TOP 100 DESIGN BLOGS TO FOLLOW IN 2013

Awesome websites/blogs to be inspired and learned from if you want to be the next best designer and design blogger. A list of 100 blog sites for designers and those seeking designs were researched, analysed, audited, ranked and listed by CouponAudit in Jan of 2013. Below are the list of websites that are related with all kinds of designing stuffs. Hope all the viewers will have their own choice on this matter.

1.http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/ • 2. http://www.colourlovers.com/blog • 3. http://www.awwwards.com/blog/ • 4. http://designmodo.com/ • 5.http://naldzgraphics.net/ • 6. http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/ • 7. http://www.designzzz.com/ • 8. http://www.youthedesigner.com/ • 9.http://coolhunting.com/ • 10. http://www.codefear.com/ • 11. http://graphicleftovers.com/blog/ • 12. http://creativenerds.co.uk/ • 13.http://www.graphicmania.net/ • 14. http://www.icanbecreative.com/ • 15. http://stylishwebdesigner.com/ • 16. http://creativeoverflow.net/ • 17.http://www.booooooom.com/ • 18. http://www.itsnicethat.com/ • 19. http://www.psdvault.com/ • 20. http://stuffandnonsense.co.uk/blog • 21.http://www.smileycat.com/ • 22. http://smokingdesigners.com/ • 23. http://uxbooth.com/ • 24. http://www.orphicpixel.com/ • 25.http://photoshopsupport.com/ • 26. http://sachagreif.com/ • 27. http://www.thefoxisblack.com/ • 28. http://www.graphicdesignblender.com/ • 29.http://www.7boats.com/author/debajyoti • 30. http://www.weheart.co.uk/ • 31. http://www.pondly.com/ • 32. http://www.designfollow.com/ • 33.http://www.designjuices.co.uk/ • 34. http://www.92pixels.com/ • 35. http://designwebkit.com/ • 36. http://www.sitebee.co.uk/category/blog/ • 37.http://www.altitudesummit.com/content/ • 38. http://nubbytwiglet.com/ • 39. http://www.designerblogs.com/the-blog • 40. http://iainclaridge.net/ • 41.http://www.mydesigndeals.com/blog/ • 42. http://www.designpanoply.com/blog • 43. http://theinspirationgrid.com/ • 44. http://www.snapily.com/blog/ • 45. http://randaclay.com/articles • 46. http://www.visualwatermark.com/ • 47. http://www.cre8d-design.com/ • 48. http://www.topcreativemag.com/ • 49.http://thedeependdesign.com/blog/ • 50. http://www.jbiwebdesign.co.uk/ • 51. http://www.tipsquirrel.com/ • 52. http://designstutorial.com/ • 53.http://www.ddesignerr.com/ • 54. http://www.creativepublic.com/graphic-designer-blog • 55. http://www.coalesceideas.com/ • 56. http://akadesign.ca/ • 57. http://couchable.co/ • 58. http://www.designquotes.com.au/insiders/ • 59. http://anothera.net/v2/ • 60. http://www.extremestudio.ro/ • 61.http://inkbotdesign.com/blog • 62.http://www.andybudd.com/ • 63. http://www.circleboxblog.com/ • 64. http://www.topleftdesign.com/blog/ • 65.http://www.dvorakdesigns.com/blog • 66. http://www.re-nourish.com/ • 67. http://www.seascapewebdesign.com/blog • 68. http://godsofart.com/ • 69.http://www.designsojourn.com/ • 70. http://www.sherykdesigns-blog.com/ • 71. http://thewebshoppe.net/ • 72. http://magculture.com/blog/ • 73.http://cieradesign.com/blog/ • 74. http://www.delphine-ephemera.com/ • 75. http://graphicdesignertips.com/ • 76. http://timothybrand.com/ • 77.http://www.designerbooster.com/ • 78. http://graphstock.com/ • 79. http://www.jellylondon.com/illustration/blog • 80. http://www.pixelsmithstudios.com/• 81. http://boutiquebydesign.com/blog • 82. http://www.artjunks.com/ • 83. http://www.mindblossomcreations.com/ • 84.http://www.promisetangemanblog.com/ • 85. http://www.thesportsdesignblog.com/ • 86. http://www.interactivered.com/ • 87.http://www.squareinchdesign.com/ • 88. http://www.thevisualrealm.com/ • 89. http://www.maxx-design.co.uk/ • 90. http://www.freshlookwebdesign.com/• 91. http://kolorkube.com/klick • 92. http://www.designers-books.com/ • 93. http://davidnbrooks.com/ • 94. http://sapphiregraphics.co/ • 95.http://www.rairdesign.com/ • 96. http://www.digital-telepathy.com/ • 97. http://www.pinegateroad.com/ • 98. http://www.artbyherbie.com/latest-articles • 99. http://kauaidesign.com/ • 100. http://kittyasapicture.com/

Audit conducted by CouponAudit in January 2013.

