The first set of pictures shows the ‘dch’ (danesi coffee house)  concept, ” … a real tasting place to experience the original Italian espresso and distribute new “coffee culture” products; each one is located in large city centres.”

What I particularly like in the interiors is the calmness and structure that’s provided by the overall colour palette but carried through to the straightforward large image that’s used and the furniture with its cutaway details and chairs with mini shelves.

My favourite feature though is the lighting, especially the lampshades that cut through the ceiling raft above the counter. All very calm and elegant. As usual it’s the attention to detail that makes places like these work.

The Danesi website is also worth a browse to see the products as well as all elements you would need to create your franchise.

The second set of pictures shows the ‘dsao’ (danesi small architectural object) concept, “a small coffee corner, conceived as independent platforms, ready to be located inside malls, airports, railway stations and trade shows.”

On a more social media type front they use Baker Tweet to let their locals know what’s coming out of the oven.

Links:

Albion Caff

The Boundary

Night time shots and review An American in London

Jenny Tucker’s review on Sofeminine

Albion on Twitter

Baker Tweet

Always partial to a good chocolate shop this one in Singapore is worth a look. Great attention to detail all the way through.

Chocolate Research Facility

The main message here is to be consistent. You don’t need to change or tweak your logo every few years, add some shine, shift the colours, make it 3D or use the latest photoshop/illustrator technique tweak or round the corners or add a drop shadow to make it web 2.0 or whatever the latest internet led logo fad is.

What you can do is add to the story, add that extra layer, think how the BBC works. BBC channels exist as a layer beneath the main BBC identity and each has it’s own distinctive style and colour, the idents between programmes serving to give that quick reminder of where you are, the redness and to a lesser extent the circle/globe spreading through the channel, including the news.

If you’re story is wrong or not well thought through or a little frayed around the edges, or perhaps you’re tired of telling it and your customers are tired of hearing it. That’s where you need to change. Although, more often than not it’s not the logo that’s an issue it’s how it’s been used and abused and fallen into the trap of becoming an excercise in design or marketing vanity. You hear it often enough, “let’s tweak the logo”, “can we look at some different colours and typefaces” (how scientific!). How about don’t. How about getting back to the origins of the identity, using the guidelines that it came with and creating a better story that underpins the logo, so your customers can create your brand.

I go along with Jacob Cass on Just Creative Design that a good logo/identity is:

• Simple
• Memorable
• Timeless
• Versatile
• Appropriate

I’ll add into this that a good logo should:

• Provide clear identification
• Stand for your message and values
• Be an internal focal point
• Stand you apart your competition
• Be credible
• Create order
• Create merchandising opportunities (maybe)

More Coca-Cola/Pepsi:
Logoblog.org
Landor – Refreshing an iconic visual identity

More logo design stuff:
Brand New
Logo Design Love
David Airey

Looking for sign inspiration and came upon this from tikiranch’s photostream. An especially fine piece of copywriting.

Originally from Seth

Here’s a few more recent celebrations.

Adidas House Party from Human Resources

Sainsbury’s Happy 140

Selfridges 100 complete with it’s own yellow website, as always well worth checking out the window scheme.

Annual Revenue increased by $300 million because customers would rather have the option not to register and just pay, rather like the High Street.

The best quote “I’m not here to enter into a relationship. I just want to buy something.”

Anyway here’s a new spot for their SLVR range which launches in February courtesy of their PR machine. Do I detect a Levi’s/Herb Ritts influence in there from the early 90’s?

adidas SLVR Spring / Summer 2009 from adidas SLVR on Vimeo.

Shot by photographer Mark Segal and art directed by Pietsch Lim. Sound track by Say Hi to Your Mom.