What Steve Jobs has given to designers

Even though I’m a designer and design educator who is always surrounded by Apple computers, I’m truly surprised by my feelings of genuine sadness after learning about the death of Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple and Pixar.

I’ve been trying to tell myself that it’s ridiculous and embarrassing to have these bizarre emotions about Steve, and that I didn’t think I was truly one of those Kool-Aid–drinking Mac “Fan-Boys” that camp outside the Apple store or live blog the Macworld keynote presentations. I hadn’t met him and I’ve heard that working with him could be challenging at times. He was just a distant CEO of a giant company (the world’s most valuable), and I have never been emotional about any “celebrity” or corporate officer passing away. Any death is sad, of course, but why am I actually in a funk on a personal level about the death of this man I didn’t know?

New British Gas logo: a sign of the future?

Posted by Eliza Williams, 

British Gas has a new identity, which will be rolled out in full between now and January. Interestingly, it has been designed by an advertising agency: CHI & Partners, who also look after the energy company’s ad work.

The new logo is an updated version of the previous British Gas logo, shown below, which has been in use for the past 17 years.

 

The flame from the previous logo has been replaced in CHI’s new mark with a more abstract shape, that is in part green, perhaps in an effort to reflect a more environmentally conscious outlook by the company.

CHI won the pitch for the work over design and branding practices Landor, Heavenly, and The Partners.

CHI has previously completed branding projects for RBS and National Express, while Saatchi & Saatchi recently announced the launch of Eighty, an in-house brand design company.

In other parts of the world, ad agencies routinely create brand identities, sometimes, as happens in India, even doing the work virtually for no cost in order to secure other more lucrative areas of a client’s business. Are we about to see a similar shift in the UK?

Hong Kong student denies copying Jobs tribute design

Ben Camm-Jones

Jonathan Mak, the designer whose tribute to Steve Jobs became an internet sensation, has denied copying the work of another artist.

Reuters reports that Twitter members have attributed the original idea to a UK-based designer known as Raid71. On Raid71’s website a similar design showing an Apple logo with a Steve Jobs-shaped bite taken out of it can be seen.

But Mak told Reuters that though he accepts that Raid71 may have come up with the idea, he was unaware of it when creating his design (pictured).

“I didn’t rip off his work. I still arrived at the solution on my own, and my conscience is still clear, but I’m more than happy to acknowledge the fact that somebody did it before me.”

Raid71‘s design (below) places a black logo on a white background and was reportedly created in May. Mak’s design, created after Jobs’ resignation (though it didn’t circulate on a wider scale until after Jobs’ death) places a white Apple logo on a black background.

Mak’s design was praised by celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher and has been seen on merchandise including t-shirts and mugs being sold on eBay.

A graphic tribute

Hong Kong teen Jonathan Mak has designed a tribute to Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs, who passed away this week. The design went viral Thursday, leading to a job offer and a host of commemorative merchandise featuring the design, according to reports.

Design student Jonathan Mak poses with a symbol he designed, in Hong Kong Thursday. The 19-year-old’s poignant tribute to Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs became an instant Internet hit with its minimalist, touching symbolism.

The 19-year-old student told media outlets he felt overwhelmed and that it felt “unreal” that his logo tribute to the Apple genius has become a sensation worldwide.

Mak’s design idea incorporates Jobs’ silhouette into the bite of the Apple logo, a move that symbolizes the innovator’s lasting presence at the core of the company he co-founded in his parents’ garage.

Already, hundreds of thousands of posts have been made on the Web — and even commemorative caps and T-shirts have been reported on eBay — featuring the teen’s design.

Actor Ashton Kutcher also highlighted the Mak’s tweaked logo on his Twitter account, Reuters reported.

“It’s been a crazy day for me,” Mak told Reuters, adding that he has gotten a job offer because of the design. “I’m both excited and terrified.”

He also posted on Twitter that “I really am speechless.”

Jobs died Wednesday at the age of 56. He was battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer. He resigned from the company in August.

Jobs’ resignation was what led Mak to create the logo.

“Originally, I was going to put a black modified logo against a white background,” Mak told Reuters of the logo, adding that he also paid tribute to Jobs at Hong Kong’s Apple store. “It just didn’t feel somber enough. I just wanted it to be a very quiet commemoration. It’s just this quiet realization that Apple is now missing a piece. It’s just kind of implying his absence.”

Steve Jobs: A Visionary passes away

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who took over for the company co-founder in August, sent a company-wide memo on Wednesday to employees, notifying them of co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs‘ death earlier in the day.

“No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him,” Cook said. “We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.”

One of Cook’s pargraphs from the memo is posted on the official Apple website.

Cook’s full memo to staff reads:

Team,

I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.

Tim