100 logo designs for inspiration.

Creating a logo or any icon memorable is an art of a creative genius with lots of practice. Here I present some of the most creative logos that these geniuses have created. Often People go for free logo design sites and logo contest websites for their company logo but it is always better to go for 1 on 1 with a designer or go for websites which takes your logo order and gives you unlimited revisions. 

Get a Stunning Logo design here

Logo Designing from Basic Geometric Shapes.

As we have already read about the importance of geometric shapes on any kind of designing and how lots of top brand companies use these shapes on their logos on our previous post, I have here put some basic geometrical shapes and its meaning which can be very helpful to designers specially whose first language is not English.

We already know how to draw polygons and simple designs such as square, rectangle, triangle, trapezoid etc.

trapezoid 

Quadrilateral with two sides (bases) that are parallel. It is isosceles when it has two sides that are equal and not parallel, and rectangle when two of its sides form a right angle.

rectangle 

Quadrilateral whose opposite sides are equal in length; the sides meet at right angles.

square 

Equilateral rectangle with four right angles.

rhombus 

Equilateral parallelogram.

triangle 

Three-sided polygon; triangles are scalene (no side is equal to any other) isosceles (two sides equal) or equilateral (all sides equal).

Free logo design inspiration from geometric shapes.

Everyone knows about the importance of having the right logo. It’s the first impression we get about the company or the individual. The great logos burn that impression forever into our memory banks. Have you noticed though that the most recognized and eye-pleasing logos are the simple ones. Some logos are just logotypes, others get that distinctive look with the help of intricate or more familiar geometric shapes.

So if you’re looking for some design inspirations for your logo, it’s time to get back in shape, into geometric shape that is. The simple shapes that are used as the foundation for all other shapes are the square, rectangle, circle, oval or ellipse, and triangle. Each of them comes with a certain meaning that can be used in design appropriately.

Squares and rectangles are considered to be the most familiar man-made objects that surround us: just think of all those buildings we look at and live in, books, newspapers we read, the screens we stare at. All that helps squares and rectangles to evoke in us the feelings of comfort and safety. In design these shapes are used to suggest stability, knowledge and truth. Squares are often regarded as the most honest and trusted shapes, more so than rectangles.

Logo Design Evolution Yamaha.

Yamaha Logo Design Evolution

Think of Yamaha and what comes to your mind? Motorcycles and heavy bikes? Actually, the founder of the company was Torakusu Yamaha, who was known for his prowess to produce great pianos. Despite being a top producer of high-quality pianos, Yamaha is also known for its mechanical and electronic products which the company began producing in 1954. The first logo of the Japanese manufacturer was created in 1967.

Yamaha’s logo, like the company, has a fascinating background. The logo comprises of a tuning fork which is a creation of the 1960s. The tuning fork symbolizes their strong presence in the musical instrument market.

To date, the Yamaha logo remains unchanged despite the passage of five decades. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, an attempt to get rid of the famous tuning fork to emphasize more on the name did not pay dividends. The tuning fork was reinstated to its full glory in 1998 and became the symbol of quality and excellence.

Logo design evolution of famous brands Xerox

Xerox Logo Design Evolution

The Xerox Company used to be known as the Haloid Company almost 100 years ago. But in 1938, Chester Carlson invented a technique called xerography which we today call the photocopy technique. Unfortunately no one was willing to invest in his invention, and many big giants like IBM, GE, RCA and others decided not to finance this invention.

But Haloid Company decided to go with Chester and made the first photocopying machine named Haloid Xerox 14. As can be seen in their logos, the original Haloid word which was prominent in the company’s logo before 1961 was completely replaced by Xerox due to the immense success of this idea.

They retained almost the same logo from 1961 to 2004. But in 2004 there was a problem with the Xerox books and it tried to reinvent itself with a new logo. People associated the company only with photocopy machines, and that has been a major problem for Xerox.

The company changed its logo in 2008 to get away from this stereo typed image, by changing the font of the word. They also added a ball which has a stylish X instead of their ‘boring’ X in earlier times According to Anne M. Mulcahy, Xerox’s chief, that little piece of art represents the connection to customers, partners, industry and innovation.

