[ProjectComplete]Due July 14th - Milner LLP marketing consultancy - $200

[drnickm]

Admin code added by Abby - 1M503889N88554035

Project Summary:
What text should be included in the main part of the logo?

Company name (Milner LLP)
Strap Line: Growing Company Value
Some graphic image encapsulating the idea of growth or increase in value

What type of product or service do you offer?

We provide consultancy and in-house programmes that help build the valuation of our client’s companies.

How long have you been in business?

Just starting up

What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity?

We want a strong visual identity that we can use to build our visibility. We will use it on all communications. We would like our clients to be able to see half the logo and know it was our company.

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

14 July

Audience Profile:
Please describe your existing audience

This is a very important part of the brief. Our clients are investors, venture capitalists, the Executive and Management boards of companies. The companies will be mainly in the Operational Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems sector of the Telecoms/IT market. Our company is business to business and our clients’ age profile is likely to be 40-60 years old.

Perception/Tone/Guidelines:
What type of logo would you like?

We want a logo that clearly shows the company name and the concept of growth. The logo needs to be clean. I liked the logo simplicity of www.azuresolutions.com and www.yankeegroup.com. I am interested in logos that might be high tech because of our Telecoms/IT target sector. However, I would be also interested to see logos that would sit well with the investor/venture capitalist community.

To give you some idea, I've done a rough draft which is here:

http://www.milnerllp.com/logo.gif

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

We have a few comments on colours rather than hard rules.
- Given the logo will be seen by investors, remember red means a loss in financial terms so, use an appropriate shade of red – if at all.
- We thought about blue to reflect our calm and systematic approach to building value.
- We also thought about a single colour logo, but don’t let this constrain you.
- Please give us a palette of 4-6 other colours that will work with our main logo colour(s)

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

Some graphic image encapsulating the idea of growth or increase in value. One working idea is a simple growth curve but I would be interested in other ideas too.

Communication Strategy:
What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business?

Expert
Reliable
Collaborative
Intelligent
Analytical
Strategic
Forward Looking
Responsive
Financially astute
Creative

What is your tagline or slogan?

Growing company value

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

Growth

Where will your new logo be used?

Website, report covers, powerpoint slides, letterheads, business cards

Competitive Positioning:
Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos?

I don’t know about any direct competitors but high technology marketing or PR companies might be in our space

What sets you apart from your competitors?

Most of the potential competitors in our sector help their clients build value by taking their products to market. We build value by taking the clients company to market.

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

Growing your company’s future value through a series of activities starting today.

[Senter]

Im in.

[Senter]

Growing M. Growing Company Value.

http://www.thesenter.com/designout/Milner1.gif

[pracus]

:)

[drnickm]

Growing M. Growing Company Value.

http://www.thesenter.com/designout/Milner1.gif
Thanks for this first design. Colour and lettering look really good but the solid 'M' doesn't feel right for my investor audience. I can see the growth in the slanting shape but can you think of something that may be more capturing the idea of value growth?

Nick

[drnickm]

Thank you for your design. I like the idea of using the M showing value growth like a stock chart. Can you use any device to make the deisgn feel more unified. Keep going.

Nick

[Blesseville]

A couple from me. M made of arrows.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner1.jpg

[Blesseville]

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner2.jpg

[Taldo]

:)

[drnickm]

Thank you for your design. I like the idea of using the M showing value growth like a stock chart. Can you use any device to make the deisgn feel more unified. Keep going.

Nick

[Fabian]

:)

[Blesseville]

My third proposal.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner3.jpg

[drnickm]

My third proposal.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner3.jpg
Thanks for this design with the 3-d bar charts. How would this look as a "negative" image i.e. a solid shape of colour with the characters and graphics in it.

Nick

[drnickm]

:)
Fabian

Thanks for the logo design. I liked the overall proportions and the fonts very much. I can see how you used the bars on the top of the design to build an M shape - unfortunately the bars are decreasing which implies decline not growtrh. Is there anything you can do there?

NIck

[drnickm]

Medigraph

Thank you for the logo designs. I like the growth arroews that make an M shape. Can you make them point left to right to indicate growth up towards the top right and also can you see if you can change the overall ratio of the logo to make it more square and less long and thin.

Nick

[Fabian]

Thanks,here is a revised version that implies growth :)

[drnickm]

Fabian

Thanks for the change. Can you explain why there is a gap between the first two blocks but not between the second and third?

Also, the company url is Milner LLP. Can you show me what this would look like with the LLP included.

NIck

Nick

[drnickm]

:)
Pracus,

I like this. I can see the idea of stock growth in the M shape but I don't understand the red colour of the letter 'I'. I think the design works well in balck and white too.

Please keep going with this theme. Think again about my target audience - venture capitalists, investors and company CEO's in the telecoms software market. Look at some logos in this space.

