[Project Complete] Logo Design for a Law Firm - $200

[dbriglia]

Admin code added by Abby - 0HC478515F333180S

I am looking for a logo for a law firm that provides outsourced general counsel services (advice and representation in corporate, securities, commercial, IP licensing and mergers and acquisitions matters) to emerging companies engaged mostly, although not exclusively, in high technology industries. The name of the firm is Corporate Counsel Services LLC. The firm's current "logo" is its name written in red in Copperplate Gothic font. I plan to use the new logo on business cards, stationary, and a web site.

I want a logo that conveys professionalism and stability, but also sophistication and a forward-looking, contemporary, "cutting-edge" orientation. I greatly dislike the standard iconography of law firms (i.e., gavels, scales of justice, pillars). I'm also not fond of the inconography often associated with technology companies (e.g., globes with things spinning around them). I'd be interested to see a play on an acronym for the firm-- "CCS" or "CCS Law". I like color, and plays on color.

[Senter]

Hello and thanks for choosing Design Outpost. If you could go to the below link and copy/paste the info back into this thread with your answers it will help us to present concepts for you.

http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7819

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks for posting the project. Here's a first concept. Please post comments or suggestions for color/font/form.

[OffbeatDesign]

Version 2

[OffbeatDesign]

Version 3

[dbriglia]

Project Summary:
What text should be included in the main part of the logo? The firm name. I'd prefer if the "LLC" were minimized in appearance.

What type of product or service do you offer? Legal services, principally to entity business clients.
How long have you been in business? Since October

What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity? Image enhancement-- clean, crisp professional image, an identifiable brand that will distinguish this firm from other corporate law firms, if possible.

What are your long term goals? Grow the practice by attracting business clients with revenues of $0 to $35 million who need regular, reliable legal assistance on a range of sophisticated corporate and commercial transactional matters, but that are not yet in a position to hire a permanent in-house general counsel.

When is the deadline for final entries before choosing a designer? January 3, 2007

Audience Profile:
Please describe your existing audience. Founders and managers of emerging businesses in high technology (e.g., information technology, new media, telecommunications, biomedical, and nanotechnology) professional services and retail.

Who would you like to add to your audience? More of the above, plus entrepeneurs intending to start a new business; professionals and executives looking for advice and representation in connection with negotiating employment agreements with prospective employers, or resolving disputes under employment agreements with existing employers

Perception/Tone/Guidelines:
What type of logo would you like? Something less like a standard small law firm logo and more like a large law firm/large management consulting firm logo.

Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?) I don't have any particular colors in mind, although I don't think I'd like a lot of blue in the logo.

Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo? No, although something incorporating the firm's acronym "CCS" might be appealing.

Communication Strategy:
What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business? Attention to detail, professionalism, dependability, but contemporary and with an eye on the "cutting edge" (though not faddish).

What is your tagline or slogan? On my current business card I use "A law practice focusing on the needs of emerging and fast-growing companies." This is rather unwieldy as taglines go, I acknowledge. "A law practice for emerging and fast-growing companies", "CCS Law-- Corporate Counsel Services LLC-- for emerging and fast growing companies" , perhaps something along those lines would appeal.

What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience? Dedicated corporate practice focusing on emerging companies (I don't do personal injury/divorce/criminal defense/etc. in addition to business law), individualized attention to client concerns, alternative billing methods allowing for greater predictability and a closer working relationship between attorney and client than is typical when dealing with a big corporate law firm.


Where will your new logo be used? Business cards, letterhead, website.

Competitive Positioning:
Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos? My competitors are mostly small firm/solo practitioners who offer outside general counsel to small to mid-sized companies. To the extent these operations have logos or a professionally-designed image, I haven't been terribly impressed with them.

List competitive URLs if possible. I have few direct competitors whose design approach I'd care to emulate. One design firm that does a lot of work for larger law firms has a portfolio of logo designs featuring a few approaches I found appealing. See http://www.paperstreet.com/portfolio_logos.htm
--particularly the designs for Andrei Popovici, Allen Dyer, Darius Kayat and Alderman Devorsetz

What sets you apart from your competitors? Dedicated business practice, individualized attention to client concerns, alternative billing methods allowing for greater predictability and a closer working relationship between attorney and client than is typical.

