Failure Report: We're losers!

Feb 4

From time-to-time design competitions pop up and while we don't jump on all of them, it is fun to throw our hat in the ring when the mood strikes us. And more often than not--ok, pretty much always--we don't win. But as that most upbeat of Irish playwrights, Samuel Beckett, famously said:

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.

At Treebird, we're all about "failing better." Below are some design competitions we entered in the past several months and lost. Some, rightfully so (anyone see the butts on the Morelli's logo we did? Didn't notice that until today), others... well, we can't help but think ours would have been a better choice. But either way, it's a fun and useful exercise to go through.

Inman Park Festival, 2014

City of Macon Seal

Morelli's Ice Cream

**Winner:** Unknown, This is the last we saw from the Morelli's Logo Competition.

**Loser:** Treebird Branding (we told you about the butts)

Kate Spade Strand tote bag

**Also the Winner:** Treebird Branding! Well sort of. We didn't win the contest, but they liked the design so much it's going to show up on a tote bag at The Strand this spring!

Failure is only fun when you find the lesson in your shortcomings and gain a new insight. For us, we realize design competitions just aren't our bag. Too often--or perhaps always--they rely upon arbitrary aesthetic decisions made by strangers we've never met or spoken to.

Instead, we like to work directly with our clients, meeting face-to-face, making live edits, perfecting our work toward a shared goal, and coming up with a solution that the client loves, and doesn't just settle on because they are locked into some artificial competition. So while we'll probably keep submitting here and there for the pure adrenaline rush, competitions aren't something we place much stock in. And we'll be sure to post our losing work, unintended butts and all, for you to enjoy along with us.

TreebirddesigncompetitionInman Park FestivalCity of MaconMorelli's Ice CreamKate SpadeThe StrandWinnerLoserFailure Report

Jaci Lund

Jaci Lund partner, creative director, designer Jaci’s quick wit and native intelligence comes across as soon as you meet her—and carries over to her design, where she fuses fun and sophistication in just the right doses. With a dual focus on creating original branding for new concepts and revitalizing the look and feel of even the most-established brands, Jaci approaches each project with a fresh and thoughtful perspective. While she recognizes the relevance of current trends, she’s hyper-conscious of the fine line that separates “trend” from “fad,” and tends toward more timeless and classic looks for her clients. Before founding Treebird, Jaci was instrumental in growing the design department at Atlanta’s The Reynolds Group, Inc. Through a five-year tenure that saw her quickly ascend to senior designer and then become the company’s first creative director, Jaci worked on design and branding projects with visionaries, entrepreneurs, and business leaders whom she admires greatly and whose own passion elevates her sense of what’s possible through new design, branding, and communication. Jaci has won nine ADDY Awards (and counting) for her design and branding work and has twice been featured in the national design blog “Art of the Menu.” She holds a B.A. in communications from Michigan State University and completed the graphic design program at The Creative Circus, where she also teaches a quarterly course called “Introduction to Creative Thinking.” To see Jaci's previous work please visit jacilund.com.

treebirdbranding.com