posted
I know there has been a lot of these posts on here lately, but I will add another. Here is my logo, it has went thru many revisions, It is starting to be recognized in my area so I will probably keep using it, however is there anything I could do to give it some more umph.
posted
Phone number smaller & tighter to the name, and no need for the black drop shadow...why highlight a phone number? The "S" needs to be bigger, it reads like Sun igns to me. The whole name could be bigger. No black outline around the sun, and maybe nudge that name over and up a bit more. Make the green swooshy thing smaller, and either put a period at the end of your by-line or make that capital "A" the same size as the other caps in the script. Not keen on the brown or the choice of script, but hey that's just me and you did ask. love....Jill edited to add a quick mock-up.
[ June 27, 2006, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Jill Marie Welsh ]
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
I've not much else to add that Jill hasn't already said. Your idea is good Blake, It just needs tightening up.
I don't mind the brown and teal/green so much. I'd be careful putting a black shadow on the brown though, as both colours are dark and at distance I think you are going to lose readability.
-------------------- Jon Androsky Posts: 438 | From: Williamsport, PA | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I like that Todd. Definately "Outside The Lines" I also like the overall shape,I think it would fit on my vehicle better.
I like Jill's version too. I was playing on the beach sunset look thats where the colors came from. I don't know tho Todd's version got the right side of my brain really workin now.
posted
I like what Todd suggested for a tag line, the one you have now is slightly awkward. Theres no real reason for the phone number to sit way to the right. I'd reduce it and position it below the main copy, sort of like Jill's suggestion.
posted
I also like Todd's....darn show-off. Only thing I'd change on his is to condense that final "s" because it looks too stretched out to me. Or to skootch the sun thing over to the right just a tad. Me? Write a book? I'm flattered but I have about 21 more years to go before I know enuff. I'm just a sign painter. love....jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
Blake W - * Program - Adobe Illustrator * Fonts - "Menace Base & Menace Convex" (Letterhead Fonts) for *Sun Signs* and "Alarm Block" (letterhead font)for the balance.
Of course, I did my own thing to the fonts - adding outlines,inlines, drops to properly pop the "Menace" font as well as enlarging the two Cap "S" so they were larger....so they helped define the two words as separate.
The "Menace" font comes with it's own bevel...which I think is pretty cool.
Sun was vectored by hand using the Illustrator Pencil tool....then a made a couple of angled rectangles and did a blend from the base yellow of the sun to orange.....then I "clipped" those gradients into the circular "Sun" shape.
Blake K - you're welcome to use any part of that logo - or all of it if it helps....that's what this site is all about, right? Helping others explore new ways of thinking and doing things? Tweak it up and make it your own if you want.
I know I've borrowed more than one idea from things I've seen here....Jill has inspired me as well.
The two cap "S's" were originally the same as that last "s".....but then I enlarged them vertically to help define the two words as separate from one-another.
I neglected to see that by doing that - it made the unmodified "s" at the end look stretched.....and it totally escaped me....Good eye their gal!
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I dunno...looks like it sez Sun Skins! Maybe un-weld that G. I prefer Todd's placement of the byline, Blake. But it is a lot punchier than how you started out. Unlike most men, you LISTEN to suggestions! hahahaha love.....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Blake. It is better, but it still looks disjointed to me with no flow to it, and find the color choices in your main copy quite hard to read. Try the good 'ol squint test. The color of the sun in the background is fighting with your copy. I think a higher contrasting color choice will solve that to get away from the background and pop out more.
Here's a simple version I whipped up for ya. I'm not sure what kind of look you want so I went with more of a fun image. Keep in mind as well that this should be versatile for all of your other promotional items.
Hope this helps ya.
Stevo
-------------------- Stevo Design Illustration Logos Sign Design Clip Art www.stevo-design.com Posts: 1680 | From: Edmonton Ab Canada EH! | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Blake - I don't know how to explain it other than you need a design where the elements are integrated better.....there needs to be a sense of the logo being "together" rather than elements that appear to be floating in space.....
Your sun color/fade is tepid looking.....kinda washed out looking. Make that sucker flare up dude!
One suggestion is you need to get away from a simplistic looking round/oval ball....it needs some flare....Nothing wrong with vector art....but give it some Umph!
I gotta admit that I'm not digging the phone number font....it looks very early 80"s to me. Lets go for bold and brassy. Here's another attempt for ya to consider:
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Blake, bump up the size of your phone number. Your desing is light on the bottom fading away into nothingness. Give it some weight on the bottom. It will make it solid - notice Todd's phone numbers and the difference it makes.
I like Todd's edit of your tag line alot. It makes you think "Hey, this guy's signs are going to help me sell stuff!"
I'd do something about the signs/skins dilema as well. Maybe just alter the shape of the G to be more round on the left side.
Here's another quick version. Maybe some more highlights on the sun beams or something.
-------------------- Kelsey Dum Dum Designs Sherwood, AR 72120 501.765.2166 kelsey@dumdesigns.com Posts: 827 | From: Sherwood, AR | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
Looking at Todd's latest and Stevo's version, ask yourself what is it about them that is different than the one's you came up with.
A couple things I noticed is that they both reduced the size of the sun and boosted the size/impact of the name "Sun Signs" by increasing the contrast. That to me really makes a difference. Also, the panel that Todd added really helped to separate thought while improving readibility.
posted
If I might interject a few thoughts.....Keep in mind that it needs to be readable....sometimes what looks good on the monitor is not readable on a truck door at twenty feet, or on a sign when driving by. All the bevels and outlines are neat, but if they make it hard to read, they need to go. Same thing goes for crowding the letter spacing...hard to read. Color and value contrast are very important too. I like the cool effects as much as anyone, but I have had to learn how to use them so that the end result is still READABLE....I see a lot of artwork that looks great up close, but is indistinguishable when viewed from a distance. I hope this doen't sound too much like I'm preaching, but these are things I have to constantly remind myself when I am designing something. It is real easy to get tunnel vision and loose sight of the overall picture.
