identity design poll

[tZ]

This is more of a poll than a critique.

This will be the identity of a "made-up" design firm for a school project. The "design firm" consist of three members.

With that said, rate the identity that best captures the essence of the mission statement. You may also rate based on what design you feel is most successful, interesting and engaging as a logo.

mission statement

Our Design Firm sets out to achieve coherent but experimental designs. We attempt to provide varied solutions through three contrasting minds.

Clean and simple. Aesthetically appealing. Logically Sound.

thanks

* In the poll one refers to the first(top) link and two the second(bottom)

[odizzle]

just curious how you guys came up with the name...it look like you combined all your names together into one new name

[John G]

I voted one, but it needs some readability work as it gives off that "up down up down up down" dynamic (voice level) when you read it.. well at least me. Maybe having a tad bit better gray value to it is what I mean.

[budafist]

I picked 1 because I don't like 2.

It looks too much like a person's head with funny hair or bat ears.

[tZ]

odizzle wrote:

just curious how you guys came up with the name...it look like you combined all your names together into one new name


Yes, the name was derived by combing our names. Its interesting that you caught on to that.

[Kevined]

Vote one because it is visually interesting for me to read. Number two is too ambiguous. I'm not sure if it's suppose to be abstract or actually represent something.

[Devinyl]

I liked #1, but it is a bit hard to read. I felt like I was stumbling through it.

[seamas]

I voted #1.

The concept is interesting and the technical execution is good (aside from kerning)-Not crazy about the overall (I hate to use the word) gestalt, though.

Don't care for #2 much at all (no pun intended).

[crazed monkey]

The first logotype has an interesting treatment to it, but it still has
a looooonnng way to go.

I would suggest starting off with a 100 or so thumbnail sketches before
going to the computer. This logo is meaningless to me. I mean yeah you have
accentuated the curves and lines of this great typeface...but who cares. Plus
your treatment is VERY poor. Your kerning gave me an eyesore:eek:

The 2nd logo has some nice type treatment, but the graphic is very
poorly devised and strange.

Are you a first year student?

[PrintDriver]

You can do better, tZ.

[tZ]

I appreciate everyones participation, but I wasn't looking for a critique. The deadline is nearing and although I realize neither one is perfect I would like to sway the group decision based on which is more successful to untainted eyes. Some modification will be done, but the thumbnail stage has been completed based on the deadline. However, I do feel there is a need to address the below comment.


I would suggest starting off with a 100 or so thumbnail sketches before
going to the computer. This logo is meaningless to me. I mean yeah you have
accentuated the curves and lines of this great typeface...but who cares. Plus
your treatment is VERY poor. Your kerning gave me an eyesore


Actually… that is the concept. The letter-forms were created by merging two faces together. The logo isn't a pre-maid font, but the heavy modification of two being combined. Plenty of thumbnails and contrasting directions were explored before choosing this direction. The conceptual development of the first logo is based on combining different elements. Experimentation is essentially, the practice of combing contrasting elements. Therefore, a serif and sans-serif face have been combined to reflect the idea of experimentation – combing different elements.

One last thing is that this project has been a collaborative effort. Everyone has had a hand in the development of these compositions – not just me. Therefore , if you would like to address the creator(s) please refrain from a singular manor. I think this is the most fair way address everyones efforts as a whole – not just mine.

I'm currently a senior.

thanks

[tZ]

The first is the combination of walbaum and avenir.

[Tea]

mission statement

Our Design Firm sets out to achieve coherent but experimental designs. We attempt to provide varied solutions through three contrasting minds.

Clean and simple. Aesthetically appealing. Logically Sound.

thanks
Franklly, I don't think either one follows the mission statement. Specifically, the logically sound aspect.

[crazed monkey]

This type of experimentation is going to be tuff.
Serif and San Serif fonts are designed with with
specific adjustments to create the perfect balance
of figure ground relationships.

By combining the two typefaces, you are forcing two fonts
that were not developed to work together, to be readable.
A tuff task for any designer, let alone a college senior.

No offense, but the typographers that developed these
type faces probably examined thousands of options before they
got the negative and positive spacial relationship necessary to create
the perfect balance between form and function.

I commend you for the attempt, and I understand how deadlines
are. I have a BS in Graphic Arts and work at a large hospital as
an Art Director/Designer. Sometimes things have to get done, even
though they are not quite what you hoped...thats the real world.

But the nice thing when you are in school is that you can take the time
be experimental and conceptual.

Good luck in your studies! You will only get better everyday!:)

[tZ]

final direction

[Tea]

Wow! Big difference from the first ones you posted. I'm not sure if I totally understand the concept, so I'll guess here at that it's a connection of ideas and energy? Would I be headed in the right direction?

I like the color choice.

[budafist]

The newest version makes me think of Nikola Tesla.

http://www.ingkomora.org.yu/glasnik/02/images/tesla.jpg

[odizzle]

I think your final attempt is much more successful. It's simple yet memorable. I like it.

[balou]

I like the new direction! Only thing I would tweak is the "post" on the right side. It's angle/direction feels a bit off.

I feel a tagline coming on..."It's Alive!"

[budafist]

I like the new direction! Only thing I would tweak is the "post" on the right side. It's angle/direction feels a bit off.

I feel a tagline coming on..."It's Alive!"

True, it should be leaning away from us, but it current looks like it is leaning towards us.

[hewligan]

That is awesome. I love it.

Maybe I should eat tZ's brain...

[Drazan]

The colors are great!

The "Design Lab" is all but lost and unreadable and would suggest going at least 150% of what it is now.

I agree with the right pole, it's not leaning correctly. If you flip the rings on the pole so that you are looking up at them - that should correct the perspective.

It looks tons better than the first couple images.

[crazed monkey]

Much better TZ!

I almost think it could be simplified further by removing the sphere.
Or possibly cropping it slightly. It is a little overpowering now. The type
is scaled to small for many applications.

The color choices are very nice. Pops well. The illy work could be improved
slightly. I think your prospective is a little warped where the rods meet
the sphere.

Love the type. Nice kerning. I loved the type from the start though.

Overall nice improvement! Almost there!:D

[crazed monkey]

now that I look at it again, I almost like the sphear. Creates a nice
fig/ground relation ship. Its overall an attractive shape. Maybe also try simply
adjusting the scale of the graphic...

[dot]

i liked the second one best in the first place, and so i like the newest one too. the main problem with the second one was the coloring for ski - which made me think of... you know... skiing.

so you fixed that.

i think i still like the second one better than the newest one (cleaner) but the newest one is certainly more obvious.

i appreciate that you were trying something different in terms of what kind of feedback you got from this forum (with perhaps mixed results). was it helpful? would you do it again?

[tZ]

dot wrote

i appreciate that you were trying something different in terms of what kind of feedback you got from this forum (with perhaps mixed results). was it helpful? would you do it again?


I always find the feedback here helpful and an important part of growing as a designer. If I didn't I wouldn't post…

Mixed results? I wasn't really hoping for any types of results – just honesty. What I and other thought was a good solution apparently others did not. I still feel it was a strong direction and maybe even stronger than the final. However, the end goal is not to satisfy self, but the objective of the assignment. Sometimes it easy to loose track of that objective and I find user testing to be the best weapon against that aspect of the design process – thats why I post.

The project has now come to a close and we are developing all the collateral that goes with this logo. Thanks everyone for your feedback and recommendations.

[desktop]

Hey, tZ - nice job. I liked your second one the best (from your first post) so it was nice to see you take that one and tweak it into the final design. Excellent job all around.

[createdirector]

I know the poll is now closed, but I really like option 1. :)