Interesting 2007
You may or may not have heard of Russell's Interesting 2007 conference. We've been working on the look of it (doesn't seem right to write logo or brand). It's an unusual project project because obviously we don't need any letterheads or anything like that. But we do need something. So here's the brief we've been working to.
It must be interesting. Obviously. But there is a fine line between interesting and downright messy.
It must encompass the principles of web 2.0 (by that I mean updateable, participatory, flexible and interactive) whilst being offline quite a lot.
It must utilise the attendees as collaborators.
Assume zero budget.
It must be able to dictate the look of the hall.
It must be carbon neutral.
It must be good.
Got all that?
So here's the logotype for the conference.
You can download it here as an eps, so if you want to mix it up, make your own stuff or simply use it on your blog then feel free. You can also use the jpeg above, obviously. It's designed to be easy to stencil and screen and steal.
Here's some other things we're going to do.
Posters
If you're going to the conference, send us your old posters. Old conference posters, Def Leopard posters. Anything. Bear in mind you won't get them back, so please don't send in your limited edition Saul Bass prints or your signed Banksys. We're going to make something exciting (and big) from all of them, but it's a secret for now.
Tshirts
If you're going to the conference, send us one of your tshirts. We'll screenprint it with the logo, anywhere and anyhow we like. It will be ready for you to collect on the day where it will constitute official conference wear. And it's guaranteed to be the right size.
Bags
We're going to collect all the carrier bags we use before June and reuse them as conference bags to hold anything you may need to carry on the day. We'll screen print them with the logotype and they should look something like this.
How does that sound?
Please send things to: Emma Holloway, Interesting 2007, The Design Conspiracy, 12 Stukeley Street, London WC2B 5LQ. Be sure to say who you are so we can make sure you get the right tshirt back.
Remember that you won't get the posters back and they will probably be cut up. You will get the tshirt back but it will have the logotype screen printed on it.
Sorry honesty is the best policy; why didn't you just use
Kada
http://lineto.com/The+Fonts/Font+Categories/Graphic+Fonts/Kada/
or
DS Bees
http://www.ds4sale.com/
They are both better than your logotype?
Posted by: DesignFan81 | Apr 05, 2007 at 14:45
DesignFan81, Kada is a nice font, but it won't work as well for what we're planning for the posters.
Plus the logotype we've used is hand drawn, which is always better.
Posted by: Ben | Apr 05, 2007 at 15:10
it's all good this.
Posted by: Marcus | Apr 05, 2007 at 15:12
I like the thinking. The type is a little blobby for my liking, but that does give it an interesting three-dimensional suggestion … which I suspect may be relevant somewhere down the line.
I’ll pop a T-shirt in the post when I remember.
Posted by: Tony | Apr 05, 2007 at 15:32
very good ideas for tshirts and bags, i wish i could get a ticket somehow since i missed buying one and now they're gone.
Posted by: Val | Apr 05, 2007 at 15:58
But how are you meant to stencil the 'O's when there is no joining bar?
And, why must it be carbon neutral when you are calling for entries via the internet, which is anything but carbon neutral (= millions of computers all turned on)?
Posted by: DesignFan81 | Apr 05, 2007 at 16:38
great ideas Ben and the font's cool. I'll send you a T soon.
Posted by: henry lambert | Apr 05, 2007 at 16:40
Well done. Screen printing is going to experience a renaissance I reckon.
Posted by: Charles Frith | Apr 05, 2007 at 17:22
Lovely logotype, but the re-use idea is really seriously top-notch.
My first thought on reading it: now that *is* an interesting idea.
Posted by: Roo Reynolds | Apr 05, 2007 at 17:41
I'm interested in why you're restricting t-shorts to ticket holders. If the shirts are going to be as interesting as they sound, wouldn;t other people be curious enough to try them (and promote the conference at the same time)?
Posted by: mark | Apr 05, 2007 at 18:17
bloody genius idea.
Posted by: george | Apr 05, 2007 at 18:23
it's so refreshing to see a designer working with application/substance/language instead of being preoccupied with another logo.
it's 2007, can't we be honest and just say that if you look at 30 decent marks, they all look kinda the same anyways?
nice.
Posted by: zacharyr | Apr 05, 2007 at 18:55
Ben, seems fair enough to me that anyone can have a t-shirt if they want one. As long as you're happy to screen-print them. I guess they should probably send you the traditional Stamped Self-Addressed Envelope to get them back though.
(People coming to the thing will get theirs on the day.)
Posted by: russell | Apr 05, 2007 at 19:01
First off, I'm glad people like it. Thanks for the comments.
DesignFan81 - you've raised a good point about the use of a computer. Russell is looking into making the whole conference carbon neutral and we're trying not to add more than we have to.
If you want to make a stencil and slice the O's, then go for it.