Logo design evolution of famous brands WWF.

WWF logo Evolution

The story behind the panda logo of WWF?

The inspiration came from Chi-Chi: a giant panda that had arrived at the London Zoo in the year 1961, when WWF was being created. 

Aware of the need for a strong, recognizable symbol that would overcome all language barriers, WWF's founders agreed that the big, furry animal with her appealing, black-patched eyes would make an excellent logo. 

The first sketches were done by the British environmentalist and artist, Gerald Patterson.

Based on these, Sir Peter Scott, one of those founders, drew the first logo, and said at the time... "We wanted an animal that is beautiful, is endangered, and one loved by many people in the world for its appealing qualities. We also wanted an animal that had an impact in black and white to save money on printing costs."

The black-and-white panda has since come to stand as a symbol for the conservation movement as a whole.

Logo Design Evolution of Famous Brands Walmart

Walmart Logo Evolution

1962 - 1964

Walmart launched without a true logo. In fact, for the first two years, when the Walmart name appeared in print, the font and style were chosen at the whim of the printer.

Logo Design Evolution of Famous Brands. Volkswagen

Volkswagen Logo Design Evolution

The origins of the company date back to 1930s Nazi Germany, and the project to build the car that would become known as the Beetle. Hitler's desire that almost anybody should be able to afford a car fitted with a proposal by car designer Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1952) -- although much of this design was inspired by the advanced Tatra cars of Hans Ledwinka. The intention was that ordinary Germans would buy the car by means of a savings scheme, which around 336,000 people eventually paid into. Prototypes of the car called the KdF-Wagen (German: Kraft durch Freude = strength through joy), appeared from 1936 onwards (the first cars had been produced in Stuttgart). The car already had its distinctive round shape and air-cooled, flat-four, rear-mounted engine, features similar to the Tatra. 

Logo Design Evolution Famous Brands LG

LG Logo Designs

In 1952, Lak-Hui (pronounced "Lucky", currently LG Chem) became the first Korean company to enter the plastic industry. As the company expanded its plastic business, it established GoldStar Co. Ltd. (currently LG Electronics Inc.) in 1958. Both companies Lucky and GoldStar merged and formed Lucky-Goldstar.

LG Corporation is a leading global South Korean conglomerate corporation headquartered in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. It was founded in January 1947 by Koo In-Hwoi. LG specializes in electronics, chemicals and telecom products, having operations in more than 80 countries globally.

Logo Design Evolution of Famous Brands Kodak

Kodak Logo Designs

• Early 1900's. Kodak is the first company to integrate its name and look into a symbol.
  
   
• 1930's. Focus moved to the Kodak name and the red and yellow "trade dress" color.
  
   
• 1960's. The corner curl was introduced.
  
   
• 1970's. The mark retained the red and yellow colors and the Kodak name, but a box and graphic "K" element were added.
  
   
• 1980's. A more contemporary type font streamlined the Kodak name within the existing logo.
  
   
• Today. The box is gone, simplifying the logo. The rounded type font and distinctive "a" give the name a more contemporary look.

Source: Kodak Website

Logo Design Evolution of Famous Brands INTEL

Intel

Intel Corporation is world-famous for its new incorporated electronic devices since 1968. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA, Intel Electronics is a leading manufacturer of personal computers, motherboard chip-sets, network cards and ICs, flash memory, graphic chips, embedded processors and a variety of other devices associated with communications and technology.

Intel has worked very smartly on its marketing strategies. The company has become one of the majorly recognized computer trademarks because of its “Intel Inside” campaign. The original Intel logo which consisted of a ‘dropped e’ was created by Silicon Valley founders, Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, almost about 39 years back. In 1991, the Intel logo foregrounded the ‘Intel Inside’ motto, and the newly born emblem was promoted extensively.

DESIGN ELEMENTS OF INTEL LOGO

The company modified its logo from the ‘dropped e’ version to a ‘swoosh’ around the company’s name with an innovative ‘Leap Ahead’ motto. The new Intel logo sophistication represents the company’s aim to take lead in the future.

Shape of the Intel Logo:

The new Intel logo comprises of a swoosh surrounding the company’s name with a ‘Leap Ahead’ slogan. It highlights the elegance of the Intel logo along with effective marketing plans for moving forward in high velocity.

Color of the Intel Logo:

The Intel logo uses a light blue shade which creates an impression of the company’s domination and power in the minds of people. The blue tint projects a highly specialized design and wholly compliments the company and its merchandise.

Font of the Intel Logo:

‘The simpler, the better’ strategy is employed for the font of the Intel logo in order to project the bold and powerful image of the corporation. A very simple and clear font is used in the Intel logo.

