Logos

Culture in Design

The Best of Both Worlds: A Forum In Delhi about International Collaborations in Craft & Design
by Kevin Murray

This is the first public event in India of a project that may be of interest to Indigo members. It would be great to see you there. Please see website for more details.

Trent Jansen 'Sign stool' from reused road signs (limited edition)

‘The Best of Both Worlds’ considers the increasing number of transnational partnerships being forged between craft and design. How can we combine the free-wheeling possibilities of modern capitalist world with the grounded meaning of cultural traditions?

Typically, a designer from a wealthy Western country seeks to produce something handmade using skills of a traditional artisan. While this does seem to reinforce global inequalities, it is often the best alternative for those seeking to sustain their craft. So how can designers and artisans work together in product development as a fair partnership? How can designers work with artisans in a way that respects their unique contribution? What is the role for Indian designers in these new transnational supply chains?

This forum is part of Sangam: The Australia India Design Platform, which is a three year program of events designed to promote creative design partnerships between Australia and India. It includes roundtables, forums and workshops in Melbourne and Delhi, Sydney and Ahmedabad, and Brisbane and Bangalore. To support partnerships, a code of practice for creative collaborations is being developed.

Come join in a public forum to consider the opportunities for craft and design through international partnerships. Hear from leading innovative designers and craftspersons in Australia and India, including Trent Jansen, Ishan Khosla, Matthew Butler and Sandra Bowkett. Consider the role of ethical consumerism in generating opportunities in craft, fashion, design and social justice.

Sangam (‘confluence’) is a strategic initiative of the Visual Arts Board (Australia Council) and supported by the Australia India Institute. It is located in the Ethical Design Laboratory, a research area of RMIT Centre for Design. Visit www.sangamproject.net for more information and register for updates.

My Response 

I think this is fantastic idea, and beneficial for all involved. There's no better way to strengthen your cultural awareness than by experiencing it, art is a great way to document those experiences, and bring two worlds together.

In western culture, more and more so we seem to stray away from traditional media, and creating traditional arts. So it would be very interesting to see someone go back in time with there art work, how their own personal styles would shine through these ancient, traditional techniques and the beautiful collaborations that would be created.

Aboriginal Motifs

– Aboriginal Motifs –

The Visual Arts & Protocol Guide, gives a list of 12 different principles, with protocols that need to be followed to incorporate aboriginal heritage in your artwork.
Two of those being respect and attribution & copyright.

Respect 
When coming up with any designs that are linked to, or reference aboriginal culture and heritage you have to keep in mind that Indigenous Australians, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, are the original inhabitants of Australia, and you must respect that. 
When creating artwork, the land must be acknowledged. So for example if you were designing a football logo, or an aboriginal community based football team, you would have to acknowledge who owned the land that their home ground was on, and incorporate that into your design. 
You would also seek approval from someone in the indigenous community, related to public art based projects. 

Attribution & Copyright 
Although there is no law, it is highly recommended that when using a piece of information, whether it be a an indigenous saying or motif, that the language group relevant should be acknowledged and mentioned as a part of the design.
Also attributing the source of which you gained a certain cultural image, in each and every publication that the artwork is used in. 


– Moral Rights & Issues –

Some moral rights and issues to be aware of when creating these designs, as stipulated in the protocol guide, are as follows.
• Attribute the artist - the original artists can ask for their names to be clearly displayed on all artworks that are in reference to it, and any reproductions of that artwork.
• No false or misleading attribution - Original artists have the right to take action if their work has been attributed to the wrong person
• Treating the artwork properly - Ways in which the use of artwork can be mistreated is by distorting, destructing or mutilating the artwork itself, or in such a way that it causes harm to the reputation of the original artist.
• Exhibiting the work in a certain way, or certain place that would cause harm to the original artists reputation. 

Native American Motifs

Atlanta Braves - American Baseball Team

sourced from http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/

The Atlanta braves have had a various amount of logo changes throughout the years, but to the right is the most current logo, that's displayed on their official website. 
To see a gallery of their past logos click here!

– Critical Description – 
Compared to other logos that have come before this one, its not awfully strong and sticking with a previous one would overall been more effective in my opinion.


The cursive type that has been chosen, is a motif in itself as typefaces with many similarities are used for other basketball teams logos; Milwaukee Brewers, Bay Bears, The Yankees, Orials, Cardinals, etc. The list goes on, it has a very distinct look that is often referred straight to baseball.


The teams colours have never changed, but the way chosen in displaying them has. In previous years the type has been reversed out to white, with a navy blue outline, and a red background. I feel this is more visually pleasing than the red text, with the navy outline. The contrast is quite strong, and even hurts your eyes a little bit.
The original logo featured an illustration of an Indian Head, named Chief Noc-A-Homa, to reference the Native American theme behind the name "Atlanta Braves", it also featured a tomahawk - which is an axe used by Native Americans. This logo was sought to be too controversial, so the Chief Noc-A-Homa was removed, but the Tomahawk still remains. 


I think the original illustration was much more visually interesting than just the tomahawk and the name of the league, but I can definitely see how it was offensive and it had to be removed. Personally if I were to make any changes to this current logo it would be to the composition and the way the colours have been displayed. For example if the text was on less of a slant, and the tomahawk underlined the word "Braves".

Bibliography

http://sportslogos.net/search_results.php?q=atlanta%20braves&p=1

http://www.logoreviews.org/atlanta-braves-logo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk

Clash of The Titans

1) Who are the Titans?

The Titans comprised of twelve gods, who were dethroned by the Olympians. 

2) Are the any interesting motifs you see frequently appearing (Eg. Lightning bolts)? How do you interpret their meaning? Can you name a modern version, of this motif, used today?

a) Lightening bolts - Used in sporting logos such as "Port Power"

b) Bowl Shaped Candles - Displayed throughout the movie in the heavens, they had bowl's that held candles. These are still used today in modern interior decoration.

c) Shields - Used frequently in the movie, its still used in the modern day culture in Videogames - Such as Zelda. 

d) Wings - Shown on the kings shoulders and Pegasus, wings are used very frequently nowadays in Design. Examples such as logos - White Wings. Clothing - Nike Shoes, Costumes. Valentines day, cupid, etc

e) Greek Keys - A border used in traditional greek Architecture and Design, was shown throughout the movie and is still used today.

f) Owls - The owl shown in the movie is a replica of Athena's owl. Examples of owl motifs in pop culture are in clothing, jewellery, children's tv shows, it's even a popular tattoo design. 

g) Eagles - Throughout the movie, Zeus takes the form of an Eagle. Eagles are seen today in Sporting Teams, like West Coast Eagles. Band logos, such as the Ramones. And its America's National Emblem.

3) Is your Greek character in the movie? If so, does the film's interpretation match your research?
Yes she is, the interpretation was similar to some of the research I had come across in the ways that Medusa was raped, and that no man would make it out alive if they were to look in her eyes as they would turn to stone. As well as the fact that she was once beautiful before Athena placed a curse on her. There a many variations of the story of Medusa, so it had elements from quite a few.

5) Are any of the characters, in the movie, related (Eg. a mother or father, wife or husband, brother or sister) to your Greek myth? If so, how?
There was no one related to Medusa in the movie. 

6) Is their a constellation of stars named after your Greek character?
No there is no constellation of Medusa by herself, but she is incorporated in Perseus's as he is carrying her head under his arm. 

7) How is Medusa killed? Does your Greek character have a weakness?
Perseus Beheads her, her weakness is Gins, her power is ineffective on them - they do not have eyes.

8) Sketch at least 3 ideas for your logo and add them to this post.