Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands [Hardcover]

Jeff Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2007

Clients in Crisis

It's not unusual for a business or organization to experience an "identity crisis" as the years pass and its public persona dulls. In Identity Crisis!, identity design professional Jeff Fisher gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the identity redesign process in 50 different case studies. This book showcases results that designers around the world have provided for clients, including one-person businesses, retail operations, major corporations, restaurants, educational institutions, performing arts groups and more.

Through detailed, illustrated case studies, Identity Crisis! presents the obstacles that graphic designers - and their clients - may face when an identity starts to lose its luster and target market appeal. This volume showcases the creative results in the redesign of logos, stationery, signage, websites, menus, environment and collateral items. Over 400 illustrative elements - "befores" and "afters" - provide the inspiration for a solution to any identity crisis.

With foreword by Jack Anderson of Hornall Anderson Design.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeff Fisher has been designing logos, creating corporate identity systems and branding organizations, businesses and products for nearly 30 years. His work has been featured in HOW, Print, Graphic Design:usa and other international design publications. More than 75 books on the design of logos, the business of graphic design, and small-business marketing have presented his work as industry examples.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: HOW Books, an imprint of F+W Publications (October 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581809395
• ISBN-13: 978-1581809398
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #904,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeff Fisher, author of "Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands" (HOW Books, 2007), is the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives. A 30-year design veteran, he has been honored with over 600 regional, national and international design awards and is featured in over 100 books about logos, the design business, and small business marketing. His first book, "The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success" was released in 2004 and has been reissued as a PDF on CD from HOWBookstore.com. Fisher is currently writing a new volume, with the working title of "Logo*Type", on the topic of typography in identity design.

Fisher serves on the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council, and is a past member of the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, and UCDA Designer Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. The designer also writes for HOW Magazine, other industry publications, and many webzines and blogs. In addition, Fisher is a nationally-recognized speaker, making numerous presentations each year to design organizations, design schools, universities and business groups. Graphic Design USA magazine recently named Jeff Fisher one of the design industry "People to Watch" for 2009.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Depth in 50 case studies in corporate image makeover, November 12, 2008

By 

Parka (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands (Hardcover)

Length:: 0:29 Mins

In this book are 50 case studies on redesigning the corporate identity.

Each makeover is compared with the old image. The text explains the story behind the need for design and the concept of the design. It goes through things like what the logos are suppose to mean to the public, what the design elements signify and things like that. Pictures included examples of how the new design is applied over the company's promotional material, e.g. brochures, namecards, letterheads, websites, products, etc.

At the end of each case study is a quick tip from the designer on the project.

This book is useful for graphic designers and brand marketers.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Identity Crisis is a rare book, November 18, 2007

By 

Chuck Green "Host of ideabook.com" (Glen Allen, Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands (Hardcover)

Rare because so many graphic design books rely so heavily on "creampuff" projects--stuff for multi-billion dollar corporations and skateboard park coffee houses. The former have design budgets equal to the GNP of mid-sized countries, the latter award extra points for the pseudo-extreme.

In reality, most graphic designers work with clients who simply want a smart solution at a reasonable price. (I found out early on that most of my clients were not as interested in my quest for self expression as they were their own quest for remaining solvent.) Identity Crisis is a book about real organizations and realistic solutions.

Author Jeff Fisher is a designer who has been in the trenches (if don't believe me, check out his portfolio at jfisherlogomotives.com). In Identity Crisis he presents case studies of organizations with established identities that need refreshing. He tells us the story of each, shows a logo before and after, provides examples of how the new identity is implemented on brochures, web sites, packaging, and so on, and reveals interesting insights and project details about and by both client and designer.

If you are a graphic designer who has real-world clients--I suggest you add this book to your toolbox. If you are a business owner or marketer who wants to see how others make over and leverage their identity--Jeff Fisher's Identity Crisis is a good place to start.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Identity Design Must-Read, December 26, 2007

By 

Chad Behnke "Style Type Design" (Menomonie, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands (Hardcover)

This book is not only an impeccable resource for brand redesigns, but also a helpful tool for knowing exactly what to do when designing an identity for the first time. Shifting the focus from merely a showcase of the tangibles that were produced from the various campaigns, this title emphasizes the market research and overall branding strategy for the rebranding of the businesses. From considering public image and perception, to company structure, to company history, Identity Crisis! covers the full range of thought processes involved with identity design and rollout. A must-read for any identity designer, Identity Crisis! is a highly approachable title that appropriately covers the vastly important and, unfortunately, oft-ignored mental aspects and processes of logo and identity design.