Targeted Message:
State a single-minded word or phrase that will appropriately describe your company: A law practice for emerging and fast-growing companies

[dbriglia]

Thanks OffBeat Design for preliminary designs. The first (in Message #3) features a strong graphic identity that may be a bit confusing, and the combination of red and orange is not to my liking. (Red and black, or red, black and something else other than orange might be more appealing). I also don't care for the font choice in the first-- I think I might prefer something with seriphs. The second design (Message #4) reminds me of this: http://www.corpcounselgroup.com/ which isn't bad, but not terribly exciting either. I don't regard Corporate Counsel Group LLP as a competitor because of geography-- but nevertheless I don't want my web image resembling theirs. The third design features a font that I find somewhat more apealing, although overall the design doesn't quite excite me, and the graphic element is somewhat confusing as to its intentions since it only serves to frame the "S". But thanks again for your prompt reply!

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll work on some revisions.

[OffbeatDesign]

Version 5

[OffbeatDesign]

Version 6. Revisions to #1.

[OffbeatDesign]

Version 7

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v1

[Fabian]

version 1

[dbriglia]

Offbeat Design submissions in Messages #8, #9 #10 and #11-- of these the top design in #9 appeals most to me, although I don't find it especially exciting. Perhaps you could suggest more interesting fonts? The all-caps Times New Roman strikes me as a little too common. I did express a preference for serif fonts in my prior post, but I'm not married to that. Thanks for your prodigious efforts so far.

Blue Cherry Graphics submission in Message #12-- the font selection and the graphical treatment of CCS just doesn't appeal to me, but thank you anyway.

Fabian, I appreciate what I think is a very unique approach, but as with the submission in #12, the combination of graphic and font just doesn't quite do it for me. I've seen your work for other projects in the logos forum and I've been quite impressed with it (for instance, Monach Software, Spontarelli Financial Services-- marriages of professionalism and "coolness" I think, not that I'm asking you to replicate those designs here). I hope you'll be motivated to try another approach with my logo.

For all designers, I need to include the "LLC" in the name, but I think I'd prefer to have it minimized in size in comparison to the accompanying text. There is no comma between "Services" and "LLC". Thank you!

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks for the feedback. It's Caslon, not Times New Roman in the type. I'll put together some other options for you. Thanks again for the feedback.

[Senter]

http://www.senterbrands.com/designout/CCS1.gif

[Senter]

http://www.senterbrands.com/designout/CCS2.gif

[Fabian]

Thank you very much,I'll see what else I can come up
with.

[OffbeatDesign]

Version 8. Feel free to mix and match elements of the variations. Color can easily be adjusted as well.

[OffbeatDesign]

9

[OffbeatDesign]

10

[OffbeatDesign]

11

[OffbeatDesign]

New approach

[OffbeatDesign]

13

[Fabian]

v2

[dbriglia]

I really like the approach in Message #23. Could I see it integrated with the full name of the firm?

[BlueCherryGraphics]

V2

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks. Here it is integrated with a matching font.

[OffbeatDesign]

And with a serif font

[joshuamings]

Here is something thats a bit on the edge.
Josh

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

[Blesseville]

CCS integrated into a scale of justice :)

http://www.blesseville.com/do/ccs1.jpg

[dbriglia]

Message#27-- BlueCherryGraphics, I like the placement of the firm name relative to the "CCS" graphic, but I don't care for the graphic itself, with the backwards C on the bottom. In color, it's obvious that the Cs combine to make an S, but in black and white the effect is lost entirely. I'm also not especially fond of the color blue in the design

Message #30--Josh, thanks for the novel approach. But I don't much care for the font choice or the color scheme.

Medigraph, I like the placement of the CCS graphic relative to the company name, but if you look to my first post you'll note that I don't care for typical law firm iconography, like the scales of justice. But thank you for your creativity.

To all designers, I'm not married to the idea of incorporating "CCS" into the logo, so if leaving it out liberates you creatively, please feel free to disregard it. I'm looking for a combination of sophistication, elegance, economy of design, with perhaps a bit of beauty.

[Ratbaggy]

Hi dbriglia,

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback.

