Tension Logo

[13yrGuru]

Hey, This is my third attempt I am determind to make this logo work. It is for a future website. Here are my first, second, and third attempt. Thankyou.

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=7/21012451517.jpg&s=x1
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=8/21218101252.jpg&s=x1
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=8/21220225218.jpg&s=x1

[13yrGuru]

Please, give me some feedback!!! Thanks

[defjoe]

none of them really hit me. they seem al ltypical with obvoius PS effects done to them. you should really push this further. you have that word tension, and you could use that is come creative ways.

[Eraser Nubbin]

Ya, I think that you need to somehow work Tension into the logo some how, stretch the words or something. Right now there is no tie-in. There should be a lot of possibilities.

[keith1]

To be honest that logo would look better without the orange box, without the gradients, bevels, inner, outer shadows & glows. It would look better just as plain black text. Adding all those elements isn't making the logo better or stronger, it is taking away. Adding those things is sign of an amateur to make up for the lack of a strong graphical concept or symbol. Anyone can add all those effects in photoshop. If you want to learn to be professional, design logos in black only, keep it simple. Think about the colors last. If the logo doesn't work printed in only black it has failed. I think I told you last time, do some research & study some other logos. The ones you have do look like web banners. The last one is better than previous 2 but you are getting too wrapped up in adding effects. If I don't see black only logos next from you I will not critique. ;)

[morea]

keith is right.

another idea that might help you brainstorm: go to www.dictionary.com and look up the words you are using - "tension" and "web". Think about the various meanings behind them, and how they work together.

Then sit down with a sketch pad and doodle. Try all different ideas, you are brainstorming, so nobody even needs to see the concepts if you end up not liking them. Your best bet to spark your creativity is to stay away from the confines of the computer until you have some good ideas down on paper.

[JaCkinbOx]

I'll second that and add that my finest work has originated either on paper or drawn out digitally freehand. I then proceed to reproduce it in vector with very satisfying results.

[13yrGuru]

What about somethin like this?

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=8/21417463332.jpg&s=x1

[vtwin_gary]

ok... before the logo let me start by asking that i don't have to click links to look at your work. you can host your files at imageshack or photobucket. i think there are threads on how to around here some where (do a search if you can't figure it out) now on to the design...
everyone has pointed you into the right direction by working in b&w to start. & you are now headed in the right direction. i think the concept is there but i really dont like the rope. breaking rope doesn't seam all that impressive. & i don't think it needs to be there. try making the lightning bigger and maybe overlap the text with it. keep pushing & keep us up to date.
good luck

[13yrGuru]

Yes I will keep this up to date! I will keep posting my updated versions. Thanks guys!

[13yrGuru]

Hey, I'm confused how to upload pictures without a link, any help, I'll just use links for now, sorry.

but here is my next attempt : http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=8/21419375679.gif&s=x1

Give all the input you want. I need It bad!

[Pica]

Quick question: what software are you using for your designs?

[13yrGuru]

I'm using macromedia studios: Fireworks, Freehand, and I do some flash design. Thanks for asking!

[13yrGuru]

I own PhotoShop, but I'm not an expert on it and i'm not too comfortable with it. YET. I am planning on taking a photoshop class at shcool

[Pica]

Why the font change on the slogan? The difference in font and the big space between "design" and "today" make it difficult for it to be read as a single thought. The difference in size also screws with your alignment and vertical spacing. (By the way, you need an apostrophe in "tomorrow's".)

Why is the "T" in "tension" a different size? As it is now, it's just big enough to notice that it's different, but not so big that it looks like it way 100% intentional (that's how it reads to me anyway). At the least, you should adjust the kerning so it's not so far from the rest of the word.

Speaking of spacing, why the big gap between "tension" and "shock"? The first thing I saw when I looked at this was "Shock Today."

When I'm tweaking a design, I like to work on it a while, set it aside for at least a day then go back to it and ask myself a lot of questions about it. Why *this* font? What does it convey? Why did I align these elements in this way? And so on. For a good starting point for this self-assesment, try Robin Williams' (the designer, not the comedian) priciples of CRAP: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity. I'm sure you can google for a better explanation, but here's my quick summary from what I remember of it:

Contrast: Elements should either be the same or distinctively different. If you're using two fonts, for example, combine a serif and a san serif, a heavy stroke and a fine stroke, a catchy artistic font and a simple neutral font, etc. When you combine two things that look pretty similar but not exactly, it looks like inconsistent design.

Repetition: Carry your visual elements through the design to tie it all together. This could be color, font, line thickness, a graphic etc. (Not too applicable to your logo design, but something to think about when you incorporate it into a web page.)

