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View Full Version : [Project Complete] Logo design, $175, "Your Dream Dog training business


Ghostgames
02-24-2006, 01:20 PM
(Admin code added by Palmer - 7CJ29146E2330745A + 08D498645C8718827 extra $50)

Hello, all!

I've heard a lot of good things about Design Outpost and have seen some really great logos come out of the work done here. Kudos to everyone! :-)

So it was natural that I'd come here when I needed a logo for a new business.

Here are the specs:


----->What text should be included in the main part of the logo?

Your Dream Dog

Possible additions:

website address -- yourdreamdog.com

toll-free number -- 877 K9Tcher (the availability of this number won't be absolutely confirmed until March 3)

tag line -- "Helping you find the dog of your dreams - in a new dog or within the dog you have"



----->What type of product or service do you offer?

Dog matching and training services (helping people find a dog that's the right match for their situation, and helping them fix behavioral problems that can arise when the dog they have isn't really a good fit for their situation)



----->How long have you been in business?

Just starting as a professional (have been training dogs and studying learning theory and training methods for 4+ years)


----->What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity?

I want to reach out to people /before/ they get a dog, to teach them what they need to know about dog management, care, and training and to help ensure they choose the right dog and create a wonderful, lasting relationship.

It's tough to convince people that they /need/ professional services and advice when they decide to get a dog, but 1 in 3 pets get rehomed (or end up in shelters or euthanized) in their lifetimes (10% of pets in any given year). In most cases it was lack of planning or knowledge that led to the disconnect between expectations (a "dream dog" like Lassie or Rin Tin Tin) and reality (a complex, thinking & feeling creature with drives and needs and hard-wired behavior of its own).


----->What are your long term goals?

My husband has visions of world-wide franchises within 10 years but my own goals are a bit more modest. ;-)

My goal is to teach people and dogs the skills they need to form a healthy partnership and ensure long, happy, healthy relationships between people and pets -- and to earn some money while doing so.


----->When is the deadline for final entries before choosing a designer?

March 10


----->Audience Profile:

----->Please describe your existing audience

No one right now, haven't begun advertising yet (waiting for the logo! ;-))



----->Who would you like to add to your audience?

Pet dog owners and especially potential dog owners

Dog adopters (from shelters & rescue organizations)

Things I /don't/ focus on include competition training (especially conformation and obedience purebred-only competitions).

My audience will be pet owners who are seeking a good relationship with a well-behaved dog.



----->Perception/Tone/Guidelines:

----->What type of logo would you like?

I'd like one that can be used for website, business card, letterhead, and embroidered on shirts. It should have a "clean" and uncluttered design.


----->Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?)

I was actually thinking of a black silhouette for the logo (see "specific images or icons" below).

However, I'm open to other ideas as well -- especially as I'm not sure sure a black silhouette is the best choice for embroidering on my "uniform" (embroidered shirt, cap)

My website is here: http://www.yourdreamdog.com

The website color scheme includes various browns, I'd like a logo that would go well with that color scheme.


----->Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo?

The image of a dog and a person shaking hands (dog sitting, person leaning over, dog's paw in person's hand) is really packed with meaning for me (and hopefully for others as well):

The bond between humans and their animals

A "pact" or promise where the animal and human each have some standards to live up to and something to bring to the relationship

Mutual respect

Breed of dog and gender of person should probably not be specific...


I'm open to other ideas as well. Surprise me!



-----Communication Strategy:

----->What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business?

The usual -- professional, trustworthy, knowledgable

Also -- good teacher, makes training fun for dog and handler!




----->What is your tagline or slogan?

"Helping you find the dog of your dreams -- in a new dog or within the dog you have"


----->What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience?

Good relationships with dogs (as with people) are something you need to work at. It definitely helps if your efforts are backed by knowledge about canine behavior, an understanding of canine body language, and skills that can help you teach your dog what you expect of him or her! "Your Dream Dog" can give you the knowledge and skills you need to choose the right dog and build a good relationship with a dog who's a joy to be around.



----->Where will your new logo be used?

Website header, business card, letterhead, brochure, seminar descriptions, embroidered shirts and caps


-----Competitive Positioning:
----->Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos? List competitive URLs if possible

Other dog trainers in the Greater Boston and "Metrowest"/"Metrosouth" areas. Some examples:

"Picture Perfect Pets" http://betteyip.com/
Their logo is "cute," and fits their name. I don't care for the "cartoony" / abstract look, myself.

"Canine University" http://canineuniversity.com/welcome.html (not sure if they actually have a logo, the closest I see in a quick glance is a photo of a dog in a graduate's cap)

"It's a Dog's Life" http://www.itsadogslife.org/ -- again, very cute logo (I don't think I'm looking for "cute").

If I ever do go the franchising route as my husband would like ;-) my main competition would be:

http://www.barkbusters.com/ (and again with a cute logo! I guess "dog training" and "cute" naturally go together...)


Fortunately, most of my competitors (local dog trainers) don't have websites that show up on quick searches....


----->What sets you apart from your competitors?

