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The importance of in and out

by Lora Starling | Apr 19, 2021 | ARTICLE, Design work, Logo effects, Logo truths

There is a club in London called the In and Out club, named for the gates directing members in the right direction.

Michael Beckwith, the Founder and Spiritual Director of Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, and an award-winning author, says he sees his clients coming in, entering like a golden Buddha, bringing their problems. This entrance aligns him with his intention before he starts to work with them.

We spend a lot of time on projects but how we receive them and how we send them off to do their work play a vital part in their success.

When I worked in design at Pentagram, we were taught how to wrap packages leaving the building so that Pentagram’s reputation for detailing and caring was enforced beyond the front door and visible to anyone involved, including the receptionist or secretary who may receive and/or open the package. The corners were neatly trimmed, the tape cut with scissors or scalpel and the address clearly, beautifully written.

In my work designing logos, I know that how we receive and deliver our logos is vital to the integrity of the final design. When I am designing, the concept(ion) is vital. How it enters the world, the quality of the intention, the talents, mood and state of the client, and me the designer. When it is time to exit and deliver its intentions, every design detail has been considered including the timing, perhaps even the alignment of stars and the season, to ensure the best potential success. Conversely, a perfunctory delivery, with poor attention to detail, from the choice of social media used to communicate, the cleanliness of delivery vehicles and the first word said when a client rings, can ruin the concept of a perfectly good logo.

We often think that the actual designing of a logo is the most important part and, once it is complete, the work is done. But this vital action could not take place without the initial brief and it could not do its work without the exit, the delivery.

The latter is what carries the energy the logo, embedding the intention of the desired future, intact into the outside world where it can do its work.

Everything matters, every detail.

The invitation to engage with the logo is delivered embedded in the design, like a doorway encouraging us to open. The first picture above was taken in fashionable Fitzroy in Melbourne. I wanted to touch and open this door; the handle is full of the promise of something wonderful within. The second entrance is the Chelsea Arts Club in London. Normally relatively inconspicuous, the entrance was allowed to seasonally express itself, much like the artist members within. I was strangely reassured when I saw this perfectly stacked recycling from a café in the third picture. I know this café. Their food and service is impeccable as is their detailing, from their smile when you enter to the herbs and spices they use. So, I felt comforted that this attention carried through to their rubbish! They really were committed to their intention of excellence which would be carried to the trash collectors who would notice and appreciate it, thus continuing to build the warmth. Finally, the last photo is from Bali ­ – an exit sign in case of a Tsunami. I liked this as it shows how it is important to ensure our exits are targeted for purpose and in the right place to do their work to the full.

All these observations can be used in the design of a logo.

I read labels and believe Heston

I read labels and believe Heston

by Lora Starling | Nov 23, 2020 | ARTICLE, Design work, Logo effects, Logo truths

blog post icon A recent advertisement for a sweet chocolate dairy drink labelled ‘kill hungry thirsty dead’ prompted in me a whole cascade of questions.

Is anything original?

Is anything original?

by Lora Starling | Nov 5, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Shopping in Taunton in the SW of England I noticed the new Lakeland logo. It was virtually the same as a logo, for a very different purpose, I designed many years ago in London.

The Road to Hell – Milton Glaser

The Road to Hell – Milton Glaser

by Lora Starling | Oct 20, 2020 | ARTICLE, Colour, Design work, Logo effects, Logo truths, Protecting brands

blog post icon Milton Glaser posed some great questions at a D&AD lecture titled ‘The Road to Hell’ that I think are immensely thought provoking. He listed a series of questions and asked the audience how far they would be prepared to go on the list. 


Starling’s Murmurs ‘How I got here’

Starling’s Murmurs ‘How I got here’

by Lora Starling | Oct 5, 2020 | PODCAST

podcast icon In this podcast, I talk about how I was led to develop the idea that we can use logos personally to create the life we want.