Mark - yes that's a good idea. If you want a tshirt and you don't have a ticket, simply send your tshirt in but include an Stamped Addressed Envelope so that we can return them.
zacharyr - you've hit the nail on the head. 30 decent marks will probably look the same. At least they'll end up looking the same if they're presented in a meeting. What was important for this project and what's important for us is the application/substance/language of the idea.
Posted by: Ben | Apr 05, 2007 at 20:11
Recylcling idea is great, as always. I was wondering round you flickr earlier, and I saw your pic called 'N'. I wondered what it is, and I still do, but it's part of the logo.
Where'd you take that pic?
Was that what inspired your work?
Posted by: Ben H | Apr 05, 2007 at 20:55
Really? Plastic bags? I mean, yes, you're re-using, but...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/28/SFSUPES.TMP
Posted by: helen | Apr 05, 2007 at 22:22
So what would be your alternative to plastic bags? Paper ones?
Posted by: Ben H | Apr 05, 2007 at 22:39
Ooh, I'm gonna send a T-shirt. Well done Mark. It all sounds ace Ben. Wish I could be there.
Posted by: Richard | Apr 05, 2007 at 22:54
May send a t-shirt if I can find one too.
About the logo. I've had a play around. I came up with this: (does HTML work in comment boxes?)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benhampson/447744168/
I've added a few notes for improvement on there. Check it out. It was made in GIMP.
Ben.
Posted by: Ben H | Apr 06, 2007 at 01:29
great, great ideas Ben. gutted i missed out on a ticket.
Posted by: MJ | Apr 06, 2007 at 17:54
Nice ideas
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | Apr 06, 2007 at 22:17
great ideas - i can hardly wait to get there :)
Posted by: diana | Apr 07, 2007 at 19:13
Ben H - the pic called 'N' is something we've been working on for this project.
Helen - yes that's a good point. Technically they don't have to be plastic bags. We're going to collect the bags we use and reuse them. Most of them will be plastic, I guess. But at least we're using them again thus stopping more stuff getting produced.
diana - look forward to seeing you again!
Posted by: Ben | Apr 09, 2007 at 14:38
My logo with some modifications (which are noted on the image) can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benhampson/453195615/
Comments are much appreciated, as well as suggestions.
Posted by: Ben H | Apr 10, 2007 at 01:45
I know a screen printer for T - Shirts which is about as carbon neutral as you're going to get, and can use enviro friendly inks which will in addition age with the garment and add to the aesthetic of an overprinted garment. Interested ? If not I'll shut up.
Posted by: TomLR | Apr 10, 2007 at 15:01
Not interested in the printer - we're gonna do that ourselves, here at HQ.
I am very interested in the "enviro friendly inks which will in addition age with the garment and add to the aesthetic of an overprinted garment".
Tell me more.
Posted by: Ben | Apr 10, 2007 at 15:59
I think if you're doing it yourself then it's probably not so much of an issue. How are you going to do it ? Do you have screens ?
Posted by: TomLR | Apr 10, 2007 at 16:09
We have screens.
Email me.
Posted by: Ben | Apr 10, 2007 at 16:53
I'm rubbish at html - can anyone help me out with some code to pop a button on my blog to link to interesting2007.com?
thanks.
Posted by: gemma | Apr 11, 2007 at 09:21
Word - this is awesome - will be sending a t asap.
F
Posted by: Faris | Apr 11, 2007 at 10:39
There are 2 points in the current issue of Computer Arts. Screen-printing and being a greener designer. It says so here:
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/about_us/latest_issue/computer_arts_issue_134
I should be getting the mag tommorrow - I'll be on my way to the Tate Modern and Design Museum.
Posted by: Ben H | Apr 11, 2007 at 19:24
i love all of it!! i'm so looking forward to the whole experience. i've already got my t-shirt picked out (to send from london, rather than melbourne, australia) and i love the idea of recycled plastic bags. go team!
Posted by: lauren | Apr 12, 2007 at 13:33
genius. time to have a dig in the Tee drawer
Posted by: dan burgess | Apr 23, 2007 at 21:43
It's getting close now. Am I too late to send you a t-shirt to pick up on the day?
Posted by: Roo Reynolds | Jun 10, 2007 at 21:04
Closing day is Wednesday 13th June.
Posted by: Ben | Jun 11, 2007 at 11:55
Don't suppose I could drop a couple round???
Posted by: Matt | Jun 11, 2007 at 21:16
sure
Posted by: Ben | Jun 11, 2007 at 22:40
I’m really sad that I failed to send a shirt in time. I’ll self-flagellate later. Picked one out last night to pop in the post today. Then left it at home instead of taking it to the Post Office. D’oh.
Posted by: Tony | Jun 12, 2007 at 16:45