LOGO Design, Vol. 2 Book Review 57

Jun 11, 2009 / Erik Peterson

The latest logo design book from TASCHEN, entitled LOGO Design, Vol. 2, just arrived at my office on Tuesday. It is a follow-up to the popular first volume entitled LOGO Design, Vol. 1. The book contains around 2000 logos and 13 case studies, in 3 languages (English, French and German), on brand identity for companies like Burton, Wrangler and MTV. The featured design firms include Stefan Sagmeister, MetaDesign, Saffron Brand Consultants, BlackbeltMonkey and others. In the foreword Uli Mayer-Johanssen, of MetaDesign, talks about Brands and Identity.

“Brands that communicate an idea, a purpose, and a clear promise together with technical and rational aspects almost always have something in common with the values and attitudes people have” - Uli Mayer-Johanssen

LOGO Design, Vol. 2

Publisher: TASCHEN America LLC (May 1, 2009)
Editor: Julius Wiedemann
Size: 6.6 x 8.9 x 1.25 in.
Page Count: 384 pages
Cover: Softcover + elastic band

I like the size of the book (kinda like a handbook) and it feels good in my hands when browsing through it. The cover is really hefty for a softcover and the pages are thick as well. There is a neat little elastic band (similar to what you would find on a Moleskine) that holds the book closed. LOGO Design, Vol. 2 is well put together and organized in a logical way, though a bit more whitespace surrounding the individual logos would have been nice. The publisher didn’t cut corners in the production of this book, its materials are top-notch.

Case Studies

There are 13 case studies in the book from various design firms, both in-house and outside agencies. While it is nice to read about the thoughts of the designers in regards to the design process, the meaning of elements and so on, I wish there was more shown from the earlier stages of the projects. I often find seeing sketches and notes from those early stages to be insightful and motivating. Nonetheless, the case studies are still thoughtful and worthwhile. I found the interview with Stefan Sagmeister on the custom logo generator for Casa Da Música to be rather interesting.

Here are a couple of photos from the Burton Outwear case study section with Dave Kinsey of Blk/Mrkt.

Logo Collection

The logo section is categorized into 9 different categories with around 2000 logos. The categories are:

Creative Industry
Events & Entertainment
Fashion & Apparel
Institutions, Government & Regional
Media
Music
Retailers & Food Outlets
Service & Business
Miscellaneous

In this section you’ll see logos from many firms you know as well as many you don’t (Pentagram, Stereo, ImagenAB, Landor & Associates, Logoholik, FutureFarmers, Push, Hula+Hula and many more). The work is a truly an international look at logos and identity. Here are few photos from the various categories.

If you’re a designer that works on logos occasionally or quite regularly, this book would be a nice addition to your library. The book sells for about $27 and you can purchase the LOGO Design, Vol. 2 at Amazon.

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We enjoy your comments

57 Comments so far. Keep 'em Coming.

By Jacob Cass

06.11.2009 at 07:54 AM

A very thorough review, thanks for putting it together! I will have to check Borders in a few months to have a look through it (one of the probs living in Aus).

One of my fav books is “Logo” by Michael Evamy, mainly due to the black and white logos - looks like this book features some pure black logos too? What is the split up of colour to black logos?

By Erik Peterson

06.11.2009 at 08:05 AM

@Jacob, It’s hard to say exactly as to how many of the logos are shown in black only since they are kind of scattered throughout, but if I were to take a guess I’d say somewhere around 25-30% are shown in b/w only.

Graham of imjustcreative also recommended “Logohttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=logocrit-20&l=as2&o=1&a=185669528X” by Michael Evamy to me. I’ve actually just ordered it from Amazon this morning…

By Jacob Cass

06.11.2009 at 08:15 AM

@Erik
Thanks for your quick response.
Awesome re your “Logo” purchase, you will enjoy it. I actually did a short review of “Logo” myself if your interested (though you will read it soon enough).

A bit off topic, you know your spam checker, what plugin is that? Does it work? I use Akismenet atm and get about 30 spam comments a day in my spam box. Maybe something like that is what I need. Thanks.

By Graham Smith

06.11.2009 at 11:25 AM

As Jacob points out, my best logo book for reference and inspiration is ‘Logo’, simple a tremendous book and well presented. Bit tattered now as it goes everywhere with me. Here’s hoping to a volume 2 soon.

