Did the Volkswagen logo change?

The Volkswagen logo is one of the most memorable car logos around. Everyone knows what it looks like. And at first glance, it would seem the only changes in recent decades were to make the Volkswagen logo flat and to narrow the lines for a time.

It’s a simple and distinctive brand identity. Surely there’s nothing to argue about? So I thought, but it seems a furious debate is raging. Some people are adamant that at some point the Volkswagen logo changed in a way not seen on official design documents.

The design used today shows the V and W clearly separated by a space. But some people are convinced that a previous design used one single shape, with the V and the W joined in the middle.

Who designed the Volkswagen logo?

Volkswagen says its logo was designed by an engineer called Franz Reimspiess, who also worked on the engine for the Beetle. He’s said to have won a competition to design the identity and to have won 50 Marks for his efforts.

But an Austrian designer called Nikolai Borg claims that he designed the logo in June 1939, directed by the Nazi engineer Fritz Todt. His version of the logo had no gap between the V and the W, which has led to claims that Volkswagen added the gap to avoid paying Borg.

What was the original Volkswagen logo?

The most surprising part of the Volkswagen logo history is the original design. Today the phrase ‘Nazimobile’ is associated with a certain low-poly electric pick up (check out the viral anti-Tesla posters), but the OG was the humble Beetle.

The original Volkswagen logo was surrounded by a cogwheel and an elaborate design that appears to combine a propeller and a swastika, an indication of the company’s early connections the Third Reich.

Implementation of the gap

It appears that this was never an official or intentional design decision, though. Even vintage Volkswagen logo design specs show a space between the two letters.

Some of the no-gap logos may have been made by third parties. It may also be that manufacturing plants in some countries decided it was easier to make the badge out of a single piece of chrome. And perhaps at certain times there was less insistence on sticking to the style guide than there is today.

Residue

The answer? Even a quick search on a stock photo library suggests that the VW logo has indeed sometimes appeared without a gap on some vehicles in some countries at various times through the brand’s history.

Some people have even tracked down appearances by Volkswagens in movies to prove that the conjoined logo design existed.

It appears that this was never an official or intentional design decision, though. Even vintage Volkswagen logo design specs show a space between the two letters.

Conclusion

The debate over the Volkswagen logo may never be fully settled. Some people will continue to insist that they remember the logo being different, while others will point to the official design specs and argue that the gap has always been there.

Regardless, the Volkswagen logo has become an iconic symbol of the brand, and its evolution is a fascinating story that reveals the company’s history and design decisions.

FAQs

Q: Who designed the Volkswagen logo?

A: Volkswagen claims that the logo was designed by Franz Reimspiess, but an Austrian designer named Nikolai Borg also claims to have designed the logo.

Q: What was the original Volkswagen logo?

A: The original Volkswagen logo featured a cogwheel and an elaborate design that appears to combine a propeller and a swastika, an indication of the company’s early connections the Third Reich.

Q: Why did Volkswagen add the gap between the V and the W?

A: It’s unclear why Volkswagen added the gap between the V and the W, but it may have been a design decision made by the company or a manufacturing plant in a particular country.

AI-Toolkit Web UI: A Powerful Interface for Training LoRA

The AI-Toolkit is a powerful interface for training your own LoRA, providing a lot of flexibility and advanced functionality. In this post, we will explore the new web-based UI of AI-Toolkit on Runpod, which offers a clean and easy-to-use interface for training LoRA.

AI-Toolkit Resource

The AI-Toolkit is available on the Github page and is frequently updated by the author, Ostris. The toolkit allows you to train LoRA for any model, but the UI supports Flux 1.0, Flex, Wan2.1 T2V 1.3b, Wan2.1 T2V 14b, and Lumina Image.

