Logo Critique (picnicbasket.com) [Archive]

jmilin5931

10-03-2006, 09:00 PM

I'm doing a logo for an online picnicbasket retailer. They sell picnic baskets, picnic backpacks, and accessories. I wanted to make the logo look high-end/ elegant. I came up with 2 so far, let me know what you think.

peder

10-03-2006, 09:15 PM

SharkFinStudios

10-03-2006, 09:40 PM

I can't see how either of the logos are related to picnics, other than having organic and cultured shapes together. On the other hand, that first one is gorgeous! Two things I'd change on the first one would be to take out the little shadow, and find another solution for the .com.

^I have to agree with this. The logos by themselves look good. But they don't say anything about picnic baskets to me. Neither do the fonts. Both are a bit difficult to read as a logo. Try them in black and white before color and see how they look. When I think picnic I think red and white, a basket, and ants. :) Maybe you could incorporate some of these ideas or just parts of them.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 01:04 AM

I dont know if ants would sell picnic baskets. But yeah, I've made about 10 picnic basket logos, you can see them on my website. And I am just running out of ideas. So I decided to try and tie the logo to just a nice looking design. These are just my first thoughts. I'll be working on it more tomarrow. Thanks for the comments.

mac.FINN

10-04-2006, 02:38 AM

The first one is flat out gorgeous, if you loose the shadow. Loose it.
The second one looks like a spider, trying to spin a web... don't know why.

I agree that they don't really relate off hand. They don't need to be picnic baskets, but if you can't come up with an explanation as to why you did what you did then the concept is weak.

Too bad - very clean. Very nice.

edit: I was thinking about this a little. I like the idea that you haven't included a picnic basket. I think you need to explore the absolute basics of a picnic - which is enjoying nature, and food. What moods a picnic evokes - romance or "family" fun, etc.

I'd be interested to know exactly what it is that this company does.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 02:45 AM

online picnicbasket retailer. They sell picnic baskets, picnic backpacks, and accessories.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 02:48 AM

I was thinking of changing the first logo around. So that it's a butterfly carrying a picnic basket. Since that's what it reminds me of.

mac.FINN

10-04-2006, 02:58 AM

^^ that could work. Keep it as simple and elegant as what you have and it'll be great.

As a side thought, with the butterfly carrying the basket, instead of a drop shadow, just draw a line. Don't dress it up. (if it's even required)

budafist

10-04-2006, 03:22 AM

Very pretty, but agreed with what's said that these logos aren't selling picnic baskets. I imagine the green one to be selling some funky chandelairs....

ecsyle

10-04-2006, 04:15 AM

The first logo looks great, but I have to agree that it doesn't say picnic to me.

capezio

10-04-2006, 08:47 AM

Andi Creffield

10-04-2006, 09:11 AM

I agree with the coments above, but instead of trying to adapt a perfectly good concept for a logo to fit a product it doesn't really associate with why not save the idea until you have a project it's more suited to.

Must say I do like these two from your site:

http://www.centrereed.co.uk/Picture-1.pnghttp://www.centrereed.co.uk/Picture-2.png

capezio

10-04-2006, 09:44 AM

^Good suggestion to save it for something more suitable.

I quite like the red one. I saw that on the site but not the green one. However, the green one to me looks like an iron—good for an ironing service. I think its the angle/perspective.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 01:11 PM

I have to agree with whats been said. The style of the first one is superb but it just doesn't say picnics.
How are these picnics to be packaged? What type of food do they include, sandwiches or something more 'posh'? How are they delivered?

They are baskets only. If anything they come with blankets or napkins. Like I said they also sell picnic backpacks for carrying wine bottles, and they sell picnic accessories, umbrellas, etc. No food with them. They are delivered UPS...

That green logo does kinda look like an iron. lol. Maybe the handle should be more round...

patkennedy78

10-04-2006, 02:08 PM

I have two schools of thought here.

1. You need to feature a basket for the logo. Find the top selling basket, or the most innovative basket and trace it in illy. Make the logo from one of the actual products. I agree with Andi on the above two designs, I really like the one in red.

2. Your logo is going to be the word "picnicbasket.com" so you don't need an additional design element. Make it a logotype, where the word does the work without a mark next to it. I also like the lowercase informal feeling.

