apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I actually did an assignment on Paul Rand (graphic design student). It's amazing the logos he designed long ago are still used today! Not only used today, but are still great designs.

I worked with Paul Rand on his final identity rollout, the now infamous Enron logo. Aside from his mammoth book of usage guidelines (strike that, "laws enforceable by death") even the vastly experienced Mr. Rand was capable of a missed step. He created the E logo with a yellow center stem. It disappeared when photocopied or faxed, turning into a C. This wasn't discovered until after the completion of a multi-billion dollar international rollout and his death. We rushed to swap the yellow for green, then replaced every instance of the mark. Every business card, identity badge, office sign...every stinkin' thing had that yellow-stemmed logo on it. But I wouldn't have traded the opportunity to work on a project of his for anything in the world.

Love.Love.Love Paul Rand. Such an inspiration...

He's a legend in the graphic communication world and I continue to aspire to his process of creating lasting and effective design. Designers forget that it's the creative process that is very important.

wow- I'm so surprised that there are only 4 comments on this. Words to live by, definitely. And considering that some clients think all we designers have to do is press the magic button and the computer 'does it' for us, it's a great mantra.

Here's my favorite from Rand: "Design, good or bad, is a vehicle of memory. Good design adds value"

"Design is everything. EVERYTHING!"
-Paul Rand