As for this book, already ordered and awaiting it’s delivery. Thanks for the head’s up.

Graham

By Free Design Logo

06.16.2009 at 08:21 PM

I don’t have a logo design book for reference and inspiration. Are these books available in the Philippines? thanks

By Erik Peterson

06.17.2009 at 06:11 AM

@freelogodesign Perhaps you could contact the publisher to find out where & if they are distributing in the Philippines. Here is the link to their contact page.

By Tell A Friend

06.20.2009 at 05:58 PM

This would suite for my collection. Atleast having a good review for this book is worthy of buying it.

By Tom Sinclair

06.24.2009 at 08:55 AM

Great news, didn’t realise a volume 2 was in the making!
Are all the logos in it different to the first volume? Wouldn’t want to buy it if half of them are the same!

By Baglama buyusu

06.28.2009 at 05:59 PM

This article article thanks for sharing with us.

#10

By medyum

07.05.2009 at 04:31 AM

I don’t have a logo design book for reference and inspiration. Are these books available in the Philippines? thanks… Medyum, Medyumlar

#11

By Ba�lama B�y�s�

07.06.2009 at 01:24 AM

This article article thanks for sharing with us.
As for this book, already ordered and awaiting it’s delivery. Thanks for the head’s up.

#12

By Erik Peterson

07.06.2009 at 05:40 AM

@medyum please see comment number 6.

#13

By aupair

07.11.2009 at 12:09 PM

I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
Regards,

#14

By Siki�

08.03.2009 at 01:58 PM

This would suite for my collection.

#15

By medyum

08.10.2009 at 07:37 AM

I don’t have a logo design book for reference and inspiration. Are these books available in the Philippines? thanks

#16

By Acai

08.11.2009 at 09:48 AM

Looks like a pretty useful logo resource book. All that content for 27 bucks seems like a good deal! I may have to check it out.

#17

By The Logo Monkey

08.11.2009 at 01:23 PM

Bookmarked! Thanks!

#18

By Search engine Optimization company in India

08.11.2009 at 11:24 PM

An excellent book and should be of great help to many including me…..

#19

By Resveratrol

08.23.2009 at 04:12 AM

One of my fav books is “Logo” by Michael Evamy, mainly due to the black and white logos - looks like this book features some pure black logos too? What is the split up of colour to black logos?

#20

By new books releases

08.27.2009 at 01:20 PM

thanks for the heads up .. I’ve just ordered the book after reading your post seems like the perfect book .. will give you my opinion on the once I read it .. hehe

#21

By A�k B�y�s� Nas�l Yap�l�r

08.29.2009 at 04:52 AM

This would suite for my collection.I don�t have a logo design book for reference and inspiration. Are these books available in the Philippines? thanks

#22

By Joel McKey

09.11.2009 at 04:27 PM

This should help with anyone that needs to create an Anime as well!

#23

By Superfruit TV

09.11.2009 at 05:39 PM

Man I love logo designs. The complex process that we designers must go through in order to come up with something that is simple, yet gets the entire message across visually.

#24

By efusion

09.13.2009 at 02:34 PM

I’ve been looking for a book like this that has in-depth logo design information. I’ll have to pick it up.

#25

By Jeff O'Day

09.15.2009 at 05:21 AM

I think the best way to do a logo is learn from a great book like this. There are so many ideas all in on place it is great to be the Learner instead of hiring someone to do it.

#26

By Acer Laptops

09.18.2009 at 09:01 AM

LOGO design volume 1 is really awesome.

#27

By life cover

09.20.2009 at 12:19 AM

I was searching for something helpful on logo design. Now it seems to me that finding this book will greatly satisfy my thirst for logo design.

#28

By Acai Berry Blast

09.22.2009 at 07:09 AM

That looks like an excellent book. I went through a lot of research before I chose my logo, and I still feel I would have liked something more effective.

#29

By digital radio scanners

10.20.2009 at 10:59 PM

My sister is starting a graphic design course and I have been wanting to get her a nice logo design book, mainly to inspire her.
the problem was that after doing some research I quickly discovered that there are way too many- I thought maybe logo lounge or something like that. Since I am not in the industry I don’t know what is a good logo book- this one sounds great thanks for your efforts
heading over to amazon immediately

#30

By electronic cigarette

10.25.2009 at 04:56 PM

Thanks for this post I love that logo.