Even though the Intel logo has been modified over the years, it still manages to successfully hold the best corporate image.

Logo design evolution of famous brands (IBM)

The story begins in 1956 when designer Paul Rand introduced what IBM refers to as the IBM continuity logo (1956-1972) This logo is the solid block letters IBM in City Medium type font. At the time it was considered a modernization from the IBM in transition (1947-1956) logo in the Beton Bold type font. This earlier logo is most easily recognized by the flat bottom M, where the New block letter logo has a pointy M. 
According to the IBM Archives in 1972 the IBM international recognition logo was adopted and remains the official logo still in use. The IBM logo is easily recognized by the distinctive eight stripes that make up the letters IBM. This logo is often refereed to as the Eight Stripe Logo, or the Eightstriper for short. There is little question based on published material that 5 years earlier in 1967 the 360 family of computers were produced and shipped to with a logo made up of 13 stripes. The ThirteenStriper is easily reconized by the fact it has three stripes or lines makeing up the tip of the I where the EightStripe logo has only two.
It was the total lack of acknowledgment of even the very existence of a 13 strip logo on the IBM website, combined with a marked silence in response to my direct questions, that got me digging deeper. The following mutterings resulted from that tail chase .... and has evolved over time..

The first System 360's had no stripes ...

On April 7, 1964, IBM introduced the System/360, the first large "family" of computers to use interchangeable software and peripheral equipment using the IBM continuity Solid Block logo in a light color on a black background. All the press releases and photos of the first systems reveal this logo color combination. These first  360's supported both punch card and magnetic tape storage and the "old" solid block stripeless logo.

Mixing the old with the new - June 1966 ..

The Thirteen stripes logo has been said to have first been introduced to management several times between 1960 and 1962 and was rejected due to contrast and printing concerns. For reasons beyond explanation the Thirteen Stripes was chosen for the masthead of the IBM TSS/360 by the engineering group. As far as I can tell the TSS/360 Mastheads was the first system to sport the Thirteen Stripe logo in black stripes on a light background. This rare mastheads introduced the new logo on the old colors! I rescued it in 1979 from a system that was being scrapped for its gold content. It was said to have been one of the first model 67 based TSS/360 Systems. This system was reported to have come from Commercial Time Share Services one of the first test sites.

1967 the Thirteen Stripes first appeared in public ...

In 1967, when IBM introduced the first Disk drive storage system, the System 360's began to sport the new look. This flashy new IBM logo. Although this logo was reported to have been introduced by Paul Rand in 1960 and again in 1962, it was considered to "far out" by the brass and was not to be seen by the general public until 1967. The new masthead was a solid black bar with silver 13 striped logo and lettering, matched the silver on black look of the new front panels. This distinctive new silver on black look was continued into the System 370 family of computers, when the logo design was refined one last time. The resulting eight stripe design remains in use today.

System 370, First to show the Eightstripes ...

The Big Iron mastheads continued to be used on the 370 family of systems. They were replaced by more conventional labels on the 303X and later systems. I remember the first time I worked on a 3031, I was shocked to see IBM had done away with the classic masthead. It had very little on the outside to identify it beyond a small badge.

The Thirteen Stripes continued to live on 

Determining the first use of the Thirteen Striper turned out to be much easier then trying to figure out the end of the line or last use.
First suggested in 1960 it was officially rejected in about 1962. By 1966 the Thirteenstriper appeared on the masthead of the first Time Share System the TSS/360. It remained on the masthead of the entire 360 family of computers until it was replaced by the Eightstriper with the introduction of the System 370 family and started shipping in the summer of 1970. One would have thought that would have been the end of the line for the ThirteenStriper. It was only a start of a new life. The Thirteen Striper logo continued to be the logo of choice for the for the System 3 a direct descendant of the original TSS/360 system. The System 3 was the first of a line of midrange business systems 34, 38, 36 and the first AS400. It remained in limited use related to the AS400 into the new millennium!

1967 through the dawn of the System 370 - The ThirteenStriper represented the next generation and was used on a variety of items including pins and needles

1969 - System 3 Sports the Thirteenstriper ...

In 1969 IBM released the System 3 sporting the ThirteenStriper on the front. The System 3 is the great Grandfather of the AS/400. The System 34 and System 36 were extension and enhancements on the System 3. The System 38 was the start of a new architecture that has resulted in the AS/400 family of computers we have today.

System 3 Documentation came in all flavors ...