Alignment: Nothing should be placed arbitrarily. There should be a reason for each item's placement, either to guide the eye through the design, to give it a specific "look," etc.

Proximity: Keep items that relate to each other together. It keeps you organized and makes your work easy for others to read. You've created this logo, so you know "tension shock" is the name and not "shock today" but you want anyone to be able to look at the logo and know exactly what you're trying to convey.

These are by no means hard and fast rules and indeed there are times to break them, but they're a good starting point. Hope that helps some.

[vtwin_gary]

pica - great advice, i agree with everything. i never heard of CRAP before...i like it.

guru - much better! to put pick in post...
1. get address where picture resides in your case http://x1.putfile.com/8/21419375679.gif (right click your image in putfile)
2. in post put this tag put address here(then close with this tag
done.

http://x1.putfile.com/8/21419375679.gif

[Mynock]

hey, speaking of logos...how's yours coming there vtwin? I don't think there's a hurricane your hiding from atm :P

[morea]

psst.. he posted it in another thread!

Good night, my dear Mynock! Pleasant dreams. :p

[vtwin_gary]

hey, speaking of logos...how's yours coming there vtwin? I don't think there's a hurricane your hiding from atm :P

there's a thread out there somewhere i started tonight. in showcase, i think i called it logo / business card or something to that effect. let me know what you think

[vtwin_gary]

ahhh, morea you beat me to it.

[morea]

;) A good librarian has to know these things.

[Mynock]

yeah I saw it, it was on the second page of new posts

[13yrGuru]

Alright, I think I'm up for another try... I've thought about all that you guys said and here it is... Don't take it to hard on me. :rolleyes:

http://x1.putfile.com/8/21507000759.jpg

Ok, I finally got the Image Thing. Thanks. :)

[morea]

I think that this is a LOT better...

I don't think that the blue really fits with the rest of the logo, you might want to try red (to match the other side of the circle) or yellow could contribute to the "tension" feeling.

You need to adjust the amount of space between the T and e in Tension and the S and h in shock to make it look more fluid.

On the second line, consider using either "Tomorrow's Design Today" or "Tomorrow's design today". It looks a little off because the "d" in design is lowercase and the "T" in today is capitalized.

[13yrGuru]

Ok, Thanks, I'll deal with that, more input is needed. Thanks everyone!

[Mitch Wood]

Look at Keiths earlier post, work in black exclusively when constructing a logo, it will make it a lot easier for you in the long run...

The colour will confuse the constuction of the concept, and will help you down the line when it has to go to print in a mono environment.

[13yrGuru]

What about this, guys?

http://x1.putfile.com/8/21507332364.jpg

[13yrGuru]

So, what your saying is that I should just change this to black and white now???

[tZ]

I'm not trying to steal your thread but currently I am working on my own identity and I'm going to try to explain the "theory" through example.

What you have is definatly getting better, but still lacks a hard hitting concept/idea.

The text looks very vague and you need to bring in the Tension into the text or the shock. So your text reflects the emotive response through manipulation.

Ok... so here is mine.. so far (mind you this is only one idea out of several).

http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL90/2128115/7155676/107048004.jpg

see how everything kind of intertwins.

There is consistency between both the logo and actual identity.

You should somehow try to create the same consistency between the the logo and identity... further intergrate both so they stand as one. Cause right now both your logo and identity stand seperate... which isn't allwasy bad. However, I would suggest some type of unity.

Also, play around with the text some try to say tension. You could maybe expand the tension text horizontally and expand the shock text vertically. Since, when most people think of tension they think stress.. correct? So stretching the text would maybe imply tension in the text.

When most people think of shock they think of a big boom or current. So you expanding the text upward would maybe give this emotive response.

example:

what you have: Tension Shock

While we do like to follow grammer rules design isn't about those rules. Its about what communicates best to the audience being addressed and what gets that message out most effectivly.

So here:

TENSION SHOCK

Tension SHOCK

see what happened... even with a minor adjust such as type weight we can further emphasis the meaning of the type. instead of boring old tension shock. We have:

TENSIONSHOCK

Its something you need to play around with to understand. The slightest change in the oriontation of lettering can easily alter the emotive response from it. This is something you must learn and it will make your like alot easier unless you get a client who really likes conceptual imagery... which is another story all together...lol.

anyhow... its pogressing and its alot better then I could do at 13. I'm pretty sure I started learning illustrator around 10th grade so yeah before then... I could... draw,lol.

[13yrGuru]

Thanks TZ, your not stealing my thread, that was some of the best stuff i have gotton yet!!! Thanks a lot.

[13yrGuru]

Any more input from anybody?, It is appreciated.

[morea]

I'm sure that more folks will be along as the day progresses... many have to sign on from work when they have a break or a few moments free.

