The New York Times is reporting on the backlash against the newly launched London Olympic design.

It was said to provoke epileptic seizures. Someone compared it to a broken swastika or “some sort of comical sex act between ‘The Simpsons.’”

It’s edgy, urban, the typography is a little strange, but I think it’s a logo that will grow on people.

Hm, something is oddly similar between the punk rock anti-corporate Minor Threat album art on the left, and a new poster from Nike, that major corporation, for their upcoming skateboarding tour shown on the right.

A representative from Dischord Records, the label that put out the Minor Threat record in 1981, says this when asked if Nike asked for permission:

No, they stole it and we’re not happy about it. Nike is a giant corporation which is attempting to manipulate the alternative skate culture to create an even wider demand for their already ubiquitous brand. Nike represents just about the antithesis of what Dischord stands for and it makes me sick to my stomach to think they are using this explicit imagery to fool kids into thinking that the general ethos of this label, and Minor Threat in particular, can somehow be linked to Nike’s mission. It’s disgusting.

At last week’s AIGA: GAIN conference, David Brancaccio mentioned a new design-based reality TV series. Taking Care of Business is scheduled to begin October 16th on The Learning Channel, where a team of designers make-over a struggling business with a new look, advertising, and more.

Taking Care of Business tackles small business troubles in a big way, and sends a team of gurus — equipped with fresh ideas and plenty of inspiration — to identify problems, turn things around and help businesses live up to their best potential, and let their owners realize their dreams. Together, the “dream team” examines all aspects, from location and product offering to marketing and customer service. They present concrete ideas to help businesses be their best.

The four designers according to this press release are:

Richard Laermer, a former journalist turned public relations guru whose specialty is building a buzz and creating hype; Laermer is CEO of RLM Public Relations and bestselling author of five books, including Full Frontal PR.

Christina Manca, a veteran retailer and designer whose sense for merchandising and penchant for creating eye-catching visuals helped drive sales at Macy’s and Victoria’s Secret among others.

Mitch Kates, a management maven, strategic consultant and principal at Kurt Salmon Associates in New York, who helped bring brand strategy techniques and discipline to many major U.S. and global corporations including Procter & Gamble, AT&T, Levi Strauss and Co. and Calvin Klein.

Mark Becker, whose “go with your gut” philosophy helped him make the company he founded, Max and Mina’s Ice Cream into a nationally distributed brand of exotic gourmet ice cream and a multimillion dollar ice cream empire.