Cheers,

Paul

[dbriglia]

Hi, Paul. I'm not sure about this. The "CCS" graphic has a imposing blockiness that doesn't immediately appeal to me, and the font choice is not one I'd prefer. I took notice earlier of the designs you submitted for Optimum Wellness and IP Advisors, and was impressed by those. They had an elegance and simplicity that I found very appealing, not that I'd want you to replicate those but they are more in keeping with my style preferences.

[dbriglia]

Paul, one further thought. I don't care for a lot of blue. Thanks.

[Ratbaggy]

Thanks.

Will post back soon.

Cheers,

Paul

[Ratbaggy]

Another

Keeping the stability.

[Ratbaggy]

and ...

[Fabian]

v3

[freetime]

Here's a look.

[freetime]

Another look.

[dbriglia]

Paul, I really like the direction you took in #37 and #38, especially #38. Very clean and modern, which greatly appeals to me. My only criticisms are the color combinations-- the dominant blue in #37 and the combination of orange and red (or orangish and reddish) in #38. Either the red or the orange in #38 in combination with something else, (like black, perhaps) would be more appealing, I think-- to me anyway. Also, I'd prefer a somewhat more elegant (not necessarily "professional") font choice for the company name. Last, the company name needs to include the "LLC" on the same level as the rest of the name, rather than like a trademark symbol as in #37. But I'd like its size minimized in relation to the rest of the title. Thanks-- really neat stuff!

Fabian, I like the direction you took in #39. My only reservation is the font selection for the company name. It reminds me of New Century Schoolbook, which I'm lukewarm toward. I like the "CCS" in separate blocks. I like the use of a colored box, and would probably ask if this were to be my final selection that each of the boxes have a separate background color. Thanks for your work on this!

[Fabian]

More colour added and a font that goes by the name "Timeless" :)

[eziey]

:)v1

[eziey]

V2

[dbriglia]

Senter--Messages #16 and #17-- sorry, I should have given you feedback about these before. These designs are clean and modern, but they aren't as elegant as I would like, and I don't care for the raised letter effect. Thanks, though.

Freetime-- Messages #40 and #41-- thanks for the daring, futuristic approach, but it's more extreme than I am looking for. I'm looking for elegant and simple, more like what you see being done on this forum and elsewhere for management consultants and, occaisonally, software companies.

Eziey-- Messages #44 and #45-- an elegant approach, though more conservative than would be my preference. I prefer #44 to #45. I don't care for the shimmering visual effect in #45. Thanks!

[OffbeatDesign]

Clean design, modern, unicase type.

[dbriglia]

OffbeatDesign-- Message #47-- very cool. You've definitely picked up on my preference for clean, modern font-styling. I wonder though whether this particular choice is the right one. I can see some of my peers, referral sources and clients being a bit confused by the arbitrary combination of capital and lower-case letters.

I keep going back to your design in message #4. Definitely a clean, simple design, but what I especially like about it is that it sort of, kind of, resembles a human ear-- highlighting what I think is the principal competitive advantage of my firm over a larger corporate law firm-- individualized, careful attention to client concerns, active, refelective listening, fact-gathering and issue-framing. I would want the colors changed (I don't care for the chartreuse-navy combo, but maybe black and red, or black red and gold would look neat) and maybe try out the company name with some different font styles, but the basic approach in #4 is one of the best designs I've seen so far. Thanks for your great efforts!

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll put together some options on the last one and number 4. I thought that one was out of the running, so I wasn't pursuing it further. Glad you like it.

[OffbeatDesign]

Some type options based on message 47. I don't think that the unicase is confusing, but rather lends interest to a very "corporate" name. Since the letterforms are all the same size it reads well, instead of JumBleD if they were different sizes.

[OffbeatDesign]

18

[OffbeatDesign]

19

[OffbeatDesign]

Revisions to message 4. Some type options to follow.

[OffbeatDesign]

21

[OffbeatDesign]

22

[dbriglia]

OffbeatDesign-- thanks for the revisions in #51-53. I may yet come around to your way of thinking vis-a-vis the font in #47. Of the three revised designs, I find #52 is the most appealing, I think because of its lesser width and, hence, greater "compactness" and economy.

BlueCherry Graphics-- Message #50-- your treatment of the "CCS" element is beautiful. It seems you've picked up on the listening/individualized attention/human ear theme and created something that makes me think "therapeutic" and "holistic". But I think it pushes that idea a bit too far, to the point where it might not be respected in my particular field. But thank you!