Install AI-Toolkit on RunPod

To install AI-Toolkit on RunPod, follow these steps:

1. Login to your Runpod account and create a new Pod with RunPod Pytorch 2.4.0 and a 24GB VRAM GPU (3090 or 4090) as a minimum.
2. Setup your Pod with:
   • Container Disk at 100GB
   • Volume Disk at 30GB (or more if you are training larger LoRAs)
   • Expose HTTP 8675 (8888 is default for Jupyter Lab) by adding it with a comma to separate the two ports

Launch AI-Toolkit UI

To launch the AI-Toolkit UI, follow these steps:

1. Open a new Terminal window and change directory to /workspace/ai-toolkit/ui.
2. Run the command npm run build_and_start.

Training your LoRA on AI-Toolkit UI

To train your LoRA on AI-Toolkit UI, follow these steps:

1. Create a Dataset by uploading images with their captions.
2. Create a Training Job by setting up your preferences, including the choice of trigger word, steps of training, and captions for generating samples.

Conclusion

In this post, we have explored the new web-based UI of AI-Toolkit on Runpod, which offers a clean and easy-to-use interface for training LoRA. We have also covered the steps to install AI-Toolkit on RunPod and launch the UI. With this tutorial, you should be able to start training your own LoRA using the AI-Toolkit UI.

FAQs

Q: What is AI-Toolkit?
A: AI-Toolkit is a powerful interface for training your own LoRA, providing a lot of flexibility and advanced functionality.

Q: What models does AI-Toolkit support?
A: AI-Toolkit supports Flux 1.0, Flex, Wan2.1 T2V 1.3b, Wan2.1 T2V 14b, and Lumina Image.

Q: How do I install AI-Toolkit on RunPod?
A: To install AI-Toolkit on RunPod, follow the steps outlined in this post.

Q: How do I launch the AI-Toolkit UI?
A: To launch the AI-Toolkit UI, follow the steps outlined in this post.

Q: What are the requirements for training LoRA using AI-Toolkit UI?
A: The requirements for training LoRA using AI-Toolkit UI include a 24GB VRAM GPU (3090 or 4090) and a Pod with RunPod Pytorch 2.4.0.

Fast food chain Popeyes is known for its legendary Louisiana-style chicken that’s hard to resist. Playing on the mouthwatering allure of its food, the brand has launched an ingenious new campaign that subtly invites fans to give in to temptation.

The ‘Hard to Say No’ Campaign

The best adverts often subvert our expectations, using clever imagery to create iconic campaigns that stand the test of time. Popeyes’ latest ads are no different, proving that subtle yet ingenious advertising can have a big impact, leaving consumers hungry for more.

The Genius of the Campaign

On the surface, the ‘Hard to Say No’ campaign appears fairly unassuming, with candid food shots and hungry hands reaching for a bite, but one crucial detail is missing – the Popeyes logo. (Well, the complete logo at least). While it seems the campaign commits the cardinal sin of advertising, it’s actually an ingenious subversion, replacing the Popeyes name with the simple word ‘yes’ – a subliminal invitation to indulge.

A Trend in Advertising

Brands ditching their logos in ads has been a trend in the past few months, leveraging fan recognition to create subversive campaigns. While it might seem odd to remove the key element of your brand, the technique has seen great success with competitors like McDonald’s and Kellogg’s, proving that iconic brands shouldn’t be afraid to bend the rules.

(Image credit: Popeyes/Change)

Conclusion

Popeyes’ latest campaign is a subtle yet brilliant example of minimalist branding with an ingenious twist. By removing the logo and replacing it with the word ‘yes’, the brand is inviting fans to indulge in their delicious food without explicitly promoting the brand. This campaign is a great example of how brands can think outside the box and create memorable and effective ads.

FAQs

Q: What is the ‘Hard to Say No’ campaign?
A: The ‘Hard to Say No’ campaign is a marketing campaign by Popeyes that features candid food shots and hungry hands reaching for a bite, with the brand’s logo missing.

Q: Why did Popeyes remove its logo from the campaign?
A: Popeyes removed its logo from the campaign to create a subversive and memorable ad that would grab the attention of consumers.

Q: Has this campaign been successful?
A: Yes, the campaign has been successful in creating a buzz around Popeyes and its delicious food.

