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BrentonMailman
03-19-2007, 12:25 AM
It's been a LONG time... but I'm still at it, more or less. I'm 16, art-career-focused, perhaps graphic design. My parents own and operate a cottage rental business, catoring to the family market, nothing too fancy, but not "cabins" :)
I originally did the logo and website a few years ago, without ANY knowledge of design or anything... http://www.upperclementscottages.ca (http://www.upperclementscottages.ca/)
Needless to say, they both need some serious updating.
I haven't been here in a long time for a bunch of reasons, mainly, I haven't been doing any graphic design stuff. I guess I'm more open now as to what my future career will be. 'Nuff said.
So, here is the VERY preliminary logo design at this stage. No color. And, btw-we have rabbits EVERYWHERE... they roam free and are all really tame, like pets. They make us quite unique lol (hence the rabbit, which will be all over the new site.)
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u303/BrentonMailman/UCC1b.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u303/BrentonMailman/UCC1a.jpg
I can't decide on colors at all and can't even decide which of these contrasts I like better.
Fire away.
Relic
03-19-2007, 01:20 AM
The upper logo seems better for me. Never much for words.
Samakimoto Graphics
03-19-2007, 10:21 AM
This is a good start. :)
I get the sense that you did not go through very many other ideas to pick this one, perhaps a few more sketches.
On this one: I feel there is a disjointedness in the elemnts; the two text items seem to stand alone, while the bunny appears like an after thought, the position and size of the bunny in relation to the text and the shape of the enclosing shape make the logo somewhat top-heavy. I like that you did not go the cliche way of having a building in the logo.
I like the idea of the signboard shape (enclosing shape), perhaps you could find a way of emphasizing this unique aspect of "tame" bunnies in the logo...make it more prominent as is the case in your website.
Those are lovely cottages. They have a nice cabin feel...this could also be a point of inspiration for the logo.
BrentonMailman
03-19-2007, 08:08 PM
Thanks for the response
Believe it or not, many a thought have gone into this logo at one time or another :o. I'm completely too involved with it all now(the cottages and the logos) so it has become nearly impossible for me to approach the business anew and get an immediate feel to work off of... that's the part that pisses me off.
I don't really feel a need to go all out in showing that the rabbits are tame in the logo. The last thing I want is for it to look like a petting zoo or vet logo :).
The logo is rarely seen alone, and the tame rabbits (and other animals) are talked about quite a bit in other areas (ie website, brochure). Unless anyone has anysuggestions...
So are we saying we're happy with the text and enclosing shape as is? I've been tinkering on and off with ideas for a new logo for a long time now, and think that this is the only one that has the right feel to it.
Incorporating the rabbit into the logo was, admittedly, an after thought (the text portion came first, then rabbit, then enclosing shape). Would it seem more in harmony with the space it leaves unoccupied if there were... dare I say, flourishes? This would be easy to incorperate if it weren't for the descending portion of the "g". I do agree that it seems a little empty on the bottom, the left in particular.
budafist
03-20-2007, 06:50 AM
You're off to a good start. It is a clean simple logo, I'm just worried that the rabbit is too small. Remember that the logo may appear on business cards or in the corner of a small magazine or newspaper ad, vouches etc.
p.s. I love rabbits
BrentonMailman
03-20-2007, 10:16 PM
You love rabbits... I can see that! :)
You'd love our cottages, we have over 30 rabbits, all tame enough to eat out of your hand. We always have lots of babies, too (they are rabbits, after all...)
I think you might be right, buda. While the rabbit symbol will appear on its own (in various different sizes and locations) wherever the logo is, if the logo is too small to identify the rabbit, no connection will be made. I just resized this and have come to realize that the symbol only looks remotely like a rabbit when it is this large+ :
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u303/BrentonMailman/UCC1asmall.jpg
(and that's really stretching it) uh oh!
