Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War until the fall of the Berlin Wall. Fascinating and dramatic stories – personal, urban, and national – have been used by us to create a visual language for a Berlin-style cafe.

The  image is inviting, warm, and free flowing. The color palate is soft and approachable. The strong, clear typography mixes well into the design without being lost. Love the little toothpick filled matchboxes.

It’s that time of year again. The time when Bill Gardner of LogoLounge reviews the trends seen in logo design for 2011. Color is playing a huge role, much like last year. This time, though, the colors are tinted and more subdued. Beyond that, it’s also noted that the traditional thought of logos is transcending:

It feels like what people believe a logo to be is also becoming more transcendent. A logo is no longer a single piece of flat art. It can be a favicon, an icon, or an entire set of marks that work together to support the team. Its boundaries have become less strict as well. There was a time when most logos could be enclosed in a simple hand-drawn square, circle or similar geometric shape, but now many logos drag outside those outlines. They just don’t want to fit the old mold.

Click here to read the entire report »

Often times, a restaurant wants a logo to do much more than it should or effectively can. A lot is expected of our little friend The Logo and unfortunately her strength is in her simplicity. Maximum meaning, minimal means. Form follows function. These axioms hold especially true when it comes to logo design.

The core of logo design is inherently tied to the core of the brand. Every good brand can distill its experience into 1-3 words. Logically, that’s exactly where the beginning of designing a logo exists. 1-3 words. That’s all you can portray effectively with any logo: Especially a restaurant’s logo.

Your logo is the foundation, epicenter, center point of the rest of the visual identity and brand for the restaurant. Other elements stand on the logo and build upon it with graphic treatments and accouterments that extend the brand’s vibe and feel. I’m talking about photographic style, graphic elements, color palate, and the tone of writing all rest on the logo.

With all that strength and power I can see why most think a logo should be an illustration, but that’s not the case. Here are some things to avoid when designing your restaurant’s logo:

1. Detailed Illustration. It has no place in a logo. In the design of menus, on posters, ads? Yes. Definitely. Illustrations can be a unique way of positioning the vibe, but NOT in your logo.

2. The Mustache. “Unique Grillhouse & Bar/Club” or “Upscale Seafood Haven.” Look, it’s a good idea to use a positioning statement or mustache to give the restaurant a description, but your other marketing elements should do that job and therefore; you don’t need it when the logo is featured on those elements. IE: The menu has the food, do you really need to tell people what kind of restaurant you are when they’re looking at your menu? The outdoor signage? Yes, but it’s part of the actual sign DESIGN, not a part of the logo itself.

3. Clip Art. It’s not a logo. It’s garbage. Period.

There are a lot more things that are “no no’s” but these are some major, frequently seen atrocities. Stay away from them. Look at other restaurants on this blog and other blogs out there. See what constitutes good design. Define your brand in 1-3 words and have a designer follow it like a religion.

What are some horrible logos you’ve seen?

If it’s not broke….

The world has seen its fair share of blue squares in logos. However, with Gap’s permeation and frequency, it has become a strong owner of the imagery. Gap stores are everywhere and so are the blue squares.

Web 2.Blow

The whole “web 2.0″ craze that hit website design and, unfortunately, brand design and identity was just horrible. All of a sudden there gradients, gel-like effects and everything became blase by design. It still affects a lot of new web start up companies because there were some brands that just happened to do it right. Gap is not web 2.0, it’s not the future. It’s slowly becoming a cheap rip-off of J. Crew.

Go to Hell-vetica

What a wonderful and horrible typeface all at the same time. Using Helvetica for an identity is about as creative and new as a talentless rapper interrupting award ceremony speeches. Seriously, we all love Helvetica for many reasons, but stay away from it. You’ll never own the look it gives your brand. You will not look unique. You will do the complete opposite of what branding and brand identity design is supposed to do for you.

Overall, the new logo has aligned perfectly with what Gap seems to promise: Far from unique, relatively safe statement. Nothing new here. Nothing to talk about except the same anger you get when they start selling their $75 sweater for $10 at the end of the season.

Back to the drawing board Gap.

Design Inspiration Blog // Website »

A design blog that posts amazing photography of all kinds of design from interior to photography and more.

Brand New Blog // Website »

A blog focused on corporate rebrands of a highly visible nature.

LogoPond.com // Website »

A repository for amazing logo designs.

Letterhead Love // Website »

Awesome portfolio of corporate stationery design.

LogoLounge.com // Website »

Requires a subscription but you can at least see some featured logos from their multiple books. Some of which feature Vigor’s work.

These are only but a few. Enjoy!