Q: Is this a new trend in advertising?
A: Yes, ditching logos in ads has been a trend in the past few months, with many brands leveraging fan recognition to create subversive campaigns.

Fighting Back Against Gen AI

The first thing is that the lawsuits have stuck around, despite AI companies’ protestations that they should be thrown out. Many legal cases are ongoing, and the outcome of these will determine what material can be used to train AI models, and under what conditions.

Current Lawsuits

Most of the cases allege that use of a plaintiff’s material without their consent constitutes copyright infringement. The AI companies argue that their actions fall within the “fair use” exception to the law.

Progress in the US and Europe

In the US, a group of artists has filed a lawsuit against several companies for their use of Stable Diffusion. In the UK, one notable case is Getty Images v Stability AI.

Lobbying and EU Regulations

The European Guild for Artificial Intelligence Regulation (EGAIR) has been instrumental in achieving victories, including the approval of the EU’s AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive law relating to AI.

EU AI Act Requirements

The Act requires AI companies to:

• label AI-generated content as such
• provide a publicly available summary of the data used to train models

Progress and Challenges

Francesco Archidiacono, founder of EGAIR, reflects on the progress made over the last two years:

He notes that:

• Politicians and institutions are now more informed about the issues
• The EU AI Act explicitly states that any use of copyrighted content to train an AI model must be authorized by the rights holder
• Some AI companies are scared of complying with the European Union’s transparency requirements

Informing the Public and the Art Community

Francesco Archidiacono emphasizes the importance of keeping the public and the art community informed about the issues surrounding AI:

Challenges and Opportunities

Francesco notes that:

1. There is still a lack of awareness about the issues among the public and the art community
2. There is a need for better education and resources to inform people about their rights and the impact of AI on the creative community
3. There is a growing sense of distaste for AI-generated material, which is increasing the value of human-made work

Conclusion

The fight against unethical AI is ongoing, with lawsuits, lobbying, and education efforts underway. While there have been significant progress made, there is still much work to be done to ensure that artists’ rights are protected and that AI is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.

FAQs

Q: What are the key issues surrounding AI and artistic rights?

A: The key issues include copyright infringement, lack of consent, and the use of AI-generated content without proper attribution.

Q: What is the EU AI Act?

A: The EU AI Act is the world’s first comprehensive law relating to AI, requiring companies to obtain consent from rights holders, label AI-generated content, and provide a publicly available summary of the data used to train models.

Q: What can artists do to protect their rights?

A: Artists can opt out of AI training, inform themselves about their rights, and call out companies and individuals who use unethical generative AI.

Q: What is the role of organizations like EGAIR?

A: Organizations like EGAIR lobby governments and lawmakers to advocate for the rights of creators and push for regulations that protect artistic rights in the era of AI.

Q: What is the impact of AI on the creative community?

A: AI has the potential to both harm and benefit the creative community, depending on how it is used. While it can facilitate creativity and productivity, it can also lead to copyright infringement and the devaluation of human-made work.

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1. Wonder Woman

Though Wonder Woman made her debut in 1941, it wasn’t until the early 1980s that legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser (who had also designed the DC comics logo) was tasked with refreshing her identity, and gave her this instantly iconic logo. Previous logos for the character had all used the golden eagle that Wonder Woman wore as an emblem – while there was nothing especially wrong with the designs, no-one would associate them with Wonder Woman if they didn’t already know that she wore an eagle. Glaser’s genius was to deftly take the eagle motif and combine it with the character’s initials, creating an instantly iconic double-W.

When rendered in gold as it often is, this logo also takes on the appearance of a golden crown – a nod to Wonder Woman’s noble origins as Amazonian royalty. Combining so many meanings into a single, instantly identifiable emblem is a spectacular feat of design, and it’s not surprising that this logo has remained so strongly associated with the character for more than forty years. When Gal Gadot’s version of the character was introduced into the DC Cinematic Universe, it was with this logo. You don’t mess with perfection.

