You’ve probably heard what I have to say about Microsoft. In fact you’re probably bored of me mentioning problems with Internet Explorer, Word and Frontpage. Despite their dysfunctional software we still use them day in and day out and there’s no arguing that they’ve made an impact on the way we work.

They introduced Office to our world which has become the industry standard all in one business tool. 20 years on their releasing the latest version, Office 2010 with a new look.

Microsoft design has never been trend setting. Their logos, packaging and websites are always pretty standard, clean cut but nothing exceptional unlike its adversaries and colleagues such as Apple or HP.

The logo for Office XP set the brand 10 years ago symbolizing 4 pieces to a puzzle, each section in a different colour representing the office apps (word, powerpoint, excel and Outlook) as well as keeping with the windows theme. It had a slight playfulness to it which was nice but also a little cheap.

The new logo was a big improvement. Cleaner, dynamic, and modern with a small step away from the puzzle pieces. Tying into the new web tools built into office, the logo represented a new facelift that the suite went through but overall it still wasn’t mind blowing. Alongside were new icons which were nice, functional although a little cryptic in some cases.

The 2010 logo shows another step forward in the building of a brand. Moving full circle from the puzzle it’s now a dynamic unified representation of the office suite rather then one that’s separated by shape and colour. The whole design has been meshed into one symbol intended to reflect a suite
that works on multiple levels. Arrows moving from space to space (app to app) creates an energetic and streamlined approach, symbolising a cohesive func
tionality but is it an improvement?

Yes it is but is it mind blowing? Not really. It’s a nice logo and again a step in the right direction but just not there yet. Its layed out well but a small clash is still present between the font style and new icon. Throwing out the old colour scheme was a brave and admired step and the new orange which replaces it is modern and vibrant but is it a bit too orange?

Where MS take a step forward with the logo they also take a huge step back with a new icon set. More cryptic then ever we have an array of colours and letters to remember. Inconsistent typography and a mixed style of buttons. Gradient upon gradient creates mess whilst colourful yet confusing sums it up.

The ideas behind the new identity are strong. A unified, userfriendly and modern approach for the suite but overall in terms of design it’s just pretty generic and quite possibly “unprofessional.”

3/5

Marketing a coaching business is not the easiest of tasks. Do you target the public or the corporates? Its a regular and common problem NLP coaches face and one that was solved visually with Infinity Associates. Having worked for corporations and starting up an array of businesses themselves, Chris & Adria Bannocks combined their creative yet disciplined skillsets for their new venture, Infinity Associates.

Chris and Adria wanted to develop an idea that they’d already put into place (Acuminous LTD), an early phase of an NLP and lifecoaching company which needed a new lease of life, a visual rebrand to match the new strategy behind the business. Based on a modern approach to training, coaching and personal development, it’s a a higher class of service, one which was original, professional yet appealed to both corporate and personal customers with a dynamic twist.

We began with the corporate identity in which Acuminous changed to Infinity Associates and then just to Infinity. Exploring ideas and themes we concluded whether the new company would have a dynamic and techy look or a warmer more friendlier approach.

After many revisions and concepts we designed the new logo along with a subrand to package a particular offering from Infinity, “Brainslim.” Following the logo we developed a matching website with modern functionality such as podcasts, downloads and blogs, all tied up into a CMS to control by the client.
The idea was to make a site which was useful to clients by offering them free advice on personal development. Within 6 weeks Conceptstore helped rebrand Acuminous into www.Inifnityassociates.co.uk.

If you live outisde of the UK then you’ll know that its difficult finding student residency in the UK.

Student residence is a new service managed by Sunita who wanted to utilise her network of student houses and make it easier for them to find the perfect housing in the UK.

Conceptstore developed the brand, identity hosting and content managed web site including live vacancies for Student-residence.com

After a re-brand, Vinay & Martin at Openblue needed their new website built with a purpose.

It had to be an effective content managed website that was functional, user friendly, informative yet versatile to match the strategy of their business.

Including a shop and events manager, Conceptstore built the new website and made it internet freindly by adopting the design into a userable website for the net.  We reinforced the brand with extra graphic design and flash animation to create a great website for Openblue.

Referred to us by One Practice, London Land Law is a new Law firm operating in the London area focusing on clients across the board with legal property issues. (obviously):).

Although they established a business strategy and logo they were lacking a website which was needed ASAP.

Within a week Conceptstore designed and developed and launched a new site to give them a dynamic online  presence.