ICM - Leeds Design Agency

Here at ICM we love nothing more than great logo and brand design. Over the past few years we’ve been quite passionate about logos for sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

So here’s the chosen logo for the Rio 2016 games:

Designed by Rio-based Tátil, the logo translates the Olympic spirit and the nature, feelings, and aspirations of the athletes, Rio and the cariocas, according to the official launch material. Different countries, athletes and peoples are joined in a warm embrace – in an individual and collective move, which at a second glance, reveals one of Rio’s most beautiful icons, a vibrant Sugar Loaf, radiating joy, unity, celebration, and friendship.

All well and good so far.

Until you notice a slight similarity with the logo of US not-for-profit the Telluride Foundation.

In a recent article in the Washington Post Tátil’s Fred Gelli put any likeness down to coincidence and noted that the broad concept of people embracing each other is not novel. True in a way.

The logo design was selected from eight finalists, after a five-month selection process that involved 139 agencies. I’m beginning to wonder if these mass selection processes are just glorified box-ticking: joyful amorphous people? Tick. Suggestion of diversity? Tick. ‘Friendly’ scripty typeface? Tick. Values that could be ascribed to just about any bidding city? Tick – you’ve got the job!

I suppose we should be thankful for our London 2012 logo – at least it will be memorable and unique.

And maybe we’re all guilty of copying what Henri Matisse did years ago!...

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Last night I followed Melissa’s lead of widening her skill set and went to my first knitting class!

I’ve been looking through the window of Baa Ram Ewe in Headingley for some months now, wishing I could knit like them (or at least be able to walk in the shop and browse through their lovely selection of wool with a little bit of confidence).

So last night (with the support of a couple of friends) I went to one of their ‘Learn to knit’ workshops!

It turns out knitting is quite tricky – my Nan makes it look so easy! But our teacher Gwen was very patient and soon I had cast on and knitted my first row!

This then led to my first project – a coaster (apparently)! Note how I’ve changed colour and everything!

We then learnt how to ‘pearl’ which I found harder than knitting and didn’t start very well.

But I got better and made this triangle (which is a piece of bunting, obviously).

Here I am in action.

I don’t think it’ll be long before I’m knitting the likes of these.

And these!

I feel good for learning a new skill and fully intend to continue….

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A lot can change in 20 years, I for example have a lot less hair the the top of my head and a lot more… well lets just say on the bottom of my head.

The pictures below of the Shanghai shore line illustrate just how much things can change due to a booming economy.

Shoreline 1990

Shoreline 2010

Incredib…

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