Personal Logo

[Markasin3]

my eyes are glazing over from staring at the monitor too long. I need some guidance. I'm creating an identity system for my design portfolio, business card, letters, an so forth.
My teacher suggested I might want to make my logo appeal to corporate businesses since a lot of my design skills seem to cater corporate jobs. And since I'm a generalist, she also said not to go crazy with my logo but to make it appeal to a variety of businesses. (but I can go crazy on my portfolio pieces)

This makes sense, but I'm finding this hard to do! Cause my instincts are saying to go quirky and random since that's how my personality is. Honestly, I'm tempted to draw a bunch of scribbles with an M on top, or a hippo and call it a day.

Maybe I can find a blend between what corporate businesses want and what represents me..

Being my name is Mark Mizal, I tried to do something with the two Ms.

My favorite color is lime green, but my teacher said that corporate people like blue. So I tried to use both.

Honestly, guys. I dunno anymore. I need a break. So here's what I came up with.

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/idgrey-01.png

I need a lot of direction, so please share some constructive criticism. Making a logo for myself is harder than I thought. Thanks

[garricks]

9 and 14 look like the view from the foot of the bed during...well, you get my drift. ;)

You are your own client in this case. Have you written a brief? Have you asked yourself the same questions you would ask any client? Clarify (with a pad and pen) what you want your business to be, and to whom it should appeal.

[CkretAjint]

my eyes are glazing over from staring at the monitor too long.

Try staring at a pad of paper with your pencil then. ;)


My favorite color is lime green, but my teacher said that corporate people like blue. So I tried to use both.

Then use (lime) green. That's what I did! :D

[Markasin3]

I saw some potential in number 8 because it was very simple, and so um... I got a little carried away

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/newestlogos.png

[iDad]

I like number 4 and 7. 7 would be very cool animated as if writing your name......just a suggestion.

[Cre8tivDirector]

My favorite color is lime green, but my teacher said that corporate people like blue. So I tried to use both.

Sounds like an odd thing for a teacher to say. Just because many corporations use blue doesn't mean you should follow suit - otherwise we'd all end up with only blue logos. Go with what suits YOU - as you are the designer for your work - not your teacher.

[Cre8tivDirector]

also - i like where you're going with the mark - but the typefaces you seem to stick with are on the thin side - i'd play a bit with different fonts- check on the readability of the overall mark at different sizes.

[Markasin3]

okay, thanks

I think I'm leaning toward sample A

[Roth]

If you're going with A then sort the shadow out. It looks like an A, with the left leg shadow completely throwing it off. Plus this is greyscale. How's it going to work in b&w? The two-tone M doesn't really seem to be signifying anything. Dull type too. Actually, there's not a lot to like in this. There's better choices in the original 15, like 5 and 7.

[holycow77]

Why not a hippo?

My logo is a penguin.

I like 6 from your first batch, but they are a bit boring... It seems like you've got some talent and I good eye for design - I reckon you could do much better.

[Ozwin]

I like 5 from your initial designs.

I don't really like the shape of the 'M' in Markasin's edits, the straight edges at the tops make it look a bit cheap. I think that's why I like 5, because of the pointed tips. Looks a bit more sleek.

[Markasin3]

Thank you everyone. Roth, you're right, the more I looked at logo A, it just looked like one big mess, and the crown-like appearance doesn't really fit me anyways. I messed around with number 5 and number 7 and challenged myself a little bit more.
These are designed completely in black and white. Number 5 is near the bottom, and number 7 is there, a tad bit tweaked.
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/design2-01.jpg

[The Zep]

Who is your target audience with these designs?
What do they expect a designer to be like?
I think your designs are developing in a very technical, artificial, virtual direction.

If I were an engineer, a lawyer or an evil director of HR I might prefer designers with a touch of artistry or even handcraft.

So I'm the dissenting opinion here: I vote for number fifteen. Or for a future number fifteen with a little work done on it...

[jeruni]

Hello,

Your logo is more than just an important part of your marketing materials. It is the face of your business. Your logo gives clients and prospects a visual reference to pair with your business name, which increases the memorability of your brand.