In general when I think of a picnic I think of romance and courting. Whimsy and playfulness would be something I'd try to incorporate. Just some thoughts, hope it helps.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 02:21 PM

I thought of another idea before I tried the picnic basket/ butterfly idea... Also, I already did a logo by tracing the actual product basket. On my site. its "sutherland baskets"

Andi Creffield

10-04-2006, 02:24 PM

Maybe even vectoring a full basket picture in Illustrator to work from might look ok as long as you can produce it in full colour. Like so:

http://www.centrereed.co.uk/basket.gif

Andi Creffield

10-04-2006, 02:26 PM

Also, I already did a logo by tracing the actual product basket. On my site. its "sutherland baskets"

I did see that one but it looks very traditional you could try the same thing but make it a little bit more modern.

Samakimoto Graphics

10-04-2006, 02:32 PM

When I saw the first I thought of a ribbon/butterfly on a picnic basket handle.

Samakimoto Graphics

10-04-2006, 02:33 PM

Taht last one kinda mimics the United Nations logo. Dump that!

Andi Creffield

10-04-2006, 02:38 PM

How about a monotone vector image and type kinda like this

http://www.taylorsprint.com/bask.gif

Navian

10-04-2006, 02:44 PM

When I think of picnic baskets, I think of Yogi Bear.

http://www.ghjellystone.com/yogi.gif

Andi Creffield

10-04-2006, 02:50 PM

You don't know how hard I've been trying not to bring Yogi up.

http://www.themaskedmerchant.com/default.aspx?p=100172

http://www.taylorsprint.com/yogi.jpg

You've gone and done it now....

Navian

10-04-2006, 03:00 PM

Yes I did, I'll take the blame for that. :p

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 03:41 PM

heres another idea

Andi Creffield

10-04-2006, 03:49 PM

I like that maybe try the tree and basket in some other colour apart from black, maybe grey?? I'm not sure.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 03:51 PM

How about a monotone vector image and type kinda like this

http://www.taylorsprint.com/bask.gif

I like this idea too. Seems pretty obvious. I like how its straight to the point. Picnicbasket.com. And theres a picnic basket. I'll give that a try too.

Jackimalyn

10-04-2006, 03:53 PM

http://www.centrereed.co.uk/Picture-2.png

**completelypicnic.com

(spelled wrong...)

Andi Creffield

10-04-2006, 03:54 PM

I like this idea too.

I'll email you the file if you pm your address.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 04:44 PM

heres a few of the butterfly. I used a basket from another logo I did just to see how it looks.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 04:46 PM

**completelypicnic.com

(spelled wrong...)

I know haha I got called on that before. I guess I should fix it huh.

mac.FINN

10-04-2006, 05:32 PM

the butterfly looks good (the first one, blue) Try to change the petal things into a basket.

try to include the organic stem too. Also the butterfly just looks perched, try slanting the "basket" to the right to make it look like the butterfly is carrying it and flying along.

peder

10-04-2006, 05:42 PM

http://www.centrereed.co.uk/Picture-2.png (http://www.centrereed.co.uk/Picture-2.png)
This one is great! When I was scrolling down and didn't see what was written I thought it was some example of how someone else solved the problem.

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3071&stc=1
You're going away from the actual basket in the bottom one. Maybe incorporate a basket into the text?

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3070&stc=1
This one doesn't have to be scaled down much before it's becomming hard to read and understand. It doesn't have the same minimalistic "feeling" (you know what I mean?) to it as the other ones, a "feeling" I think goes hand in hand with a professional look. All of the other ones has this, though. The idea could be useful with a different execution. Maybe a cartoon-ish very simple tree instead, and make the basket and text much bigger compared to the tree? I read it .com Picnicbasket the first time, by the way, so I think the .com has to go underneath.

capezio

10-04-2006, 06:36 PM

They are baskets only. . No food with them. They are delivered UPS....

Oh sorry I got the wrong end of the stick I was thinking picnic baskets with food :p

That makes a whole lot of difference to how I think about the logo. I think it may have been something about the first logos you showed that made me think food.

