leighton hubbell | logos - Latest Comments

Re: The sports mascot. Adventures in logo illustration.

Jovaings Wear — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 04:10:33 -0000

please l need your contact

Re: The sports mascot. Adventures in logo illustration.

David 8 — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 02:29:01 -0000

Hah, weird, was looking up ideas for a logo project and stumbled across this page. I went to San Jac when we adopted the Ravens. Funny to accidentally find the creation of it.

Re: My interview on The Logo Mix blog.

Cyrus Selster — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:51:39 -0000

Awesome blog. Thanks for sharing it.

Re: 20 Logo design characters – a personal portfolio

leighton_hubbell — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:42:06 -0000

Thanks for stopping by. Actually, they are all designed and rendered in Adobe Illustrator.

Re: 20 Logo design characters – a personal portfolio

Sam — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:12:30 -0000

Nice designs. I think they are made on Corel Draw. [link removed] also has some nice designs.

Re: The sports mascot. Adventures in logo illustration.

Markhanly — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:16:53 -0000

Very cool. Nice work. Mark from Panama.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

AsteriskCGY — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:32:30 -0000

Because good things still make money. No good idea was or will be pirated out of existence.

Because these businesses that stole these logos still need a logo, or else they would not have stolen one in the first place.

And really, you can't relate the internet to anything in the analogue realm, that's just a misrepresentation of how the internet works.

People have made good use of piracy. I can't figure out how you will, but trying to hide from it has not really worked before. It's that idea that will have to change.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

leighton_hubbell — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:37:33 -0000

Why would anyone want to start out a business relationship – mind you a sustainable business relationship that begins with intellectual property theft?

These people are not potential customers. They did a web search and took it. Is it any different with getting into someone's car and driving around for awhile until the owner found you using it? Without permission, that's still called theft.

In addition, how can you expect to be paid what you're worth when you're negotiating with someone who's not willing to pay for it in the first place? You can't, because it has no value to them. They'll just steal something else.

Yes, I understand that the internet has evolved our lives in many ways both positive and negative, but piracy and its many facets is absolutely not the answer. Certainly not for me nor the design community at large.

If we don't take a stand against content theft and pilfering online, than what's the incentive to produce anything new?

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

AsteriskCGY — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:54:53 -0000

Well I guess the last bit is do we want to see these people as thieves or potential customers? And which would benefit you more?

I would say any business needs to know how and when to adjust, and something like this would probably warrant it. Just from a general business perspective.

In either case, I really can't answer this without possibly missing out on something. I can say even more exposure in the piracy crowd as it were means your work will start to stand out, if it's good, and these people will then need something new they haven't seen before, and if you step in then then they would now have discovered you. But this doesn't address the fact there are works that are technically owned by someone else, and I don't think you want to just let it go (considering it's China, there's already a habit to do things like that and that practice won't just go away). Or that logos are a thing that can reach such a critical mass.

I just don't think the internet intentionally does harm without doing some good at the same time. Or rather it exists at such a scale you're better off engaging with it than trying to dismiss it. And to do that you'll have to put up with the good and the bad, because they're all in the same basket.

PS. It does look like you could have some good business in China.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

leighton_hubbell — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:28:03 -0000

Thanks for your feedback and clarifying your comments, but I think you are perhaps missing something about my business model. The work stolen and appropriated here was never made available as off-the-shelf logo design.

As I mentioned in the article, there are several new entities on the internet that offer those services, but I am not one of them. I create custom logo designs for each of my clients on an individual basis. There is no selling of overstock and no clearance rack. Somehow that business model is getting lost in the logo design business. Logo design is not a commodity, it is a custom-tailored service.

Every piece stolen here was posted either on a portfolio site or on my own sites for purposes of self-promotion. They were all client commissioned projects. Some were used. Some were not. The ones used are copyright protected by the client, the remainder of them I retain copyrights to the work. For infringements like that, they will pay damages.

If the work was posted in an inspirational blog article that is one thing, especially if they are courteous enough to include a link. But grabbing it and using my work for their own company or design business without my permission is attempting to profit from my hard work and I will not tolerate it.

No, my business model doesn't necessarily need adjusting, it just needs some more awareness. There is no inventory to move and no reason for my files to gain more exposure, especially to the piracy crowd.

I know plagiarism has been around forever much like termites, but someone's got to address the problem and do something about it before the whole house caves in.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

AsteriskCGY — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:13:55 -0000

Well I see a difference between piracy of consumption and piracy for financial gain. With digital distribution there will have to be a new definition of "fair" when it comes to distribution and compensation.

From your situation these companies are taking your work that you create and use it as their image for their company, thus in a sense profiting off your work. In that case I say any money earned deserves to move to all contributing parties, since the offending party intends to profit off your work. That would be the responsible thing to do. If this were some kid that didn't want to resort to MS clip art for a school project I'm sure that can slide.Control over distribution is essentially gone with the internet, and that comes with a cost and benefit (in terms of public good). Arguably it's always happened, it's just now you can more easily notice it. I think the mentality change needs to be from creating a product to providing a service. Those that would have a vested interest in your ability to create will properly compensate you for it. This also means you don't make something until someone wants it.

Piracy in this sense then moves your work at no cost to you, but it requires that they at least attribute that work back to you as so people can find you for more work. If you are recognized for the work you do, then it becomes harder for someone else to claim ownership.

But course this does nothing in terms of allowing you to profit from still existing works. And that seems like it needs more direct intervention.

The problem I see is this dynamic means good things will always make money, and those small enough to say any exposure will make them money, those in between that require a minimum amount of success but lacks the exposure end up losing out. That, I have no idea how to solve.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

leighton_hubbell — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:18:33 -0000

I must say I'm not sure I completely understand your comments.

