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(courtesy: one of the numerous vodafone messages)
Do girls also get the same message?

It's in your hands!

Came across this nice logo of Fortis healthcare group of hospitals (or healthcare consultants) in India. A very simple but brilliant treatment of negative space to convey the right meaning to the viewer. For those who have not figured it out yet, the logo in the left with a red dot above, has the space between tow hands in the shape of a human (and the red dot is head)! I really liked the way it conveys the right message in such a simple form. Just one shape element with straight lines, one circle, two colours and so much meaning! I think if you want, you can really make things simple!
The 3 letters r, t and i in the logotype connected to each other seem to be saying something, which I didn't get.. but still look interesting, may be like some other script or symbol. If anybody knows please comment.

Love is brand.

No it's not a typo, love actually is like a brand.. a good brand which successfully evolves with time! Take any brand e.g. Apple. We know how it has changed/evolved with time. Starting with the rainbow colour logo to colourful i-macs to minimalistic white laptops and white logo to again colourful i-pod shuffles. Apple has changed with time not only visually but also with respect to products it is associated to. But Apple has always remained an Apple, rather THE apple. One may not be able to describe properly what it takes for a product to be Apple, but somehow we all know 'the apple'. Thats brand! What we like about apple is not what it was or what it is today, but the way it has changed, or it will change! The change for which you are ready to pay!

Love... isn't it very similar to a good brand like apple? You may like someone for the way they look, the way they behave, the way they respond, but with time you know it will all change. You somehow anticipate and love the change. You may not know what will change and how it will be, but you somehow know/trust/expect it wil be worth. That is love! And like brand, it's not restricted to that particular person. You appreciate most of the things or even people associated with that person. Love is much more than what you can describe or express or even expect to be. Like there are many intangibles which contribute to brand value, there are even more intangibles and feelings which make you keep loving that particular person in spite of all the expected and unexpected changes over time. You may not be able to visualize those intangibles and changes, but that doesn't mean love is blind! Love is brand.

Interesting history of Brand Yamaha

The Yamaha brand trademark, YAMAHA, comes from the name of founder Torakusu Yamaha who pioneered the production of Western musical instruments in Japan. Born to a family of a Kishu Tokugawa clansman, Torakusu was captivated by Western science and technology from early on. Fascinated by the watches that were gaining popularity in Osaka at the time, he took up watchmaking, studying business along the way. Over time, Torakusu began repairing medical equipment and was invited to visit a hospital in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture.

On one occasion, the hospital asked him if he would try to repair a reed organ. He agreed and was able to repair it successfully, marking the first step toward the birth of the Yamaha brand. Recognizing its business potential, while repairing the organ, Torakusu created a blueprint for the inside of the organ, later creating his own prototype organ. To deliver it to the then Music Institute (today's Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music), Torakusu slung his creation over his shoulder on a carrying pole and crossed the mountains of Hakone. This historic trek was later immortalized as a bas-relief.

The organ, however, was criticized harshly for its poor tuning. Undaunted, and starting from zero, Torakusu began studying music theory and tuning. After four months of seemingly endless struggles from early morning to late at night, he was finally able to complete the organ. It is easy to see how he came up with the concept of the tuning forks logo (as seen in pic above), inspired by the difficult experience of studying tuning while holding a tuning fork in his hand.

"Today, Yamaha is a leader in businesses ranging from musical instruments and audio & video products to products related to information technology, new media services, home furnishings, auto components, specialty metals, music education and resort facilities. Yet, true to our musical origins, no matter what business we take on, or what country we do business in -- we seek to remain perfectly attuned to the set of shared values that define the World of Yamaha." As per information on Yamaha website.
P.S. by the way they also produce good motorcycles!!! ;)

design is fighting for good change...

Finally, my an year long, slow and steady fight against top management's reluctance to 'change' has shown some success today!!! I am quite happy and energized. Not just because I have successfully (though partially) changed something in our brand identity to make it worth more, but also because everybody is accepting and appreciating it instead of having any objection to the 'change'. I am happy, not just for this tiny success but also because I hope now decision makers can start trusting my (or design's) intuition over their logic. I am optimistic again!
I am also happy because of a small incident related to this. I received and shortlisted 3 emblem prototypes showing least damage (visually as well as to the design intent) for the new vehicle soon to be launched. I took them to workshop for trying on the 3 vehicles. LIke everybody else, one worker looked at them in awe and looked quite impressed by these prototypes. He enquired about how much this will cost. Though it was around Rs 20 before negotiation, I told him Rs. 30 each just to prevent him from asking for one for free. Without delay of a second he took out Rs. 30 and offered me for that damaged emblem proto!!!!! I was amazed and thought if he can pay 50% more for that irrelevent (considering that he wont be buying that vehicle) emblem, prospective buyers of this new vehicle will happily accept its so called higher price because of this 'rich and elegent experience of ownership'. It's not enough to be good to impress buyers, it has to feel good also!!!
Success, no matter how tiny, encourages to do more (or fight more?)
;)