Brainstorming Center For a Stateless Society Graphics
Center For a Stateless Society is definitely in need of graphics: at the very least, a logo and banner ads.
I was trying to think of appropriate designs today. I thought of images that emphasized the cooperative aspects of anarchism.
Early ideas involved a picture of Earth. A handshake or circle-A could be superimposed on it.
A lot of C4SS works talk about decentralized production technology and free resilient communities. Solar panels or windmills probably wouldn’t do it. I considered a lathe, that wouldn’t work well in a logo. A simpler tool, the adjustable wrench, seemed like a good one. It is adaptable to many scenarios and can be used for building or taking things apart. Then I remembered that
So then I actually looked up “tools” in Google Image search (seriously!) and found this:
What about a similar four-block image with one letter of “C4SS” superimposed over each square? With or without tools in each square?
Then I took a look at other think tank logos. It doesn’t look like it would be too difficult to best some of these.
So I went ahead and messed around in Photoshop.
Black for Anarchy, Sea Green as a pleasant libertarian color (the color of the Levellers)
They look good, but this logo looks like it belongs on a chemical tank, not a political study.
So I channeled the market for a new color:
I feel the same about this color scheme.
Try dropping adjectives and going gold and black?
Total chemical warning label.
Blue seems to be a think-tanky color. How about throwing blue in there?
I could deal with these.
But what about a banner?
Too dark.
This would look good cleaned up and with a picture of breaking chains added in the upper left region. I don’t feel like doing that right now.
I do like the color scheme of c4ss.org so it might be a good idea to design for that.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:34 pm
If c4ss had tools in the logo I’d love them even more.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:44 pm
What kind of tools do you suggest?
February 1st, 2010 at 10:02 pm
The claw hammer is a really good one. Multipurposed and everyone recognizes it. Saws, wrenches. Does C4SS have a “motto”?
February 1st, 2010 at 10:18 pm
How about a crossed claw hammer and feather pen to suggest building the new world and writing about the new world?
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:18 am
Sounds good to me.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:02 pm
1) tools will be historically associated with the Soviet Communist flag, which may or may not be a bad thing, but it will brand c4ss as trying to look socialist and anti-capitalist, and will invite Red-baiting.
2) tools come across as utilitarian and masculine, and “workerist” in the sense of prioritising economics above culture. They will alienate romantics and most women.
My personal preference might be a crosses rose and sheaf of wheat, to follow the old anarchist slogan ‘bread and roses’.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:39 pm
I’d definitely be careful to arrange things so they don’t look too Soviet.
I think the pen provides some reference to culture. And hammering things can be romantic.
But I’ll think about your suggestions more.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:56 am
Good point. It’s a shame that tools alienate women.
Anyway, I really like the bread suggestion, being a Kropotkin fan and all.
Also, I don’t think hammering things is that romantic. The hammer will also give you that Pink Floyd The Wall reference that you may not want.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:57 am
I was thinking in terms of building a new world DIY style – sounds romantic to me, but meh…
Crossed pen and wheat perhaps?
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:11 am
OK, so you make the crossed pen and wheat logo and I’ll spend my free time holding clinics to make women more comfortable with claw hammers. Several generations from now when feminine attitudes toward hammers change, C4SS can change the logo.