Black Koi 360 Design Studio

We believe that quality design, hard work, and communication are the keys to solving your business needs.

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Budapest Unveils A Fun, Vibrant Logo For 2024 Olympic City Bid

Budapest has recently unveiled its candidate city bidding logo design for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

It is the last city to present its design among other bidding cities, including Rome, Paris, and Los Angeles.

Designed by Graphasel, Balázs Fürjes gave the following description of the logo, “At its centre is the emblem of the Freedom Statue, with the fresh, fortifying waters of the Danube at its feet, surrounded by the celebratory warmth and openness of the Hungarian personality”.

The logo is cleverly constructed by breaking down and putting together pieces of the rings from the original Olympic logo.

All four candidate city logos, in order of introduction, sized so that all Olympic rings are the same.

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The silver Diet Coke can will be no more

The next time you go for a can of Diet Coke, you might need to look twice to make sure you aren’t grabbing the full-calorie version instead: Coca-Cola is giving all four of its Coke products a makeover it’s calling “One-Brand” packaging that brings to mind the packaging of original Coca-Cola products.

Coca-Cola is redesigning the cans and bottles of each variation of its soft drink — Diet Coke, Coke Zero and stevia-infused Coca-Cola Life — around a prominent red disc meant to create a more unified look across the board, the soda giant announced this week. Coca-Cola says the move will extend its “One Brand” global marketing strategy to its packaging. In each case, the end result looks like the old design was melded with the classic red can that has come to be associated with the sugary version of the drink.

Coke will be debuting the revamped cans in Mexico next month and then rolling them out across other markets over the course of the next two years.

"These new packaging designs signal a shift in our visual language in which the classic Red Disc is more prominent than other elements associated with the brand," James Somerville, the brand's VP of global design, said in a blog post about the changes. 

“The unification of the brands through design, marks the first time in our 130-year history that the iconic Coca-Cola visual identity has been shared across products in such a prominent way.”

The move comes after Diet Coke sales slipped by about 6% last year. Meanwhile, the company grew sales for original Coke by about 1% worldwide amid an overall shrinking market for sugary soft drinks.

Earlier this year, Coke decided to rope in marketing of the diet sodas under the umbrella of a big new advertising campaign with the tagline, "Taste the feeling" to replace its longtime slogan, "Open happiness." The overhaul was meant to be the start of a new "one-brand" strategy for the company.

Since the age-old Coca-Cola formula is rarely tweaked, the soda giant mostly counts on big marketing efforts to drive sales. The company's "Share a Coke" personalized can campaign was credited with adding a new fizz to sales two years ago.

How Coke presents its soda is especially important for the company as health-conscious Americans increasingly spurn sugar-filled drinks for more nutritious options.  

The company will offer more up-to-date sales numbers on Wednesday when it's set to announce earnings for the first quarter of this year.

[blackkoi360]

Paris Unveils its 2024 Olympic Logo Design

The Paris 2024 committee  has revealed their official logo for their Olympic and Paralympic Games bid, with the design claimed to be a modern interpretation of the Eiffel Tower.

Upon its unveiling, the logo was projected onto one of the Paris’ most famous landmarks, the Arc de Triomphe.

“The new visual identity of the Paris 2024 campaign reflects the values and ambitions of our bid,” said co-chairman of the Paris 2024 bid Bernard Lapasset, who is also chairman of World Rugby. “We believe this logo captures the essence of Paris as a forward-thinking, modern capital city that is also proud to celebrate its rich culture and heritage.”

Paris 2024 committee says the number 24, which is used to depict the Eiffel Tower, celebrates the centennial anniversary of when the city last staged the Games in 1924.

The French capital currently faces competition from Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles and Rome to host the Games. A final decision will be made by the International Olympic Committee on September 13, 2017, in Lima, Peru.

The logo was produced by Paris-based design agency Dragon Rouge.

