Logo and Branding: Gorilla
Posted: October 16, 2012 Filed under: Logos & Branding, Music, TV & Film | Tags: Anthony Lane, branding, Branding News, broadcast, design, Gorilla, graphic design, guest opinion, identity, logo, logo news, on screen, opinion, sans serif, TV, typography 3 Comments »
Gorilla is a production house considered to be Wales’ largest provider of editing, mixing, grading and vfx services to the broadcast market. Gorilla recently underwent a brand identity transformation led by Cardiff-based Smörgåsborg, a firm that specializes in branding, strategy, and art-direction.
Guest Opinion written by Anthony Lane
Smörgåsborg suggested the line “Big & Clever” to represent Gorilla and in turn enlisted type-designer Joe Burrin to help craft a large and outspoken wordmark. Set in a bold, all uppercase sans-serif, the logo-type features unique embellishments that enhance the highlighted portions of the beveled characters. What I like about this treatment is how the large letterforms reflect the physicalities of the animal itself; showing a considered level of thought in its execution.
The fine crafted detailing within the highlights distinguishes this from the many other beveled sans-serif logo-types. These little hash marks, following the geometry of the type, along with the high-contrast color palette of red, yellow, and the occasional purple give the brand just enough irreverence and personality to appear wild and outgoing, while the uppercase format and attention to detail of the identity system as a whole lets us know that Gorilla is to be taken seriously.
The type-treatment and contrasty color palette extends beautifully across an identity system consisting of, but not limited to a website, custom portfolio booklet, business cards and other collateral.
Anthony LaneAnthony Lane is a Minneapolis-based designer committed to creating design that is impactful, communicative and functional. He has a strong preference in working with clients who share an appreciation of the design process, classic design principles, and believe that quality design is born through simple, purposeful, and functional solutions. |
If you’d like to contribute a guest review e-mail me rich[at]richabaird.co.uk
It’s fantastic to see the first guest opinion, such a well written description by Anthony.
I particularly love how the typographic design applies to the portfolio booklet, it’s cleverly set too. I would also never have imagined seeing bright purple, red and yellow all working together but pleased to be proven wrong. My only qualm with the logo-type is the relativeness tightness of the ‘I-L’ kerning pair, particularly in relation to the ‘L-L-A’. (I’ve come back to this 3 times now to see if I’m imagining things.. but my eyes can’t get past it).
You really have an exceptional eye for type Claire, I didn’t see it and now I can’t un-see it, seems to pull it towards the middle a little.