LOGO Design, Vol. 2 Book Review 41

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

41 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 Eve Online Guide

08.18.2009 at 09:46 AM

I will definitely be ordering this book. I am very interested in logo designing even though I am not a good designer myself. I have written an Eve Online Guide and I am going to design a logo for the book.

#20

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?

#21

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

#22

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

#23

By Jack Lobe

09.11.2009 at 12:27 PM

Coming up with a logo is always really hard to do. I actually paid someone to create logos for both my sites Tax Relief and overcoming panic attacks which took me a long time to create. This book may save me some money for next time I need a logo! Very nice.

#24

By Joel McKey

09.11.2009 at 04:27 PM

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

#25

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.

#26

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.

#27

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.

#28

By Acer Laptops

09.18.2009 at 09:01 AM

LOGO design volume 1 is really awesome.

#29

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.

#30

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.

#31

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

#32

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.

#33

By medyum

10.29.2009 at 08:19 PM

medyum b�y�

#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 Dizajn

12.28.2009 at 12:30 PM

Wea prefers more Logolounge books.

#37

By araç sorgulama

12.29.2009 at 07:05 AM

#38

By Online Tax Refunds

01.07.2010 at 06:26 AM

I will need to file taxes for my corporation. Will the lawyers fees be “losses” reported? What about expenses to pay for a graphic designer to design my logo and other designs for products i will sell? Are these expenses to be included on my tax form?
Online Tax Refunds

#39

By Facebook Layouts

01.30.2010 at 07:48 AM

What is a good book for logo design ideas?
I need a book that basically has loads of logos, shapes, pictures that can give me inspiration for my own logos.Facebook backgrounds

#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.
Portland OR Website Design