3 Mile Design Identity

Submitted by Fuelrock on Sun, 2006-01-15 19:25.

Critique

I've been thinking about doing a little freelance work to make a little extra money. Before I do that I want to make an identity for myself. Here's what I have come up with myself.

A little background...I grew up and currently live in the Central Pennsylvania area. When I was a kid I woke up every morning and could see Three Mile Island (the site of America's worst nuclear incident) It's always had a big impact on the region and consequently on me. The smokestacks are instantly recognizable so I chose them to represent the nuclear theme. I like the idea of nuclear energy translating into design as well. Starting with something so very small and using technology to create a great deal of energy.

Critique on the logo itself and the theme in general would be appreciated

Login or register to post comments
Original
Thumbnail

Maybe a clean font will work

Submitted by Jaime Montaño on Sun, 2006-01-15 21:45.

Maybe a clean font will work better, but the whole concept and the logo are great, I love the shapes like 2D-3D and the not red nor orange color. Good job.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaime_gabriel_m

Thanks

Submitted by Fuelrock on Sun, 2006-01-15 22:13.

I'm still fiddling with fonts. The current style may be a bit too destructive when I'm supposed to be doing something constructive. That'll definitely be something I continue to tweak

maybe it's just me

Submitted by garyW on Sun, 2006-01-15 22:06.

but the concept of equating your aspiring design business with an icon of catastrophic disaster may not be such a successful marketing plan. ;)

That came to mind...

Submitted by Fuelrock on Sun, 2006-01-15 22:12.

I did think about that but don't necessarily want to be associated with that but instead a symbol of the future. Moving ahead and creating something new

The problem is that you will

Submitted by dhayn on Mon, 2006-01-16 23:24.

The problem is that you will have to do an phenomenal job in your marketing to make people feel how you want towards the name you have chosen.

When it comes down to it, all we do is alter or strengthen perceptions, thats our job. But changing someone's mind isn't generally very easy. I guess I learned my lesson because I desperately wanted to use the word and image of a lemon in the name of my company. I went on and on to people about how they're strong and fresh but the first thing everybody though of was bad cars.

Before you commit to this make sure you go and ask a bunch of people (local to you) their initial reactions to the name and logo. I don't know but I'm not sure if I'd want to name my company after the plant thats less than 2 1/2 miles away from my own house.

Other than that I think the smoke stacks are very cool.

Good comments

Submitted by Fuelrock on Tue, 2006-01-17 03:38.

Fortunately, the tragedy wasn't so much a tragedy as it was a near miss. Most people in the area don't have a sour taste in their mouths. I will definitely quiz people when I'm talking to them

Cool cool cool.

Submitted by phatcactus on Mon, 2006-01-16 01:08.

I second the type suggestion though. The graphic is so clean and smooth and the grungy type just doesn't fit. I'd almost light to see a little more contrast on the whole thing. Maybe a thin white highlight on the tower. Maybe that's too much. I dunno.

Nice.

Submitted by willdesignforfood on Mon, 2006-01-16 01:46.

A nice clean sans serif font might be nice, and I would try cranking out a couple different color variations, maybe a green of some sort to further associate to nuclear meltdown. But overall, the compisition is nice a clean..great job!

Color scheme

Submitted by Fuelrock on Mon, 2006-01-16 02:33.

I really like the scheme I've chosen but I do worry that it's a bit too closely tied to Communism being red and regarding nuclear power. Not that I care, but I'm sure someone would take some issue with it's correlation. Just in case, I'll be trying other ideas as well. Green will definitely be on the top of that list

I hate picking fonts

Submitted by Fuelrock on Mon, 2006-01-16 02:29.

I'll more than likely be posting a large number of font ideas on here because I have a difficult time choosing. Nothing too thin or too blocky. Something easy to read but not plain. And if possible, something that somehow fits into a nuclear theme. Hmmm, so many fonts to choose from

Close

Submitted by dpc on Mon, 2006-01-16 04:26.