Here at logo design company.

Thanks.

[Heartburn_02]

"A" in POST #4 looks like a crease in folded paper, up the centre of the M, yet the rest of the M edges say it isn't folded. What about cutting out an M in card, putting in a real crease, and then playing with a torch to get a real shadow that really looks like the shadow you would like to have. I find doing things with card or paper in reality, triggers ideas that I wouldn't get in front of the VDU. But thats what happens when you're a Blue Peter fan:) And for all you yankee doodles... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWOrfTvOiKM

[The Zep]

Download the Let's Make the Blue Peter Studio PDF (2.5MB) (https://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/Download%20the%20Let%27s%20Make%20the%20Blue%20Pet er%20Studio%20PDF%20%282.5MB%29)
Oops, off topic...

[Dr.McNinja]

Out of the latest batch, i like C3 and C4. Link above 404'd.

His target audience would be corporations as mentioned in the original post, but i have no idea who exactly will see his logo most.

[Totem-Media]

I like the pencil idea, but I've seen a lot of designers use a pencil. You seem to be getting closer to something good with it.

Overall, none of them feel very inspired or individual. I'm not learning anything about you from your logo. Maybe go crazy with really wild, different ideas and then pull something simple from there?

When I worked on my logo, I spent a couple of days looking at other industry logos and drawing mine out, ever simplifying.

[Markasin3]

It's my own logo or identity system as a graphic designer or multimedia designer. Basically, it's going on my resume and portfolio website, so the people who are going to see it are the people who possibly will hire me as part of their in house or design firm team.

Also, I don't think I'm gonna go with letter A in post 4 because of what Roth said. Also, it wouldn't read well in black and white.

What do you guys think of C3 in the latest post? I tried to put a check mark in there.. well my name is mark. and a nice upward slant.

[Totem-Media]

C3 makes me think of a financial firm. The Ms look like a line graph.

[Markasin3]

Here's my reason, tell me if you think its good or if I should stop trying it.

What I think I'm trying to do here is to create something that's more abstract, cause many local business employers might see something they like in it according to their perspective.

These are what I was envisioning in some of the designs. (Of course, all of them are using the letter M once or twice.)

Design 1 paint brush tips

Design 2 Mountain

Design 8 Skyscraper edge

Design 9 and Design 14 looking through pages (but as already mentioned earlier, could be something not good)

Design A (the drop shadow one) crown

Design C1 Arrow

Design C2 bridge

Design C3 graph, check mark, ramp, shoe

Design C4 mountain, fancy upwards arrow

So right now, I'm liking C3 because it is currently holding the most looks.

The only reason I don't like design C5, is yes totem it has been used a lot, and it is and will always be a pencil. It won't look like anything else. Also, I don't know if a pencil will really work, since a lot of my stuff is digital work.

[Markasin3]

oh, and thank you all for your opinions. Everyone is being helpful. The suggestions are great.

Unfortunately, I have to present one of these today to my class, but it doesn't mean its gonna be the final design.

[martyng]

Mark Mizal Multimedia

3 m's are perfect for a "mmm..." yum!

[Markasin3]

Mark Mizal Multimedia

3 m's are perfect for a "mmm..." yum!

I don't see anything negative in that statement. :rolleyes: lol

[artgem1984]

Your teacher sounds a bit stupid for saying 'corporate people like blue.' What's with that?

[Markasin3]

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/c3b.png

[Markasin3]

Alright. I just got back from class and showed the teacher and the students all my examples. The one they saw most interesting was design A.
knowing the shadow was looking weird, So I expanded on that and created a folder type of thing, and changed the name to Mark Mizal Interactive.
This more describes me. Here's is the updated logo. Design D

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/Picture3.png

What do you think?

[Markasin3]

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/Picture4.png

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/Picture6.png

[Ozwin]

Don't take my opinion as gospel because I'm new to this but the logo looks too big next to the text, they look like two seperate things stuck next to each other.

Also, the 'i' floating above the MM looks strange to me, I'm not sure how you could implement an 'i' in with that logo though.

Are you at university or is this a night class or something? I'd be interested in doing something like this myself.