On the one hand you compliment me on having work good enough to pilfer. I guess thanks are in order there. On the other hand you support digital piracy, but shun plagiarism and 'free riding'.

Although they are not exactly the same thing, those positions seem a bit contradictory. You say it's OK to illegally distribute someone's music or video streams (creative work) for distribution and usage to an internet-wide network, but not acceptable to plagiarize someone's images. Either way, the artist is not compensated fairly and has no control over their own content's distribution.

I guess it's the age old excuse of, "They don't need the money. They've got plenty of money". Well, who gets to decide that? Certainly not the artist. And at what point does the artist or corporation become 'successful enough' to not need the money and their work becomes open season to use? That seems to be the Internet's decision or the average hack that does a right-click on your work.

I know it's not all black and white in the world of digital file sharing, but I certainly invite you to take a look from the other side of the fence – the side of the creators of content. Perhaps you'll see it a different way once your work gets pilfered, whether you want it to or not.

No, I'm not going to hide away my work, but I am certainly going to be much wiser about where it goes in the future.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

AsteriskCGY — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:04:31 -0000

Hey at least they like your designs to use em. That's how great they are.

As much as I like piracy I can agree against plagiarism and free riding. And that piracy is a hard sell for midrange market goods, stuff that isn't too cheap that every bit helps but not big enough to garner mass public attention. And if you're going to make money off something, that money has to go to where credit's due.

Though I think the counter is not trying to hide your work but rather proliferate it to a point of being easily recognized and credited. In the end people should be hiring for what you can do instead of buying from what you have done.

The new gate is now at the point of creation.

Re: So you want to be a logo designer.

leighton_hubbell — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:04:15 -0000

You are certainly welcome. As for the coffee or beer, I look forward to it, Kevin – someday soon. :)

Re: So you want to be a logo designer.

Kevin Burr — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:24:57 -0000

Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Leighton. I still owe you coffee...or a beer. :-)

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

Karen — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:11:35 -0000

This has always happened - it's just easier now. I don't know that there's really any way to protect your designs and, I have to admit, I've gotten pretty resigned to it. I would rather have my prospective customers be able to find me than risk having my ideas stolen. Thanks for mentioning TinEye and Google Reverse Image Search. I wasn't aware of them.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

Jeff — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:05:57 -0000

Actually, this article has gotten you at least one more. Great article.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

leighton_hubbell — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:00:10 -0000

I think we all were a bit unaware until very recently. But, through the efforts of myself, the AIGA, Graphic Artists Guild and a handful of other very visible designers, the word is starting to get out. It may not be reaching the pilfering hacks lurking in the shadows, but it has to start somewhere.

At first, I really thought my spouting off about this whole intellectual property situation was going to cause my online followers to start leaving in droves, but I am pleasantly surprised about their sticking with me. In fact, it seems to have attracted a whole new group of people who seem to be listening.

As I have said before, there are many that are grumbling that this is the beginning of the end of logo design as a profession. I say they're wrong. I think that tools like TinEye and Google Reverse Image search are a starting point in evening out the playing field and holding others accountable for their illegal actions.

I thank you for your comments. Feel free to pass it on. :)

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

Volker Beckmann — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:26:58 -0000

Great article. I was unaware how bad this is. Although I've always wondered how some online sites can sell logos for a buck or two. Unfortunately, the designers reading your article are invariably not the mental midgets doing the blatant pilfering.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

leighton_hubbell — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:11:01 -0000

I'm glad you got a sense of my anger without it coming off like a rant. Hopeful is a good word. I am hopeful that we can all work this out in the design community to get a better bead on infringement. Everybody wants to run an honest business and do good work, without looking over their shoulders.

Nice to hear you got something out of it. I thank you for your comments.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

leighton_hubbell — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:06:43 -0000

Thanks, Sheila.

Unfortunately, I've done a bit more homework than I would have liked to. :) You can certainly link back to my article. Spread the word. I appreciate it.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

Sheila — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:39:11 -0000

Great post, Leighton! Insightful, and great tips on how to prevent this. I just can't believe how blatantly obvious some of these "designers" are. Good thing you've done your homework. Mind if I link back to this article on my site?

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

Scott Roberts — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:26:24 -0000

Leighton, good writing - I can feel your anger (and some hope) in the way you relay your message.
Sorry to hear about your logo (Intellectual Property) thefts. I never really thought those websites would do that (surprise!).
I've found that while some image searches are easily linked to their creators/copyright, others are so many generations removed (pilfered/borrowed/stolen) from their creators/copyright that it seems unlikely they could be found. I'll have to check out Google Reverse Image Search and see how it works.
Thanks for the safety pointers too!

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

leighton_hubbell — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:28:11 -0000

You're welcome, Gert. It was one of those situations that is still a bit painful and frustrating to experience first-hand, but something we could all learn from.

The way I look at it, the more we improve awareness of this problem, the more actions we can take to correct it. Plagiarism will never completely go away, unless we stop creating ideas worth stealing.

Thanks for your comments.

Re: Blissfully unaware. Logo design and pilfering.

cresk — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:36:47 -0000

Damn great article Leighton. As we probably have discussed before, there's really an urge for us to take the stand and continue to do so. Particularly in the field of logo & identity design, I think newer generations also need to be educated more and 'know' about the roots of this business, which I still classify, and experience, as one of the most delicate and challenging sub-sets in the Graphic Design Industry, and to play their role up to the hilt.

Thanks for your continuing support and attempts to open our eyes and take actions again Leighton.