Google buzz logo – Uncanny similarity with MSN logo

Google recently launched its much awaited networking app – Google buzz. One can share status, have conversations, tag the buzz with location, share photos, is integrated with Gmail inbox, import data from twitter, so much to do . Google has also rolled out a version of buzz for Android and Apple iPhone.

With every new launch of Google product I wait to see Google product demo videos – Not that the products are complicated but I have always loved to watch them. Hats off to the creative team who continuously strive for more and still not make the storyboard complex. A treat for the designer’s senses Google Buzz Demo

Conceptually I love everything about Google videos but somewhere in my mind while watching the demo of Google buzz  – the butterfly concept in the video reminded me of MSN logo (maybe due to my association with msn client few years back)

There is a striking similarity between the Google buzz logo and

How to design a logo – Basic principles/ Best practices

In my earlier post 2009 – Year of redesigned logos I did not consider some of the logos, since I feel the designers did not do justice with them. Redesigning a logo does not need to be a necessity if the spark and purpose is not well utilized. I again request designers not to design for the sake of designing but go deep into the reasoning. Do some homework and recognize the underlying principle of design.

5 Basic principles of Logo designing:

1. Simple, Clear & Crisp – Logo design should be uncomplicated for the viewer and designer.
2. Projection of company’s image should come across clearly & direct
3. Balancing Act – Logo designing is balancing act of creativity. One should not go overboard with the usage of design elements : font, color and shape. The key is correct use of styling and balancing of all these elements to form a composition called ‘logo’
4. Direct hit – Messaging should be direct either through graphics or text and should hit the viewers mind in one go.
5. Black & White as winner – Colors play a very important role but a logo should not lose its sheen when converted in black and white. This is a common issue we all face as designers and prefer to ignore it.

Logo conceptualization:

Color vs Black and White
The last point of logo designing principle is indeed the foremost important territory for a designer to conquer.

2009 – Year of redesigned logos

With the changing dates through the year, 2009 witnessed Web2.0 as a common word in our design discussions, client briefs and our design communities. Everyone wanted to upgrade their company’s image either through logos or websites with “Web2.0 look”.

I complied a collection of few logos for the companies which dared to jump into Web 2.0 wave and got themselves wet.

AOL logo rebranding – teasers

Exactly what was AOL thinking when they redesigned the new bunch of logos instead of one. It makes me feel either the brand identity got lost somewhere in too many meanings or they are simply not worried into ‘single brand identity’ and wish to capture all the possible things in the world, which does not go well with the users.

• How does ‘Aol.’ expect users to remember so multi-facet brand?
• What impression it leaves in the mind of users?
• Above all what kind of users are they targeting at? (maybe the answer is not even clear with the AOL team)