Logo Love

Bulgarian Pavilion, Okinawa Expo 75

With one of my classes, I am about to embark on the annual logo and corporate identity project.

If you're not a graphic designer, logo design may seem deceptively simple, but it's actually

a very challenging and time consuming process which requires strong conceptual, 

communicative and graphic skills. Stefan Kanchev was a master in this field, and 

his 1,600 trademarks are great examples of clarity, ingenuity and elegance in design. 

I especially love how he was able to translate traditional symbols and styles 

of Bulgarian art and folklore into simple and graceful modern icons.

Find many more of his works at this wonderful website!

Bulgarian State Archives

Fishery Burgas

National Museum of History

National Opera Sofia

National Park "Central Balkan"

Union of Bulgarian Composers

WInery Dragalevtsi

"Boyana" Film Studios

"Bulgarreklama" Bulgarian advertisement

"Bulgarsko Vezmo" Bulgarian embroidery

"Nektarcoop" 

"Rodopa" meat production plant

"Style 18"

Hungarian Spring

Maybe to compensate this strangely grey spring season, after David Weidman 

I am still in the mood for sharing some joyful, sunshine filled imagery.

János Kass was born in Szeged, Hungary, in 1927. After finishing his artistic studies,

he became one of Hungary's foremost graphic artists and book illustrators.

He also worked as a printmaker, painter, sculptor, teacher, and postage stamp designer. 

János illustrated and designed around 400 books, mostly classic novels and children's stories.

He was remarkably versatile, and his artistic output ranged from fine etchings and intense b&w prints

 to bold and colourful silk-screens and delightfully playful children's illustrations.

His art combined the influence of traditional Hungarian folk culture with that of modern 

art movements. János' work gained international recognition, and was awarded the prize 

for best illustrated book at the 1973 Leipzig book fair and the 1999 Frankfurt fair. 

He won the Kossuth prize, Hungary's highest artistic award, and his drawings, etchings

 and silk-screen prints were widely exhibited at home and around the world. 

János was the storyboard artist for Dilemma, the earliest fully digital animated film. 

This 1981 British short directed by Hungarian born animator John Halas won international awards

 and was nominated for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. 

János also worked as background artist for the "So Beautiful and So Dangerous" 

segment of the 1981 animated feature Heavy Metal. 

Magyar Andersen stamp series, 1979

János Kass died in 2010 at the age of 82. HIs artworks can be viewed at the Hungarian National Gallery 

and in a permanent exhibition located in his birthplace Szeged.

To my knowledge, none of János' beautiful children's books have been published in Italy. 

 I found the images for this post in a variety of websites, from Japanese vintage bookshops

and Hungarian art galleries to the lovely blogs Two Hand Design and Kristina Klarin.

I will try to post some original scans of his work in the near future; in the meanwhile 

you can check out the work of another outstanding Hungarian illustrator, Károly Reich.

Flowers & Feathers

Nathalie Lete, La chouette orange

More folk inspiration to bring a touch of Spring 

into these barren Winter days

Julie Paschkis

 Neue Werbung cover and Bulgarian stamps by Stefan Kanchev

Evi Tihemets, Birds in folklore, thanks to vaula

Anja Jane, Ornamental Garden

Madhubani painting

Poster by Alfons van Heusden

Pierre Belvès, Découpages, 1947, thanks to Agence eureka

 The Shoo-Fly Pie, 1944, thanks to Jasper Armstrong

Milada Marešová, 1953

Nina van de Goor

 Jennifer Judd-McGee

Sukie

Streamlined Zoo

Henri Creuzevault, The Jungle Book binding, 1925

I am working on a lesson about the graphic design of the 1920s and 30s,

hence the inspiration for this elegant Art Deco menagerie.

For more designs from the era, you may take a tour here and there.

 Edward McKnight Kauffer, poster for the London Underground, 1923, 

thanks to Cabinet Magazine

Rembrandt Bugatti, Nubian Lion, ca.1910 

Jean Carlu, Aquarium de Monaco, 1926, thanks to Pignouf

Japanese sculpture, 1928, thanks to Paris Originals

 Edmund Bartlomiejczyk, 1929

Art Deco Llama made from Glass and silver, thanks to Lost Found

Dinner menu from the Orient Line Orion, 1937, thanks to Bonito Club

Fábrica de Loiça de Sacavém

 Japanese New Year's Card, 1932, thanks to Aqua-Velvet

Edouard-Marcel Sandoz

Ceramiche Rometti, Rondini, 1936

An Angel Fish from Penrose magazine, 1930,

thanks again to The Visual Telling of Stories