Phoenixes, rainbows pink and bridges

Phoenixes, rainbows pink and bridges

by Lora Starling | Sep 30, 2020 | ARTICLE, Design work, Logo effects

blog post icon Before I begin any creative work for a client, there are myriad questions to ask. These include the usual such as details of their vision, timescale, ideal or typical clients…. and their preferences.

Starling’s Murmurs ‘How I got here’

Starling’s Murmurs Intro Episode

by Lora Starling | Sep 19, 2020 | PODCAST

podcast icon Logos are much more than identifying an organisation or a brand, and it is much more than a visual image. I believe that logos have an inherent value to them. There’s something that one can say …

Who wants to be a celebrity?

Who wants to be a celebrity?

by Lora Starling | Sep 14, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects, Logo truths

blog post icon Celebrity worship fascinates me. What makes us look outside ourselves for validation, fulfilment and inspiration?

The birth of a logo through intention

The birth of a logo through intention

by Lora Starling | Aug 20, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Before Covid, before the riots, before the incredibly immense upheaval of 2020, my super intuitive friend Jill, who created the Energy Institute, had a wonderful insight. When she shared this insight with me, it felt like a deep opportunity to prepare for who knew what. And now we do know.

The rainbow has done a full circle

The rainbow has done a full circle

by Lora Starling | May 5, 2020 | ARTICLE, Colour

blog post icon I love rainbows, they are one of the first things we as children learn to draw and they evoke happiness, well being, joy, a promise of gold and a safe future. My mother used to make me rainbow jellies for my …

Are you a ‘Good Girl’?

Are you a ‘Good Girl’?

by Lora Starling | Mar 8, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon I went to a breakfast event recently held in a luxury hotel in Melbourne by a women’s business support group. It was impressive, with delicious food including scones, jam and cream, banana bread …

« Older Entries
Next Entries »
Facebook shareTwitter shareLinkedin sharePinterest share

Related posts:

A logo for Liz

There is no one like you

Does size matter?

The importance of in and out

by Lora Starling | Apr 19, 2021 | ARTICLE, Design work, Logo effects, Logo truths

There is a club in London called the In and Out club, named for the gates directing members in the right direction.

Michael Beckwith, the Founder and Spiritual Director of Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, and an award-winning author, says he sees his clients coming in, entering like a golden Buddha, bringing their problems. This entrance aligns him with his intention before he starts to work with them.

We spend a lot of time on projects but how we receive them and how we send them off to do their work play be a vital part in their success.

When I worked in design at Pentagram, we were taught how to wrap packages leaving the building so that Pentagram’s reputation for detailing and caring was enforced beyond the front door and visible to anyone involved, including the receptionist or secretary who may receive and/or open the package. The corners were neatly trimmed, the tape cut with scissors or scalpel and the address clearly, beautifully written.

In my work designing logos, I know that how we receive and deliver our logos is vital to the integrity of the final design. When I am designing, the concept(ion) is vital. How it enters the world, the quality of the intention, the talents, mood and state of the client, and me the designer. When it is time to exit and deliver its intentions, every design detail has been considered including the timing, perhaps even the alignment of stars and the season, to ensure the best potential success. Conversely, a perfunctory delivery, with poor attention to detail, from the choice of social media used to communicate, the cleanliness of delivery vehicles and the first word said when a client rings, can ruin the concept of a perfectly good logo.

We often think that the actual designing of a logo is the most important part and, once it is complete, the work is done. But this vital action could not take place without the initial brief and it could not do its work without the exit, the delivery.

The latter is what carries the energy the logo, embedding the intention of the desired future, intact into the outside world where it can do its work.

Everything matters, every detail.

