Brian Thomas Collins

The Possible Impossible

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I’ve let the whole Microsoft logo news blow over for a few days. So many people are bitching or moaning or complementing or whining or claiming credit that I didn’t know when to enter the dialog.So, now feels okay.Almost four years ago  my team and I were asked by Microsoft to develop the design program and identity strategy for a brand new Microsoft store. It was highly confidential. They had never built a retail store like this - or on such a scale. And they were committed to doing something good.As part of our very early creative exploration we proposed adapting the Windows logo as the symbol for the store, but in a much more simplified manner. It was the only memorable symbol associated with Microsoft. So we developed a highly graphic, flat color system inspired by Josef Albers and pop art graphics of the mid 1970’s - the era in which Microsoft was born. (That I had a beloved ski jacket in junior high school that looks just like this had nothing to do it with it.)Additionally, as Apple’s brand had become so associated with their products - a palette of silver, gray and white - we believed an explosion of intense, vivid color would not only be delightful for customers but also differentiating for Microsoft.We also developed an associated color navigation program that became core to the guest experience through the massive LED screens that wrap around the store.We worked closely with Microsoft’s design director who was among the best clients we’ve ever had.Sure, I’m sad to see our symbol being replaced by a new one.But I’m more than pleased to see the triumph of a design philosophy we all worked so hard to set in place - that clarity and simplicity were more far meaningful to people than easy PhotoShop techniques and endless - and I do mean endless - visual cacophony.We were honored when the AIGA jury selected it to be included in the best work of the year. That was nice. http://bit.ly/NBBEUFIt’s also the place to see the great people from our team who worked on it. For the record.

I’ve let the whole Microsoft logo news blow over for a few days. So many people are bitching or moaning or complementing or whining or claiming credit that I didn’t know when to enter the dialog.

So, now feels okay.

Almost four years ago 
my team and I were asked by Microsoft to develop the design program and identity strategy for a brand new Microsoft store. It was highly confidential. 

They had never built a retail store like this - or on such a scale. And they were committed to doing something good.

As part of our very early creative exploration we proposed adapting the Windows logo as the symbol for the store, but in a much more simplified manner. It was the only memorable symbol associated with Microsoft. So we developed a highly graphic, flat color system inspired by Josef Albers and pop art graphics of the mid 1970’s - the era in which Microsoft was born. (That I had a beloved ski jacket in junior high school that looks just like this had nothing to do it with it.)

Additionally, as Apple’s brand had become so associated with their products - a palette of silver, gray and white - we believed an explosion of intense, vivid color would not only be delightful for customers but also differentiating for Microsoft.

We also developed an associated color navigation program that became core to the guest experience through the massive LED screens that wrap around the store.

We worked closely with Microsoft’s design director who was among the best clients we’ve ever had.

Sure, I’m sad to see our symbol being replaced by a new one.

But I’m more than pleased to see the triumph of a design philosophy we all worked so hard to set in place - that clarity and simplicity were more far meaningful to people than easy PhotoShop techniques and endless - and I do mean endless - visual cacophony.

We were honored when the AIGA jury selected it to be included in the best work of the year. 

That was nice. 

http://bit.ly/NBBEUF

It’s also the place to see the great people from our team who worked on it. 

For the record.

0 notes

Something awesome this way comes.After three years of hard work, my friend Andrew’s new book - “Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back” - was just published today by Free Press/Simon and Schuster.“Resilience” explores why some systems, people, organizations and ecosystems are able to persist, and even thrive, amid disruption. It is the culmination of a three-year journey his co-author, Ann-Marie Healy and Andrew undertook to explore the patterns of resilience in many different contexts – from ecosystems to individuals and organizations. It was a journey that took them from the coral reefs of Palau to the back-streets of Palestine, to cutting-edge research labs. Yup. It’s good. I know so firsthand, but fancy people think so, too:“In an increasingly complex world, we can’t avoid shocks – we can only build better shock absorbers. This is a brilliant exploration of how best to do that, told with compelling examples and stories.” - Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief Wired Magazine “Quite simply, a terrific book. Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy provide a roadmap to a more resilient world.” - Anne-Marie Slaughter, political scientist, Princeton University “A landmark work in a new field. If you are part of a system that wants to avoid collapse, read this book.” - David Eagleman, neuroscientist, author of Incognito and Why the Net Matters Check it out here: http://resiliencethebook.com/

Something awesome this way comes.

After three years of hard work, my friend Andrew’s new book - “Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back” - was just published today by Free Press/Simon and Schuster.

“Resilience” explores why some systems, people, organizations and ecosystems are able to persist, and even thrive, amid disruption. It is the culmination of a three-year journey his co-author, Ann-Marie Healy and Andrew undertook to explore the patterns of resilience in many different contexts – from ecosystems to individuals and organizations. It was a journey that took them from the coral reefs of Palau to the back-streets of Palestine, to cutting-edge research labs. 

Yup. It’s good. I know so firsthand, but fancy people think so, too:

“In an increasingly complex world, we can’t avoid shocks – we can only build better shock absorbers. This is a brilliant exploration of how best to do that, told with compelling examples and stories.” 
- Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief Wired Magazine 

“Quite simply, a terrific book. Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy provide a roadmap to a more resilient world.” 
- Anne-Marie Slaughter, political scientist, Princeton University 

“A landmark work in a new field. If you are part of a system that wants to avoid collapse, read this book.” 
- David Eagleman, neuroscientist, author of Incognito and Why the Net Matters 

Check it out here: http://resiliencethebook.com/

980 notes

Though they’re often silly in retrospect, concept designs are a powerful tool. They’re lucid dreaming that the public gets to share in.

Though they’re often silly in retrospect, concept designs are a powerful tool. They’re lucid dreaming that the public gets to share in.

(Source: curiositycounts)

133 notes

curiositycounts:

Long before Los Angeles became the driving capital of the world, many Angelenos relied on the local rail lines like most major cities. This short documentary, A Ride on the Last of the Red Cars, shows the quaint, nostalgic L.A. of 1961, before buses and car culture consumed Southern California.

(via)