Nick

[Fabian]

Thanks, the idea behind this design was that three monuments sit on a raised platform set at a angle Wanted to try something that was larger than life and would look amazing as a structure at the entrance or in the foyer of your business premises

In hindsight I now believe and agree that it does need a gap between the second and third shape :)

[Blesseville]

Revision on first & second...

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner1-1.jpg

[Blesseville]

And third...

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner3-1.jpg

[Senter]

I will post some more options for you tonight.

[joshuamings]

Here is something from me.
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_0.png

[drnickm]

Reply to Message #23
Josh,

Thanks for your design. I like the enclosed nature of the design very much. It looks good in colour and in black and white. Can you look to see what can be done with the growth symbol. I had one person say it looked like a mountain range and anothe say it looked like lightening. Can you look at a growth curve or some other way of conveying the idea of growth.

Nick

[joshuamings]

I sure can. Look for revisions soon.
Josh

[joshuamings]

Here are some revisions.
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_1.png

[joshuamings]

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_2.png

[joshuamings]

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_3.png

[drnickm]

Reply to message #27 and # 28
Josh,
Not sure about either growth curve but the second one looks better. Can you try something more subtle.

NIck

[joshuamings]

I will make some more revisions for you.
Josh

[joshuamings]

Here is something that expresses growth more by breaking out of the box. As far as more subtle, is there anything you had in mind?
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_4.png

[Senter]

The idea is they are growing bar charts forming the letter M
http://www.thesenter.com/designout/Milner2.gif

[Magentis]

Hello,

Here's my entry.

Regards.
Caroline

[Magentis]

and a slight variation.

Regards,
Caroline

[Ratbaggy]

:)

I look forward to any thoughts and feedback you may have.

Cheers,

Paul

[drnickm]

Here is something that expresses growth more by breaking out of the box. As far as more subtle, is there anything you had in mind?
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_4.png

Josh,

Yes this is your best yet. You have got growth and breaking out of the box.

In terms of trying something more subtle, I wondered what you wou do if you were thinking more about making it look like an investor or banking logo. The logo at the moment has the feel of a sign post or vehicle licence plate. What would it look like if you took your design and imaged it on a business card being given to a venture capitalist?

Nick

[drnickm]

and a slight variation.

Regards,
Caroline

Caroline

Thanks for both designs. I think the simpler pyramid is better and I think it looks better in the single colour. I am not sure about a pyramid as the graphic because of "pyramid selling" and because it has an up curve and a down curve.

I looked at you portfolio and like the Design Group logo with the floating circular shape and the art of shopping with a coloured bar code. Can you think again about the graphic object in the logo.

Thanks

Nick

[drnickm]

:)

I look forward to any thoughts and feedback you may have.

Cheers,

Paul

Paul

THanks for your design. I sort some other opinions and someone came back with "I did know you were starting a stairs business." I can see the thinking combining the M in Milner and the idea of groth.

I looked on your company website and liked the logos for both Strider and Blue Street. No one has come back with a "handwritten" font idea yet. Perhaps this would convey the idea of creative and also a throw back to investment and venture capital in the past. I aslo liked the cool, calm simplicity of Blue Street.

Hope this helps.

NIck

[joshuamings]

Thank you for the compliments and the direction. I will have a revision for you shortly.
Josh

[drnickm]

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner2.jpg

I went on to your web site to look at other logos you had done. I like Glitch Networks II with the large tree. I thought the ratio of the logo (more square), the pale green and the idea of a growing organism like a tree were all food for thought. I think this would be a good area to explore.

Nick

[joshuamings]

Here is a version with the requested revisions.
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_5.png

[Ratbaggy]

Hi Nick, I'll certainly explore the avenues you raised. Thanks for the kind words about Blue Street too, that was the intended emotive response to the logo ... so it seems to have worked.

To be honest I added the stairs as a "visual flair" - thinking you'd be after a more blatant, hard-sell logo - but really, I wanted to keep the logo more simple and type based ... so it seems we're on the same page there.

I'll post back as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Paul

:)

[BlueCherryGraphics]

Hi, One from me. :)

[Magentis]

Hello,

Thank you for your comments.

Here's a new one.

Regards,
Caroline

[Taldo]

:)

[drnickm]

There are two days to go before the due date and I want to loosen the brief to encourage you to create a more graphic logo.

The change that I'm making is as follows: you may remove the tagline "Growing Company Value" from the logo, and you may also choose to exclude "LLP", if you wish.

One possibility: how about the Milner name enclosed within some graphic device that represents growth?

Another suggestion: how about non-financial representations of growth, perhaps something more organic?

Thanks for your hard work so far, and I look forward to seeing a final batch of entries -- there's no clear winner as yet -- so there's everything to play for!

Nick

[Ratbaggy]

Straight to the point, with a more subtle representation fo growth ... from a cell splitting stage.

