First design in Illustrator
Leigh (78 points) | Fri, 2008-01-18 06:48Okay, please be kind. This is the first logo I've designed in a style that isn't my forte.
It's for a podcast production company (we decided to abandon the business card idea from before and simply go for a logo). The owner likes clean, elegant design. The colour had to include indigo so the blue will end up being darker than what's here.
This is only a sketch which needs to be cleaned up but you get the general idea. The client likes it but although I don't think it's good enough I don't know if it's fixable or if I should just scrap the whole thing. Is it too vertical? Is the 1pt stroke on "audio" too thin? the other too thick? Is it just plain boring?
Bring it on....I can take it....
Thanks all.
Leigh.
Commenting on this Image is closed.
forgot to add -- it's for business cards, letterhead and web only.
thanks.
(I'm really biting my sarcastic/critical tongue right now! I admire your fortitude and your determination. Don't stop trying! With that said...)
First the name. Indigo is not the blue color you picked here. :) Also, indigo/purple is a notoriously difficult color to print the way you want it so I'd recommend seriously considering another color unless you want to go with a purple pantone color (more cost).
Second, this isn't really a logo. It's a Verdana font with the latter half outlined and some 'sound' lines drawn in at the end. It does not look good, I'm afraid -- it just looks rushed. In fact, if you search on cb you'll find at least one other audio company logo that uses the sound line motif. Very overdone.
Have you done any sketching on a piece of paper away from the computer? I think that's going to help you come up with some ideas on this one instead of what you have here.
Go to logopond.com and search for logo examples. I'm sure you'll be inspired there to start throwing more spaghetti at the wall, so to speak.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
Doodling on paper is the way to begin. You may wish to try looking within the two words to see if you can draw out any of the letters' aspects. These two words just lend themselves so well to each other--sound and letter usage--for some pretty creative configurations.
ie. stack and highlight the letters DI; or the two O's; or DIG AUDIO; the combos are endless. Try radiating the transmission lines from one of, or both ending O's; fill the O's with other O's, reducing to a pinpoint in each of their centers; and so forth.
In regards to colour selection, I agree with staying away from the indigo shade even though it's part of the name. I once worked on a project for the asian market and maintaining the correct shade of that blue-purple across the range of materials was a nightmare, as was the person I had to answer to.
ttfn!
3dogmama
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
you guys are soooo diplomatic. You admire my "fortitude and determination? " Man, now those are carefully chosen words!
And I KNEW you'd be all over me for calling it a logo! :)
Thank you both for your comments. I knew this sucked. I was embarrassed when I decided to put them up but I absolutely cringed when I saw them on the post. But I really needed to hear it from someone who has a clue.
Yeah, I did a bunch of sketches in my notebook but only for one evening. I actually tried some of the ideas that 3dogmama posted but they were preliminary and not as defined as what she suggested (love the "DIG" idea, btw). My friend seems to like simple type, though, so what she really needs/wants is just some pretty fonts, not a logo.
What I am now comfortable saying is that I shouldn't agree to design a "logo" for anyone because I've never been good at that sort of thing. I'm going to stick with the illustration/painting and work on my website skills but forget this part. It's a relief to finally decide that.
I'm still going to try sketching some of your designs, though, 3dogmama. Just for fun. :)
Leigh
Hey hey, hold on now. :) You won't get any better at it if you don't persist. You'll go through nine ideas before you hit the 10th good one, but that number starts dropping with practice.
Logos are very difficult to do, and I haven't done one in years though I know what works and what doesn't. I meant what I said when I said I didn't want to kill your spirit. Keep it up, yo.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
you didn't kill my spirit, no worries. :)
i haven't done much artwork in a very long time and i feel rusty. my old work is good so i know with practice i can improve which is why i'm going to keep sketching this idea out -- to practice. Plus I bought a book on logo design yesterday and signed out 3 library books on the same subject. I'm still determined, I just don't want to do this work for anyone until I'm ready.
the focus of my business is supposed to be web and graphic design for indie musicians, meaning CD cover work, etc, where i can do the painting and collages, etc., then add finishing touches in Illustrator. I think I need to focus on creating a GOOD portfolio of projects i want to be doing.
That said, another friend of mine asked me to do a picture to accompany his company name and i've happily done that -- freehand illustration is something i AM practiced in and feel good about.
†hanks for the encouraging words. :)
Sure! You're welcome.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
----
Dirt and Rust
Here is a logo I did a few years back. Common indeed...