I've been playing with this for a long time. I think I'm close to where I want to go with it, but I'd like some input. My old logo is an artists pallette with a banner, artists brushes, pencil, pen and chisels on it. I'd like to redo it to reflect my interests in gilding and higher end signage. Here is what I've come up with so far, but I've messed with it so much that I am loosing objectivity. All comments and critisism welcome as well as any redesigns. I'm not through with the pallette yet, but I'm not sure where to go with it - suggestions?
[ March 14, 2004, 11:16 PM: Message edited by: Kelly Thorson ]
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Harder than a church sign isn't it, Kelly! My experience has been that you'll always think of something better right after you get them printed, so don't worry about that, it will happen regardless. But you still want it as good as possible anyhow.
I like the walnut woodgrain type background. Email address- don't know how critical this is- I've gone to only putting the url www.etc there and anyone with a computer can go there and be directed to a contactus email link, and in the meantime you have a chance to let your website be a sales tool, hopefully they'll become sidetracked and browse a bit first. I'd possible put the URL and your address and phone all along the bottom, (not quite as bold, but in a sans serif font) saving the mid right hand side for the slogan? Don't know? Name- if you're going for a high-end impression, perhaps some nice chiselled bevel edge, an outline and a drop shadow (eg in photoshop) to make your name look REALLY special. I think it ought to be a bit bolder than it is. Maybe add some goldy-yellow for emphasis. I think it'd look good with the tail of the K curling around one of the brushes.
I'd better get back to work it's Monday afternoon. Best wishes
[ March 14, 2004, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
Better - or not?
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Second version is good...BUT...you need more contrast ...text is hard to read.
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
Cursed I double posted....read the one down below heeeherheeeher....
[ March 15, 2004, 02:20 AM: Message edited by: Rick Chavez ]
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
This is coming from a graphic designers standpoint so it may mean squat here-but the name of your business lack an identity, just type with a drop shadow-not much of a logo, yes there is logotype, but the stroke it so thin that it lack punch, on the artist pallete it looks way too computerized I would get that in Photoshop and try to make it more realistic. On the layout your name, and what you do are not exactly centered-either mechanically or visually, and the website address and your physical address, they look awkward...especially the physical address, mabe flush left will work better, I agree with Si-more contrast, and the backround is too busy. Well I hope I'm not too harsh but thats how we do it in our neck of the woods....
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Your palette and the card's background are definately winning for the eye's attention on this card. Up the volume on your name. The palette seems to look abit unfinished to me, ... like it needs some initials embossed in it or something. Also, the palette and your name are too detached from each other. I would like to see you mingle them abit more somehow, so they flow together better as a more unified logo.
I really like the warm richness the card conveys with the colours you chose, and I like the embellishments and sheens on your palette. Beautiful background, I just think it's shouting too loudly over your name right now.
Janette
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Kelly...Something I noticed is that you don't have your actual name on the card.
The only reason I noticed is because I forgot to put my name on mine and didn't even notice it till after they were printed. my name is part of my e-mail though so most can figure that out.
Just curious, did you omit your name on purpose?
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Kelly, I really like the second design. Like Nettie sez, tighten up yer elements. My only concern is the tone-on-tone aspect. Nothing really "jumps out" at me. To quote my pal John Jordan, watch out or "you'll end up with a bloody puddle a mud" ! (he always says that to me) But you are definately on the right track. Any one of my clients would be impressed if I handed them someting like this. I buy my cards from Creative Images...$14.99/250 cards, and I change them as often as I change moods. Love...JILL
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Kelly,
I like the second design. I think I'd do a couple of things that would make it a little easier to read. Lessening the intensity of the backround just a little would give it a pastel feel would push it back and bring up the text. A duotone image might work well. Yellow text would give also give more contrast and pull it in from of the backound.
I really like the palette! Classy. Rapid
[ March 15, 2004, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: Ray Rheaume ]
Posted by Robert Thomas (Member # 1356) on :
I like the second one more. The lettering that is sivler or gray could have a black outine maybe.
How about embossed gold instead?
The brushes are a little thin, scan a real brush to get a sense of scale. I have brushes in my design, I used a quill, a flat and a liner.
Keep playing, I think you are going in the right direction for a high-end look.
I would like to see Fine Sign & Design larger than Creating Lasting Impressions. I will e-mail my logo so you can see it. Mainly for the brush size & proportions. Cheers
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Aint nutin' worse than getting 1000 cards printed and having to change the email address. And it happens a lot.
