http://www.graphis.com/blog/rss/ Graphis Blog BooksNewsPhotography http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=135
In Care of Ward 81, photographer Bill Diodato chronicles the downfall of institutional services in the United States and its subsequent effect on the women who inhabited these establishments.

In 2005, while Diodato was visiting Salem, Oregon, in order to photograph the cremated remains of the 3,500 "forgotten" patients at the Oregon State Insane Asylum, he was granted access to Ward 81 – the place where many women affected by mental illness were treated and isolated from the rest of society. Realizing that he would be the last to access and document the conditions of this ward, Diodato was driven by an inner "sense of responsibility to remember the women" who spent the majority of their lives within the walls of the psychiatric institution.

Care of Ward 81 captures not only the decay and desolation of the ward, but also the hidden beauty of lives that remain unknown to us. The harshness of the ward's devastation is brightly contrasted by a softer, more colorful world that shines through the decay. The result is a hauntingly beautiful collection of imagery that stimulates the senses and conjures the imagination.

Diodato, who has been working as a conceptual photographer for over fifteen years, is renowned for his commercial and fine arts photography. He has received critical acclaim and worldwide exposure in a number of books, magazines, and films.

Care of Ward 81 is available in a first edition of 1,000 copies – 200 of which are still available for $50. The book is also available in a signed, numbered and slipcased edition of 100 with both the book and the slipcase bound in Japanese Saifu cloth for $250.

Signed books may be purchased directly through the photographer by contacting Linda Hilfiker at 212-563-1724 or via her email at linda@lhproduction.com. For more information, visit Diodato's blog by clicking here.

Bill Diodato in Graphis:

Photography Annual 2006



Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:19:49 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=135#reply Design: LogoNews http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=134
With the FIFA World Cup stealing the globe's collective attention right now, we decided to take a look at the team logos of all 32 nations playing in South Africa.

Each team wears these emblems on their jerseys, typically on the left chest. Much of the design is symbolic of the country's heritage, such as England's three lions or Cte d'Ivoire's elephant. The design can also denote past victories. The presence of stars for some countries represents World Cup titles – five for Brazil, four for Italy and three for Germany, for example.

Interestingly enough, the U.S. team's logo has three stars. We at Graphis would like to know if anyone knows why. Also, what are your favorite World Cup team logos? Post your comments below.



Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:28:18 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=134#reply Journal: DesignNews http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=133
The introduction of the Graphis Journals, which will be replacing Graphis magazine, features 24 inspiring design and illustration professionals, the majority of whom have been consistent Platinum and Gold winners in our past Annuals.

In addition to having served the top 5%-10% of our craft, Graphis is now proud to embrace the entire design community. The second half of the book is devoted to more than 600 Silver winners throughout the Americas. Future editions will be accepting up to 1,000 Silver winners per Journal. The printed edition contains 304 pages and comes with an extended digital version, containing 458 pages of additional work from our featured professionals.

Pre-order your copy now, as this publication will be available in limited quantities. As soon as you order, you will get immediate access to the 458-page digital version, and your printed copy will be delivered in July 2010. Click on the link below to secure your copy.

Design Journal Americas 001

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:22:04 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=133#reply BooksPhotography http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=132
Part monograph, part travelogue and part memoir, Sporting Life is an artistic diary combining photos, newspaper clippings and handwritten thoughts into visually arresting collages.

Acclaimed photographer Walter Iooss, Jr. chronicles his life and work in his own words, framing photographs of his most famous subjects: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Muhammad Ali, David Beckham, Anna Kournikova, Heidi Klum, Tiger Woods and many others.

Many of these photographs are printed here for the very first time. Walter Iooss has been a sports photographer since the age of 17. His work has appeared on more than 300 Sports Illustrated covers.

"I've always felt the moment," Iooss says on his website. "People call me lucky, and luck is a wonderful attribute. But it's more - it's a sense somehow. It's inexplicable, it happens. It's a feeling and you just move into that direction. Someone once said that wherever I am is the perfect picture. I didn't like the way it sounded but I believe that. It's not that I'm positive of it deep down inside, it's that I have to believe it. When you make that decision - 'This is the place to go' - you've got to live with it. There's no alternative."

To purchase Sporting Life, click here.

]]> Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:14:14 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=132#reply Design: Logo http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=131
We continue our exploration of Graphis' immense logo archive with a few of our advertising logos. We commenced this occasional blog feature a few months back to showcase our collection of nearly 5,000 logos, trademarks and symbols.

With a professional membership you can gain access to the Logo Database, containing almost 2,000 worldwide logos from our past Logo Books. Also included are 2,800 logos from World Trademarks Volumes 1 and 2. Although those book are out of print, digital files of the books are still available in the Graphis Store.

This first volume of World Trademarks is an essential reference for anyone in the field of logo and trademark design. Published by Graphis, these two volumes comprise the first sweeping survey of symbol and logotype design. This comprehensive compendium encompasses thousands of distinct trademarks developed by leading designers worldwide during the last century.

World Trademarks is introduced by Graphis publisher B. Martin Pedersen, and written, edited and designed by internationally noted identity designer Rick Eiber. It also includes a history of trademarks, a discussion of the activity of trademark design and the role it plays in business.

For more information on World Trademarks, click here. For Professional Membership information, click here.

]]> Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:42:13 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=131#reply BooksDesign http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=130
The boundary between the past and the future, the traditional and the revolutionary is found in many forms in Koichi Sato's work. Influenced by the scientific understanding he acquired in the 1950s, and inspired by haiku as well as the poetry of music and theater, this master has conquered a dichotomy within himself by expressing it on paper.

