From 1983 Present, Studio Fusentast, and Vladimir Shlygin

A combination of ornate, simple, and slightly weird make up this week's Friday Likes with work from Shenzhen, Oslo, and Moscow.

The Happy 8 by 1983 Present

The Happy 8 is a small chain of three small retreats and hotels in Malaysia. The identity by Shenzhen, China-based 1983 Present is not a complete runaway hit and even the logo, which is what I am focusing on for this particular Like, isn't perfect, starting with the typography. It's almost great: the word "Ei8ht" looks groovy and mystical but the same typeface used small and extra tracked in "The Happy" doesn't make me happy. However, the double-circle "8" shape with a solid color in the bottom and an ornate, gold illustration in the top is absolutely stunning and makes me happy eight times over. The layered feel and the vibrancy achieved against the bright colors is quite unique. See full project.

Upstage by Studio Fusentast

As demonstrated yesterday by the Denner post, not all sans-serifs-in-a-red-rectangle are created or praised equal (spoiler: it wasn't well received). Here I think we have a good one, people! Designed by Oslo, Norway-based Studio Fusentast the logo for Upstage, a production company specializing in the backstage details of large events, is an unassuming, airy sans serif inside a generously padded rectangle. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. In physical applications, though, the logo serves as a clever and playful device to highlight the importance of looking at what's going on behind the scenes by showing only the arrow that points you to the back. No groupies allowed. See full project.

Neurotrend by Vladimir Shlygin

This is probably one of the least wow-inducing overall identities posted in Friday Likes — the wordmark alone is cause for major concern — but, like Upstage above, the physical application turns it into something worth pointing out this Friday. Located in Moscow, Neurotrend is a research center using neurological data and biometric data for advertising and marketing purposes so that clients can see what customers feel and how their brain reacts to the latest hashtag. A little Clockwork Orange-ish for my taste but let's carry on. Local designer Vladimir Shlygin used the way some medical gear visualizes data in the form of bended lines to create a well-formed visual language for Neurotrend but what takes the prize are the opportunities to reveal those bumps in the lines through embossing printed materials, creating that subtle bump in the lines to reveal specific forms. A very elegant solution. See full project.