logo opinion

[illustrative]

okay for ny43designs i see some interesting stuff. looks like my client has done logos n stuff. either way they approached me meaning they probably need help, so i cant complain. money matters.

[PrintDriver]

number one is your thread asking for a critique on your "client's" logo...

[illustrative]

im not seeing the problem there still. why would my client have an issue if they see im asking for critique or is that what you're saying?

[Buda]

Yes. Some clients wouldn't feel comfortable with their company logo being subject of an online critique.

The contour lines still make me think airlines, I didn't really know which ones in particular, but I guess the Singapore one since that is the airline I've flown on from Sammie's example.

It's up to you to come up with ideas. We can give you advice, but any ideas you get from here, expect to part with bacon.

[illustrative]

ah okay, thanks.

yeah i'll try to see what the client has to say and show them the singapore airlines and see how it goes from there. thanks

[Sammie]

Like PD said, we aren't going to provide you concepts, only advice.

Your thought methodology is all wrong, you want people to sit and contemplate on what the logo could be? No, you want them to get the logo's message straight away. You're a graphic designer, someone who has to communicate through images in the most efficient way possible. This isn't fine art.

Why would you show them the airlines logo? They're expecting you to be the resourceful one.

K.I.S.S = Keep It Simple Stupid. It's what I usually live by. (I wasn't calling you stupid by the way).

I'd try drumming up new ideas, the ones here I personally think aren't strong enough. You'll get there, just keep persevering.

[sully1251]

I agree with most of the criticism offered. I think you should take an entirely fresh approach on this. My suggestion is to start by dropping the notion of New York symbolism, at least for the moment.

I think you should begin using just the basic elements of the name, NY43. I suggest that you spend time making roughs of the various ways these characters could be presented. This does not mean just setting them up in different fonts. This means exploring various distinctive presentations of these characters. See what you can come up with. Sketching—doodling out the problem— is where your initial time should be spent.

I've designed a lot of logos and it is easy to run into a deadend. As a precaution against that, I have found at the sketching stage of the design's development, it is good to work within self-imposed limitations. What I mean by that is work for a while using nothing but the NY43. After exhausting yourself on that, explore the possibility of an abstract form that can could give a distinctive look. Then go on to another design parameter. Remember that your design does not have to explain everything about the company it is representing. However, it has to be distinctive and simple to have impact. To prove that point, think of the simplicity of the IBM or the Radio Shack logos.

[seamas]

Speaking as a New Yorker I can attest that while Niagra Falls and the Chrysler building both may be in the same state, they are in different planets.

It's a fairly big state for the east coast, but even more diverse in terrain, climate, culture and other features. The east of Long Island is pretty much New England and the west by the Great lakes is pretty much the midwest. NYC is a thing all its own. The northern bits beyond the Adirondacks is Occupied Canada.

[maynardsayswhat]

i guess i'm just aiming for a simple yet smart looking logo

This describes nearly every logo ever made.

My point was that if you just throw in elements without rhyme or reason, you are not "designing" anything, you are just mixing spaghetti and hoping for a meal.

Good design is making sure that each element of a piece communicates and solves a communication problem. Not only that, but the gestalt of the piece does this as well. If you want to make pretty pictures, go into fine art, graphic design is more akin to architecture.

1. Define your clients communication need. (Research)

2. Sketch your ass off for a week, without editing, on paper, with every idea you can conceive to supply the above communication need. (Thumbnails)

3. Comb over your sketches and pull out your best, most effective (NOT only what you think looks cool) solutions and draw iterations and variations on theme. (Rough draft)

4. Of the roughs, pick the two most effective pieces, turn on your computer, and draw black and white versions. Test these on envelopes, business cards, shirts, etc, etc. Look for ways that your b&w fails and look for solutions. (Comprehensive)

5. Once you have a couple of workable, flexible comps, work up a spot-color and 4-color process version for presentation to the client along with a design brief to explain your SOLUTION (not your "art").

6. Have a sammich.

Good luck to you.

[Rachel B]

Originally Posted by seamas

Speaking as a New Yorker I can attest that while Niagra Falls and the Chrysler building both may be in the same state, they are in different planets.

+1

I would never connect Niagra Falls with NY State. (Grew up in NY) It's just up there somewhere near Canada. Nor would the Chrysler building really represent NY, much as I/we love it.