Barack Obama wasn’t the only big winner of the past few months. Chicago-based Sol Sender–of the digital brand consultancy and design studio that bears his name–didn’t do too badly either. In partnership with motion-design studio Mode, Sender and his firm developed what is now the most iconic political campaign symbol in American history: the Obama “O.”
There probably isn’t much that I can say about the O that hasn’t already been said better by someone else, so I’ll keep it brief. Instead I’ll offer up a short, two-part video, featuring Sender himself. In the video he describes the process that led to O’s creation, as well as its evolution as an agent of inclusiveness and symbol of transformation.
Part one above, part two below,
Daniel Turman
Comments
Connections
Yes, it is most carefully orchestrated piece of design of the last years/decade that has been provided to the public. I really share my admiration to it as a neutral piece of design. The whole thing just oozes of symbolism that affects the unconcious and that the designer could not have possible worked in detail at – but when a design is succesful – the thing as a whole takes a life of its own and starts to mean alot of things and not just subjectively.
It is an old saying that nobody votes for the politician as a person, but everybody who chooses to believe in a politician and their promises does it because how the communication is designed – I reckon it is well said.
I reckon also that it can be quite dangerous to provide politicians with such good design actually – George Bush and Barack Obama are two persons with similar life cycles – both ivy league students who experimented with pretty addictive drugs in their youths/alternative lifestyles and then came under the control of a powerful wife . Both had the shadow of their father at their backs (so did on third president from the recent past) – the difference is how their message is designed – one is portrayed as intelligent (Obama) an the other one has completely cracked (Bush). While actually Bush was the better student and remains a more avid reader of novels than Obama and as a person is of course the total opposite of the message that is designed for him (ie stupid cowboy from Texas on a crusade). While might I suggest that Obama is not that hip/cool/intelligent – heh? Or does that get me the ban of the century?
Dangerous thing I tell you… It would be in the best interest of the people if politicians would not be so well designed in their messages, but perhaps I am just raving?
Yes, it is most carefully orchestrated piece of design of the last years/decade that has been provided to the public. I really share my admiration to it as a neutral piece of design. The whole thing just oozes of symbolism that affects the unconcious and that the designer could not have possible worked in detail at – but when a design is succesful – the thing as a whole takes a life of its own and starts to mean alot of things and not just subjectively.
It is an old saying that nobody votes for the politician as a person, but everybody who chooses to believe in a politician and their promises does it because how the communication is designed – I reckon it is well said.
I reckon also that it can be quite dangerous to provide politicians with such good design actually – George Bush and Barack Obama are two persons with similar life cycles – both ivy league students who experimented with pretty addictive drugs in their youths/alternative lifestyles and then came under the control of a powerful wife . Both had the shadow of their father at their backs (so did on third president from the recent past) – the difference is how their message is designed – one is portrayed as intelligent (Obama) an the other one has completely cracked (Bush). While actually Bush was the better student and remains a more avid reader of novels than Obama and as a person is of course the total opposite of the message that is designed for him (ie stupid cowboy from Texas on a crusade). While might I suggest that Obama is not that hip/cool/intelligent – heh? Or does that get me the ban of the century?
Dangerous thing I tell you… It would be in the best interest of the people if politicians would not be so well designed in their messages, but perhaps I am just raving?
iCJLu9 Very true! Makes a change to see someone spell it out like that.