Aint nutin more aggrevating than trying to read a phone number from a card with small type let alone a non contrasting background. Just ask the phone companies how much their attempts to reduce the type size cost them. They will never recover from the inroads the competition made into the yellow page books. (the phone companies made lots of costly mistakes copied by the general puublic)
You could reduce the background to about 20% opacity. It would be there but subtle to allow for more contrast.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
I haven't followed the above comments, but came up with this- it's not quite what I started out to achieve, but may have some elements worth pursuing ?
Best wishes
PS like the pun on the 'impressions'?
[ March 16, 2004, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Hi Kelly, I may have gotten carried away with this - Trying to show different weights and balances between type and panels. Might give you some ideas.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Hey, that's exactly what I had in mind Joe, but this half of the world's in dreamland and the brain's a bit slow, and I got sidetracked! NICE & appropriate.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
How about doing some hand lettering for the business name and having it a tad weightier than the type. There was so much similarity in line value that I felt conflict in where my eye found highest priority. Get it to work in black and white, then add the color.
I sure like the direction Joe brought it.
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
You guys are so awsome! Thanks for all the input. As I stated in my first post I knew I wasn't finished with the pallette, but I didn't know where to go with it. I was working with using a monogram in there, but couldn't get it where I was happy with it. Ian I think you may have solved that for me with the engraved look for the tag line. Joe I absolutely love what you did! One thing that has always bugged me is my name - seemed cutesy 15 years ago, and I'm too established now to change it, but the idea of using lower case for the t&g has never occured to me. So if you could change the spelling of grafix and send me your bill - LOL. As far as the name goes, I'm not adverse to having it on the front, but the back will be imprinted with black and white, so I just thought I'd put it on there. I inadvertantly omitted it on my first card too Dave Bac k to the drawing board, stay tuned for version 10 Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Kelly,
I'm in total agreement with Rick C.....and I like your second attempt better...but like Joe Reese's even more.
The first one had too many type faces, the address too bold, and the main "name" was too light and non-descript....you're heading in the right direction. In MHO. You've got some good starting concepts though...you go girl! (can a guy say that?!)
Have a great day.
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Hi Kelly, I think these are going to be very nice and impressive new business cards. I love what John Reese did to it, especially the outline holds everything together nicely. On your first designs, I didn't think the font for Kel-T-Grafix was the right one, too light somehow.
OK How about this version? I tried to work with developing a more individual style for my name, tweaked a font to customize it. There is still some refining to do with the pallette and the monogram on it, but I think it is a vast improvement over my original. Go at it guys - I'm learning lots. Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I think it is improving steadly Kelly. I like Joe's alot, & I like the treatment you have done with the border/frame & the shadow of the pallette. I like the font you used in your business name, but the merging of the "g" & the ampersand doesn't work for me.
I also think you still have a bit of a "distance-viewing" mindset in the size of your type. I would like to see your copy at the bottom centered with the business name copy block & it could be smaller to allow that without crowding the logo. I think the website line could be shorter then the phone number. Also I wouldn't change the font in the address/ph. #, I'd match your name & website, but keep the name bold.
I like the size & placement of the palette, but I would shorten the brushes... they all end to close to the corner of the border IMO, almost touching, or hardly crossing out... I'd just pull them back entirely, the overlap at the bottom is enough.
If you just handed me the card, I'm sure I would compliment how nice it looks & never think any different, but the suggestions are coming up, just because you want them
[ March 16, 2004, 01:50 AM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Some things better, some still not flowing. It's a little jumbled.
Some ideas - combine the web address on the bottom line, with 'creating lasting impressions'. That will free up important space and focus for your main panel. Right now the name group and the address group relate more to the borders than they do to each other. Another way to minimize that could be to put "Fine Sign & Design" over top of "Kel -t-grafix" - putting your boldest element just above center of the panel.
Also, I liked your pallette facing the other direction. The brushes here lead the eye off to the left or down to the bottom instead of in toward your message. Hope this makes sense.
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Kelly this is much better. Pull your name down and move the other stuff up a little. Get you lettering away from the borders. You want your information to relate to each other and not to the edges. I would lose the tassel over the G in the pallet initial and shift those letters in a little closer to the brushes so that the angle of the text and brush are parallel and consistent with the rhythm.
Its getting there!
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Okay I had ten minutes free. This is the direction I would take your existing concept. Food for thought.
Posted by Darrell Giese (Member # 768) on :
Kelly, Having just went thru this same dilemma I think you need a clean sheet of paper. What you are working with is good (and you have got some great input on it) but it is nowhere near the quality of the stuff you have on your site. If you are going to do full color cards kick them in the teeth an show your work.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
(he always says that to me) 
?
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
So if you could change the spelling of grafix and send me your bill - LOL.![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