Things I don't provide that other trainers often do:
Group classes, competition obedience training, "quick fixes" for behavioral problems (those "quick fixes" often cause more problems, damage the relationship between dog and handler, or even damage the dog!)

Things I do provide that other trainers often don't:
In-home training tailored specifically to each handler/dog team, pet matching services (searching for the right dog for my clients), and here's the biggie -- I'm willing to tackle aggression problems (I have experience modifying both dog-dog aggression and dog-human aggression). My focus, though, is helping people establish a good relationship and good doggie manners from the start so they don't need my services with aggression or other serious problem behaviors.

I also volunteer my time and skills working with shelter dogs and assist with classes at a local shelter

Discount services for dogs adopted from shelters or rescue organizations


-----Targeted Message:
---->State a single-minded word or phrase that will appropriately describe your company:

Teaching dogs and their owners in positive, supportive ways




Hmmm I guess that's it for now. Feel free to post any questions!

Ann Dupuis
Your Dream Dog
ann@yourdreamdog.com

Paula23
03-07-2006, 12:34 PM
Hello :)

Titania
03-08-2006, 03:10 PM
http://www.titania.myown.com.ar/do/titania_ydd.jpg

Blesseville
03-09-2006, 01:35 AM
Hope I am not too late.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/ydd1.jpg

Blesseville
03-09-2006, 01:45 AM
And another color scheme.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/ydd1-1.jpg

Blesseville
03-09-2006, 01:55 AM
And another one.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/ydd1-2.jpg

Ghostgames
03-09-2006, 12:30 PM
Thanks, everyone, for your submissions! Sorry it's taken me a couple of days to get back to you, I'm prepping for a business trip (unrelated business, I'd much rather be doing stuff for my new dog training business!).

Paula23: Thanks for being the first to respond with a logo submission, it seems to have broken the ice. :D

I really like the dog silhouette (large fluffy/fuzzy dogs are the personal preferences for both myself and my husband :) ). The half-circular design element is a nice touch. I'm not so sure about the human silhouette, it looks a little "off" to me. (Maybe the way the arm curves by the dog's paw and on to the neck? Kind of hard to explain....)

The font for the "Your Dream Dog" title is a bit plain. Can I see this with some other fonts? Maybe something "pillowy" like Cooper Black, or something really informal, like Dom Casual...

I really like the way the color version has a very "soft" semicircle, and I also like the way that translates to the more emphatic outline in the black & white version.

And I really like the positioning of the subtext (under "Your Dream Do" with the hanging "g" terminating the line).


Titania: Thank you for your submission! I really like that font you used for "Your Dream Dog," but I don't recognize it! What is it?

Very nice silhouettes. I especially like the "radiance" shown around the dog's head, and the way the curve at the top complements the smaller curve of the black background to the left.

I had actually envisioned the person leaning over, as you have it here... but in looking at the "crouching" silhouettes in the other designs submitted, I'm thinking that might be the better way to go. So many pet owners have no idea how intimidating they can be when they loom over a dog like that!

You'd probably lose the balance you have right now in the design if you just changed the person's position to a full crouch. How about having him/her back a bit from the dog, and crouching just a bit more (knees more bent) while still reaching down and out to the dog?

I like the use of the pawprint as a "pause" (pun intended! ;)) between the two sections of the tagline. Having the hanging "g" in there makes it look a bit unbalanced. Some things to play with: putting the pawprint actually /on/ the g's descender, or turning the single long line into a double line (as in Medigraph's examples) instead.


Medigraph: No, you're not too late. :D Thanks for jumping in!

I love the balance between the person and the dog in your design.

The wavey outline of the semicircle is a good touch. I especially like the colors and the shading of the background in the top design shown in your Version 1.1 post. The black & white verion works really well, too.

I'd like you to play around with the fonts a bit more, if you don't mind.

And maybe the person's other leg should be shown? (rather than being tucked behind the one with the knee down). I'm just thinking it might be a nice touch if one of the person's legs mirrored the front leg the dog has on the floor.... Or maybe not, I'm not always good at visualizing things.


Thanks again to everyone participating!

Ann Dupuis
Your Dream Dog
http://www.yourdreamdog.com

Paula23
03-09-2006, 12:49 PM
Thanks for all the feedback :)
Here is an alternate font, and adjusted arm..

Paula23
03-09-2006, 12:49 PM
Here's a more iconic approach..

Paula23
03-09-2006, 12:50 PM
and without the heart.

Thanks,Paula

Blesseville
03-10-2006, 01:33 AM
Hello Ann,

Thanks for the feedback. I played with the girls leg, however making it a mirror image of the dogs results in losing the shaking detail. So I came up with the solution below. I also present three font alternatives.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/ydd2.jpg

Blesseville
03-10-2006, 01:34 AM
http://www.medigraph.net/do/ydd2-1.jpg

Blesseville
03-10-2006, 01:34 AM
http://www.medigraph.net/do/ydd2-2.jpg

Titania
03-10-2006, 12:09 PM
http://www.titania.myown.com.ar/do/titania_ydd2.jpg

Ghostgames
03-10-2006, 09:09 PM
Wow, this was a tough call. I think you all did a great job, really taking my needs as stated in my initial post to heart. I found a lot to like in each submission. :)

Thanks also for your very quick turnarounds with the updates based on my comments on the initial submissions.