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10 rules we all live by #graphicdesign

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How To Convince The Client That Your Design Is Perfect (pt. 3)

Make It Feel Like Their Idea

A trickier tactic is to make it seem like their idea to keep the design the way it is. Essentially, it will be their idea, but getting them to see it that way is not the simplest of tasks to be sure, especially if they get it in their head that the design is far from perfect and needs revisions. You need to stand your ground. Explain to them why you made the choices you made and how they fulfill what they were asking for all along. Basically, show them how the design truly realizes their original request, and demonstrate that the design as is, in fact, reflects their idea from the get go. This frees you from having to tell them that they’re wrong, and rather just requires you to point out that their new request contradicts the original purpose and impetus of the project. This is practically reverse-psychology, and it has worked for some designers in the past. With the right type of client, this approach works well. If you think this is the route for you, then ask the clients plenty of questions early on to facilitate the process. You’ll be able to sell your case much more effectively.

TALKING POINTS

Here are a few things to say to make the client feel that the idea was theirs all along.

“While I like the new direction, I think your initial ideas, which spurred this design, are a much more effective approach for your field.”

“I would recommend not changing that aspect of the design, or you’ll risk losing the _____ idea you originally wanted to convey.”

“Implementing that change would almost certainly compromise the promise of your initial request.”

IN SHORT

Explain that the design was created from their specs, and point out each way this is true.

Show them how these changes would contradict the mission they adopted at the start.

Ask plenty of questions early on about what the client wants to make this an easier sale.

Don’t Get Defensive

Another thing to do during these exchanges that is also a bit difficult is to not get defensive. Ultimately, getting defensive will work against your purpose, and because you may be the only one who is truly serving the design in this case, you need to stay professional and level-headed. The design will reflect on you and will shape your reputation, so as soon as the client questions one of your choices, your natural instinct is to get defensive. But to react this way would be a mistake, and you know it. You have no reason to take disagreement personally. The client is not attacking you. They genuinely care for the project — not to mention their bottom line — so do not make it about you. If they see you get defensive, then they will assume that your ego is more important to you than the project and will react in kind. And in that mindset, they will stop listening to your advice.

TALKING POINTS

Here are a few things to help you convince the client without sounding defensive:

“That’s a good idea. In fact, I considered something very similar to that before ending up with this solution, simply because this is a more solid means of achieving what you’re asking for.”

“While I do see the merit of your ideas, implementing them would not only exceed the needs of the project, but could potentially add time and expenses to the bottom line.”

“I think your ideas would make for some interesting changes. But I’m not sure those changes would serve the requirements of the project.”

IN SHORT

Remain professional, and do not take requests for revisions personally.

This is about what best serves the project, not your reputation.

Getting defensive usually only leads to the client doing the same.

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How To Convince The Client That Your Design Is Perfect (pt. 2)

Remind Them Why They Hired You

Confidence leads to the next tactic for making design reviews go your way. You need to remind the client why they hired you. By that, I don’t mean to suggest you carry around your credentials and testimonials, ready to pull them out when your expertise is questioned. Rather, this has to do with constantly projecting the image of a passionate professional who is undivided in their focus on the client’s project… even if that is not a perfectly realistic assessment of your situation.

Subtly remind them that you are the expert. Your skills and ability are what made this project come to life. Never give the client a reason to doubt that. Don’t let them get the sense that you are distracted from the end game. When they ask you to make a questionable alteration, your know-how and experience should trump their wishful thinking. And it falls to you to remind them why they should listen. It is about establishing trust and making them defer to your judgment. Your skills and abilities will make this process go smoothly.

TALKING POINTS

Here are a few things to say to remind the client why they should listen to you:

“I see what you’re saying. However, given all of the time I have spent in the field and knowing what I do about it, I must say, personally, that I would let the design stand.”

“I only want what’s best for your project. And from all of the satisfied clients I have worked with in the past, I have a very good feel for the market. So trust me when I say that this is your best way forward.”

“Given my extensive background, I firmly believe that this design perfectly satisfies all of your needs.”

“In my professional assessment, which is in part why you hired me, any further alterations would be detrimental to the effectiveness of the design.”

IN SHORT

Keep your skills and experience at the forefront of their mind.

Show them your single-minded passion for the project.

Foster in the client a trust in your abilities, so that they become comfortable deferring to you.

