Never Ending Friending

area17_nef.jpg

I absolutely hate MySpace. Between the ugly designs and the terrible usability, it’s a nightmare of an experience. That’s why it’s refreshing to see MySpace associated with something that’s smart and visually pleasing.

Area 17 was recently hired to develop the brand identity for a MySpace initiative called Never Ending Friending. Here’s some info on the initiative.

Depending on your vantage point, social networking means something completely different – a fad, tool, disruption, opportunity or some combination of them all. In 2007, MySpace embarked on a nationwide “listening tour” in order to create qualitative research among users of social networks. Additionally, they fielded a quantitative study among a national sample of social networking users and non-users. Together, these two methods uncovered a myriad of motivations, attitudes and behaviors that were presented through a book and at an exclusive private event in Beverly Hills.

Area 17 designed a book as well as all the printed materials for the event. Great use of Avant Garde and geometric shapes.        

Design Is A Hell Of A Drug

BVD.jpg

Design is powerful. Most people in this world don’t even know how powerful good design can be. It can be addictive like a drug. It can suck you in and make you do things without you even knowing. Design can make you buy something you don’t need or it can make you visit a place you don’t even care for. It happens to me all the time, and I know it’s because of design, and I love it. I welcome it.

Take for example this stunning packaging and store branding design by BVD for a cafe in Sweden. It’s gorgeous, absolutely stunning in my opinion. Black, white and flush left, ragged right type. Perfect.

For one, I would hang out in this cafe all day long, it looks like typography heaven. I’d eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in this place just so I could appreciate and enjoy the beautiful design work. I would then buy all sorts of things I don’t need just so I could get my hands on the brilliant packaging. I would be possessed. That’s how powerful good design can be.

By the way, who can name the typeface they’re using?

Anyway, check out BVD’s excellent portfolio, especially this.