I've decided to go with Paula23's latest submission (the "iconic" version with the person's arms around the dog). I have to admit I had a hard time letting go of my "partnership/shaking hands" idea, but this new design hit an unexpected chord with me.

Well, I did invite surprises. ;)

I also invited members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers to check out Design Outpost, because there's a lot of really good work being done here. So you may be seeing more dog-related projects in the future. :D

Titania and Medigraph: please feel free to recycle your work on the "Your Dream Dog" project into other dog-related logo projects if something suitable comes along. I won't mind. :)

Thanks again!

Ann Dupuis
Your Dream Dog
ann@yourdreamdog.com

Paula23
03-11-2006, 08:09 AM
Thanks for choosing my design :)
Let me know which one you liked, and if you would like any revisions.

Thanks,Paula

Ghostgames
03-17-2006, 11:26 AM
Thanks for choosing my design :)
Let me know which one you liked, and if you would like any revisions.

Thanks,Paula

Sorry to leave you hanging, Paula, just got back from my business trip to Las Vegas (and working on pretty much no sleep, it was a red-eye flight, so please pardon me if I'm not making much sense...
;)

I've decided to go with the icon without the surrounding heart shape, as it's a really clean design that will look good embroidered on shirts and caps.

I think I'd like to see the logo with a couple of font variations (sticking with "pillowy" or informal/dreamy fonts), just to be sure the final version of the logo has the "best" choice of font for this particular company.

I have to go get some sleep now, I have some ideas about using the icon in place of a "dot" in a specific "yourdreamdog dot com" version of the logo for the website but I don't think I'm coherent enough to explain what I mean. :)

Ann Dupuis
yourdreamdog.com

Paula23
03-17-2006, 08:41 PM
Hi :)
Welcome Back.
I hope you had a nice trip.
Gere are a number of font,color.layout combinations
we can build from.
I think I understood you wanting to use the icon
as the "." in .com...

Paula23
03-17-2006, 08:41 PM
..

Paula23
03-17-2006, 08:42 PM
I thought maybe incorporating the icon
into the title.


thanks,Paula

Ghostgames
03-20-2006, 02:49 PM
Hi, Paula!

This is great, thanks! :)


The logos in Revision Set 1 look perfect for stationery (letterhead) and business cards.

I like the fonts with upper/lowercase better than the all-caps ones. A and B are my favorites. What fonts are those? (And what's the subtext font?)

For colors, I like the dark brown best (PMS 7510), so I'd like the main title to be in that color. Hmmm, I think the mix of the three colors in C is the best -- light icon, darker main text, greenish sub-text. Let's stick with that. (plus an all-black version for non-color print products)


For Revisions Set 2, let's go with whatever font and color combination we decide on for Revision Set 1.

Also no spaces between the main title words (e.g. "YourDreamDog.com").

I'd like to see one semi-major change, just to try it out: moving the icon down so that the head of the person creates the dot for ".com"... I dunno if that'll look as good as I think it might, though. :)


For Revisions Set 3, I love the compact "Your Dream Dog" logos with the icon replacing the "o" in "your" -- I can easily envison a version of that embroidered on caps and over the left breast of t-shirts and oxford shirts. :D

I'd like to see a version that's most like C from Revisions Set 3, with the "Y ur Dream Dog" text in the dark brown and "yourdreamdog.com" replacing the "Helping you..." subtext.

Is it too late to "up" the prize? I feel I owe you a bonus for all the extra work you're doing. :)

I hope you're having as much fun with this as I am! :D

Ann Dupuis
yourdreamdog.com

Paula23
03-20-2006, 07:57 PM
Hi, Here are all the revisions.
I hope I got everything :)


The 2 fonts used for the title are:
Swiss721 BlkRnd BT
Jagger SF

the tagline font is;
Arial Narrow

Paula23
03-20-2006, 07:58 PM
..

Paula23
03-20-2006, 08:00 PM
Thanks,Paula

Ghostgames
03-21-2006, 07:06 PM
Hi, Paula!

These all look great!

Assuming the files you'll be sending me are the editable Photoshop (or equivalent) files, so I can continue to play with fonts and exact placement of elements, etc., I think we're actually done. :)

I've grabbed the "Jagger" font from a free font site, and have confirmed that the other font's available at a reasonable price (I usually use myfonts.com).

Is there anything else you need from me?

Ann Dupuis
yourdreamdog.com

Paula23
03-21-2006, 07:12 PM
Great, which design layout do you want me to send?
Yes, I will send the logo in a layered/editable Photoshop file.
That way you can play around with it :)


Thanks,Paula

Ghostgames
03-21-2006, 08:24 PM
Can you send them all? (Yeah, I'm greedy like that! This is why I asked if it was too late to increase the amount of payment... ;) -- and I think I know how to do that now...)

Ann
yourdreamdog.com

Paula23
03-22-2006, 08:37 PM
Hi Ann :)
I just sent you a Private Message
regarding downloading your files.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,Paula