How about this? I just changed the rabbit's size:
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u303/BrentonMailman/UCC2.jpg
To me, the small version of the second image is a little easier to see (they appear to be about the same, but the last one's smaller) So I guess my question is: If you saw the last one, out of context, would you say it was a rabbit?
budafist
03-21-2007, 12:22 AM
How about you move the rabbit to the left or right of the text? That way the rabbit can be up to the height of the type?
Love to see pics of all these buns you're talking about!
Click on the second link in my signature to see the bun that's captured my wee heart :)
BrentonMailman
03-21-2007, 02:29 AM
d'awww... it's so much fun to put them on their backs in your lap :)
Are we suggesting the rabbit symbol remain inside the enclosing shape if it were to move to the side?
To tell you the truth, the logo is rarely seen in small sizes, or alone... We've been running the cottages for almost seven years now, so, from experience, I'm not really worried about whether it looks like a rabbit or not in extremely small sizes. And it will almost always be backed up with further implimentation of the rabbit symbol.
Lastly, 161 views and only 6 responses.... is this a bad sign?
I guess, bluntly, is this a good direction? I know it's stronger than its predecessor, and the rabbit actually being in the logo is merely a bonus. I promise, it will be everywhere. People will get that we have bunnies :)
Is there anything terribly wrong with this logo? I know it covers all the bases I was looking for ("cottages" stands out, "upper clements" reads as one item, as it should, and theres a rabbit.)
budafist
03-21-2007, 10:36 AM
There's nothing terribly wrong with the logo. It's a little on the plain side, but that's up to you/the client. Bunny is small and can be problematic for a logo, but you don't seem to be worried by this.
Sandman93
03-21-2007, 07:14 PM
just to put my 2 cents in i think its a great logo but from what budafist says the rabbit i think may become a problem because of its size could i make the suggestion to make the rabbit a darker grey than the background so that its noticeable but have it large and take up most of the grey back and keep the text still black. you dont have to do this its just an idea. :D
BrentonMailman
03-21-2007, 07:44 PM
I tried your idea, sandman. I thought it would work, but really didn't. The rabbit just confused the text and looked like a blob more than a rabbit :(
I think I'm happy with this. I think it has the right feel for us, and I like the simple aspects of it... I think I'm ready to start experimenting with color.
seamas
03-21-2007, 08:41 PM
I like the simplicity, but would like to see a larger rabbit, and perhaps a little more work on the silohette. Perhaps a leaping rabbit?
I think the typeface is nice enough, but with a little work you can come up with something that integrates best with the rabbit.
The rabbit seems as if its a seperate element or after thought.
I would suggest better intergration of the rabbit into the typography.
budafist
03-21-2007, 10:50 PM
Another idea:
Try using the rabbit as a counter in one of the letters. I'm thinking maybe the "g". Instead of having the oval counter, have a rabbit shaped one.
Samakimoto Graphics
03-22-2007, 08:00 AM
...I would suggest better intergration of the rabbit into the typography.
That's what I meant. TZ nailed it.:)
Buda said something similar; although I think the bunny would become even less prominent then... but possibilitoes are endless.
urstwile
03-22-2007, 08:19 AM
My main comment is that you seem to be constraining yourself to the shape outlining the logo elements. What if you busted out of that there shape and messed around with stuff so that you're not forcing the bunny into its hutch, so to speak? Free the bunny! :D
Sandman93
03-23-2007, 01:01 AM
Thanks atleast for considering my idea, i have another just to through out there why dont you make the Bunny the background instead of that plaque look. Make the bunny Black and use white text and have the black bunny have a grey silohette. Just another of my wacky thoughts
BrentonMailman
03-23-2007, 02:02 PM
The shape is definitely constraining me, but (as it is) makes the logo a lot stronger. I definitely agree about losing it while I'm working on it. Thanks, urst.
Assuming I did it right, the rabbit as a counter (in any of the letters) really didn't work. It had to be even smaller and just didn't fit. Perhaps this is because its shape of the rabbit is quite different from all the counters.
tZ: You suggest better integration of the rabbit with the typography.... Of course I agree, but do you have any ideas?
seamas: Are you saying the typeface needs more work? Do you not like the font?