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks. Here's a further developement of my initial idea. Uses a more modern typeface. Again, feel free to mix and match elements if you want to see different parts combined.

[BlueCherryGraphics]

V4

[BlueCherryGraphics]

V5

[BlueCherryGraphics]

V6

[dbriglia]

Offbeat Design-- #57 is very clever, but I think I'm most attracted to the third one down in #54. I wonder how that would look if the you layered the firm name like you did #57. Also, I wonder what it would look like if the outer "C" were red, the inner "C" black and the "S" gold. Last, I wonder how the name would look written in Caslon like you've used before. (I realize I wrote off Caslon previousy as too "common" but I'm thinking with the smooth rounded shapes next to it might contrast nicely).

BlueCherry Graphics--#58-#60-- I like #60 best. I'd be interested to see how it would look with contrasting colors to set off the imbedded C, C and S, and a serifed font for the firm name. Thanks.

[dbriglia]

Offbeat Design-- Sorry, when I wrote above that I was most attracted to the third design down in message #54, I meant to write third one down in #53.

[BlueCherryGraphics]

Hi,

Breaking up the "letters" would totally destroy the design; right now, it's fluid, but very much projects stability, and the "S" also alludes to give & take.

I am including some different font variations in case you change your mind about the design as is.

Thanks!
Jenny

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks for the feedback. Here are the revisions you requested.

[OffbeatDesign]

And here it in Caslon. Thanks again.

[skyvee]

Hi! Here's my entry. Thanks! :)

[freetime]

Here's another look.

[dbriglia]

I'll be away on travel until the 30th. I will give my comments to recent designs upon my return. Thanks!

[freetime]

Here's another look.

[Artemii]

Hello! I'll post soon!

[Artemii]

Hello! :)

[Artemii]

:)

[Artemii]

:)

[dbriglia]

Artemii, thanks. Of the three designs you submitted, I like the one in #72 the best. You've responded to some of my previously-expressed preferences; I appreciate that.

Freetime--I like what you did in #69.

Skyvee-- thanks for your design in #66. It's elegant and projects professionalism without being stodgy-- and I like how you empahsized the "S" for service. Very good work.

Jenny-- I do think your design is clever-- its is fluid and it does project stability. I am still considering it.

My top choice thus far, on the eve of selecting a winner, is Offbeat's "CCS" design in #64 and #65. The combination of graphic and firm name still doesn't quite satisfy me though. I think my preference is for all caps (rather than small caps) Caslon-- with greater spacing between the characters. I think it looks best layered to the side, although I'd prefer that the "LLC" appear on the same line as "Services" and be smaller in point size compared to the rest of the firm name, as in #72.

[freetime]

Here's a vertical version. Thanks for the compliment.

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks for the feedback. Let me know if this is better or if you would like some other options.

[OffbeatDesign]

One more with a smaller name. Depending on your usage there will probably be applications where you just have the CCS, and some where you have it along with the name.

[skyvee]

Another try...Thanks!

[djaka]

any comments are appreciated
thank you
:)

[djaka]

:)

[djaka]

:)

[dbriglia]

djaka-- thank you, I like your submissions, particularly in #80.

Thank you to everyone who submitted ideas for this. It has been difficult for me to pick from the plethora of excellent submissions-- but I pick Offbeat's design in message #76 above as the winner. I might like to see a few adjustments to the color scheme (the grey lettering doesn't seem entirely compatible with the greenish-gold of the S in CCS). Perhaps the firm name should be black and the tone of the S lightened a bit. We discuss this in the revisions forum, I assume?

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks so much. The mods should move this to the revisions forum, but revisions will continue pretty much the same.

Here are 3 options on the gold color. Let me know what combination you prefer.

[OffbeatDesign]

Same golds, but with a darker red.

[dbriglia]

The middle entry in #84 is the one-- darker red, lighter gold. Let's finalize that. Next I intend to take the logo to the miscellaneous forum and get letterhead, envelope and single-sided business card designed. Hopefully I'll see you there. Thanks!

[OffbeatDesign]

Link to files sent in message board. Thank you.

[abby]

Project Update: This project has been moved to the Revisions Forum.

Client please post a message after you have downloaded your files. Thank you