I've also taken some liberty with the "tag" as I believe the removal of the word "Value" creates a mroe confident remark, whilst still retaining the same core message.

Ofcourse the Milner cell can be reused without the tag aswell.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers,

Paul

[joshuamings]

Here is another option.
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_6.png

[drnickm]

Here is another option.
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_6.png

Hi Josh,

Can you show me what the curved line looks like if it is more sublte. Try without an arrow head or inside the box or stay the same width. Also can you just try a few alternative collours.

Nick

[drnickm]

Straight to the point, with a more subtle representation fo growth ... from a cell splitting stage.

I've also taken some liberty with the "tag" as I believe the removal of the word "Value" creates a mroe confident remark, whilst still retaining the same core message.

Ofcourse the Milner cell can be reused without the tag aswell.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers,

Paul


Paul,

This is a really good idea and I can see this working. Can you give me a few more options on this idea. Try looking at a photo of a cell: is the wall thinner or the edge slightly ragged. Don't know but yours is a really good idea. Keep going.

Nick

[Blesseville]

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner4.jpg

[Blesseville]

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner5.jpg

[joshuamings]

Here it is with the requested revisions.
Josh

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_7.png

[joshuamings]

http://www.joshuamingsdesign.com/designoutpost/milner/v1_8.png

[Blesseville]

And another version.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6.jpg

[Taldo]

:)

[drnickm]

And another version.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6.jpg

Thank you for the new logo idea. I like the idea of the tree but not the graphic. The tree you had before was wider and more graceful. The current tree seems too narrow and sharp. Could you try another picture of the tree?

Nick

[eziey]

:)

[Magentis]

Hello,

Here's a new idea of a rising sun.

Regards,
Caroline

[Blesseville]

I hope this is better. Color can be changed.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-1.jpg

[drnickm]

REQUEST FOR FINAL SUBMISSION

Thank you for your version 3 logo. This is on my short list and I will make a decision tomorrow. If there are any final changes or alterations you want to make, then now is the time.

Nick

[drnickm]

REQUEST FOR FINAL SUBMISSION
Caroline at Vertime
Thank you for your version 3 logo. This is on my short list and I will make a decision tomorrow. If there are any final changes or alterations you want to make, then now is the time.

Nick

[Magentis]

Hello Nick,

I want to make sure are you refering to version 3 the one with the vertical bars or the sunrise one(v.04)

Thank you,
Caroline

[drnickm]

Actually they are both on my shortlist with 3 others. Interestingly, one other deigner has also got two on the short list.

Of your designs, the 3 bars has got more support, but I wonder what you can do on the rising sun. Certainly the colour on the 3 bars (PMS 159) was well received becuase people said it looked "up-market" and "presteigeous". Does that help?

Look forward ro seeing any final ideas.

Nick

[drnickm]

Straight to the point, with a more subtle representation fo growth ... from a cell splitting stage.

I've also taken some liberty with the "tag" as I believe the removal of the word "Value" creates a mroe confident remark, whilst still retaining the same core message.

Ofcourse the Milner cell can be reused without the tag aswell.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers,

Paul
REQUEST FOR FINAL SUBMISSION
Paul at Ratbaggy
Thank you for your version 2 logo (with the cells). This is on my short list and I will make a decision tomorrow.

The overall shape is very strong and I like the idea. There are two changes I would like to see. One is to change the strapline back to growing company value because our proposotion is specifically about value growth not company growth. Secondly, is there anything you can do graphically to make it more like cells. When I have been showing the logo to people they have not "got" the cellular theme until I have explained it.

And if there are any final changes or alterations you want to make, then now is the time. I will decide on Friday.

Regards

NIck


Nick

[Magentis]

Sure, I thought so about the colors.

Let me work on it.

Regards,
Caroline

[drnickm]

I hope this is better. Color can be changed.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-1.jpg

REQUEST FOR FINAL SUBMISSION
Yusuf at Medigraph
Thank you for 1.1 and 6.1 versions of the logo. Thet are both on my short list and I will make a decision tomorrow.

On 6.1, can you make some changes to compare with this design. 1. Can you try putting a think line between "Milner" and "growing company value". 2 Can you try putting "growing company value" in a box and putting the letters in white. 3. Can you also try doing the who logo as a negative - white tree, white letters. 4. Can you try some other colours including PMS 159 (Gold) and perhaps a pale green.

If there are any final changes or alterations you want to make, then now is the time.

Thanks

Nick

Nick

[gig]

Hi, I hope this is not too late :)

[Blesseville]

Several alternatives for v6 as you requested. I hope the pale green was meant to be close to this.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-2.jpg

[Senter]

http://www.thesenter.com/designout/Milner2.gif

[Senter]

http://www.thesenter.com/designout/Milner3.gif

[Magentis]

Hello here's some color revisions.

