Log

Exploring the Frontiers of Visual Identity Design as Envisioned by Science Fiction

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New Feature: RSS Feed

Announcements

02.21.2020

After a number of readers requested it, we've added an RSS feed for this Log, which announces new research entries and other happenings. You can find it in the sidebar of this page and at the following link:

https://speculativeidentities.com/log/log.rss


Available Now - Speculative Identities Shirts

Announcements

07.15.2019

You can now purchase Speculative Identities shirts through the shop at rogerstrunk.com, and let everyone know you've seen the future of visual identity design!

The design features our updated logo and tagline, “The Logos of the Future Are Here.” And comes available in men’s and women’s fits. Orders are fulfilled by Printful.


We’re Back

Announcements

06.26.2019

Hey, everyone.

Roger here.

I’ve got some good news! After a little over a year without updates, I’m going to be resuming my research and log entries on a regular basis here at Speculative Identities.

And that’s not all.

We’ve got a new logotype to pair with the Speculative Identities mark! You may have already noticed that here on the site. It will also live on merch and promotional items I’m working on. So if you want to spread the word and show your support for the work we’re doing, you’ll be finding Speculative Identities items in the shop on my personal website soon.

I’ve also created a Patreon creator account, with a tier devoted to Speculative Identities, where as a supporter you’ll get behind the scenes updates, mailings, discounts on whatever merch I make available, and an opportunity to join in conversations with me and other patrons around the research. You can learn more about that at the following link.

Visit Roger Strunk’s Patreon Creator Page

Beyond all the scifi logos I’d like to document, there’s more that I had planned for Speculative Identities, so it’s my hope that going forward I’ll be able to make this something that is sustainable over the long haul. If you’re able to help in any way, know that it is greatly appreciated by Rich and I. Having people spread the word about the site and knowing there’s an audience for what we do here is a big motivator, and with enough Patreon support I can afford to reserve more time for content creation, that I would normally have to devote to client work.

I’d also like to say thanks again to everyone that has contacted me with tips and support over the last year. Based on some of those messages, I definitely have a few updates to make to existing research, that I’ll be sure to note here in the Log.

Watch this space for more soon.


New Feature: Downloads

Announcements

01.09.2018

I'd like to note a new feature we've added to the Research section of the site today. At the bottom of each entry, in the footer where Sources are shared, you'll now see "Downloads" for some of the entries.

For example, in the Research entry for USCSS Nostromo, I've included hi-res pdf and image documents for the The Authorized Portfolio of Crew Insignias from The UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SPACESHIP NOSTROMO. This collector's item took some time for me to track down (and it wasn't cheap) so I'd like to make things like this more widely available for everyone, in addition to any other assets I come up with while working on an entry.

So be sure to check down there if you find the identity interesting.

Cheers!


The Research UI Explained

Announcements

10.24.2017

With only a few entries posted thus far, I thought some features of the main Research page might require a bit of explaining—namely, the control bar that appears above research entry cards (currently hidden in mobile views).

As you’ll note, there are options for sorting, filtering and search. And while the functions of the last two are likely apparent, the sorts are something you can’t really appreciate with just a few entries from a single source.

But thinking ahead to a time when our research here will contain a large number of identities catalogued from a variety of sources and science fiction scenarios, I thought it would be both interesting and useful to have the ability to place them in chronological order based on source date or scenario date. That way, it would be easier to comprehend how designs play out over time. From a science fiction perspective, to see them as imagined, from distant past to far future. Or from a design history perspective, based on when they were created for their stories, from present to past. And if a user prefers, a reversal of those timelines is also possible via the UI.

That said, it can sometimes be difficult to place an identity's science fiction scenario on a timeline with known accuracy. So expect a bit of fuzziness, regarding where exactly some entries land.

So that was the thinking and how I'd hoped it would work, once things are really up and running. If anything requires further explaining, and you'd like to see a more detailed explanation of the user interface, visit: Anatomy of the Main Research Page


With an Eye Aimed Towards the Future and Beyond

Announcements

10.24.2017

Well, it looks like we’re on our way.

Today’s launch of Speculative Identities reveals a project that has been months in the making, kicking off the first of several phases that I have planned for what will be an ongoing effort by myself, my Chief Engineer Rich, and whoever else I manage to drag into it.

The overall idea behind the project is one that I’ve been kicking around for a while now—to take my professional interests in visual identity design and my personal affinities for science fiction, and smash them together like some kind of particle experiment, to see what emerges and where it might take me as a designer.

The first phase, that I previously mentioned, is the establishment of an ongoing Research program to see what all can be learned from what's already out there. Of course, there's no fun in not having people along for the ride, so a large part of the appeal in doing the research is sharing the results as a public resource—to spark conversations, meet people, share information and perspectives, educate and inspire designers and science fiction storytellers, help record some design history that may have been slipping through the cracks, help someone with their cosplay, whatever. There's probably a zillion good reasons to put this stuff out there, in one place for people to easily find. And of course, I'll find it fun to do in my spare time.

And while there are currently no plans for commenting on the site, I hope people will engage with the Speculative Identities social media, and email me for direct communications.

So for starters, my aim is to assemble a comprehensive searchable and sortable survey of logos and other identifying marks that have appeared in science fiction—no small task, once you dig in and realize just how many marks are created for the genre, so this will be an ongoing effort. But not stopping there, I’m also going to do my best to analyze these marks and tease out whatever information I can about their design and meaning, their place in the context of their scenarios, as well as their context alongside other identity designs both real and imagined. And wherever possible, to credit the creators of these identities and share their stories.

These Research entries will vary in detail and scope, with some being limited to brief visual overviews. But wherever a given identity merits it, I’ll be doing some fairly long, in-depth write-ups too. For that reason, it is difficult to tell how frequent my posting will be. There could be one big entry in a month, or multiple small ones. I'll do my best to strike a good balance. I'll also note news and matters of interest here in the Log on a regular basis.

And I hope everyone will forgive my writing, as this will be my first serious foray into something like this… apologies in advance if my shortcomings in that department get in the way of whatever knowledge or insights I’m trying to convey. I am a designer and illustrator by trade though, so hopefully my arrangement of graphics and whatever drawings I do make up for all my poor words.

To avoid carrying on too much longer (thank you for making it this far), I’ll just point you to the Info page if you’d like to learn a little more about what I’ve got planned here long-term.

For now, it’s just myself, and my good friend Rich Bachman—a person without which this site would not be possible, as he was kind enough to entertain my crazy idea and help build this thing, and is also on board for seeing the site through to whatever lies ahead. I’d advise you to check out Rich’s other work, especially his photography. And if you have any comments or suggestions about the site’s experience, please feel free to shoot us an email, so we can take things into consideration as we continue to evolve it.

With all that said, the Research entries are going up all week for my first source, the 1990 film Total Recall, which had a surprising number of identities in it. So spread the word, and I hope you enjoy.

Thanks for visiting!

Roger Strunk
Speculative Identities