New Logo for the City of Wheeling

of the three, definitely the third. #2 looks like a bad button, plus the text on a path is always more difficult to read and get right. and #1 (a) has hotel type (evil evil evil) and (b) focuses too much on 2020 and not enough on wheeling, so the city name gets a little lost.

i think your tagline looks completely lost in all three, but i also think (a) it's too long anyway and (b) doesn't really say anything. it's bad government speak and is pretty vague.

i would work with variations of #3 and try to see how you can integrate the elements better. i would also lose the rule for now and not set small type in the yellow. it becomes even more lost when not in the darker color.

one of the other things i like about #3 is that you set wheeling in a reasonably light face so everything isn't fat like in #2. one of my fave phrases i learned from an old art director was "horsey." and she used that any time i had the type too big or too heavy in any design. wheeling 2020 in #2 gives me that feeling (even though making it lighter would cause a problem there, which is probably another issue with that design, it wouldn't scale).

Third one is a great beginning. However, the small text in yellow at the bottom is anything but clear. Top one could be worked up a bit more and yes, I'd drop the middle one.

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
— Frank Zappa

Thank you for your comments!

Samantha, I also prefer #3, and would make the tagline (if you absolutely have to have it) in the dark blue. Something that occurs to me about the buildings on the wave -- a cool way to make the city swing, by the way -- is that it says nothing about Wheeling's residential component. How about putting a little bungalow shape (peeked roof and all) smack dab in the middle? I think that would soften the otherwise industrial look that the other building shapes are conveying. You might even consider putting it at a maybe 10-degree slant, with one corner dipping a little below the waveline. Or maybe not, since that might suggest floods. I guess I'm suggesting the need for a little humanity, or softness. You're off to a good start on this. NTW, pardon my ignorance, but is there some significance to Wheeling of the colors you chose? We often suggest presenting a design first in black and white, so the eye isn't deceived by the emotional component of colors.

Samantha, I also prefer #3, and would make the tagline (if you absolutely have to have it) in the dark blue. Something that occurs to me about the buildings on the wave -- a cool way to make the city swing, by the way -- is that it says nothing about Wheeling's residential component. How about putting a little bungalow shape (peeked roof and all) smack dab in the middle? I think that would soften the otherwise industrial look that the other building shapes are conveying. You might even consider putting it at a maybe 10-degree slant, with one corner dipping a little below the waveline. Or maybe not, since that might suggest floods. I guess I'm suggesting the need for a little humanity, or softness. You're off to a good start on this. NTW, pardon my ignorance, but is there some significance to Wheeling of the colors you chose? We often suggest presenting a design first in black and white, so the eye isn't deceived by the emotional component of colors.

Okay, so where's that dorky animation about double-posting, now that one of us actually deserves it?

;-)

Okay, so where's that dorky animation about double-posting, now that one of us actually deserves it?

;-)

SammyBunny,

I was immediately leaning towards #1. It's clean and i like the staggered colors. However, after I read your description I realized that you are referring to 20/20 (vision) not 2020 (the year). With out the slash mark it becomes a bit ambiguous.

Have you considered playing around with the concept of focus or clarity? Eye chart typography? Though, be careful not to come off like a convention logo for opticians!

Yes the colors, I chose them because they were easy on the eyes, I should have done them in black and white first in which I will probably save it like that in a separate file. I send these concepts out on Friday, I've came up with a couple more, but I don't have a clue how to resubmit my updates on the same critique. I agree with you that color can emotionally tie you in. Black in white will help me when the client would like to chose a color instead of the color giving a negative effect if the client doesn't like it.

Thanks!

=)

aren't those mountaneer colors? or at least close to them?

and i agree with shawnallan. i missed the 20/20 vs 2020 and was thinking you were referring to a year (like there was some sort of 2020 strategic plan). i think you need to work in the slash or 20/20 won't work.

You have a start, but I'm not seeing 'trendy' or 'progressive' in your designs. It looks more safe than daring, you might say.

First, remove the colors, I don't think they are working at all; too soft. Start in black and white so you can get a feel for shapes first. Do some font research to more closely represent your creative brief. The font you have chosen is too generic, I feel.

I'm sure wheeling isn't just buildings. What does the town really represent? That is what the logo should be.

Agreed on the 20/20 comments. The forward slash is standard when referring to this term.

Good start, now back to the drawing board to see what else pops up. Do some research online to get a feel for city logos. Here's one to get you started:

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Powerpoint is not a design application

that's a very "old-school" city crest there. there are a lot more "hip" or modern city logos/icons out there. from the brief (and the attempted tagline), i'm guessing they're looking for something a bit more current than that.

but he's right, you should look into some of the other iconography done for other cities (and neighborhoods or boroughs). you could use that research as a base for coming up with your own concepts by seeing what some of the more successful designs have been.

Thanks for your comments guys, it's always a big help!

Thanks for your comments guys, it's always a big help!