New Entry: Off-world
Research
08.04.2019
Research Entry 033 / Off-world
The Off-world colonies are corporate-owned space settlements on other planets, for which millions of people have abandoned their overpopulated and polluted homeworld, Earth.
As the airborne billboard ads say, “A new life awaits you in the Off-world colonies. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure.”
Run by the Shimago-Domínguez Corporation, the colonies are largely built, maintained and secured by genetically engineered Replicant slave laborers and soldiers. Meanwhile, the Off-world is marketed to Earth's remaining human inhabitants as a safe and prosperous alternative to life on a dying planet, where upon arrival, the corporation will gift the new colonist a Replicant slave of their own, to use as they see fit.
Source: Blade Runner
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New Entry: Voight-Kampff
Research
07.28.2019
Research Entry 032 / Voight-Kampff
The Voight-Kampff test, also referred to as the V-K, was an interrogation procedure used by special police officers known as Blade Runners, to determine if a suspect was human or Replicant. The test involved the use of a V-K machine, which measured involuntary empathic responses in the test subject — specific changes in respiration, blush response, heart rate and eye movement — as the Blade Runner posed prescribed scenarios and questions.
Source: Blade Runner
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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.
Updated Entry: Space
Research
07.10.2019
Research Entry 018 / Space
Thanks to a reader's email this week, I have new info and source material, with which I've revised the LEGO Space entry.
In my original entry, I had inaccurately attributed the design credit for the Space logo to LEGO designer Jens Nygaard Knudsen. In fact, it was another designer on his team that created the logo.
In an article that appeared in Brick Journal No.6, “The Truth About Space!,” Jens Nygaard Knudsen is quoted as saying, “The Space logo was made by Hjalmar Nielsen, his first version had a lot of stars around it too, and was beautiful, but this was considered too flashy so the stars were removed!”
That bit of info required an update to the credits, and the fact that there were originally stars around the logo merited a note in the Analysis: Design and Inspiration section as well. And since the Brick Journal article may not be easily discoverable online, I've added it as a PDF in the Downloads section of the entry's footer. It's really worth a full read to learn even more details about the Space theme's origins, and to see photos of some of the designs we almost got, that went back in the drawers at LEGO.
A big thanks to Francesco Spreafico for the help here!
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New Entry: Spinner
Research
07.10.2019
Research Entry 031 / Spinner
The Spinner is a two-seat wheeled vehicle that is not only capable of driving on streets, but also flying and hovering via vertical take-off and landing. Spinners are used extensively by the LAPD, taking over the separate present-day roles of police cars and helicopters.
Source: Blade Runner
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Updated Entry: Botco
Research
06.27.2019
Research Entry 006 / Botco
In one of my earlier research entries, from Total Recall (1990), the origins of the Botco logo had eluded me at the time of writing. With so little screen time, it wasn't one I spent much time on.
I learned that there was more to the story though, after reading the Typeset in the Future book recently. As it turns out, the logo and slogan had a previous life somewhere else.
Read the updated entry to learn more.
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 Entry: The Euhumanists
Research
05.08.2018
The Euhumanists are a highly advanced utopian society of humans that have grown beyond the confines of Earth, living amongst the stars in a massive spacefaring habitat.
The vessel contains an artificial biosphere, with its population separated into civilians and crew sections such as engineering, medical and security. Aboard the E.V. Soleri, an emergency disabled many of the ship’s systems, triggering a collapse of their habitat, after which the crew descended into a primitive tribal state divided by civil war and cannibalism.
Source: Habitat by Simon Roy
Tyrell Corp Cap
Noted
04.17.2018
Spotted on eBay: A listing for an original Tyrell Corp cap, made by The Thinking Cap Company in 1982. In the film Blade Runner, this logo appeared in only one scene, where it could be briefly viewed on Dr. Eldon Tyrell’s robe.
The advertisement and order form for this cap appeared in Starlog Magazine, where it could be purchased for in one of a variety of colors, for $8.95 plus shipping and handling.
Updated Entry: Pizza Hut
Research
04.11.2018
Additional Resources for the Pizza Hut entry have been updated with a link to this interview with Ed Eyth by The Design Sketchbook blog, that shares concept art for the 2015 Pizza Hut dehydrated pizza packaging.
New Entry: Adam 1
Research
04.09.2018
The Adam 1 Terran Resettlement Program was a failed attempt by Martian colonists to re-establish a human settlement on the planet Earth, after the homeworld's human inhabitants were wiped out.
Source: "Homeward Bound" by Simon Roy
Unused Concept for 2015 Jacket
Noted
02.19.2018
In this Back to the Future Part II concept art for Marty McFly's 2015 jacket, by John Bell, we see a redesigned Nike logo that was not used in the film. There is also a Sony logo, presumably relating to the speakers that were built into this version of the jacket.
Source: Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History