[13yrGuru]

cool, I love a lot of input.

[13yrGuru]

Man, I just have to say thanks to this whole forum It has already made a huge difference in my graphic design. I love it. And I love input. Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou! Input is awesome.

[keith1]

Tommorow should be Tomorrow with 1 "m" & 2 "r"s. I think what you have here would pass as a logo and is extremely better than where you started but as tz said it lacks a strong concept. What words or visuals come to mind with the word, "TENSION"??????????
Think grasshopper think!

[Pica]

Make sure you use real apostrophes and not the foot symbol (A real apostrophe will have a curve to it). Maybe it's because I'm a nerd, but that's one thing that always sticks out to me.

[13yrGuru]

Sorry Pica, I don't really know what you mean! I don't know how to make those apostrphies. And Keith, Sorry about the tomorrow thing. i'll think a little more too! sheeeesh!

[13yrGuru]

I think of streching and stuff, but I don't know how to incorperate that into my logo

[Mitch Wood]

When working on a layout I create visual tension by cropping images/type.

As Kieth said a strong concept is paramount when designing a logo. A concept is best worked though from sketching, as your brain can move from idea to idea very quickly, giving results that wouldn't be possible in the environment of working straight on a PC/Mac due to the static nature of it.

p.s. Yes I would work in mono untill a solid concept is formed and can be executed well in just black (mono).

[13yrGuru]

Does anyone know how to show a feeling of stress or stretching in a logo, I just can't get it!!!

[tZ]

I took the liberty of creating a visual example.

Nothing really fancy but, it gets the point across.

http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL90/2128115/7155676/107050980.jpg

[Mitch Wood]

I would seriously advise against changing the horizontal/verticle scale, the fonts have been designed to use as are. (well in most cases)

Try thinking of the suggestion of tension, not the subjective image of something being stretched.

[Mitch Wood]

Think edgy, think tight!!!!

[13yrGuru]

I definitly like the shock circle in the O I'll try to do that!

[13yrGuru]

Should I just lose the Impact font?

[13yrGuru]

I'll have another post ready in a bit. Anymore input???

[keith1]

Yes, you are rushing. I know it's cool to get good feedback, but sometimes you gotta be your own judge. Don't show us every little change every 10 minutes. Put at least whole 8 hours into it doing some sketches and come up with something that you think is really awesome. Then show us, explain why you think it's awesome, why you think it works and why you think it's a good concept. That's my only advice but do what you want. ;)

[13yrGuru]

Sorry guys, i'll wait a little longer next time.

[keith1]

You don't have to apologize, I'm just giving you some good advice. I like seeing your progress you just don't have to show every little change. You are getting a lot better.

[13yrGuru]

ok, thanks a lot

[Mitch Wood]

Yes keith is spot on. Get YOUR brain working. RESEARCH what Tension means to you and try and communicate that through your imagery/type.

Sometimes plain old doodling can bring great ideas, purley because your brain is working through concepts visually with progression.

Sorry for the caps, I am not shouting, just trying to point ya in the right direction.

[13yrGuru]

That's OK, I love honest advice!

[Mitch Wood]

p.s. Are you really 13? If so, you have done a supreme job so far. I feel you could really benefit from working through your ideas at a young age and getting it ingrained in your brain for the future. If you do this, you will go far.

[13yrGuru]

Yes, I am really thirteen, I i want to be a graphic designer and web deisnger when i get older.

[Pica]

hey, here's how to get smart quotes (pretty sure this will get you the real apostrophe) in FreeHand.

To get to text preferences:

Mac: press Command+U, then click the Text category.
Win: press Control+U, then click the Text tab.

Select Smart Quotes and select an option from the pop-up*menu beside it.

(The first set of quotations marks is the one you want.)

[13yrGuru]

Thanks

[Jason Fraker]

When I think about your company name, I think the word "shock" should look like it's been hit with a sledge hammer. I would like to see it broken or fragmented a bit. Perhaps use a thin typeface for tension and a fat one for shock, as has been suggested earlier, but don't use impact. Use futura light and futura heavy together or something like that. Futura heavy will give you plenty of room to break it into pieces. Also, tighten the kerning in "shock" to make the letters almost touch. Then, wail the crap out of them with your sledge hammer. That's what I think you should do.

-jason

[13yrGuru]

Thanks jason, does anyone know where I can download a bunch of fonts?

[morea]

there are lots of font sites listed in our resources section, but a good place to start is www.dafont.com

[13yrGuru]

Thanks A lot

[13yrGuru]

Anywere were i can learn "flash lip-sincing?"

[keith1]

Just moon the audience whilst performing karaoke.

[13yrGuru]

Very funny