HP corners the cookie-cutter design markets, rolls out TV ads for Logoworks.

There were many who weren't pleased when Paula Scher will design your letterhead for free via HP. (as we we noted here) as it cheapens the design industry. But HP has a plan, it seems. They want to corner the market of cookie-cutter design, which is probably why they bought the rip-off artists LogoWorks for umpteenmillion dollars (sum not verified).

“Today’s small businesses are increasingly turning to the web for marketing tools and services that strike a balance between affordability and quality,” said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “By adding LogoWorks’ web-based graphic design service to our portfolio, HP can now provide the right mix of cost savings, flexibility and professional quality to help make a small business look big.”

Yeah, LogoWorks should know a thing or two about cost saving, as they were previously Badlanded here for basically tracing the majority of the logos they sold - that sort of thing tends to tick designers off even more. Steve Douglas said here at Katzidesign.com "Imagine how honored I feel - a logo that my company developed for our clients being sold as a template logo by LogoWorks for $99."
It gets better - or worse - HP are currently airing a 60 sec commercial touting the greatness that is their logoworks. I'm not sure if a copy of a world famous logo makes my small business look big, or if just makes it look like I got big brass balls. Is that a good thing? Does HP really want to go there?

Back in 2006 Logoworks saw their local billboard defaced by a vandal who was armed with the perfect blue matching paint who changed the headline from "Your logo stinks" to "Your log stinks".

The ad was not easy to vandalize, according to Logoworks. It is located in a secured parking lot with 24 hour security and surveillance (see the security camera on the lower right side?). The vandals also had to climb a 30-foot ladder while holding paint and another ladder so they could reach the lettering, which is about 10 or so feet further up. And they had to do all this at night, because they billboard sits right next to SLC’s main freeway. These were some determined pranksters. You can see from the photos the paint even matches.

Sounds easy enough to me, who reckons Logoworks vandalized it themselves to get a little more attention.

For more on the logoworks rip-off scandals back then you can follow the links at Katzidesign.com who kept track of most of the postings.

The TV commercial for Logoworks

A short visual reminder of what all that hubub was about (if the Xerox thing didn't do it for you).