logo for senior project

[dality]

For my senior project in graphic design we had the freedom to choose basically whatever we wanted to do. I choose to do a fictional company, that I made up, called "Terra Bella". Basically they are a very high end, upscale company that makes products such as Italian fine foods but also sells dinnerware and other home products from Italy. For my logo I wanted to keep a fresh clean look that really speaks about where the products are from. I didn't want to include any "food items" because the company is more than that. PLEASE BE HARSH i'm not scared of real criticsm because I'd rather hear it here than from my teachers ;)

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/5543/forcritqw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4649/forcriter1.pnghttp://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9599/forcrittf2.jpg

[wez312]

Well, I'm just a student myself. But I think the logo needs to be a little more direct than it is. Right now if I just saw the picture without an explanation of what it was I'd guess you're some kind of nature company, you sell christmas trees or maybe Terra Bella is one of those high class subdivisions of houses with the big front gates and security and this is there logo...You said to be harsh...

[DesignStudio]

I don't think that it's neccessary to be able to identify what a business is by the logo in order for the logo to be successful, but, once you do know what the business is, the logo should make sense and draw a connection that makes a memorable impression. I don't think you really have that here. After your exaplanation, I'm not really drawing any connection that would leave a lasting impression on me and make me think of the company's products the next time I saw the logo.

That said, I do really like the logo design. Very clean and simple, I like the second one from the top best colorwise. This may seem like a silly suggestion, but is it to late to simply change what the fictitious company does rather than changing the logo? I know that doesn't really teach much of a lesson about the design process, but you're in a rare luxury position to make a company fit a logo, if it were me I'd take advantage. Then again I skipped class alot and stopped buying books my sophomore year, so maybe I'm not the best academic advisor.

[captain spanky]

i quite like the last one best. it does evoke feelings of italy for me and not just because of the wording, the colours and tree do it just as well.
As far as the logo relating to the 'product', I'm a firm beliver that most logos are too 'dumbed down'... ie if you're a photographer, you don't need a camera/lense in the logo... a food company doesn't need a knife and fork or similar in the logo... it's all about creating a feeling. Use emotion to link the product name with the image you want to project. Wez312, don't forget that a logo is seldom used out of its context so you do not necessarily have to be direct. you will get the idea of what a company does by the other elements surrounding the logo.

[jerb]

i dont agree captain. logo is the face of the compeny, even if the viewer doesnt see the connection between the logo and the compeny designation, the logo still need to express its goal !

and lets not forget that the teacher will expect something that will connect the logo and the compeny in the obvious way..

[Drazan]

I think the confusion is between the name AND the symbol. If you had a different name or a different symbol than it might work.

terra = earth
tree = natural

If the company was toting high end all natural products it might fit. In this case you have two elements that speak natural and one that says elegant.
The small serrifs that you have on the lettering are getting lost in small sizes. Though I like the style of lettering, perhaps you can dive in and make the serrifs a touch stronger.

Also watch your kerning the ending "A" is too close to the letter before it, leaving your words off balance.

Just my thoughts.
=)
Jade

[dality]

Well in response to the name and the look of the logo... "Terra bella" which means beautiful earth was choosen becase like Jade said the products will be all natural. But for those who said it needs to look like what the product is, what would you suggest. I think that if it looks like Italy than thats all the relating I personally want because I don't want to put pasta, or oil or any one product in the logo because it needs to encompass a lot of different types of products, but they are all from Italy. I definitely need to work some on my kerning so thanks for that advice b/c I didn't even think about it yet :). Here is the first logo I did where my teacher said simplify and thats how I got to the one first posted.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8682/64033095tg2.png

[morea]

lets not forget that the teacher will expect something that will connect the logo and the compeny in the obvious way..

not true.

_____


dality: these don't say "italian style" to me. Why the tree? Why did you choose the colors and font you're using?

These are more concise than the original concept you posted, but I think it could still use some work.

When you're designing in black and white to work out your concepts (which is what I am presuming options 1 and 3 are) you really can not use shades of gray. The concept should be done in straight black and white because (in the real world) it will inevitably be stamped on a stock form, engraved on an award or faxed, and if the concept behind it is not sound in straight black and white, it becomes a blobby looking unusable mess.

In the first two examples, I read "Terra Ibella" because of the way the tree is positioned.

I like the last two better, but I don't see a point in breaking up the company name by putting the logo bug between the words. I'm not sure that the smaller yellow-green lines contribute to the theme of the image. They make me think "motion", or even "earthquake" in the context.

I'm also not sure that the colors are projecting the right message.

The kerning seems a little off to me in "Terra".

Hope that helps some.

[PrintDriver]

Perhaps an olive tree instead of what looks like a lombardy poplar?
I get the intent of 'Italy' with the tree and the hilly ground though.
But the green is coming off as a 'landscaping' company - Good Earth. What other color combinations say 'Italy'? Please beware of a current trend in design to use pastel colors. Trends don't last.

No the logo doesn't have to say literally what the company sells, but I'm not getting a refined sense from the font chosen, logo mark aside.

Take a wander through a local wine store and check out some Italian wine labels for inspiration.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Or an olive fruit!?

[DesignStudio]

just throw a piece of pizza on there and be done with it.

[PrintDriver]

Or an olive fruit!?

don't get too literal. :D

[steve2112]

I was think having the outline of italy with it dived in the colors of the italian flag.

You logo looks like a landscaping company. Doesn't really scream anything even near to what you say the do. It needs to be much more elegant especially if its fine foods and expensive dinnerware. Break out the the old caligraphy pen and write out the name that way perhaps.

steve

[budafist]

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8682/64033095tg2.png

Those curved lines there are sexy.

I don't think it is a good idea to obscure the A and B as you have done here. Maybe for a magazine masthead (as is so popular now) but not for a logo.

Olive tree would be very nice. Be careful with the bird though because olive branch plus dove equals Christianity/peace for me.

[budafist]

I was think having the outline of italy with it dived in the colors of the italian flag.

Haha.

[Ms.O]

Those curved lines there are sexy.

I love the curvey lines! I think you should do away with the tree and the bird, enlarge the lines as the main "logo" and use the name at the same width of the lines either above or below the curves! Maybe coming out from behind the curves, with part of the letters chopped off. Make sense? "Coming from the earth...."

[tZ]

Aesthetically, I like it very much.

However, its off target.

If your strategy was to come up with a design for a food company then this does not work.

yes, it is aesthetically pleasing and nice thing to look at.

However, its communitive value is that of residential area or business that cut down tree's.

So you could just say its for a business that cuts down tree's. Cause if it was for that type of business then it would be excellent. The design has a very relaxed, comfortable and trusting feel which would definatly go well with selling this type of business- descruction.

[budafist]

If your strategy was to come up with a design for a food company then this does not work.

also sells dinnerware and other home products from Italy.

Remember that it needs to be broad enough to encompass their other products.