#31

By Colon Cleansing

10.26.2009 at 02:28 AM

There are so many ideas all in on place it is great to be the Learner instead of hiring someone to do it.

#32

By medyum

10.29.2009 at 08:19 PM

medyum b�y�

#33

By Second Chance Checking

11.03.2009 at 09:17 PM

That is really cool, never knew how involved logos were

#34

By medyum

11.04.2009 at 02:41 AM

Thank you very much for everything

#35

By Singapore Shops

11.13.2009 at 01:00 PM

Nice post I Like your site very well and continue to do so. I have bookmarked your site.

#36

By divx film indir

11.18.2009 at 05:11 PM

� need this book. how can � buy e-book. � can t buy this book. to far from here.

#37

By Dizajn

12.28.2009 at 12:30 PM

Wea prefers more Logolounge books.

#38

By araç sorgulama

12.29.2009 at 07:05 AM

#39

By Tina

12.31.2009 at 06:34 AM

Very interesting information and an excellent book and should be of great help to many including me�..

#40

By Attitude Design | Graphic Design Portfolio

02.01.2010 at 10:26 AM

Thanks for this useful review - looks like a great book.

#41

By Portland OR Website Design

02.08.2010 at 07:08 AM

I just wanted to thank you very much for this enlightening article. I have already bookmarked your site, when I have more free time I am going to have to do some further research.

#42

By web design

02.16.2010 at 06:30 AM

Brand is nothing but the initial stage for recalling the value of that brand.

logos are used for brand association.
three pointed star means people will easily call it mercedes.
swoosh means people would easily recall it as a nike.

the ultimate working science is the theory of split brain theory.

our right side brain is creative brain, it is responsible for storing memory, dreams, recalling past events…

and left brain is responsible for mathematical calculation, logical analysis.

lly, metaphor analysis is very much important for brand management.

#43

By medyum cenap medyumlar memi� gunnur b�y� sihir hoc

03.17.2010 at 12:16 AM

thank the above information

#44

By alanya emlak

04.06.2010 at 04:04 PM

thank you everythinks..Thank you for all the valuable information

#45

By Resveratrol Healthblog

04.09.2010 at 04:20 PM

Amazing collection.

#46

By Bowtrol Colon Cleanse

04.22.2010 at 06:30 AM

Lovely blog post.Thanks for the comment box too.

#47

By Wartrol

04.23.2010 at 11:12 AM

I must say this is a very interezting post. I have enjoyed every minute I spent reading it.Thanks.
I will be back.

#48

By Thyromine

04.25.2010 at 09:48 AM

I hardly comment on post but I must say I love coming across your site today.

#49

By Panic Attacks

05.13.2010 at 04:50 PM

It is always hard to have a designer create a logo from scratch. The logo design I have on a site took the designer quite a while to come up with the right logo. If only this book was release earlier, it would have been so much easier and would have save me a lot of time.

#50

By colon cleanse

05.17.2010 at 01:57 AM

The post is very helpful for me as I am going to develop a site and need a logo for that.

#51

By Strafe Creative - Graphic Design

06.01.2010 at 11:35 AM

cheers for this review, will definitely be looking into this book.

#52

By Juristische �bersetzung

06.02.2010 at 06:26 AM

i like the logo design book from TASCHEN this impressed me.

#53

By Square Peg Web

06.30.2010 at 02:04 AM

Well logo design book contain excellent information.But creativity is important one for designing.So books should be explain about creativity.

#54

By foul vaginal odor

07.10.2010 at 05:20 AM

That’s a very nice and thorough review of the guide. I would appreciate to see the next guide come out with a CD with all the logos. I think that will be very helpful especially for students, designers and companies.

#55

By Phoenix Graphic Design

07.14.2010 at 08:40 PM

Great review. I use these sort of books all the time to start the creative process. Sometimes it helps to “get inspired”.

#56

By linux vps

08.03.2010 at 01:48 PM

OMG 2000 logos in one book its really a great news , they provide any DVD copies for this designs . or any software to design new one.

#57

By Keratosis

08.16.2010 at 02:38 AM

i heard that acai berry would help you lose weight. i was wondering if i bought the Emergen-C Acai Berry, if it would have the same effect. also, if i were to drink acai berry, to maximize the weight loss, should i eat least junk food and hit the gym. Thanks!Keratosis