Comparing Success

If your gentle reminders about your qualifications are not inducing the client to defer to your judgment, then you could always compare the design — or at least the elements that are up for debate — to work of yours that has succeeded in the market. While not always the best approach, most business professionals are receptive to it. Given that their decision to hire you was likely based on your past work, such comparisons might be effective in convincing them to let the design be.

This is not always the best strategy because it can come off as a bit defensive to some clients. If they say that the design needs something more, and you respond by recalling a similar project you had worked on that was a clear success, then they might assume this has become a matter of ego for you. Still, if you can tactfully steer the client to the right decision by describing a similar model that they can relate to and that effectively employed the same techniques and approaches, you might be on to something. Offer a comparison that will reassure them, because uncertainty is usually the cause of their resistance.

TALKING POINTS

Here are a few things you can say that will help with the comparison model:

“That is a good suggestion, but if we look at _____, we can see that going in this direction could be counterproductive to your goals.”

“While _____ met with moderate success by following that direction, I believe your project will be better served by sticking with the design as is.”

“If we look to _____ as an example, you can see how well this approach has worked for them. And I have no doubt you will experience the same success in your own market.”

IN SHORT

Compare the design to a previous project of yours that has measurable success and that the client can relate to.

Be tactful, so that you come off less like you’re trying to flex your muscle and more like you’re trying to address their concerns.

*Original post by Robert Bowen

[blackkoi360]

How To Convince The Client That Your Design Is Perfect (pt. 1)

As designers who deal with clients, we all have to face one situation, no matter how difficult and uncomfortable, and that is guiding the client to accept that your design is perfect. Now, you already have the project, so this is not a matter of convincing them to pick you for the job. This is about getting them to see that your design satisfies their requirements and contains everything they want. We all have to take on this role of virtual tour guide and lead them through the project’s twists and turns, ensuring that the best interests of the client and website are served.

We have to be the lighthouse, guiding the clients to shore. (Image credit)

In the end, the final decision falls to the client, but there are times — and most of us have experienced them — when the client’s lack of expertise in the field affect the quality of the design. In such times, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to convince the client that the design is perfect as it is, and that any further alteration would impair the website’s ability to communicate everything it needs to. This confrontation is not welcome by either party, but it is certainly necessary. Many designers want to avoid conflict and, as a result, cave to their clients at the slightest sign of disagreement, rather than spend time trying to convince them that they stand on the right side of the design decision. This is often a mistake and does not serve the design, which should be the paramount consideration. We owe it to our creative work to argue for whatever serves the design beyond all else, even though the client is footing the bill. We may end up having to give in to the client, but at least we tried. Below is an overview of some tips and techniques you can employ when you find yourself butting heads with a client (said tips will be spread out into multiple posts). These approaches might work individually or in combination, but they all at least offer a launching point to help you put your best foot forward and lead the client exactly where they need to go.

Confidence Is King

Whatever the context, in every interaction with both potential and working clients, you want to present yourself confidently. This will make interactions with the client smoother and discourage them from challenging you. This is not a surefire recipe to get clients to comply — far from it. But the more confident we are in our abilities and skills, the less likely we will allow ourselves to get pushed around on a design decision. Some clients — not all — will pounce at the slightest whiff of uncertainty. Just as the slightest sign of fear puts an animal in danger, in the professional kingdom, the slightest display of doubt could spell danger for the designer if it is detected by the client. We have to maintain an air of confidence whenever we deal with the client, especially if we are trying to convince them that the design no longer needs any tweaking. We know our proper boundaries, and if we are assertive enough, we might be able to keep the clients from forcing us cross them.

TALKING POINTS Here are a few things you could say to the client that might convey an air of confidence: “While I think your suggestion could potentially benefit the project, I am confident that going with the design as is will yield much more positive results.” “While I have considered alternative approaches, I am most confident that this route will serve the project best.” “I do understand where you want to go with this design, but I sincerely have more confidence in what this approach offers.”

IN SHORT Each meeting is an opportunity to be assertive and show your passion for the project. Always exude confidence, whatever the context of the meeting. Be assertive when discussing any and all design changes.

