Wordmark of Ferrari is definitely an eye catcher. The white characters stand out from the red background, which makes the brand name more impressive and easy to remember at first glance. Tracking is natural and comfortable. The best of all is the extension of the letter “F” in the ascender line, marking its end with the letter “i.” Such design resonates with Ferrari’s brand image, as it is well-known for its super cars. The ascender line could have extended to “I”, but it doesn’t, suggesting that while Ferrari cares about the speed performance, it also emphasizes on the concept of “safe driving,” — to stop where necessary. Overall, this wordmark is well-designed and enhances the brand image.

This wordmark of Johnson & Johnson has both pros and cons. Tracking is moderately adjusted; letters are attached to each other, creating a fluid sense, which I think is very stylish. HOWEVER, I personally don’t quite get it why a company specializing in pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods would come up with such a design idea. Shouldn’t such companies be more classic and traditional when it comes to wordmark design? What does this wordmark suggest in relation to its brand image? Any thought is more than welcome!

Wordmark one for week two assignment. 

I really like the Ray Ban wordmark because it has always been associated with ‘cool’. The wordmark, as most of you know I’m sure, is always neatly and subtly placed in the corner of all their products. I always thought that was neat because it distinguishes their product from similar ones. I like the bold color that draws you in, but I also like the the way they present themselves elsewhere using only the signature font. It’s unmistakable.

Wordmark two for week two assignment.

This wordmark is a classic. The font is unique but familiar and bold. I think the wordmark matches appropriately with the products it represents because of the bold color and sleek appearance. Unlike Ray Ban, Ferrari uses a block/slab serif that I find appealing because it’s bold and uncompromising. When I see Ferrari and Ray Ban wordmarks I think of classic and uncompromising brands that don’t aspire to be trend setters. These wordmarks and the associated products set the standard of what we know to be cool.

The Harry Potter wordmark uses the Harry P typeface, which was specifically designed to use for the series. The designers created the typeface with crooked letters and distinct serifs to illustrate the world of magic that Harry Potter portrays. The bolt image that extends from the P in this wordmark as a descinder brings the motif of Harry’s lightning bolt scar on his forward into the wordmark itself. Certain letters are larger than the others, and the H and the A, along with the P and the O are interlocking to place emphasis on the oddities and the other realm that the books and movies take the reader to.

The ESPN wordmark uses the ESP typeface. This is especially effective because of the type of magazine ESPN is, and the portrayal the editors want their audience to have of the magazine. The line going straight through the letters in a consecutive way illustrates a moving forward of sorts, or a type of action, as one’s eye moves directly across the image, from left to right, in a quick and fluid motion. The lack of negative space between the S and P elongates the word, keeping the word connected, as all of the sports and ideas within the magazine are connected as well, which is a great branding technique. The red is a warm color, keeping the wordmark in full view the entire time, making it stand out.

The typeface Cool Whip uses, which resembles Gans Antigua Gold, is a fun and effective wordmark. The letters look like the the topping when it is scooped out of the container. The color white also represents the contents inside the package, which is excellent brand identity. The characteristics of the word mark such as the typeface, color and arc gives an air of lightness and fun. It creates a memorable visual due to the quirkiness of the serifs and the tight kerning of the letters. The brand identity is also incredibly strong because when you look at the wordmark you are immediately reminded of the contents within the package and how tasty it is to eat.

The CNN wordmark strikes me as particularly interesting and effective. The warm red color comes forward and catches the eye. The color gives a sense of urgency like a stop sign as if to say “Stop here and listen to the news.” The wide sans-serif typeface is attention-getting yet simple and will easily jump out when flipping through the television channels or while searching stories on the web. The white line running through and connecting all the letters is also very defining. It makes the words flow and reminds me of a path like the way news travels. The connection and flow of the words also remind me of the way we are all connected to the news and general happenings of the world. All these aspects of the wordmark represent the brand identity well for CNN. It is eye catching yet still sends the message that CNN is a news outlet.

This typeface, most closely related to Aeris Pro A Bold, is very well-suited for Niko’s Greek Taverna. Being a Greek restaurant, this typeface adds a very “Greeky” feel to the wordmark, and therefore, gives the restaurant more culture that is crucial for its success in the restaurant business. Due to size and color, “Niko’s” is the main focus of the wordmark, which brings out the significance of that particular name to the restaurant. The type surely aligns with the brand identity design because the wordmark accurately portrays the feel of the restaurant.