Critque and Advice

[amiart]

I am looking to start a Graphic Design Business and phase myself out of my current position @ work.. I have come up with a logo for my business and a name.. Please tell me what you think of the logo and offer any suggestions you may have ... for transitioning from a full time employee to being self employeed.. I don't have alot of $ and have everything I will need at this point except for Customers, Forms, and Software... (Adobe) I have filters etc... almost ready to go.. Have business license etc..

[mac.FINN]

What's the name of your company? What's the idea behind your logo?

The logo is WAY to complicated. The idea is interesting though; you might consider an illustration of the same idea.

It's definately a good start, but needs direction, and a lot of work.

[amiart]

all printed materials are going to be 4cp... I have a more simplified logo for 1 color imprints etc...

artmanuniverse is the name of the company

[chalsema]

I would get rid of the shadows. They aren't really necessary. Also, some of the planets are really tiny and will probably get lost when sized down. Could you post the more simplified one you mentioned? You might want to just use the more simplified one for everything.

[mac.FINN]

I agree, if you're going to stick to the photographic logo (I wouldn't) loose the shadows. As is the shadows don't even line up properly to the figure; they're casting in different directions.

[amiart]

The shadows are supposed to be as though the light source is from above.. ... at a slight angle.. I see how jupiter is off .. are others ? better without shadows??? this is logo for web and 4cp don't you want cool effects etc?

[lesliegraphics]

I agree with Chalsema, using one logo is a good idea. Something to remember in logo design: ask yourself does it work in black and white? It's good to design with this in mind before you go to color, shadows, and other complex stuff. Whenever I am doing logo design I make the black and white version first and work it through, size it, etc., then get into the color because it's a real pain to design a great logo that you realize later isn't so great when you use it in black and white. As a new business you will try to keep costs down and going black and white is a good way to do it as far as all your printing needs are concerned. Some of the best logos out there are black and white, but I bet you already know that.

[mac.FINN]

don't you want cool effects etc?

No, no no no no no no no. I don't want cool effects. Cool effects are bad. Bad bad bad.

As for how the planets don't line up; look at the far left one (in the shadow), it's way out on it's own... but on the figure it's contained within his hand. The figure's shadow is going down and to the right, whereas the planets' are going down to the left.

[amiart]

Totally ... I know that it keeps the cost down.. etc.. My Black and white logo is much simplier.. its essentially a portrait in one color with a hand drawn look of the "Man" and then the name in simple type.. I've designed things with small imprint sizes etc. in mind.. however the ONLY type of "POP" my website will have is the logo.. same with business cards etc.. I don't want to get too flashy and overwhelm people with over graphicizing things.. I think simplier is better .. I sold myself on this idea.. is it bad for WEB and full color business cards???? I know at bare minimum it needs some revisons etc.. but does it need dumped?

[lesliegraphics]

I think sometimes the real true design challenge is to work with less, not more; meaning one color not four. Your skills and ideas have to be fine tuned to get your message ("You") across. I love a logo that says exactly what someone is but at the same time you say "cool" what a great way to illustrate something, etc., I didn't catch the name of your business, but ask yourself what is what I've sold to myself saying really? I see an artists' wooden model and I see it sort of juggle some planet shapes, it's not clear what you do to me. If you post the business name then maybe the connection who be clear.

On your other comment about not wanting to get to flashy and overwhelm people with graphicizing things to much . . .this is good that you know this. In the end I have found that my clients really don't care about my logo as much as they care about the logo I am making for them; they don't care so much about my logo but rather the samples I am showing them of design work I have done, this is where they will be impressed. Simple, elegant, clean is what I have always liked.

[lesliegraphics]

I'm with MAC.Finny - cool effects used to be cool but now cool effects have taken over the world and they really aren't so cool anymore, just kind of like everyone elses cool effects.

[mac.FINN]

I know at bare minimum it needs some revisons etc.. but does it need dumped?

Not dumped... but it needs new direction. I like the idea of a juggling the planets it has potential. But what you have is not a logo. It is a design. Take your idea and try to convey it in simply form. This is good work...it just needs direction.

[amiart]

The company is artmanuniverse... I do graphic design and sis-in law is a mural painter ..

Sort of a combinded effort.. Thats why the different planets.. we do various things.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

I suggest you surf the net. Look up what a logo is (trust me there are great theory papers out there) and start from there.

What you have here is to busy for a logo. You want to sum up what you do and what your company represents in a single symbol or logotype( one that combines text and image).