Wednesday Waffler: Ritz

I dont think there’s any question the back of this Ritz box is pretty:

Ritz has been rocking this brand execution for a few years now, and it still works extremely well, especially on their trucks.

So while the front of the box could be a lot worse, you have to wonder why it’s not getting with the rest of their now-no-longer-new program:

Thanks to P*S* Reader and iPhone user Kelly for the suggestion and images.

Be like Kelly! Go here to learn more about contributing to the cause. And here to get the P*S* App.

America's Choice and Vintage Seltzers

Pr*tty

This bit of litter might be an out-of-towner, because I’ve never seen America’s Choice products in the grocery stores here, and consequently know nothing about them. A Google image search would suggest this is a redesigned package (and logo), and I have to say, it’s a peach. Except maybe for the S and R being slightly larger than their peers... odd.

Sh*tty

Meanwhile, our markets seems to be flooded with this Vintage nonsense, which is a perfectly fine product, but a god awful mess of a package design and logo. Those bubbles may tickle the nose, but the bottle singes the eyes.

Peruvian Public Transportation and NYC Tourist Buses

Pr*tty

These Peruvian buses have a humble, innocent, smile-inducing charm that is undeniable. There’s something to be said for simple means making for simple, distinctive communication.

Sh*tty

Here in New York, our streets are filled with tourist-laden buses such as these, or worse. Big, mobile billboards of tortured and torturous typography, feckless color selections, and hackneyed graphic treatments.

Of course, you might argue that it’s only fitting that they’re responsible for transporting the droves of fannypack- and zubaz-wearing out-of-towners we love to hate so much. But let’s not argue.

A huge gracias to P*S* Reader Caroline Kenworthy for contributing the Peruvian bus images.

Be like Caroline! Go here to learn more about contributing to the cause. And here to get the P*S* App.

Altec and Genie

Pr*tty

The only thing better than Helvetica is tightly kerned Helvetica. And that structural, simple A mark is a nice bit of geometry, too.

Sh*tty

While I appreciate the name Genie for a company that makes mechanical lifts and cranes and stuff, I think cramming every arrow under the sun into the logotype might be ill-advised. In the same way that putting that typeface from the Edible Arrangements logo in your multi-million dollar science fiction “epic” might also be.

Tadim and Barcelona Sunflower Seeds

Pr*tty

There are aspects of this design that individually irritate me. But it helps that they’re mostly small and secondary to an overall handsome execution that hinges largely on the delicious, textural photo of the seeds.

Sh*tty

Here, all the problematic components are large and competing for attention, which muddles the hierarchy. And sadly, the window looking in on the actual seeds is far less appetizing than the photo used on the Pr*tty counterpart.

I’d also like to know why there’s a peanut on a bag of sunflower seeds. And more importantly, why he’s singing “I’m a Little Tea Pot.”

Husky and Bobcat

Admittedly, my photos today are not the best quality, so I’m supplementing with images from the web.

Pr*tty

It turns out I’m beating Brand New to announcing the rebranding of Husky Tools. No doubt, their exceptional popularity just took a major hit.

Kerning issues aside, the old logo has a certain tough charm that I appreciate, and I planned to only show this one until I found the updated logo on their website. The new one is better kerned, and the simplified, less-cartoony husky icon actually manages to look more husky-like and more tool-like simultaneously. Either way, I remain a dog person.

Sh*tty

You know when you’re thumbnailing a logo concept, and you’re struggling with how to stylize your idea in a way that makes it unique, attractive, and communicative. It’s important to keep pushing until you get there.

Or you can stop with the version that has sunglasses, vampire teeth, a grossly dislocated lower jaw, and horns for ears.