His work often combines a tight line with gradation, or images of space with the scribblings of man. Sato is a logician with a poet's desire to reach within. He is also a technical genius with a legendary interest in and understanding of the methods of his trade.

In 1969 Sato graduated from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. After working for Shiseido for two years, he opened his own design office. His clients have included theatrical groups, fashion designer Jurgen Lehl, the established department store Mitsukoshi, paper manufacturer Takeo and Sogetsu, an established school of flower arranging.

Graphis was honored to have Sato included in 12 Japanese Masters, a book that serves as a tribute to the designers who, in the 1960s and '70s, brought Japan to the attention of the international design world. It includes insightful profiles and stunning visual portfolios by designers Shigeo Fukuda, Tadanori Yokoo, Eiko Ishioka, Toshiyuki Kita, Yusaku Kamekura, Kiyoshi Awazu, Kazumasa Nagai and Ikko Tanaka.

To purchase 12 Japanese Masters, click here.]]> Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:18:26 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=130#reply ArtDesignMagazines http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=129
In Graphis Magazine 158, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Harrison E. Salisbury documented the political cartoons that adorned the Op-Ed Page of The New York Times in the 1970s. Salisbury was the perfect person to write the article because he created the Times' Op-Ed Page.

Although readers might take it for granted now, the Op-Ed Page at that time was a new and imaginative feature in which both writers and artists could express themselves freely on the burning issues of the day. Salisbury provided page real estate to many illustrators for this "new realm of creative journalism."

Salisbury wanted illustrators for the Op-Ed Page to create visual distinction from the rest of the newspaper, which largely featured photographs. He contacted scores of artists to contribute to the page, but found his greatest success using illustrators from Europe.

"They had no preconceptions nor past ties to the conventions of American journalism. Indeed, many of them had no connection with any kind of journalism. And this, quite clearly, was for the best since it unshackled imaginations."

NYT OP-ED Illustrations in Graphis

Graphis Magazine 158


]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:40:59 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=129#reply AdvertisingDesign: BrandingNews http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=128
Chevrolet took a lot of criticism recently after launching a rebranding scheme aimed at eliminating "Chevy" from all future communications – including from the mouths of showroom salespeople.

The company initiated the change in the name of maintaining brand consistency. The New York Times obtained and printed portions of the internal memo, which recognized Coke and Apple as brands Chevrolet wanted to emulate.

"Why is this consistency so important? The more consistent a brand becomes, the more prominent and recognizable it is with the consumer," the memo reads. The New Times Times rebutted that line of thought, saying that "although the memo cites Coke, it does not note that Coke is shorthand for Coca-Cola – or that Apple is not commonly used in reference to its products, which are known simply as iPads, iPhones and MacBooks."

Chevrolet was the best-selling car brand for a half-century following World War II. Corvettes, Camaros and the Bel Air became as much a part of "The Heartbeat Of America" as "Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie," as their respective slogans rightly bragged. Chevy is woven into the fabric of American pop culture, through movies, music and more.

A spokesperson for General Motors told The New York Times that Chevrolet's new advertising agency Goodby, Silverstein and Partners spearheaded the move. Many industry experts reacted to that accusation with skepticism, pointing out that the firm has a wealth of experience embedding brands in pop culture. In fact, when Goodby announced on their own website that they had landed the account they used "Chevy" and "Chevrolet" interchangeably.

After coming under fire last week, Chevrolet backed away from the Chevy debate and released a statement. Here is an excerpt:

"Today's emotional debate over a poorly worded memo on our use of the Chevrolet brand is a good reminder of how passionately people feel about Chevrolet. It is a passion we share and one we do not take for granted. We love Chevy. In no way are we discouraging customers or fans from using the name. We deeply appreciate the emotional connections that millions of people have for Chevrolet and its products."

NYT: Saving Chevrolet Means Sending 'Chevy' to Dump ]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:30:27 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=128#reply Design: Annual ReportsNews http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=127
There is still plenty of time to submit entries to the upcoming Graphis 100 Best Annual Reports 2011. Our deadline period ends on Monday, June 28.

Graphis Annual Reports 2011 will present the 100 best Annual Reports of the past year. The book will also feature articles and Q&A with some of the industry's top designers.

For more information on how to submit entries, check out our Process Overview page for complete details on entry preparation, payment and shipping. You must complete our a Free Registration to participate. We look forward to seeing your work.

Feel free to post any questions in the comment box below.]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:22:58 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=127#reply DesignNews http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=126
In response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Greenpeace is calling on all designers to create a logo for BP to show the company that it is not "beyond petroleum." They're up to their necks in a toxic sludge that has become the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Graphis supports the Greenpeace logo competition and encourages everyone to get involved. So far, there have been nearly 1,000 submissions, which can be viewed by clicking on the link below. A few of the concepts can be seen on this page.

Greenpeace promises to use the winning logo in an international campaign against the oil company. The organizers say that they are "after the best ideas and concept, not necessarily the slickest logo. So if you're not a professional designer don't worry." The overall winner will be able to spend a day with an unnamed "top graphic designer" to transform your idea into a final product. Deadline for entries is June 28.

GREENPEACE: Help Rebrand BP's Logo

Enter The Contest Here

Most Recent Submissions

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 17:43:08 GMT http://www.graphis.com/blog/?id=126#reply