Pentagram Sucks...
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- ukit0
Most things suck when you examine them closely
- landock0
We also have to remember that the client has partial control over any design project. Some of the stuff that isn't blowing your mind may have been compromised a bit.
- +100gramme
- yep, as do producers, PM's, layers of art and creative directors, rounds and rounds of revision. --->threadpost
- original idea and design get so convoluted after so much scrutiny by so many cooks in the kitchenthreadpost
- TRUE!akrok
- utopian0
Some of their is cookie cutter and somewhat repetitive. I would not say that they necessarily suck though... Perhaps overated!
- Ruffian0
I've noticed that a lot of their stuff looks so-so on the screen but get's your attention when applied in the real world.
- mimeartist_limited0
Pentagram - The famous logo makers
- gramme0
Not everything they do is a grand slam, but I'd say the same about my own work, or anyone else for that matter. The majority of their work—from all of their offices—is well-considered and well-executed. I think of the Mohawk promotions Bierut's team did last year. Gorgeous stuff.
- pepe0
having worked with one of the partners in the past i think what makes them easy to hate is that they convey a sense of elitism and almost overly knowledgeable sense of graphic design, when in fact its not what you know about design but what you make. anyhow, their work is a tad safe but the market they target falls into that category as well.
- fate_0
That's a valid point, pepe. The kind of people who go to RubyTuesday or enjoy the NY Philharmonic are yuppie scum.
- lifterBARON0
I think the largest problem is that you hold them to too high of standards. They aren't like super human or necessarily better at life than any one of us. They just make shit for people who have bad taste. Sometimes, the shit they make looks like shit, other times.. you might be like; "oh, snap, that's kind of rad!" They aren't the end all be all, but neither is whoever you (all) might think is either n things.. >_<
- Amicus0
I'm glad that my post has at least got some people thinking... even if my initial post was poorly written and not thought through.
I do stand by my initial opinion that many of their recent logos are boring. It's my opinion, and I'm entitled to it.
- Many of their recent logos do look like college interns created them.utopian
- pepe0
but see, 'boring' and 'sucks' are two very different things. logos you buy through craigslist suck, but pentagram logos are boring sometimes. i would think they are pretty good if not interesting if it werent for their public speaking engagements. everytime ive seen a partner from there speak i felt like i was a homeless man walking into burberry by their tone. i think they hol themselves to a higher place, and may have been there in the 70s or 80s but now there are too many good designers to be that elite.
- I happen to think that good design is interesting, and therefore boring is bad design ergo - sucks!Amicus
- jfletcher0
I met one of their old parnters at a design conference both of us were speaking at. During a dinner he expressed "we were different, because he is a craftsman". Mostly becasue I hand interaction design and not graphic design in my talk. I thought he was a complete douche, not to mention his talk was terrible and boring.
As for Petagrams work, I like a good amount of it, and they are well respected. Besides the one guy, no problems here.
- ********0
as much as anything, people admire the systematic programs enabled by a well-funded, well-organized insfrastructure
- typist0
i think pentagram set the bar of corporate identity in the 80s and 90s
but the latest identities they create are below their standard, still the application of the logo through out save it somehow
pentagram's work? more like logopond's work to me
doesnt say ballet or NYC to me
bad logo, good application
- almost my point... but why should a logo needing saving by it's application?Amicus
- agreed. a lot of their work looks stock to me.dirtydesign
- I did not realize that Pentagram was this bad, I might change my mind about them?utopian
- cough http://www.kiggen.be…tank02
- Amicus0
quote from onewhoslaps
"hmmmm.......
i'd worry about making a website that works before you go start bashing established work and great historical design institutes.
amicus website - http://www.comingsoon.com.au/
"Web Site not configured" "Wow... and he/she don't have a site listed themselves. I think I heard whispers about a pot? Or was it a kettle?
- refunktion0
now i want a job there.
- MT090
Pentagram designed the logo and brand standards. However the NY Philharmonic it seems is having another agency (MunnRabot) do it's advertising and collateral...assuming that is the actual booklet/ handouts and print/newspaper/magazine advertising etc. Found this out via google after some detective work of my own. It even says it on their site ( www.munnrabot.com )
- Iggyboo0
This is a very interesting response to Pentagram. People are attacking pillars in the design community ( maybe due to the recession and job losses ) when you start throwing barbs at that studio. They have honestly done some great work in the long run. In the short run I agree I have seen some less that great identity design / conceptual branding from them but no they do not suck. Their expected to do the best creative however possible, in my opinion.
