Over the course of my career as a graphic designer, I've designed many logos, including one for a Presidential event. But invariably it's been the smaller, locally based logos that have provided the most pleasure and satisfaction.
I was once asked to design a logo for a small enterprise that made decals for model car racing enthusiasts. The owner owned a dachshund and wanted a racing dachshund to be the logo.
I immediately thought of the one famous logo with a racing dog — the Greyhound Bus logo — and I set about turning a greyhound into a dachshund. Here was the result:
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No doubt, Mark, this IS a Dachshund. You captured him perfectly. And, in addition, he is all about SPEED. And, he makes me happy just looking at him.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - I'm glad he makes you happy. My family has owned several dachshunds, and they are very funny little personalities.
DeleteVery cool! I immediately recognized the dachshund. Missy, whose wedding I just featured, had a dachshund for 15 - 16 years!!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that Charlie the dog, who appears to have been an attendant at Missy's wedding, has some dachshund in his family tree.
DeleteI would bet that's the speediest dachshund there ever was!
ReplyDeleteLove your eagle button!
Hi, Steve - The eagle button dates back to the time of Andrew Jackson and is called a "Jacksonian" by button collectors. Jacksonians were vest buttons and featured different images, but were always brass, the same small size, and with the same rim. You can see more Jacksonians here:
Deletehttp://allthingsruffnerian.blogspot.com/2012/01/allure-of-antique-buttons.html
Hello Mark - who would have thought that you could make a dachshund look speedy - but you have, and he is adorable.
ReplyDeleteDear Rosemary - Perhaps I should turn him into a hood ornament — his ears have the look of 1950's car fins!
DeleteOhhh that is fun! I love that! What presidential election did you do the logo for?!
ReplyDeleteHi, Stefan - During Ronald Reagan's administration, there was a campaign for tax reform, and I designed a giant post card (and its logo) that was later presented to Speaker Tip O'Neill. The post card was used as a prop at a big rally, and I have a photograph of President Reagan signing "my artwork." Tip O'Neill and Reagan eventually compromised on reform legislation.
DeleteI should add that I have designed campaign material representing both major political parties.
DeleteHi Mark, So many logos today are dreary and unimaginative--especially those created for large companies and institutions. It seems that they all are designed by humorless committees. It is therefore nice to see one infused with imagination and humor.
ReplyDelete--Road to Parnassus
Thanks, Jim. I know the logos of which you speak, and I think they've been created to be safe and represent so many bullets on a checklist that they taken on a generic quality.
DeleteWow! Mark-- what fun to see you in designer-action!!! This is brilliant-- I think the speedy dachshund is even more iconic than the greyhound... I especially love the ears flying! Wonderful work-- I can see why you enjoy these smaller projects-- I'll bet there is more of a sense of fun and freedom.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Erika
Hi, Erika,
DeleteWhat I found true in designing corporate identity is that the larger the organization, the more was at stake and hence the more cautious the perameters. I usually provided 3-5 initial possibilities, with one design that might be termed "staid."
A quarter of my income when I was freelancing came from etched glass designs, and those were always wonderfully idiosyncratic.
Best wishes,
Mark
Really like your dachshound ..you've captured their flapping ears perfectly as well as their big chests.
ReplyDeleteIs the button of the month from a uniform ?
Hi, smr - Thanks for liking the little dachshund and his ears. My brother had a dachshund who was allowed to lick the ice cream box after all the ice cream had been scooped out — then we'd have to wash her ears!
DeleteThe eagle button (I was thinking of the 4th of July) is actually quite small, and came from a vest. You can read more about it in my reply to Steve, of The Urban Cottage, a couple of comments up from here.