Regards,
Caroline

[Magentis]

:)

[Magentis]

last one

[drnickm]

REQUEST FOR FINAL SUBMISSION
Paul at Ratbaggy
Thank you for your version 2 logo (with the cells). This is on my short list and I will make a decision tomorrow.

The overall shape is very strong and I like the idea. There are two changes I would like to see. One is to change the strapline back to growing company value because our proposotion is specifically about value growth not company growth. Secondly, is there anything you can do graphically to make it more like cells. When I have been showing the logo to people they have not "got" the cellular theme until I have explained it.

And if there are any final changes or alterations you want to make, then now is the time. I will decide on Friday.

Regards

NIck


Nick
Paul at Ratbaggy

Are you going to put in any final changes? We are going to review our short list in a couple of hours.

Nick

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v2 (acorn representing potential for growth)

[Ratbaggy]

Paul at Ratbaggy

Are you going to put in any final changes? We are going to review our short list in a couple of hours.

Nick

Hi Nick,

I'd certainly like to. I've been flat out today sorry. I will try to get them done in the next few hours.

:)

Here's hoping.

Cheers,

Paul

[drnickm]

Hi Nick,

I'd certainly like to. I've been flat out today sorry. I will try to get them done in the next few hours.

:)

Here's hoping.

Cheers,

Paul

Paul

When you come back can you show me a couple of alternative colour schemes - including one using PMS 159 (Gold) which also suggests wealth and value. I can give you another hour but I want to be making a decision at lunch time today in the UK.

Regards

Nick

[Ratbaggy]

:)

I've decided to stick with the true circle shape over the irregular edging as suggested - to re-enforce the strength of the logo.

I've also adjusted the colour.

Sorry for any inconvenience the delay may have caused.

Cheers,

Paul

[drnickm]

Thank you to all designers for taking part.

We have decided to select Medigraph (version 6.2) as the winner.

I want to take this opportunity to thank certain specific designers, namely Paul @ Ratbaggy (our runner-up), who gave us the strongest outline image, and Caroline @ Vertline (third place), who came up with some of the most original designs. Also thanks to joshuamings for producing so many variations on his theme.

Thanks to Design Outpost - it's been a fascinating process and good luck to everyone on their next brief.

Nick

[Blesseville]

Thank you Nick, for choosing my design. Please let me know which version in 6.2 you prefer and if you need any revisions.

Best,
Cem

[drnickm]

Cem,

Thanks for you mail. The versions I want to finalise are Version 6.2 A and the reverse image in 6.2 C. I would like to see additional colours for A (including a "gold" colour). Could you also show me a larger logo for C in the the gold colour. In the end I want to end up with a palette of 5-6 colours, of which one would be the logo and this would have to work on a white background like a business card or powerpoint presentation, so this may be a blue or dark blue or black.

I am wondering about the selection of colour of the cover of the reports we write. One option is a gold colour (your have used PMS 618 but I also would like to see PMS 159) with either a dark logo (perhaps blue) or alternatively the gold colour with the logo in white.

Can you work those through and let me see.

Thank you for your work so far and congratulations on being our winner.

Regards

Nick

[Blesseville]

Below are the alternatives. If there is a particular color that you like, we can try shades of it to find the exact one you'd like.

At the bottom I put PMS 159 (and I have already tried it on 6.2 as well), however PMS 159 is not gold, but rather orangeish. I tried another gold, PMS 130, maybe that's closer to what you look for.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-3.jpg

[drnickm]

Below are the alternatives. If there is a particular color that you like, we can try shades of it to find the exact one you'd like.

At the bottom I put PMS 159 (and I have already tried it on 6.2 as well), however PMS 159 is not gold, but rather orangeish. I tried another gold, PMS 130, maybe that's closer to what you look for.

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-3.jpg

Thank you for the designs in Version 6.3. I am getting closer to a final selection. Would you please send back the following:

The positive logos (colour on white) in single colours for PMS 617, 620, 300 and also can you do a positive and a negative using 159.

Regards

Nick

[Blesseville]

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-4.jpg

[drnickm]

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-4.jpg
Hi Medigraph,

We are almost there. Can you suggest two more colours that work with the for colours so far for a colour palette please. Also can you let me know what the colours are in pantone and RGB.

The final stage (tomorrow, I hope) will be for me to agree the additions and then I think you send me the final art work.

Thanks for everything so far.

Regards

Nick

[Blesseville]

http://www.medigraph.net/do/milner6-5.jpg

[drnickm]

Dear Medigraph,

Thanks very much - am now fully satisfied with the design & colours. Please go ahead and send the files.

Nick

[Blesseville]

Hello Nick,
A private message (PM) is sent to you with information to download the necessary files. You can check it here: http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/private.php?

Regards,
Cem

[abby]

Project Update: I have moved this project to the Logo Archives.