The invitation to engage with the logo is delivered embedded in the design, like a doorway encouraging us to open. The first picture above was taken in fashionable Fitzroy in Melbourne. I wanted to touch and open this door; the handle is full of the promise of something wonderful within. The second entrance is the Chelsea Arts Club in London. Normally relatively inconspicuous, the entrance was allowed to seasonally express itself, much like the artist members within. I was strangely reassured when I saw this perfectly stacked recycling from a café in the third picture. I know this café. Their food and service is impeccable as is their detailing, from their smile when you enter to the herbs and spices they use. So, I felt comforted that this attention carried through to their rubbish! They really were committed to their intention of excellence which would be carried to the trash collectors who would notice and appreciate it, thus continuing to build the warmth. Finally, the last photo is from Bali ­ – an exit sign in case of a Tsunami. I liked this as it shows how it is important to ensure our exits are targeted for purpose and in the right place to do their work to the full.

All these observations can be used in the design of a logo.

I read labels and believe Heston

I read labels and believe Heston

by Lora Starling | Nov 23, 2020 | ARTICLE, Design work, Logo effects, Logo truths

blog post icon A recent advertisement for a sweet chocolate dairy drink labelled ‘kill hungry thirsty dead’ prompted in me a whole cascade of questions.

Is anything original?

Is anything original?

by Lora Starling | Nov 5, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Shopping in Taunton in the SW of England I noticed the new Lakeland logo. It was virtually the same as a logo, for a very different purpose, I designed many years ago in London.

The Road to Hell – Milton Glaser

The Road to Hell – Milton Glaser

by Lora Starling | Oct 20, 2020 | ARTICLE, Colour, Design work, Logo effects, Logo truths, Protecting brands

blog post icon Milton Glaser posed some great questions at a D&AD lecture titled ‘The Road to Hell’ that I think are immensely thought provoking. He listed a series of questions and asked the audience how far they would be prepared to go on the list. 


Starling’s Murmurs ‘How I got here’

Starling’s Murmurs ‘How I got here’

by Lora Starling | Oct 5, 2020 | PODCAST

podcast icon In this podcast, I talk about how I was led to develop the idea that we can use logos personally to create the life we want.

Phoenixes, rainbows pink and bridges

Phoenixes, rainbows pink and bridges

by Lora Starling | Sep 30, 2020 | ARTICLE, Design work, Logo effects

blog post icon Before I begin any creative work for a client, there are myriad questions to ask. These include the usual such as details of their vision, timescale, ideal or typical clients…. and their preferences.

Starling’s Murmurs ‘How I got here’

Starling’s Murmurs Intro Episode

by Lora Starling | Sep 19, 2020 | PODCAST

podcast icon Logos are much more than identifying an organisation or a brand, and it is much more than a visual image. I believe that logos have an inherent value to them. There’s something that one can say …

Who wants to be a celebrity?

Who wants to be a celebrity?

by Lora Starling | Sep 14, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects, Logo truths

blog post icon Celebrity worship fascinates me. What makes us look outside ourselves for validation, fulfilment and inspiration?

The birth of a logo through intention

The birth of a logo through intention

by Lora Starling | Aug 20, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Before Covid, before the riots, before the incredibly immense upheaval of 2020, my super intuitive friend Jill, who created the Energy Institute, had a wonderful insight. When she shared this insight with me, it felt like a deep opportunity to prepare for who knew what. And now we do know.

The rainbow has done a full circle

The rainbow has done a full circle

by Lora Starling | May 5, 2020 | ARTICLE, Colour

blog post icon I love rainbows, they are one of the first things we as children learn to draw and they evoke happiness, well being, joy, a promise of gold and a safe future. My mother used to make me rainbow jellies for my …

Are you a ‘Good Girl’?

Are you a ‘Good Girl’?

by Lora Starling | Mar 8, 2020 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon I went to a breakfast event recently held in a luxury hotel in Melbourne by a women’s business support group. It was impressive, with delicious food including scones, jam and cream, banana bread …

« Older Entries
Next Entries »
Facebook shareTwitter shareLinkedin sharePinterest share

Related posts:

Are you a 'Good Girl'?

Brands know they have a spirit

Why designing an Olympic logo is so difficult (revisited)

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