Logo design---take 2

[daSnarf]

New concept for new logo. Any improvement? Ideas? Thanks!
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2222/cclogolrvm8.jpg

[Satchel]

When I look at it I see CE... it looks really weighted on the right side, the C on top and the bottom c are both thicker than the left side, if that made sense?

I'd say work on some more sketches... are you designing this in B&W first? Or dont you have any say in the color?

[BJMRGTIVR6]

reminds me of coca-cola or a surfboard shop.

[Virgo Nightingale]

^^ me too

[daSnarf]

Darn Coca Cola and their overmarketing of all that is "C" SWOOSH!

:)

[(gra-ph!c-D'sig-nah)]

The second c looks like an olive or grape instead of a letter. I agree with the coca cola running the c swooshes! I also see CE now that it has been mentioned but I orginally saw an object other than a letter!

[daSnarf]

Things I like about this logo...
Has a feeling of motion...forward movement..
Good use of negative space for the second "C" (the "swoosh" is actually the top part of the "C" and the dark part is the inside
Has both Elegant and bold...contemporary and traditional elements
WAAAAAAY in the back of my mind, I still see a subtle "Eye" in this shape, which indicates vision lol.

As to the color...Im running through options now, but like PMS 7469 (Blue). Perhaps that will help combat the Coca-Cola feel?

[1ooScreamingTrees]

I forget what your older concepts look like but - Is the CC supposed to resemble a fish - a Coy? I think this is a cool direction to move in - but you need to finesse it much more.

Like the above posters comment, the 2nd "C" almost appears as an object rather than a letter - likely because it's typographic form constrasts so much from the initial first letter?

[Virgo Nightingale]

^ If it's supposed to be a fish, it should be spelled Koi. :p

[vtwin_gary]

everyone gave me the "the C looks like coke" with my logo (http://friedcolor.com/index.asp) also, so i know how you feel.

but.... i see the coca C (http://stuff.mit.edu/afs/sipb/user/shabby/OGraphics/Coke.jpg)

[tZ]

The major promblem with this logo is lack of concept or one that is communicated. Right now the concept appears to be decorated and modified typography with no real purpose.

[daSnarf]

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8054/cclogo2qt6.jpg

Improvement?

[(gra-ph!c-D'sig-nah)]

Is it me or do you smell fish! There is something about it I don't like....is the tail of the fish suppose to be a flower or am I over doing it. Are you still trying to represent the C. What do you want this to say? I am not saying I don't like it....just asking questions! :)

[daSnarf]

Since my last name is Coy, this is kinda a play on words.

For symbolism... here is what I found during research..
Quote:
combination with flowing water, it symbolizes much the same: courage, the ability to attain high goals, and overcoming life's difficulties.

Quote:
The fish are seen as possessing great perseverance and strength.

Quote:
the fish is able to swiftly move and glide smoothly, capable of leaping through the obstacles and the barriers thereby making them determined travelers of a lifetime.


Also has symbolism for luck and beauty. Perseverance and achievement.


Doesnt seem like bad symbolism =)

Also,Thank you to all giving feedback and keep it coming! I like where this logo is going but would still love to hear other opinions.Tz's post about concept is what really got me thinking (which I should of been doing anyway lol..something about creating this as my OWN identity must of gotten in the way lol)

[WannaBrie]

daSnarf,

I know how hard it is to find your own identity...I have struggled for quite some time over a suitable name and logo for my personal identity ( probably 3 yrs and counting, and still nothing, so take my critique with AGOS). If you are sure that Coy is something you want to go with, maybe try to curve the koi go with the curve of the C...but don't try to force it to work, maybe do some more brainstorming...Coy has other meanings...Don't be coy about it! LOL! Think it out completely, do lots of sketching, and be sure to Google it and make sure no one else has thought of this before...

[budafist]

koi are really beautiful. Perhaps you could do some more work to get a more elegant but striking mark. Take some photos if you can and play.

[Seapony]

Since my last name is Coy, this is kinda a play on words.

For symbolism... here is what I found during research..Quote:
combination with flowing water, it symbolizes much the same: courage, the ability to attain high goals, and overcoming life's difficulties.

Quote:
The fish are seen as possessing great perseverance and strength.

Quote:
the fish is able to swiftly move and glide smoothly, capable of leaping through the obstacles and the barriers thereby making them determined travelers of a lifetime.

Also has symbolism for luck and beauty. Perseverance and achievement.


Doesnt seem like bad symbolism =)

Also,Thank you to all giving feedback and keep it coming! I like where this logo is going but would still love to hear other opinions.Tz's post about concept is what really got me thinking (which I should of been doing anyway lol..something about creating this as my OWN identity must of gotten in the way lol)

Hey

Somebody might've mentioned it before, but it would behoove you to work in black and white, first (no gray). The color is distracting you and I believe you're relying on it too much to carry the look of your design, rather than have the design stand on it's own.

That said, I suggest you break this down if you really want to persue this direction. Set the type and typography aside for the moment and nail the look of the Koi first. Make sure it captures your style, your personality, whimsey, whatever. And again, do this in black and white. Once that's done you can then work on developing your typography. I think it'll really help you focus your creativity more effectively.

Right now the Koi and type looks generic—how distinctive is your fish from anyone else's...how can you infuse a bit of Coy's Creativity into your graphic? These are questions that need addressing. It's good to see you started some research, but time to take it to Level II, make study drawings, research the symbolic importance of Koi in Japanese culture (I suggest this because the Japanese, who find the Koi to be lucky have studied it to a science—you may find some inspiration in their findings and application). Then tweak and stylize it to a form that reflects your creative style.

:)

[urstwile]

While I agree that your first execution didn't have a concept really going for it, what it did have was dynamic movement in the characters you chose. The one with the fish doesn't have that same kind of dynamic energy, in my opinion.

I wonder if there's a way you could apply your concept to the first execution somehow, maybe a more abstract, less literal representation of the koi, which would substitute for the font characters you used?

[vtwin_gary]

maybe because i do alot of work for tattoo artist & i'm a big fan of traditional tattoos i think you should at least consider a koi with that feel

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/150/901byo4.jpg

[daSnarf]

Continued exploration. As always...please comment away =)
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1383/koigs6.jpg

[CkretAjint]

Gonna be hard to see the detail of that once it is shrunk down to business card size.

You really should explore fun free flowing fonts, like the koi fish are. All your fonts so far have been just there. Big, bold, blobs of text, nothing elegant and fun...

[tZ]

I think your previous direction was more successful.

[CkretAjint]

maybe even just a simple line drawing of one with some fun flowing bold red/orange text. Or even something super abstract that is black and red with bold solid black font.... *shrugs*

http://www.illustratorworld.com/users/s/sk/sketchyatbest/a840.jpg
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/__data/assets/image/608369/varieties/7.jpg
http://www.nbponds.com/koiart/images/koi_art_2.jpg
Outline use only:
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2527032/2/istockphoto_2527032_koi_fish.jpg
http://doorcountyart.homestead.com/koi_art_gina.JPG

[morea]

When I look at it I see CE...

that was my first thought as well.

I'm not loving the koi ones. Can you post your sketches?

[tZ]

You speak of the devil!- sketches,lol