Blok54 it is!

In my previous post I was writing about some decisions which I had made and mentioned that there are still some to be made. And voila, my »transformation« is almost done.  Welcome in my blok, Blok54!

Yes, it’s official now. I joined forces with Miha Grudnik, a friend of mine who is an expert in visual communication, especially in promotional signs, led displays and the technology connected with it. Together with my knowledge and experience in the field of media, design, PR etc. we try to form some kind of unique company. We try to focus on personalized solutions, we try to introduce different approaches and to “abuse” as much as possible the new media and combine it with conventional.
And because I’m the capo di banda of the creative part of our project, it felt down to me to create a brand which will present our hard-to-define work.

EDIT: I separated from Miha and stayed with the creative part. We collaborate, but otherwise work separately.

The NAME ?!?

It’s not that easy if you work on your own brand. F***, it’s really hard. Why? Because you want it to be perfect. Because our brand will combine different activities I had even a harder job. After a week of brainstorming it was decided that BLOK (block) is the name. Why? Because it is simple and strong, it is Slovene, but is easily to pronounce and is almost the same as the English word. Why than Blok54? Because we wanted to personalize the brand. So it is not just one block, it is The Blok54.

!SKETCHES

I thought that it’ll be easier when the name is decided. Especially because I had an image in my head. First there were the sketches. I wanted something more cartoon like; but on the other hand, I wanted something which would still be serious enough. My friends which opinion is really important to me were saying that I should stick with something more formal. Together with Špela (yes, you are the best! ) we made some sketches.

VECTORIZE

After the sketches I tried some forms in Illustrator. I wanted something bold, almost industrialist, something totally opposite to shy design which is used by most of modern advertising agencies. Yes, I am a fan of minimalism and I like simple logos, but for our brand I wanted the opposite. Simple but strong.

FINALIZE

Hm… After I sent out the test pdf to my friends some interesting feedback returned. After 3 or 4 sleepless nights and nights spent before my monitors I decided for a series or versions of the logo, I chose and modified the font and here it is. I decided to include some dynamics and some character to the logo. Perhaps, some of you will say that it is too cartoonish, and perhaps you are right, but, hell, I am a fan of cartoons. And most of all, Blok54 is about different approaches and wants to go out of the mainstream. And so, I came out with different variations.

edit:

After some evaluation time this are the favourites or the final versions which I’m using, or better say, will be using.

BLOK YOU !

Blok54 is still in the beginning. I still have to decide which logo to use, even though I think we will use almost all of the variations because we’ll include many activities under the brand Blok54. But still, I want to give the logo a test phase, and I want to gather some further opinions.

But as I was finalizing the logo my friend Saša set to me something amazing, and because of it I decided to make the logo as it is. She said something like this: “It’s your brand, you are the one who’s invented the story behind the brand. And that’s why you should the logo which you feel is The one.” And that’s how the cartoonish Blok54 was born. Thanks not only to Saša, but to all others who were involved in the process.

COMMENT PLEASE !
Now, I want you to comment. Which version do you like the most? Which one should we use? What are your thoughts about the Blok? How Blok are you? 

Award winning stuff?

Yesterday at the award ceremony at Golden Drum Mister Ami Hasan (president of the jury) was shocked in he’s speech, because there were two entries that were as he said: “A disgrace for all the advertising industry.” The two print ads were for Sony Playstation and the motive was the concentration camp in Auschwitz. I didn’t see the controversial ads because I arrived at Wednesday when they already removed them. Mr. Hasan was shocked and so was the whole audience, and yes, so am I. But what I noticed was that there were at least several ads that were also controversial.

Especially THIS ONE (please follow the link because I couldn’t post it here)

I admit that the ad is somehow funny and it delivers the message. But hey, hold on! What really is the message? If you watch it carefully (hell, you understand the message even if you look at it very quickly) the message is simple: If you got acne problems you can become a Muslim. But if you don’t have the problem, then you could show your face and therefore “don’t have to convert”. You can call me conservative, which I’m definitely NOT, but I think the message here is blurred and some kind of controversial. Especially if you look at the creative’s: McCann Tel Aviv (Israel). You could easily take this ad as a joke carried to far, a joke on Israel Muslim neighbor countries. And the news of the day is, that this add was awarded yesterday. Hm… I’m really confused where the lines are, where is the ethics or better said: Should we stick to it or not?

But hey, don’t take me wrong, I like new controversial ideas. All I meant to say was that I think you shouldn’t proceed with your idea (motive or whatever drives your creativeness) at all costs. Especially when the matter is delicate as in the before mentioned ad. But, McCann Tel Aviv was awarded also for another great (this time even appropriate ) ad in category self promotion.

Well done guys!

Here are some other winnig TV spots… Really great. And funny. Enjoy it!

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22353/details.html

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22421/details.html

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22632/details.html