Field engineering "Logics" was still sporting the open block letter logo of the ea

rly 360 throughout the System 360 family. System 3 and some of the early 370 documentation was known to be in ThirteenStriped binders. I was once told that shortly after ordering a large quanity of thirteenstripers the eight striper was adopted. Over time the old stock of binders just got used in places where it did not matter. The ThirteenStriper could be found on an odd mix of documentation until the eightstriper became the exclusive standard.

1971 - IBM Selectric II used a ThirteenStriper Logo ...

In 1971 IBM introduced the Selectric II typewriter using the ThirteenStriper as the Logo of choice in this ad.

1984 - the IBMPCjr proudly displayed the Thirteenstriper ...

The 1984 release of the IBM PCjr proudly displayed the Thirteen Striper on boot up. The computer and its packaging was all done in the 8 line logo but the Monitor / Memory check screen has a Thirteenstriper proudly displayed along with a color bar and memory size.

Use of the ThirteenStriper extends into the new millennium ...

I have found examples of the ThirteenStriper being used in gold on letter head as late as February 2000 !  This was on the AS/400 Application Development tools and Middleware manager welcome letter used to welcome members into the AS/400 developers group.

And then there was the French FifteenStriper ...

In 1965, IBM set up one of its EMEA large systems production facility in Montpellier France. The reasons behind this choice were the presence of an important training network (80,000 students in Languedoc-Roussillon),  the qualifications of the regional labour force, and an evolving communication infrastructure. Currently, IBM employs numerous people and has developed a complete network of specialized local sub-contractors. This is the only, remaining example of a 15 stripe logo.  If anyone ever finds one please let me know !

Logo evolution of Famous Brands (Google).

We all know Google.

The company itself has long since dominated the Internet, coming to us first as nothing but a search engine. It has since expanded into a super giant of projects, several wildly successful, many more eventually abandoned. All usually created or acquired with both good intentions and a fair bit of ingenuity and instinct.

Through their influence, we have all also come to know their logos on site. Being some of the most famous in the world, have you ever wondered the story behind them? If you are like me, the concept behind logos are often more interesting than the final products. Especially when they have become recognizable across the globe. Here is a short history of the three main Google logos.

There have been many, many Google logos over the years. They also change regularly to reflect special events, historical landmarks or humorous jokes. We have come to know these as “Google Doodles”, and they provide a great deal of entertainment when they are changed.

Who could forget the brilliant Pacman tribute that allowed us to actually play a mini game on the main search page? Or the memorable Wallace & Gromit anniversary special?

But the first ever logo was created by Sergey Brin in 1998. Originally, it was a simple creation of colored typeface with the standard colors. All with a shadow to give it more depth. The use of an exclamation point was used to mimic then-powerhouse Yahoo!

Interestingly, it was made on the free imaging editing software GIMP, showing an early preference for opensource applications that Google maintains today.

According to Ruth Kedar, who has herself designed many logos including the one currently in official use, the colors were a statement.

“We ended up with the primary colors, but instead of having the pattern go in order, we put a secondary color on the L, which brought back the idea that Google doesn't follow the rules,” she explained in a 2008 interview with Wired.
The word Google came from the word googol, which means the digit 1, followed by 100 zeroes. The logo itself depicts the main purpose of Google’s birth, that is, to provide infinite number of information on any desired subject.

Time Magazine online have compiled a list of Google doodle over the time since it made its first debut in 1998.
Here's the link for the doodles over the years which has honored famous men, artists, scientist and other personalities. 

Click here for Time's List of Google Doodle

How Google Got Its Colorful Logo

Google's logo has become as recognizable as Nike's swoosh and NBC's peacock. Ruth Kedar, the graphic designer who developed the now-famous logo, shows the iterations that led to the instantly recognizable primary colors and Catull typeface that define the Google brand. Kedar met Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page through a mutual friend nine years ago at Stanford University, where she was an assistant professor. Page and Brin, who were having trouble coming up with a logo for their soon-to-launch search engine, asked Kedar to come up with some prototypes. "I had no idea at the time that Google would become as ubiquitous as it is today, or that their success would be of such magnitude," Kedar says.

TYPEFACE: ADOBE GARAMOND

Left: "It was very clear from the very beginning that they wanted to go with a logotype as opposed to just a logo," Kedar says. With this first version, Kedar wanted to keep the majority of the text untouched so the legibility was still intact, while adding some playfulness by bringing primary colors and two-dimensionality to the Os. The pattern here was used to visually imply that something goes on ad infinitum. According to Kedar, "Brin and Page liked this because it looks a bit like a Chinese finger trap."