup. John Stith Pemberton (1831–1888) John carried a jug of his syrup down the street to Jacobs’ Pharmacy where it was mixed with carbonated water, deemed tasty, and sold from a soda fountain for five cents a glass. ...

Jul 2021