I'm just in a huge rut with all this. I'm stumped... I think the worst part is, like I said, I'm SO involved with the business. I've become blind to the feeling one gets immediately when they come here. I have nothing to work off of.
BrentonMailman
03-23-2007, 02:49 PM
The shape is definitely constraining me, but (as it is) makes the logo a lot stronger. I definitely agree about losing it while I'm working on it. Thanks, urst.
Assuming I did it right, the rabbit as a counter (in any of the letters) really didn't work. It had to be even smaller and just didn't fit. Perhaps this is because its shape of the rabbit is quite different from all the counters.
tZ: You suggest better integration of the rabbit with the typography.... Of course I agree, but do you have any ideas?
seamas: Are you saying the typeface needs more work? Do you not like the font?
I'm just in a huge rut with all this. I'm stumped... I think the worst part is, like I said, I'm SO involved with the business. I've become blind to the feeling one gets immediately when they come here. I have nothing to work off of.
BrentonMailman
03-23-2007, 03:52 PM
oops, double post. Not sure how that happened...
Sandman93
03-23-2007, 07:38 PM
lol triple post :D
BrentonMailman wrote:
You suggest better integration of the rabbit with the typography.... Of course I agree, but do you have any ideas?
Instead of isolating the rabbit concept intergrate it into the typography. Perhaps use the anatomy of the letterforms to create a rabbit rather then using a seperate illustration. You could also use a partial shilloutte where the illustration could overlap the typography.
budafist
03-25-2007, 02:52 AM
Yes, a partial silhouette could work.
Example, doctor the "a" to have rabbit ears, a tail and some bunny legs even.
BrentonMailman
03-25-2007, 04:11 AM
Well, damn.
Exhibit A:
http://www.supercow.com/products/brand_icons/BlueBunnyLogo.jpg
While perusing the net for some rabbit ideas... I come across THIS... and thought, "Damn. Why didn't I have come up with that?" I am personally in love with this bunny... and SO mad that it's not some public use clipart from which I could draw inspiration.
NOW what.... i'm seriously stumped on this all... I have no idea where I'm going to be able to find any "umph" th get this done. I feel so totally back in my rut. :( :confused: :mad:
BTW... sketched out some ideas with morphing the 'a' to be a bunny... and it didn't go so well.
This project has left me seriously "all dried up"...
PrintDriver
03-25-2007, 11:46 AM
You're stuck on one concept.
Forget the shape of the sign blank for now and just sketch.
Go back to your rabbit shape search.
Have you ever seen the rabbit in the moon?
Have you looked at cave paintings?
Have you looked at high-concept abstract rabbits or other animals?
You need to not focus on being clever and cute but just be random for a while.
BrentonMailman
03-25-2007, 12:29 PM
Thank you. I have abandoned all current design concepts for now... I'm trying to be as random as possible. Looking in extremely un-expected places (ie-cave paintings, the moon) is a REALLY good idea!'
Thanks, PrintDriver!
You should never just dig one hole.
Dig many holes then explore them.
Otherwise, this is the type of promblems you will run into with one concept.
Your stuck!- thats good- it means your progressing.
Sit down and take some time just to create word list and spray diagrams of things that you could associate with the business in representation. Then create list from those of things that associated with those objects. Then do it again, again and again- eventually you will have so many different ideas you won't know where to begin.
The creative process isn't limited to the execution in any means. The most important part is exploring a variety of concepts to find the most sucessfull solution. In exploring one conceot with the bunny/rabbit alone you are doing yourself and your client a huge injustice.
budafist
03-25-2007, 11:13 PM
Perhaps you go and take 100 photographs at the cottages. Be inspired by things that are actually there and unique to that place.
BrentonMailman
03-27-2007, 12:12 AM
Pictures work for me... that is part of my plan. I took quite a few the other day, but school has me pretty busy lately. This project is going to fill my free time for now. School should slow doen for a while soon.
I guess I'm going to collect ideas and let this simmer on the back burner for a while. I'll come back with new eyes soon. Thanks for all the great advice, btw.