[Markasin3]

I'm going to an art school in a community college.

[Roth]

You're going backwards. You should be headed towards simplicity but you're logo is just a lot of confusing lines that don't mesh, and your name is weighted all wrong.

[Markasin3]

D4
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/Picture9.png

D5
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/Picture10.png

D6
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/Picture11.png

D7
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/Picture12.png

[Markasin3]

well, if I have to scrap it, I'll scrap it. but the feedback from school was different

[Roth]

School is full of people learning design, so it's about what they like, not necessarily what they know. The design doesn't seem considered. Even if it was a great idea the execution is still poor. Letters are stretched and pulled haphazardly, like you went to the shear tool then just started playing around with the bounding box; the icons suffer accordingly, it looks wrong. Lines don't match up, it's not in black and white, the name is tightly kerned then has huge gaps between the words. School should be tellling you this, but they're obviously not.

[artgem1984]

Newest ones remind me of butterflies at a glance.

[Totem-Media]

I really like the lime-green folder. I like the 3D effect. Your latest ones, since artgem mentioned a butterfly, is cool too.

[Ozwin]

To me it looks like there's one M and a shadow of it behind, this could be said for all 4 of your latest ones. Because the angle of the M is leaning forward too much it doesn't look right, it looks awkward and not mathmatically correct, if that's the right way of putting it.

[Markasin3]

Okay, I'm gonna stop designing and let myself think it out for a few days. What I guess I need are the good logo design basics spelt out for me. Someone else said I should not use the two Ms as the symbol in my logo. Large corporations do it, but its not appropriate for myself.
What other pointers does everyone have to share?

[Markasin3]

Newest ones remind me of butterflies at a glance.

Yes. Like in the design world, I'm like a catapillar still turning into a butterfly.... or moth.... We'll see... :cool:

I know you were talking about the symbol, but it read to me like a compliment. lol

[Markasin3]

I thought I post this up anyways as I let design D finish it's phase.
design d link extrapolations (http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/Picture13.png?t=1266942637)

[Ideologies]

I like the experimenting bird


Ideologies of the Future

[JSMartin]

I liked 7 from your first batch of them. Since then, you sort of ignored peoples advice and then just progressed in a different way anyway.

I really dislike the latest ones, I agree, I think you are moving backwards. I think you should work with what you had on the first 15, and advance with those, because if you ask me, they were the strongest out of them all.

[Markasin3]

alright.

[Markasin3]

There's better choices in the original 15, like 5 and 7.

Roth, why did you think number 5 and number 7 were better choices in the original 15?

(The pencil one. The orange and blue one.)

Number 5 and 7 were also reworked in post 12 under the C concept designs.

[Roth]

They're just simpler, stronger ideas. A lot of those initial ones should have gone no further than your sketch book, so the simple act of drawing them on the computer has given them too much credit. The latter ones have the same vibe - playing around in Illy.

[Alevio]

I like no. 8

[Markasin3]

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/Picture4-1.png

[Tofudge]

I'm not getting a graphic designer vibe from that logo. Maybe because of the lightbulbs and cogs and that typeface. Getting more of inventor/toy designer kind of feel.

[Totem-Media]

The typeface on this latest design doesn't look "professional designer" to me.

[The Zep]

Did I mention I liked number 15 from you very first post (https://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=732421&postcount=1) best?
In my opinion the logo get worse with each new design, sorry.
Maybe just take a break and think again...

[Markasin3]

I'm not getting a graphic designer vibe from that logo. Maybe because of the lightbulbs and cogs and that typeface. Getting more of inventor/toy designer kind of feel.

yea,... you're right. I get that feel too.

[GridKid]

The typeface on this latest design doesn't look "professional designer" to me.

this.

[Roth]

I think it's time to stop for a while.

[nicolanicola]

Did I mention I liked number 15 from you very first post (https://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=732421&postcount=1) best?
In my opinion the logo get worse with each new design, sorry.
Maybe just take a break and think again...

Me too. I find it intriguing in that it seems playful, creative but also has nice black and white contrast as well.