2. Spider-man

There have been many, many iterations of your friendly neighbourhood webslinger’s logo over his many decades of existence. Unsurprisingly, the central motif has always been a spider, but as you can see in this useful infographic by designer Ricky Franklin, there’s been a huge amount of variance in the shape, style and body of the spider itself.

For my money, the best versions of the logo are the ones from the Sam Raimi films starring Tobey Maguire, first for Spider-Man (2002) and then the slight rejig for Spider-Man 2 (2004), featured above. The design is elegant and unfussy, with the distinctive body shape of the spider rendered using simple shapes. The length of the legs implies agility, while the sharp points, pincers and subtle stings in the tail convey a sense of danger.

3. Batman

It’s effective thanks to its simplicity, with the red-and-black colour scheme mirroring the colours of Deadpool’s costume, and the white eyes staring straight at the viewer, evoking Deadpool’s well-known habit of breaking the fourth wall. In a similarly meta touch that the merc with the mouth would appreciate, this icon actually originated as part of Deadpool’s costume – it was originally on his belt buckle.

4. Deadpool

It’s red, white and blue, it’s stars and stripes, and if you’re a bad guy, it’s flying directly towards your face and hitting you with sounds like WHAP and PANG and WANK.

5. Captain America

You don’t name your character ‘Captain America’ because you’re terribly worried about subtlety or nuance. The circular stars ‘n’ stripes shield, which also doubles up as the character’s immediately identifiable logo, isn’t one of those ones where there are all these tiny hidden details and easily missable clever touches. It’s red, white and blue, it’s stars and stripes, and if you’re a bad guy, it’s flying directly towards your face and hitting you with sounds like WHAP and PANG and WANK.

In his first outing in 1941, Cap originally sported a triangular-style shield, though complaints from the people at Archie Comics regarding its similarity to their similarly patriotic ‘Shield’ character (look, there was a war on) led to a hasty rejig. From issue #2 onwards, Captain America wielded the disc-shaped shield that would become the character’s most distinctive piece of iconography.

6. Green Lantern

As we’ve seen, superhero logos tend to trade in similar colour schemes – reds, blacks, yellows, the odd bit of blue. Green Lantern’s logo immediately sticks out by being, well, green, but also by being somewhat more abstract than some of the others – it doesn’t immediately clue you in the way a big picture of a bat does.

This symbol carries multiple meanings that are important to the character, simultaneously representing both the eponymous lantern that is the symbol of the Lantern Corps, and the ring that Hal Jordan and his contemporaries use to exert their powers.

7. The Avengers

Finally we have the iconic ‘A’ from the most famous superhero team-up of modern times, the Avengers. The circle that encases the letter suggests themes of unity, while the thick, blocky lines project strength.

There’s also a right-pointing arrow contained within the A, suggesting forward momentum and a call to action. You might have assumed that this was a bit of a rip-off of the famous Fedex logo with its concealed right-pointing arrow, but remarkably it appears that the Avengers got there first, with their arrow appearing on comic-book covers as early as 1971, more than two decades before Fedex.

Conclusion

When it comes to superhero logos, the best ones are those that are simple, stylish and convey the essentials of the character. They should be instantly recognisable, and evoke the right emotions in the viewer. Whether it’s a classic design like Wonder Woman’s or a more modern take like Deadpool’s, a great logo can make all the difference in a character’s appeal.

FAQs

Q: What makes a great superhero logo?
A: A great superhero logo is one that is simple, stylish and conveys the essentials of the character. It should be instantly recognisable and evoke the right emotions in the viewer.

Q: What is the most iconic superhero logo?
A: The most iconic superhero logo is probably Wonder Woman’s logo, designed by Milton Glaser in the early 1980s.

Q: What is the significance of the right-pointing arrow in the Avengers logo?
A: The right-pointing arrow in the Avengers logo suggests forward momentum and a call to action. It also appears to have been designed before the famous Fedex logo with its concealed right-pointing arrow.