-------------------- Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain ! Jim Moser Design 13342 C Grass Valley Ave. Grass Valley, Ca. 95945 530-273-7615 jwmoser@att.net Posts: 488 | From: Grass Valley, Ca. | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Exactly. What's the point if you can't read it? I'm afraid to say Blake, but that font you have going there does not read well at all, and would start out with something that's bolder and reads better. I tend to design in black and white first then start adding color to it. If it works in black and white, then with proper colors it should pop. Careful on your choices though. If the background is yellow stay away from making your letters yellow or anything that is close to that color value. It will just fall right back and you'll lose impact. You want your name to be front and center!
posted
Well said Jim, a lesson I am still learning and not always in the easiest fashion.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
My thoughts run kinda in the middle of the last two posts.
I think that what you're viewing on screen is proportionately like looking at the graphic on a vehicle at 20 feet. I definately think a design shouldn't be overworked, and it must be readable at a glance - but not necessarily at 100 yards.
But I think it's even more important in this business to make an impact as cars are sitting next to you, behind you, or when someone walks by your unit when your at a job site. That's where the biggest "impression factor" kicks in.
An "Epson" font logo might be readable when it's one color at 70 mph.....but nobody is going to say, "Wow...cool design - I gotta give that guy a call."
Yet as Jim points out...you do have to keep a handle on the reins....or a design can get away from you.
You have to know what kind of viewing distance is reasonable.
What we're selling is design and color. Black and white may be needed for a local newspaper ad - but it isn't as critical as in the old days where you'd have to have your stationary printed by an traditional offset printer - using spot colors or black to save $.
These days, your letterhead, business cards, invoices, etc are often printed full color right off your own desktop. Or, you can get full-color high rez cards for next to nothing on line.
If you do have to create a version in black and white, there's nothing saying you have to literally copy every effect in grayscale - which indeed could deep six an otherwise cool color design. You can simplify....and it's still your logo...and it still has "the look." You can remove some of the offending elements/effects that look good in color but don't work in grayscale.
I certainly wouldn't just gob on the effects because "you can." You have to have a decent design and think it through. You need the proper balance.
I'd agree that the last sample of the logo that Blake posted has that font pretty muddy looking. The colors used caused it to lose it's contrast and the *pop* went with it. The font in itself...as tweaked was a good selection though.
Here's what that might look like in black and white - should it ever be necessary.
I think Steve makes a good point about designing in grayscale first....this can help you get things going...and help eliminate the possibility of overworking a design. I work backwards myself. I'm a little dyslexic I think.
posted
Since a lot of us work alone without anyone to bounce ideas off, or critique our work, a thread like this can be of great value to be able to see how others approach design.
We did a panel swap where the object was to create a sign for the person whose name you drew...was a lot of fun and great to see all the different ideas....just like this !
Sometimes designing a logo for yourself can be more difficult than doing one for a customer. I have done several for other people in the business and I know David Butler and several others have done the same.
A lot of times when I get stuck on a project I just dig out some copies of Sign Craft or other reference books....always gives me the inspiration I need.
I am so greatful that we have this forum and the Letterhead family....When I started learning this art almost fifty years ago, you couldn't hardly get anyone to talk to you, much less show you how to do anything....now when one of us has a question, there is always someone with an answer !
[ June 27, 2006, 09:16 PM: Message edited by: Jim Moser ]
-------------------- Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain ! Jim Moser Design 13342 C Grass Valley Ave. Grass Valley, Ca. 95945 530-273-7615 jwmoser@att.net Posts: 488 | From: Grass Valley, Ca. | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
That's a neat looking font but obviously troublesome hahaha now it reads... Uppercase, Lowercase, Uppercase, ... Uppercase, Lowercase, Uppercase, Uppercase, Lowercase I do like that last design but There's just something wrong with that
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I copped it giving an opinion on another thread, so I won't add anything new here- all advice is perfect!
Todd, I'd like to see the 2nd & 3rd birds flipped upwards- they look upside down to me! (GREAT design suggestions though- are you really Todd, or are you Stevo posting under a different name just to give yourself some competition! )
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
lol....thanks guys...it could use a little tweaking too...and you're right about those birds. I was rushing it between some other stuff...they really are kinda upside down aren't they? I told you I was dyslexic..hehehe.
The more I look at it the more I see areas to tweak.
The "u" needed to be fixed as a few pointed out - I kinda did that in the black/white version.
Squeezed the "s" on the end back to match the other cap "s's" per Jill's keen eye.
Something about the way the sun comes down into the bar bugs me - looks a little funny and needs massaging.
And I rushed out the bar with the tagline - it really started out as half-circle round on the end, but I wanted to lengthen it and for times' sake just stretched it....and that made it kind of funny shaped on the ends.
But all in all....I think the last one has the basic foundation of a decent logo.
Design takes time...and good design takes refinement...
The thing I always tell people (who ask) is to always be your own worst critic. If something bugs you - either refine it till it doesn't. If you cannot be 99% satisfied no mater how much you tweak, then the design isn't a great one and you should start over with a different concept. Never settle.
And even then, I see so many people here that can design me into the dirt - so much talent moving around this place it's humbling.
Hopefully, we've all contributed ideas and design theories which will inspire Blake to hammer out some cool stuff he's satisfied with. He can pick out the things that make sense to him and run with it.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
What program are you running and what do you use to do the bevel letters?![[Applause]](graemlins/applause.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Bash]](graemlins/bash.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic