Logo Attempt #2

[kevincdg]

Here are some sketches I did earlier this morning. I'm trying to go with just the name "Mr. Jones" instead -- it sounds a little more generic but with a decent logo I figure that could function as the point. Something simple/generic turned into something great.

Here are some sketches, let's see if any concepts look good to anyone.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/sketch1.gif

Feedback is appreciated. :)

[CkretAjint]

HEY! Being lefthanded does NOT suck!!!


*waves with his left hand*

[MadMike]

I think they look good, you should pick a few and photoshop them up so we can see.

[Ben Kessler]

Is that a bong?

[Jackimalyn]

lmao i see it!

[cj2a]

left is right.

[viince]

I think they look good, you should pick a few and photoshop them up so we can see.

photoshop? I'd never use photoshop for a logo.

i think more sketches and more variations would be nice. And I, too, see a bong!

[resdog]

sorry, I won't be of any help. The name "Mr. Jones" reminded me of La Femme Nikita, so now I have to go watch all 5 seasons of it!

[PrintDriver]

???

[kevincdg]

here are some quick vector renditions of a couple

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/Untitled-2_07.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/Untitled-2_04.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/Untitled-2_02.jpg

[kevincdg]

here's a concept i think i'm becoming attached too -- let's see what you guys think

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/jones_03.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/mrjones_02-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/mrjones31_02.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/mrjones3_02.jpg

let me know what you guys think on the logo and type/colors

i think tehse colors are a lot more approriate than the blue/green...those didn't fit this name well at all.

[frankster]

nice, but reminds me an awful lot of the old Bradford and Bingley logo...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/285000/images/_285617_bb300.jpg

[kevincdg]

i swapped the colors and am more pleased!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/mrjones3_02-1.jpg

[tZ]

???

mens clothing?

[Rasmusbp]

As I recall the logo is for an advertisment agency or design studio? Ain't it correct? But in my eyes the logo screams clothes for busy business men. The logo in it self is graphical nice and well balanced. But I'm convinced that it wouldn't deliver the right signal... The advertisment world isn't always ties and black briefcases :).
I like the name Mr. Jones, so perhaps play around with the thought of incorporating what the company does. For instance Mr. Jones graphics or Mr. Jones Design, and then somehow add it in to the logo... It could clearout any misunderstandings...

[PrintDriver]

Again we're on the 'mark must identify what business does' thing. If this is true why don't you all have computers in your logos and the word 'Design' in your business name? That's like saying the company with the original swoosh should be called Nike Sneakers.

The white lines delineating the guys arms aren't quite right but it's a strong look. Walking into this thread not knowing what the logo is for can sometimes be a good thing for first glance. No preconceived notions.

[Tea]

I was intrigued with what might come of #8 on your sketches, but I'm liking the direction the latest works are headed. There is an interesting play of heights going on with the latest one. That may do some really cool things or really whacky stuff when placed with other components whereever the logo is used.

[BJMRGTIVR6]

maybe check this book out sfor some creative ideas of 50's retro styling:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823005879/sofa-20/ref=nosim

[Rasmusbp]

Again we're on the 'mark must identify what business does' thing. If this is true why don't you all have computers in your logos and the word 'Design' in your business name? That's like saying the company with the original swoosh should be called Nike Sneakers.
Well... I agree with you on some level. I want to say that you're right and you're wrong :). Because of course you shouldn't always say in your logos what the company does. But but but... Big corporation such as Nike didn't start out by planing their whole coporate identity on a swoosh. The reason why big corporations as Nike and Coca Cola is "allowed" to change identity and, by that I meen simplifying their logos and identity is because people are branded, and thereby would recognize a Nike swoosh or a Coca Cola bottle from 10.000 miles. You can say that the swoosh carries the Nike corporate identity alone... But in newly started companies a simply an anonymous logo will not be capable of carring the identity alone... it needs support, and in the beginning the needed support could be in form of an added tagline saying the company's business area. For instance (a made up company) "Green - your trusted bank", and once "Green" is branded in peoples mind, via a comprehensive design/corporate strategy, the designer team behind "Green" can experiment with leaving the tagline out of the context..

[PrintDriver]

Nike was a bad analogy. Too well known.

I'm just saying, if my design firm was named DeepBlue, I wouldn't necessarily use the word Design, Creative, or Graphics after it nor would I use a blue computer as an icon. I've done a lot of work for a lot of graphics firms with enigmatic names, admittedly many of them grew up in the DotCom era. But apparently they have clients. Media companies are even more apt to have linked-word, amorphous names. It's all in the sell and in the portfolio.

edit: Branding is important. I'm not saying it isn't. Knowing what a company does will aid in creating a concept behind a logo. It just doesn't have to be a literal translation of what the company does. If I were TigerGraphics, I'd have a cool tiger logo, not a striped computer icon... :D

[Zendada]

i swapped the colors and am more pleased!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/mrjones3_02-1.jpg

Liking it. PD is right though... something about the arms isn’t quite right.

[Two-Toe Tom]

i agree, there's too much space between the left arm and body, i think it should be a thin white line outlining the shape of the arm.

[sweet*pea]

I am wondering what Mr Jones does? Does he sell suits, hats, is he a stock broker?

[viince]

the right arm appears to be bending in a strange way. And the space between the "E" and the "S" is uncomfortable. Perhaps try having them touch.

Why exactly did you choose a man in a tie for your logo?

[MadMike]

I am wondering what Mr Jones does? Does he sell suits, hats, is he a stock broker?
he could be a professional assassin.

Yeah that arm is a little weird, but I would fix the right one too. The space shows a straight line with no curve around his body on the right side, if that made sense.

[PrintDriver]

His chest appears narrower than his waist. Looks weird.

[frankster]

the curve of th bottom of his jacket either needs a little chink out of the middle to show the meeting of the left and right side of the jacket or something else in the design that makes it obviously a double breasted suit jacket and then you can keep the flat bottom to the image. At the moment it doesn't look very tailored or jacket like apart from the tie.

If you are based in the US then ignore my Bradford and Bingley comment as that was a UK based building society (now bank) (moist people in the UK would recognise thier old logo easily)

[kevincdg]

thanks for all the great feedback! i'm not a very good illustrator, so it's always great to see what's lacking in the image. i'm glad most of you like the concept, and for those of you who don't, let me explain a little.

mrjones will be my new design company, focusing on an old style of respect for the client and anonynmity when creating their site. broacher wrote a very good paragraph that i'll probably base most of it off of, since what he wrote actually describes how i am.


Here's some thoughts I had about the name "Mr. Jones":

Just the simple use of the salutation 'Mr.' has a certain 1950 retro business formality charm to it: in this age of 'dress down workweeks', and general lowering of formality in business communications-- maybe this could work in your favour: if you spun it right. Not to say that you're stiff and stiff-suited, just that your sense of customer respect and 'old-fashioned'(?) commitment to professionalism. It signals that you want to be treated with respect (no harm in that, considering the often questionable treatment graphic designers often receive from business people) and in turn, you don't question the expectation to return that respect to the people who hire you.

Spin? Perhaps a stylized 50's era smiling, square cut business guy graphic in your logo? Play it up: dress in simple black jacket (matching hanky), pants, white shirt, thin tie. I'm not sure what... but the thing is to keep the idea of old-fashioned, hard-working professional with a brilliant, contemporary portfolio to contrast.

'Mr. Jones'? This phrase has another connotation: it's almost a universal euphemism for anonynmity. For everything from hotel registries (with mistress in tow) to early ad lingo for 'average joe consumer'. This could be used creatively too: acknowledge that as 'Mr. Jones' you don't pose any threat as a designer with a personal style to prove -- you are just committed to being a professional talent to hire. Your skills are so sophisticated and wide ranging that your presence in the final is invisible. You understand that it's your job to make the CLIENT look good no matter what the job is that you get assigned to.


I'll try to touch it up today a little more. See what I can get done.

Again, thanks for all the great feedback.

[kevincdg]

Edits to his body (all versions are the same body) with some minor adjustments on the "e" and "s" as recommended. Let me know what you think.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/jones_06.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/jones_05.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/jones_04.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/BobbHeartsYou/jones_02.jpg

[sweet*pea]

They look really good. I just don't think people will understand that it is a design company... at leasts thats not what I get from it.

[kevincdg]

They look really good. I just don't think people will understand that it is a design company... at leasts thats not what I get from it.

well, i'll feature a tagline or something under saying 'graphic + web design'. and then, on the welcome of the site will be a paragraph describing what i do and what i pride myself on -- the respect and anonynmity. i think it'll all tie it together more.

this is in reference to the man who's behind yellow graphics...rahsurn or something, i don't remember sorry :) hehe

but you said it doesn't really fit -- well, it doesn't fit once you know a bit about the site. i view your logo the same way, the pantone switch. i really like the logo, but how many people outside graphic designers are going to know what it is? probably not very many. but once they get to your site or hear about you from someone, they may get it a little more and it'll make sense.

thanks for the feedback peas -- was there one you like in particular? any combination of the e/s's that stood out above the rest?

[sweet*pea]

From the last group of 4 that you posted, I really like the second one down. None of the words are touching, and I like the 'e' turned. It gives it interest. And with the help of a tagline this will be a pretty cool logo.

[viince]

The figure is looking much better. I don't think the "e" and "s" touching is working too well, but it was worth a try. The 2nd and 4th look clean. You just have to kern it a little more for both of them. The fourth might even fit better with your whole concept. And on a side note, he's looking a bit mysterious like a private eye or something. That's not necessarily a bad thing but i was just thinking that.

[Broacher]

Yikes. I think that figure suggests an entirely different kind of 'contract' than graphic design work.

You know, the kind of figure I was imagining goes more along the lines of the slightly cartoonish, no-nonsense black and white retro line work. (There was one guy who was the acknowledged 'master' of this style... what was his name? There was a feature on him recently at Creativepro.com)

Off the top of my head, a good example is used on the cover of Jeff Fisher's (a GDF member, no less) book, 'The Savvy Designer's Guide':

http://www.amazon.com/Savvy-Designers-Guide-Success-Tactics/dp/1581804806

I've often thought since the release and success of that book that Jeff should consider changing his company name to 'Savvy Designer' and cash in on the publicity. As a word, 'Savvy' just seems to suit him well.

[PrintDriver]

I don't think the figure is threatening in any way, Broacher. You thinking more Will Eisner-esque? I actually prefer the less is more approach.

Not digging the jacket split. Now it looks like he's lopped off at the legs. Or worse... :eek:

[DesignerScott]

I am wondering what Mr Jones does? Does he sell suits, hats, is he a stock broker?
I see "Private Eye"
but that's just me.

[tZ]

There is no connection between the graphic and your design.

Why a guy in a suite?- what does that have to do with design?

The first thing that comes to mind when I see your mark is mens warehouse not graphic designer.

Although there is no current concept here is something that you may work to your advantage.

A suite could imply the concept of dressing something up- need I say more.

[kevincdg]

The connection isn't there between the graphic and the design, but more of the graphic and the approach to design i'm taking.

I'm going to focus on more of an old-fashioned, respectful treatment of clients. I'm going to make sure that they know they're a first priority. Broacher actually came up with a majority of the idea, and it seemed to fit well. Even after thinking about my competition and target market in my area, it fits. A lot of the business's around here that I'd target aren't young people -- they're older, more old fashioned business owners.

With this type of thinking I can connect to them as well as others. Also, the reason with the silhoutte more than an actual face, is the anonynmity factor. I'm going to be here to make a name for the client, not a name for myself. I'm hiding in the background, per say, making them look good.

I think the logo matches the stance my business is taking, which is just as important as the field I'm in. If people see my logo somewhere, it'll be accompanied by what i do, such as a tagline that says graphics + web designer. the logo will have a deeper meaning, that they'll grasp fully once they talk to me or hit my site.

[PrintDriver]

When I first saw a Target I didn't know what it was either. Now I know it's just another Walmart wannabee.

tZ, you're right. A designer should be wearing Black not gray, and don't forget those Agent Smith glasses... LOL!

[viince]

A lot of the business's around here that I'd target aren't young people -- they're older, more old fashioned business owners.

I don't think this logo would really appeal much to the "old fashioned business owners." I think clever clean typography would be much classier and old fashioned in that respect or simplfied imagery and thus be more appealing to them. Otherwise, I think you could expand on this idea.

[Broacher]

That figure looks like a gangster, the mafiaso classic style, to me. Maybe it's the black shirt/white tie/hat-on combo.

Kevin, if you do want to persue 'the anonymous designer' as a central motif, have you considered backing away from pictorial elements altogether? Again, if you're claiming to be background to design-- well, this is a real logo challenge! The logic of trying to convey visually, identity through invisibility? Yikes.

So what, logically, are some of your other options? Okay, let's just throw some thoughts out. What's the most 'anonymous' typeface you can think of? Times? Courier? Courier, like the 'Mr. Jones' idea of retro-formality in service delivery, has more connection with 'then' than now.

A designer should be wearing black not gray? See, I think a designer who is not trying to appear as a typical designer should be wearing white, just to make things obvious. Interesting isn't it? The trend back to retro 50 styling was started years ago and as a fashion trend it's pretty well taken over the very high-end fashion market of prescription eyeglasses, hasn't it? What if you started there? Courier type? Retro black glasses?

Despite the fact that it's a culturally ancient stereotype-- we STILL strongly associate wearing glasses with intelligence, and to some extent, a perfect disguise of hidden beauty. How many Hollywood flicks have you seen where the beautiful actress puts up her hair, adds glasses, and immediately is transformed (at least to the characters with her in the movie) as plain, and/or brainy? It's amazing that we still (or at least enough do still) accept this as a feasible device.

The other consideration is the signature. This ties back to the hotel registry connotation of the 'Mr. Jones' message. And that might be worth exploring. Look at it this way: the designer is 'Mr. Jones' and the client, 'Mrs. Jones'. The hotel? The marketplace. The hotel room? This is where the two 'spend the night' working out creative possibilities. See? We've taken the simple, innocent little graphic of a hotel registry signature and given it many connective possibilities. Then you have to look at finding small, symbolic supporting objects that evoke all this, without giving it away.

A good spot for this kind of thinking is Rene Magritte. He really studied and explored the 'language of banality' very well and I think that kind of direction would work well here. It's the hidden connections of everyday things, and their secret promises that only the commonplace and ordinary objects can posess that so often makes the strongest and most powerful statements.

Oops. Gotta back to my four day weekend. Bye!

[urstwile]

I'm going to focus on more of an old-fashioned, respectful treatment of clients. I'm going to make sure that they know they're a first priority. Broacher actually came up with a majority of the idea, and it seemed to fit well. Even after thinking about my competition and target market in my area, it fits. A lot of the business's around here that I'd target aren't young people -- they're older, more old fashioned business owners.

With this type of thinking I can connect to them as well as others. Also, the reason with the silhoutte more than an actual face, is the anonynmity factor. I'm going to be here to make a name for the client, not a name for myself. I'm hiding in the background, per say, making them look good.

This description sounds a lot like a butler.

[kevincdg]

This description sounds a lot like a butler.

And don't most people always dream of having a maid or butler when they're little? Someone doing all their stuff for them so they don't have too?

:)

[urstwile]

I was making the point mainly because maybe that's something you could incorporate in the imagery somehow. :)

[PrintDriver]

When I read Broacher's new descriptive all I had running through my head was a song from some Broadway musical, "Mr. Celophane".