Close but not powerfull enough. The font is not working, i agree, also.

http://www.davidpcrawford.com - http://www.vomit76.com

Some different typos

Submitted by Fuelrock on Mon, 2006-01-16 05:02.

Alright, I tried a bunch of different typos. Some I like, some not so much. I want to know what everyone else thinks. Number 6 is the original font style that I had uploaded. The rest are new

I like the #5 but stills

Submitted by Jaime Montaño on Mon, 2006-01-16 05:21.

I like the #5 but stills need an accent, I dunno, what about use a light version of the typo in the word "desing" or something. Just an Idea.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaime_gabriel_m

Yada Yada Design

Submitted by JohnWilliams713 on Mon, 2006-01-16 15:02.

I don't like using the word Design at the end like that. So many people already do that. If you must go with the 3 Mile thing, I'd think it would work better just as "3Mile" rather than "3 Mile Design".

That may be, but...

Submitted by Fuelrock on Mon, 2006-01-16 15:18.

By taking off design don't I run the risk of being a bit too ambiguous? The logo itself doesn't represent design and the only way someone would know that I am a graphic designer would be too see it spelled out in front of them

So you don't think you'll

Submitted by JohnWilliams713 on Mon, 2006-01-16 16:27.

So you don't think you'll get work if you're logo isn't blatant. Your logo isn't the only thing selling you, so no I don't think that the lack of "Design" is going to turn anyone away. If anything, if you logo is interesting enough, it can be a conversation starter. If I looked at the Kodak logo for the first time, I'd never know that they make cameras. Intel's logo doesn't read "Intel Computer Processors". The key to building a brand isn't just in the logo. People are rarely going to see 3Mile by itself. It will either be accompanied by you and your own sales saavy, or a website, or some sort of collateral that goes into greater detail about what you do. At least that's my opinion.

You speak the truth

Submitted by Fuelrock on Mon, 2006-01-16 16:58.

You definitely make a good point. I'll take that into consideration and see if I can work with it a bit more. Less text is always easier and design would be the best to drop :)

How about this?

Submitted by Fuelrock on Mon, 2006-01-16 18:16.

I have a tough time dropping the word design completely from the logo even though I do understand and respect the reasons for doing so.

How would it look if I decreased the size of design, dropped it below 3 mile and justified both of them to the right of box? That way it adds a bit more visually and the shadow in between the smoke stacks does a good job of guiding your eyes from the logo itself to the text

I agree with John Williams 713

Submitted by jhmcreative on Tue, 2006-02-07 15:43.

He is right on the mark regarding building a (successful) brand and it's perception to your/public. Having a striking mark is only one of many parts needed to be successful in this and/or any industry. What is ultimately going to get you the job(s) is "you" and "your work". I agree conversation starters are key and can be used as a fun and strategic tool but that alone will not get you business.

As for the font:

I would look at something very san serif and clean like a Universe or even Trade Gothic - something that has different weights to possibly accent the "3" and use a thinner weight on the rest?

As for the overall graphic:

I love the stacks but agree - that identifying with a tragedy is risky unless you have the most magnificent marketing scheme and a compelling sell.

Hope this helps!

JHM

Cooling towers

Submitted by ShawnAllan on Fri, 2006-02-10 03:54.

I have to agree with the general consensus...

Cooling towers have such a NIMBY effect. Hope you have a great tag line.

Something like:
"Turning a potential Chernobyl into a mere Three Mile Island..."
(borrowed from Mr. Burns & the Simpsons)

John williem is very right...

Submitted by RebelDesigner on Tue, 2007-04-03 22:44.

I agree with John, your logo is good, color is good and it gives hot feelings which can be -ive or +ive... BUT this logo is just to different then what you do I'm not saying that logo should reflect exactly what you do but it should not convey -ive message its like you have flower shop and you show a bus in your logo... its just to confusing, Kodak logo is not telling what they do but its not confusing woth something esle as well, and then when it comes to rational we know that its not a hard thing to do... any how this is linked with your childhood but no ones going to know that the first time... reflect your present of future (where you want to be) not the past...

Keep this logo saved, it can be sold at good price, it is good. but not for you