Visual stimulation

Although I’ve rightfully been labeled as someone who is all about buildings and downtowns another obsession of mine would be print design, especially typeface.

Every Sabres season opener gets me excited not only for the hockey but for the new ads on the boards at the arena and the design theme for the season tickets and other printed objects.

This year’s ticket design is a clever, early 1900’s theme. Questionable since the team has only been around since 1970 but appropriate if you look at the Sabres being as ingrained in the city’s culture as the Larkin Company, early 20th century architecture, and our obsession with longing for the past.

And on the boards at the arena are two new logos that stand out for having very minimalist, type-based logos. Neo-modern practically.

Northtown Automotive changed their logo last year and went completely against the Buffalo car dealership design vernacular…very much appreciated.

Greatbatch got a snazzy new headquarters in Clarence and a fantastic logo to boot this year.

These fonts are new to the corporate culture in the region seemingly within the last few years after becoming fairly mainstream in larger cities during the same span of time but its good to see them in prominent view finally.