*Original post by Robert Bowen

[blackkoi360]

We are always excited when current clients decide to embark on new adventures, and ask us to tag along. One of the wonderful ladies from Allure Fine Lingerie recently decided to open up a shop dedicated to little girls’ jewelry inspired by her daughter, Nola (for whom we’ve had the pleasure of designing a few items as well). 

Once we began brainstorming, all we could think about was watercolors and how they seem to be one of the bigger trends for this year, along with modern calligraphy. The final product, was a beautiful, feminine design featuring a single blue bird, and a combination of rushistly and trend hm typefaces.

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Here at BK360 we kicked off 2015 with quite a few exciting projects, one of them being "Marathon Pace," an upcoming e-commerce which will target runners and triathletes from the South Texas Region.

Phase one for this project was developing the brand identity and next is designing a line of apparel featuring tag lines and slogans related to the sport.

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2014 has certainly been a good year for us at BLACK KOI 360 Design Studio. We had the opportunity to work with new clients, and continue growing with older ones. The McAllen Convention Center has kept us very busy throughout the year, and we were thrilled to hear they had chosen us to design the image for all their events and activities to take place in December. 

The first task was to create the identity for their tree lighting ceremony, which this year will feature a 65 ft. tall tree that will be located in their Oval Park. We wanted to design something that was fun and in the future could be used for merchandising and souvenirs. The final product was a beautiful snow globe featuring the McAllen Convention Center building, palm trees, a snowman, Santa's sleigh, and a grand tree.

Collaterals included: posters, post cards, digital branding, and marquee design, light post banners and tree skirt that will wrap the bottom of the tree.

Designed by: Lu Gimello

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Southwest Airlines Reveals New Aircraft Livery, Airport Branding & Logo

The announcement of Southwest Airlines’ modern new look introduces a redesigned blue, white, red and yellow livery, a reworked southwest logo, newly developed inflight materials and magazine, an advertising campaign that celebrates the airline’s unique personality, and a revamped experience both online and at its airport locations, all of which showcase the unique spirit and heart of the brand. To bring the company’s graphic overhaul into effect, Southwest collaborated with advertising and branding studios GSD&M, Lippincott, VML, razorfish and camelot communications, who were responsible for distilling more than 40 years of history into one progressive look.

"The job wasn’t to change who we are," said Kevin Krone, Southwest’s VP and CMO. "We already know who we are. The job was to keep the elements of Southwest that our employees and customers love, and to make them a bold, modern expression of our future." 

 "With so much of Southwest’s focus firmly set on the future, it was a natural time to look at our visual identity," added Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines Executive VP and CCO. "As we developed the identity, it wasn’t just about the new livery or the logo, but about developing the total, integrated brand expression of Southwest."

The approach and focus with this launch has been with the intent to remain cost-neutral by using a phased roll-out. Aircraft will receive the newly painted livery within the aircraft’s existing repainting schedule, with new aircraft delivered in the new heart livery. In addition, many of the future airport conversions will be integrated into existing and upcoming airport improvement projects.

The heart on the belly of the plane is a symbolic reminder that the company puts their hearts into every flight.

*All images courtesy of southwest airlines

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Become a Pinterest Warrior: Social Media Marketing on Pinterest [INFOGRAPHIC]

Is Pinterest part of your social media marketing strategy?

  Pinterest has 70 million active users worldwide.

  The social network also generates more traffic than YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn combined. And when it comes to money per click, Pinterest generates 27 percent more money than Facebook and 400 percent more than Twitter. Because of these numbers, you have no choice but to leverage Pinterest.

  And to show you how can you use Pinterest to promote your business, the folks at Emerchantbroker have created a nifty infographic called "How To Become a Pinterest Warrior" that breaks down everything you need to know about the visual based social network - Pinterest.

  Here're some key takeaways: 1. Set up your business account Choose your business type: This will make it easier for people to find you. Link and verify for your website: So people know this is your official profile and can see your full URL. Include your location: Especially if you  are a local business. Upload your profile picture: One that us easily related to your brand. 2. Creating your boards Begin with 5 - 6 boards with at least 10 pins each. Use Keywords in your boards titles. 3. Start pinning: Pinterest is all in the visuals. In order to grow your following, you need to be sharing appealing, high-quality images. For better understanding of the platform, look at what your competitors are sharing and repinning, what's working for them, what isn't, and see what you can replicate and improve upon!

Source: Social Media Today

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The Facundo Collection (Bacardi)

To commemorate their 150th anniversary, Bacardi commissioned Duffy & Partners to design an exclusive packaging project for the special edition bottles titled "The Facundo Collection" in honor of Don Facundo Bacardí Massó.

"Bacardi is a family and a company. Perhaps, in name, it’s interchangeable with the word rum. Success courses through the veins of all things Bacardi. Founded over 150 years ago, by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, was a company with the vision to reinvent rum for the world. Five generations later, the idea was born to pay tribute to the original vision by creating a small collection of finely crafted rums—the likes of which, until then, had only been shared with family and close friends. The design of The Facundo Collection honors Bacardi’s exquisite taste in rum and their history of celebrating the finest art and architecture. Four uniquely designed decanter-like presentations, inspired by Cuba’s golden age of art deco, set a new bar for defining the ‘the art of rum."    --Duffy & Partners

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Print is Dead? Not so Fast.

Is print dead? This is a question that has been buzzing around the marketing world since the rapid surge of the Internet and social media. While many businesses have completely migrated their advertising efforts to the web because of its cost effectiveness, exposure potential and convenience, print still maintains its stance as a powerful and necessary component of an ad campaign. Let’s take a closer look at print media and some advantages it has over its digital counterparts.

Tangibility – A print piece is a physical thing. Magazines and newspapers can stay in houses or offices for months or years, while Internet ads can disappear into cyber space instantaneously.

Credibility – There is something about print that gives a sense of legitimacy. The saturation of popups and banner ads on the web can be overwhelming and the fear of spam and viruses is enough make people weary of clicking. There is no imminent danger in a print ad.

Branding – Print ads are excellent for solidifying your brand identity. Your ads should have a consistent aesthetic in terms of fonts, colors and types of images to establish brand recognition.

Target Marketing – Placing ads in publications such as specialty magazines can effectively reach niche audiences that may be more difficult to target online.

More Engaging – Consumers are more engaged when reading printed material, unlike websites, which are often skimmed in as little as a 15 second visit. A study shows that people read digital screen text 20% – 30% slower than printed paper. (Alshaali & Varshney, 2005)

Less Print Ads – With more and more businesses relying solely on the Internet for their advertising needs, the decline of print publication can actually be used as a marketing advantage. The publications are less crowded, allowing more room for your ad to shine, and possibly even cheaper prices for that ad space.

QR Codes – Placing QR codes on printed pieces is an excellent way to bridge the gap between print and web. When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code will take you to a homepage or a special offer page that lives on the web.

The best way to market your business is to utilize as many channels as possible to reach every corner of your target demographic; this should not exclude print. Although it is likely that most emphasis, in terms of advertising, will be executed online, there still exist those who revel in the glory of the printed page and it’s important to reach them. Finding the right balance between various media will ensure a steady revenue flow, an increase in sales and new customers.

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10 Social Media Facts & Statistics in the United States you should know #video

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Shades of Otherhood

While the mom demographic is often explored in the public sphere and recognized by marketers, DeVries Global conducted proprietary research to shine the spotlight on the other women that exist to better understand their values and motivators as brands try to build products for them and communicate to them in a way that is meaningful. 

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The 10 Commandments of Typography

There are a few typography rules and terms that every designer must know, but before you master the skill of choosing and designing that perfect font, you can find yourself a little lost. This infographic from Evan Brown at DesignMantic aims to save you those long scrolling hours and instead offer up some simple type-based commandments.

"Even though typography  is an art and art is supposed to be subjective with minimal parameters, these rules can still be applied in order to save time and too much experimentation," he explains. "It's always good to know the few basic do’s and don’ts in order to save yourself the trouble of experimenting too many fonts on your design."

So whether you're a typography pro or a design newbie, this infographic is well worth checking out. You might learn something new to help ease those font-based woes and instead, help you to get on with your work.