Logo update

[freerangepixels]

A client, a small philanthropic environmental foundation, wants me to update a logo that was hand drawn for them several years ago. First I thought they just wanted it vectorized and simplified a bit, retaining most of the original look.

You can see my first stab below (vectorized, simplified drawing a bit, enlarged name).

Seeing that, they decided they wanted a more extensive overhaul. The client did some sketches for me in which the mountains were quite a bit more rounded and abstract than in the original. So I took those and the original concept and came up with the colourful ones you see below.

What do you think of these ideas? I know foundations are usually quite conservative when it comes to graphic communications, but I'm hoping this particular one is up for something fresh. Have i gone too far?

[freerangepixels]

I should add that if they end up wanting to go back to the first simplified version, I would simplify it even more. There is still too much detail in the forest on the mountains... But still keep the wood cut look.

[balou]

I'd say you need to go further. Are they insisting upon staying in a circle? Why not design "outside of the circle"?;) They are pretty much more of the same in my view. The "f" in the font you chose looks like an S.

You can do cool color logos but there will ALWAYS be a need to use it as a single color so need to make sure it will work in 1 color first before full color.

[freerangepixels]

Yes, they'd like to stay within the circle. A bit of a constraint. Here's a one colour version.

[balou]

I would rethink the font and I really didn't see mountains when I first saw that last one. My first impression was of a flag or fabric in the wind. Take a look at how the mountains are stylized - too abstract and the common Joe looking at it will not recognize them mountains. I guess I'm a common Joe.:o

[typographics]

freerangepixels,

here are a couple of things that stick out at me:

first, the type is flush right. but its in a circle which is symmetrical. you should always align your type to fit its surroundings. when implementing text in a circle, its usually better to keep it centered, unless you are visually lining it up with something else other than the circle, which in this case you are not.

second, it doesnt look like a logo. it looks like the 'driftwood foundation' type is the logo, and it has been placed on a round sticker or button. the two dont have a relationship with each other. they are two visually different and seperate elements.

just because the client likes the circle, doesnt mean you have to keep it. if you came up with a great solution that didnt involve a circle, they would forget all about it. I understand that some clients are hard headed, and wont budge on certain things. but when we let the client make design decisions for us, it only hurts the creative process.

i say, start from scratch. make something amazing that will blow their socks off. if you come up with something that communicates their foundation in the best possible way, they wont care if its in a circle or not.

matthew~

[vtwin_gary]

I would rethink the font and I really didn't see mountains when I first saw that last one. My first impression was of a flag or fabric in the wind. Take a look at how the mountains are stylized - too abstract and the common Joe looking at it will not recognize them mountains. I guess I'm a common Joe.:o


agreed, i like it but i don't see mountains.
also font needs some help if not replaced all together.

[cjoe]

i like the redesign, but maybe give those mountains a little more definition

[cjoe]

hope you don't mind: i did a pretty crappy job!

[freerangepixels]

Thanks guys. I sort of like the idea of including enough of the old elements to retain a bit of the feel of the old logo--sort of a legacy thing. That's why I haven't pushed for redesigning from scratch.

Good feedback about centering the text and increasing the "mountainness" of the mountains. I'm going to try that and see what happens. I'll also broach the subject of ditching the circle and see where it leads.

I think the font is hand drawn in the original logo. I'll try some others and see...

[freerangepixels]

I was also thinking something along these lines...sort of a wood cut feel with a serif font. The venerable look. What thinks? Obviously it would need to be reworked to get the graphic looking better--this was a PS quicky to see if I liked the basic concept. Was thinking of trying to make the graphic look more hand drawn, less rigid...

[freerangepixels]

...and I need to get rid of that dizzying feel it gives now...

[typographics]

freerangepixels,

sorry, but what does this philanthropic environmental foundation offer? do they focus on anything specific? do they use a slogan or tag line? what kind of events do they sponsor? are they local or national? does the name have any significance? what is the average age of the people associated with this foundation? who is their target market? how long has it been around? how are they funded? who is their typical donator?

the more information you share with everyone, the more valuable and beneficial this discussion will become. once everyone is on the same page, you will get much more informative and useful feedback.

matthew~

[Logo-Mechanix]

I think this last one is much better and your still keeping the feel of the circle. The text they had from the original was not the best in my opinion but some clients don't see things the same way artists do and they insist on keeping things we would eliminate on first sight. What I usually do is come up with one rough using their idea and than 1 or 2 more using my own ideas while still incorporating what they wanted to some extent and 9 out of 10 times they like what I came up with rather than what they came up with.

[freerangepixels]

typo,

the foundation was formed around an effort to protect a mountainous area which is now a park. Driftwood is the rural residential area near said mountains, and is held by those who live there as a bit of a shangri la. I tried to get at that with the shining mountain in the background--a beacon of sorts.

I think most of the folks involved in the fdn live in this area.

The original purpose behind the foundation was to raise awareness of environmental issues using music and cultural events. That's why the original logo has the music streaming out of the mountains. Since then their work has changed and broadened, so the music is no longer as relevant.

Donors are now mostly other, larger, philanthropic foundations.

Age of people involved is mostly 50+

It's been around a couple decades

No slogan or tagline

[freerangepixels]

here's another version of the third concept, with a hand drawing swapped in. It's starting to grow on me.

[freerangepixels]

oops

[balou]

What would happen if you made the peaked mountains bigger and the woodcut foothills smaller. Once that logo is smaller, you will not see the mountain peaks at all.

I liked the line around outside.

[Navian]

those lines are doing something with my eyes..

[freerangepixels]

here it is with the line around the outside and the peak a bit bigger...

[Navian]

Those lines remind me of something like this:

http://www.rudrasoftwares.net/images/line.jpg