[Drazan]

I like it. I think that logo-wise it is the better of many that have been posted for critique.

Logos do not have to be literal translations. And as you said with backup marketing of who you are and what you do, the logo becomes the iconic symbol rather than a literal translation.

It's bold and looks corporate. Much better than gradient, swishy, translucent, beveled, photoshoped to death marks that have been steadily emerging as the latest trend.

This type of look will last you through the trendy periods and keep a lasting impression on people.

Here is a sample of non-litteral logos. After all who ever thought a penguin could represent an OS?
http://jadeadragon.com/shared/gd/gd_logo_mrjones.jpg

[budafist]

In fact, I prefer designs that are not literal translations. Sometimes it is fitting, sometimes it is need for memorability. To make you stand out from your competitors.

We once printed packaging for lubrication/arousal ointment for women. Something like that should NOT be literal. It should be abstract right? This product packaging had a flesh coloured background, a slit (as in a dark line) on the flesh coloured background, with a big, shiney, moist dew drop on one end of the slit. I'm a woman and I would NOT buy a product with an illustrated vagina on the box.

Sorry. Tangent.

[typographics]

I'm a woman and I would NOT buy a product with an illustrated vagina on the box.


i would.

[Twisty]

Hi Kevincdg, i think you've come along way since your sketches!
I quite liked the e and s joined together. It adds interest and maybe does give the hint that your a designer. Old world service and contemporary modern design brought together!
I would maybe make your man a touch smaller.
I think your idea is great and with some clever marketing it would work well, and set you apart from the other designers in your area.
Might be time to get yourself a new suit and hat?

[AlexNJ210]

i would.
Laughed out loud in my chair at work causing everyone to look at me :-)

[AlexNJ210]

A quick suggestion to aid in correcting the confusion concerning the indrectness of the logo pertaining to what the company does would be to simply change the hat he is wearing to something more iconic such as the "artist's hat" or that french beanie hat lookin thing. :-) sorry i dont know the exact name.

[Rasmusbp]

A quick suggestion to aid in correcting the confusion concerning the indrectness of the logo pertaining to what the company does would be to simply change the hat he is wearing to something more iconic such as the "artist's hat" or that french beanie hat lookin thing. :-) sorry i dont know the exact name.

Wouldn't that ruin the whole idea of the "Mr. Jones" concept? Great idea though!

[AlexNJ210]

Well as i saw it, his main concept for his business was to project an author's anonymity in his designs to potential clients, and it appeared there was a struggle to convey the right kind of idea in the logo that would show his business is in fact a design firm. So no i dont think it ruins his whole idea. Simply changing the hat on the head while leaving the rest of the design unchanged i dont think would ruin that concept. The main design feature of the logo that conveys the anonymity as stated by the designer himself is that the man figure does not have a face. He also places the hands behind the back in the same way a bellhop or server would stand, which conincides with his message of anonymous obliged but impecable design service.

and thank you for the compliment :) .

[Rasmusbp]

You're welcome... :)

It's just that when I think of the name Mr. Jones I link it to Billy Paul and the record "Me and Mrs. Jones", with a classic sound and style like Frank Sinatra. And Kevincdg's last name is Jones, so I think that he intended the logo to have that classic look and feel... (Think he posted that somewhere in another thread, sorry if I'm wrong :)).
So that's what I meant by ruin the idea of the concept.

[AlexNJ210]

I dont know if kevincdg posted that, i thought that was someone else, but what is the significance of the hat the figure has to the "classic" look and feel your talking about? How would my suggestion ruin a "classic" look, in my opinion, if its done right, a simple iconic change like that could strengthen said emotion.

[Rasmusbp]

I don't know if I'm right about this or not. When I say classic I meen the "Frank Sinatra" style, with a suit and a stylish hat :). You make a good point, and I like your suggestion... Let's leave it up to Kevin to decide what he feels is the right thing to do :).
If you feel like it your welcome to look at my "logo thread" and try to help me out deciding what to go with or not:

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28012