[Markasin3]

Really guys? who else likes no. 15?

[Markasin3]

Here are some other ideas. Version A are for the print icons, Version B are for the web header.

The first one with the shapes mimics the first letters of Mark Mizal Interactive.

The second one is like an active fire.

The third one is a play off interactive.

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/Markasin3/experimentation%20pieces/Picture12-1.png

[The Zep]

I don't know what to say anymore. In my opinion you're always doing just too much. Every design is one thing too much, one idea on top of it, one kick more.

My English is not the best, but I think if you claim to be an "interactive designer" it relates to you and not your work. You can be an "interaction designer". Isn't that true?

Keep it simple and stupid.

[Markasin3]

Interactive Design involves web design, motion graphics design, and flash animation design. Of course I would use that word in there, it tells you what realm in graphic design I'm strongest in.

I thought these designs ARE simpler.. after the green butterfly thing, you guys said I was going backwards, so I'm trying to stay away from the 3D shadow, overlaps, and color.

I've also put sketches upon sketches in my notebook over this already. So I'm not just designing straight to my computer.

I know some of you guys like no. 15. That's my original typeface. So I went back and messed with it and tested it with my portfolio pieces, but no. 15 is too stylized that it's not looking well when placed with my work pieces.

This week I have to have a logo picked, printed, and mounted. So for right now, maybe I don't need aesthetic opinions, but which ones are ready, or near ready to go if it were to pass a design basics inspection?

[wacom]

Keep it simple and stupid.

This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. A true laugh out loud moment.

[Roth]

You wouldn't go to a client with 15 drawn up logos so why do it to yourself? It's just confusing.

[The Zep]

I am sorry for disturbing you, Mark. Maybe I cannot explain properly what I mean.

F1a: Three design elements combined: 1) Geometric huge letter 2) Geometric symbols repeating the "M" from 1., different size and orientation than 1. and 3) Breaking open the big letter with color splashes.

F1b: 1) Three geometrical shapes 2) Your name and the fact that you are interactive ;-) and 3) Your profession in a completely different font.

F2b: 1) Flame symbol, colored in a circle, 2) Your name in minsicule letters and 3) "Interactive" in another font in versals

F3b: 1) Name and profession in one single font and 2) Strange squiggle underneath

Many ideas and some really good, but I think you should go just for one and go through with it. Could I clarify my point?

And, @wacom: The KISS-principle of design means "Keep it simple and stupid", it's just misquoted most of the time.

[darkwolf29a]

I think that a rethink is in order. What is failing me here is a true understanding of the concept. What are you trying to achieve? If the goal is "just a logo"...Pick one, and move on. If you are searching for a corporate identity....more thinking is required. Do a google search for corporate identities....it should pull up the who's who of awesome company logos, and should give you some inspiration. But, try to understand the purpose behind those brands.

That's what a logo is, really. It's your brand name. What do any of those logos say about your and your company? If they don't say anything, or they mean nothing to you...then they mean nothing to the rest of us.

[Totem-Media]

It does seem that these latest designs (F1a, etc.) are overdesigned or have too much to work as a long-lasting logo. Also, the distressed style is a trend and will age your logo quickly when the "next big design thing" comes along.

The flames don't work for me as they currently are. They look chunky and off-kilter.

The swooshy lines under F3b seems not very "design-y."

I like "Mark Mizal Interactive" more than "Interactive Designer" or "MMI, Graphic Designer" as a name. If you grow your company into more than one person, MMI becomes a good multi-person company name.

I wish I could be more help. You seem to be trying to create many brand new ideas, but none of them "spark." Maybe think "If I had to graphically (and textually) describe myself with one very simple, black-n-white 1" square (or rectangle), how would I do it?" Also, think not only of yourself as a designer, but you as a person. Is there some object or text style you're constantly drawn to? (No pun intended.)

What do you doodle when you're waiting on hold? Look around your room. What is the common element in the things you like?

[Sketcher]

I think you need to step away from the computer for a while and fill up your sketchbook with ideas. Once you have a solid concept, then go to the computer and come up with a few variations of that concept.

[Midoya]

hi, Really It's nice