redesignrelated:

Vintage book cover redesigns for James M. Cain

Classic backlist books often see many cover repackagings throughout the years. But, the new cover designs for novels by author James M. Cain caught our attention. According to John Gall’s Spine Out, the new editions should be available in Spring 2011. The new look is a collaboration between book cover designers Megan Wilson and Evan Gaffney.

The design for “The Postman Always Rings Twice” does a beautiful job at paying homage to Arthur Hawkins, Jr.’s typographic style for the first edition dust jacket  (published by Knopf, c. 1934). Mildred Pierce looks like it draws inspiration from the 1945 movie rather than the original dust jacket design from 1941.

(view three new Cain book cover designs larger via Spine Out)

redesignrelated:

Fonts In Use takes a look at the typefaces behind the Esquire and Condé Nast Traveler magazine redesigns.

“And the Oscar goes to….”

redesignrelated:

A Redesign for the Oscars Envelope

To honor the 70th anniversary of the Academy Awards, designer Marc Friedland brings out the bling with iridescent gold paper for his “iconic” makeover of the ordinary white envelope and plain announcement cards…

redesignrelated:

Starbucks redesigns yet again with their revised, more minimal logo version for 2011. Not only did they bring back the mermaid, but they also removed the black as well as the text and reduced the mark to just one color…

redesignrelated:

Myspace logo redesign

At the Warm Gun Design conference, VP of User Experience, Mike Macadaan, unveils the foundation of Myspace’s new branding approach…

redesignrelated:

The Gap logo redesign

Gap Clothing stores has unveiled a new logo mark on their website this week. The new logo in sans serif Helvetica treatment…

redesignrelated:

iTunes logo icon redesign

At the September 1, 2010 Apple Special Music Event, Steve Jobs unveils iTunes 10, complete with a redesign and implementation of the new social network Ping. Since CDs are less relevant these days, Apple decided it was time to revisit their original logo design for iTunes.

Of all the great announcements coming out of the presentation, we found this logo/icon redesign the least exciting.

update: The initial images we posted showed screen captures from Steve Jobs’ keynote presentation. The circle on the new logo looked elongated and not symmetrical. We thought it was a possibility it looked slightly off because of on-screen distortion. After we downloaded iTunes 10 we confirmed the the variation of the logo shown at the event was not a fully accurate representation and we removed the graphic. The above logo is taken directly from the application, not a blown out and distorted image from a presentation.)

redesignrelated:

Dowling Duncan submits a unique currency redesign concept for Richard Smith’s Dollar ReDe$ign Project.

“…We have kept the width the same as the existing dollars. However we have changed the size of the note so that the one dollar is shorter and the 100 dollar is the longest. When stacked on top of each other it is easy to see how much money you have. It also makes it easier for the visually impaired to distinguish between notes…”
—Dowling Duncan on the proposed redesign for US bank notes

redesignrelated:

Myspace.com is on track for a full redesign. The new home page has been unveiled. It has been so long since we’ve visited the Myspace site. We hardly recognize you—until you click past the homepage. Are the upcoming changes enough to give the site another chance? The interaction design studio Pereira & O’Dell is helping give the brand a long overdue facelift.

redesignrelated:

The new Google Images search redesign eliminates caption texts to provide only visual eye-candy at first glance. This is the first major revamp of Google Images since the tool first launched back in 2001. Included in the redesign is the ability to view up to 1,000 images on on scrolling page.

(click for larger screenshots for before and after)

redesignrelated:

Girl Scouts of America logo redesign

You’ll need to look twice to notice the small but significant changes. The new version differs only slightly from the identity designed back in 1978 by Saul Bass.

“A Fresh Identity for the Girl Scouts of America: The world’s largest organization for girls gets a much-needed facelift.” (via Fast Company)

redesignrelated:

Wonder Woman character redesign from DC Comics

At 69 years old, Wonder Woman undergoes another wardrobe and body makeover for issue no. 600 of the comic book.

“…The new costume was designed by the artist Jim Lee, who in February was named co-publisher of DC, alongside Dan DiDio. Given the assignment, “my first reaction was, ‘Oh my gosh,’ ” Mr. Lee said in an interview. But he welcomed the challenge: “When these characters become so branded that you can’t change things, they become ossified.” The new look — with an understated “W” insignia, a midnight blue jacket and a flinty fusion of black tights and boots — is darker than the famed swimsuit-style outfit, and aims to be contemporary, functional and, as Tim Gunn of “Project Runway” might say, less costumey…” —via The New York Times

see also the NYT “Evolution of Wonder Woman” slideshow

flickr redesign: “Now have some fun with it.”

The giant panda won me over.