A New York Times reporter sits down with typography gurus, Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones to discuss some of the challenges facing graphic and web designers. Inconsistent rendering of typefaces due to different operating systems, web browsers and different user settings. View the Times article.

Three tips I have: 1– Reset your browser zoom setting, this at least renders the same sized type that the designer intended. 2– Upgrade to Firefox or Safari, any browser but Explorer. 3– Check to see that your monitor is set to it’s highest resolution setting. I’m always amazed to see how many people never bother to check this setting.

Design — Typeface Designers Wrestle With the World of Pixels — NYTimes.com.

MapWise software bring the power of visualization to the management of trademarks. By unlocking the data trapped in reports and spreadsheets and displaying it graphically, companies can now manage their trademark assets strategically. Merola Designed the Mapwise corporate identity and was then asked to design the website. Visit the Mapwise website.

The original manuscript revels that Dickens considered many others.

Original manuscript for Charles Dickens’s Christmas Carol.

Could you effectively describe yourself in seven words?
This challenge comes up every time Merola Design works with a new client. It’s not easy, but it is an essential step in building a strong brand and effective corporate Identity. The truth is you have more then seven words if you include your company’s name, tag-line and logo. Leveraging these elements and taking care to avoid redundancy, can help you more fully describe your companies unique value proposition.

A Closer Look at Charles Dickens’s ‘Christmas Carol’ — Interactive Graphic — NYTimes.com

New logo for Chico’s Soma brand

Soma Intimates new line of activeware features innovative and beautiful design detailing. The yoga inspired line received its own graphics and marketing materials. The design will be used for hang-tags, labels, zipper pulls and other on-garment branding.

Robert Merola designs logo for Building Better Leaders

Art Petty’s goal is to provide content-rich, real-world educational opportunities for professionals who want to take their careers to the next level. He offers personalized mentoring to program participants to help them realize their professional goals and to promote life-long learning and foster the value of leadership in organizations of any size. Visit the Building Better Leaders website.

Best of luck to Art and his new project.

Merola redesigns OneCoast logo

OneCoast is the largest and only national wholesale provider of gift, home, and collegiate products to retailers throughout the United States. They assist hundreds of leading vendors market and sell their products to over 60,000 independent retail stores, internet stores, interior designers, and retail chains.

Merola Design was hired to design Onecost’s new identity. Support materials such as Graphic standards, Market guide templates, letterhead, PowerPoint templates and Holiday cards were also created.

Visit the OneCoast website.

Robert Merola designs new logo for HomeStyle.

HomeStyle, will be spun off from OneCoast and merged with the regional sales agency, Ivystone Group.

The combined agency will operate two distinct brands: HomeStyle will emphasize home accents and lifestyle products, while the Ivystone Group will focus on the gift market. Together they will have more than 150 field sales representatives along with 20 key account representatives and will operate showrooms in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and Las Vegas.

Robert Merola was called in to re-brand HomeStyle and developed its identity.

Robert Merola creates new identity and brand strategy

Mapwise develops software that visually displays complex data into clear, concise and user friendly information. Mapwise for Trademarks applies this concept to the difficult job of trademark management and organization.

In addition to the new identity, Merola also designed the Mapwise website. Visit the Mapwise website.