Also the logo shown above the red/pink one with that swoosh on it I keep seeing the sea and a trawler (the bag handles) its only the colour that tells me otherwise.

The logo I liked was the one shown in post 27 but maybe with a more simplified basket.

jmilin5931

10-04-2006, 08:07 PM

They like the one with the tree and the circle. I have to simplify it though.

KingVance

10-04-2006, 08:59 PM

i think you nailed it with the one that was nothing but the butterfly and the swirly twig its standing on

you dont always have to go to the standard cliche with every logo you build...

that said...most of the time cliche things work...

Samakimoto Graphics

10-05-2006, 05:16 AM

^ I agree.

It was nice seeing your thought process.

jmilin5931

10-05-2006, 01:15 PM

Heres another idea. I'm going to make a picnic basket now to put in the center. That'll be the tough part.

Navian

10-05-2006, 02:37 PM

Please don't.

jmilin5931

10-05-2006, 02:59 PM

dont? lol too late I already did. I dont know if the basket really fits... Maybe I can do something with this basket though.

jmilin5931

10-05-2006, 03:07 PM

This may be a better use for the basket..

jmilin5931

10-05-2006, 03:14 PM

Boss likes the idea of with the banner in front of the basket. I'm going to get rid of the oval background and try making a different banner that wraps around more wit more perspective.

Navian

10-05-2006, 03:27 PM

http://www.luclin.info/forum/images/smiles/rubeyes.gif

http://www.luclin.info/forum/images/smiles/faint.gif

jmilin5931

10-05-2006, 03:56 PM

http://www.luclin.info/forum/images/smiles/rubeyes.gif

http://www.luclin.info/forum/images/smiles/faint.gif

Whats that mean? U don't like the new design, or the oval one, or the fact that he likes the oval one, or what? I dont get it lol.

Navian

10-05-2006, 04:42 PM

I think you went from simple to cluttered. I'm going to echo Peder. The simple basket works well.

Here is why: Printing costs.

I mean you can really simplify it (like the pink).

Besides you mentioned: "They are baskets only. . No food with them."

You placed a tied stuffed package in the baskets, driving away with the major focus: the picnic baskets.

The banner thing? well its good for say awards, but I feel its not working with this logo. It adds to the clutter.

When I ment by "please dont", meaning don't use that oval/banner to the logo, you did, then it just got washed up in too many elements, the detailed graphical basket, with stuff in side the basket, the oval, the banner, and the text. with alot of extra colors. I look at costs when working on projects all the time (where its CAD work or graphical work), you went from simple effective and low cost to print/produce; to a logo that is very complex, busy, and it will probably cost alot of money just to print a few.

I'll post a logo I'm working on for a class, so you can take some shots at ;) (turn around fair play)

cornfed

10-05-2006, 04:48 PM

Have you thought about moving away from the picnic basket idea and conveying more of the picnic spirit? I keep wanting to see something akin to the morton salt logo.

frankster

10-05-2006, 04:52 PM

Sounds like your client might be getting his fingers in the pudding too much and when you started out presenting clearly thought out rather beautiful logos like the first ones, he's now sitting over your shoulder saying "what about this, can you move that there, put a banner here, and oval there".

He's paying you for your design knowledge, not to be the hands at the computer for him. He should spend his money on a course on how to use illstrator himself or back off and let you create something stylish like the first ideas you came here with.

I only think this may be the case because I had the same problem when I started out. I was unsure of my skills and made the mistake of defferring to the client for approval every five minutes rather than presenting completed concepts. It made my job infuriating as the clients often have little design taste, which is why you were hired to begin with.

I love your more simple work from the begining of the thread.

KingVance

10-05-2006, 06:10 PM

frankster...i couldnt have put it better

jmilin5931

10-05-2006, 07:21 PM

heres one playing with the letters. I'm really running out of ideas, having done so many picnic basket logos..

peder

10-05-2006, 09:28 PM

Ahaaa... Your last suggestion looks like a half-attempt to make a basket out of the P and B. Took quite a while to see it, and if that wasn't what you aimed at, I might have found an idea for you. How about tilting the P and B 90 degrees, and using a lower cap P and a different font with a symmetrical B instead, so that it resembles a picnic basket much more? I can't see the end of how it should be, but it's worth a try?