Friday, June 7, 2013

Awarding Excellence in Design

Melissa Archer, an Art Direction student at Texas A&M University-Commerce took a design course where she was assigned to invent a new packaging system for nails.  She developed Handy Nails, and in order to complete the design she went looking for the logo of a company that could have released the product.  She chose the Apex Fasteners logo and modified it a bit to suit her design aesthetic.


She thought it was a excellent design and entered it into the Adobe Design Achievement Awards.  Well the judges agreed and she's now a semi-finalist.  Being a semi-finalist and since it might go to publication she rightfully sought out permission to use the Apex Fasteners logo.  I thought her work was excellent and her product design was interesting as well.  I gave her permission and asked that she send me the new logo.


In 2002 when I designed the logo I was into rock climbing and sailing and I think that influenced the graphic portion of our traditional logo which is shown below.  I used the graphic to underline and point to the company name and it had just enough offsetting weight to create an impression.  I thought so in any case though I wasn't a graphic designer.
I was pleased that Melissa was interested in our logo as it was personal to me and quite complimentary.  Melissa's logo incorporated the design in a new way; she took it vertical and square, flipping the mountain for balance.

One of the challenges I've faced over the years is that our logo is rectangular and much of the new media demands a square logo.  I sent Melissa the original files and she created a new look for Apex Fasteners!

I'm sure you'd like to see more of what Melissa has done as she has quite a promising career ahead of her. I wish her the best of luck in the Adobe Design Achievement Awards.

If you have some design work that you'd like to have produced please contact Melissa here:
Melissa Archer's Profile Image

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

My friend Don Lynn passed away this weekend after a nine year bout with cancer. He was the CEO of Lyn-Tron a business his father started in 1956. He became my friend when I was new to the fastener business and remained a friend, council, and was my first vendor when I started Apex Fasteners though we had done business together for years previously. He always had time and advice and we shared the discipline of business together. His is a legacy of kindness, understanding, and stewardship. I'm grateful that I had his friendship and I endeavor to be that kind of man.