Unexpectedly nice typography from KFC

   

Ahead of its 50th anniversary, KFC has launched this lovely new marketing campaign to promote their slow cooked, original BBQ chicken. Just about everything from this campaign screams 'trendy'. The distressed chalkboard typography, the south-american music and the summer feeling photography. Even the product itself is in fashion because these days you can't be an 'on-trend' restaurant unless your meat is 'pulled' in someway. Louise Direito, KFC innovation manager says "If pulled pork was the dish of 2014, then 2015 will become the year of pulled chicken. Influenced heavily by both our Kentucky heritage as well as the UK street-food scene, the new range is a labour of love for us." The video featured on the website is also current. The southern-American voice over, plot and hazy style is very reminiscent of the iconic Jack Daniels marketing.

The typography is very similar to recent McDonald's advertising campaign illustrated by Alison Carmicheal. I suspect that the Jack Daniels homely southern roots focus and the McDonald's new focus were key inspirations for this campaign.

It almost seems too cool and trendy for KFC, I love it because I'm a designer but will their die-hard fans feel the same way? I believe it is a bid to draw in new crowds by improving the variety of their menu and bringing it more in-line with current tastes of the 'new generation' market. In that sense I think this campaign works because it speaks to that new audience very effectively.

The responsive site design also looks top-notch and works flawlessly. See the full website here: www.kfcpulledchicken.co.uk/

Paper pictures

CHRISTIAN HÜCKSTÄDT

I Really admire these wonderful pictures. All of Huckstadt's pieces are created from colourful cutout cardboard. They are fun geometric creations with an unique look and stunning 3D effect.

New interior design at Leeds University Union

I have been lucky enough to collaborate on the complete re-design of the Leeds University Union brand and interior design. This is just a sneak preview of our new Vinyls which will be going up on the walls shortly.

It's all about loving your time at Leeds kids!

Screen-printed illustrations

Stunning screen-print effect design by Jamie Wieck. The three colour limitation adds to the beauty of the illustration.

49 objects lurking in my kitchen drawer...

Beautiful illustration by Jamie Wieck: "49 objects found lurking in my kitchen drawer".

Katie Kirk's retro selection

Katie Kirk's retro style.

Paper wow

Absolutely gorgeous style produced by Robert Ryan. His brand is extremely recognisable and his techniques truly unique. All of his works are cut into paper then scanned or photographed to produce an individual way of presenting work. I LOVE the shop design and would happily cover my whole house in his fascinating and adorable pieces.

Election graphics

This is a stunning design for "THE OXFORD STUDENT" Newspaper. It depicts the big parties in a three horse race... not only is the concept admirable but the execution is lovely. The mixture of Illustration photography and 3d-effects makes a really stunning and simple cover.

Cartoon Particles

Rainbowmonkey

I love this self-motivated project from The Rainbowmonkey. He has taken classic cartoon characters and created each element as a separate object. I couldn't guess what any of them are, (even though they are now really obvious) can you?

Computer arts

Cover design for Computer Arts by Emily Alston. On the top of the image it has a lovely UV gloss of the criss-cross pattern on bank notes. Emily's alter ego is Emily Forget. She has a unique playful screen-print style to her work which makes it instantly recognisable.

It's nice that: Tell us a good fact

Emilyforgot: An elephant is the only mammal that can’t jump.

Book design

Beautifully illustrated book design by Amy Rodchester. It is simple, eye-catching and ties in neatly with the storyline of the book.

Alan Fletcher: Fifty years of work (and play)

...and play he did. Fletcher's style is deeply inspired by his once teacher, Paul Rand. The playful, bright and often witty design steers clear from the corporate design of our modern culture and often teaches the art of wit, the art of enjoyment, the art of looking sidewards.



One of my favorite pieces from my recent visit to the Cube exhibition in Manchester was the calendar design he completed with Pentagram. It exemplifies his wonderfully skilled practice of not taking oneself too seriously. The designs are full of unpretentious meaning and are attractive to the eye. Each yearly calendar followed a different theme; star signs, weather, activities, colour. It is an excellently quirky way to produce a normally mundane publication.