[Project Complete] Due Jan 12: $400 High-End Photography Logo

[newmediaguru]

Admin code added by Abby - 1AP86737SJ588754W

I am looking for a clean, elegant logo to brand my photography business. ** The logo must work both on its own and as a semi-transparent watermark **

The logo must be modern, fresh, clean and simple and convey youthful energy, classic understated sophistication, and luxury.

Project Summary:

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

either one of the above (probably just the name, but I'm not sure yet, so go ahead and use what you think looks best with your design). What type of product or service do you offer?
Actor portraits, fashion photography, editorial photography, event photography, weddings.How long have you been in business?
2 yearsWhat do you hope to accomplish with your new identity?
Attract new commercial, corporate, and advertising clients and solidify my reputation as a young, fresh, original photographer with a distinct style and an eye for quality.
What are your long term goals?
Establish a reputation as a highly sought-after portrait, editorial, and fashion photographer.
When is the deadline for final entries before choosing a designer?
Monday January 12
Audience Profile:

Please describe your existing audience
Actors, young couples, corporate clientsWho would you like to add to your audience?
Advertising agencies, magazines looking to commission portraits for a feature article, fashion labels. I would also like to attract more actors: the logo should appeal to young women and young men starting their careers + established actors.
Perception/Tone/Guidelines:

What type of logo would you like?
tone: clean, modern yet classic, young, contemporary, fresh, original, understated luxury, high quality. Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?)
My current website color is orange (b24e0b, r:178 g:78 b:11) so perhaps something that incorporates this color would be best. A grey/black and white version is important. I like creative people and am open to your ideas.Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo?
Possibly my initials ("FG") with the letters interlocking, or the F inside the G, or something like that. I am also open to any other creative ideas you may have.

Communication Strategy:

What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business?
modern, youthful & creative energy and a tradition of quality and excellence. My photography is both edgy & modern and classic & elegant -- I pride myself on creating images of the highest quality. The logo should inspire confidence and also reflect the creative energy I bring to the job and that I express through my photos. I was born in Paris and would like the logo to suggest a European influence.What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience?
"This photograph was taken by an established photographer with a classic sense of style and a fresh, original vision."Where will your new logo be used?
I will apply the watermark overtop of my photos (in a corner) to brand the image and direct the viewer to my website. The logo will also be used to brand my website, blog, and business card and it will be appear in magazines. The small version of the photos on my blog are presently displayed at 370px wide and enlarge up to 800px wide when you click on them, so the watermark must look good at both small and large sizes.
Competitive Positioning:

I like the logos of high-end fashion labels:



Some photographer's logos that I like:



(Justine Ungaro: http://www.justineungaro.com/)



(becker blog: http://www.beckersblog.com/)

What sets you apart from your competitors?
My fresh vision and my dedication to quality.
Targeted Message:

State a single-minded word or phrase that will appropriately describe your company:
Fresh, bold, original photography with classic flair.
Business Card:

I am asking the winning designer to also do my business card design, but I am not requesting everyone to submit a business card design unless they would like to... my first priority is a top-notch logo, so please focus on that.

EDIT -- Dec 30: removed business card requirement. I will submit the business card as a separate job in the print forum once I have a logo. This job is now "logo-only" -- $400


My websites:

(please type in the address in your browser window to follow the link to my blog and then visit my other websites by clicking the links under my avatar photo in the right-hand column on the blog).

[newmediaguru]

Some samples of my photography to give you a sense of my style:


The logo should work as a watermark in one of the corners of these images (instead of the current copyright tag).

[newmediaguru]

And a few examples of recent headshots:

[newmediaguru]

And here is a mockup of the new website I'm working on:



The new logo will go at the top of the page.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice1.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice1b.gif

[newmediaguru]

Nutscreative: (posts deleted) Thanks very much - I like the elegance of the circle design but the flowers are too feminine and not graphic enough -- I am looking for something more masculine.

Offbeat: (posts #5 and #6) of the two, I like version 1a the best. Simple and graphic. Your logo idea is very nice!

I would like to see more designs that play with the interlocking letters in this way.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice2.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice3.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice4.gif

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice2.png

[nutscreative]

Hi, Sorry the post was deleted by administrator cos i was not allow to put the watermark sample. I will post the previous work again as reference. Please see revised attached. Thanks

[nutscreative]

:)

[newmediaguru]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice1.gif

So far, the first logo above is my favourite (offbeat 1a). Offbeat, I also like version 3 a lot (post #9).

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice3.gif

Clean, and a bit softer than v1a above. I like the European feel. I think I still prefer #1, but I like your ideas!

Xpressions and Nutscreative: So far, I prefer Offbeat's v1a and version 3 (see above) -- simpler, more striking, more masculine and more like the idea I like to give of elegance and luxury.

[nutscreative]

Previous post revised and post again for client reference. Thanks. v1

[nutscreative]

Previously v2, sorry for all confusion.

[newmediaguru]

Nutscreative: I like the elegance and circular idea but the look is too feminine.

[nutscreative]

Hi, Here's few more options.:)

[nutscreative]

v7

[nutscreative]

v8

[nutscreative]

v9

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice3.png

[newmediaguru]

Nutscreative: Thank you very much for your ideas. I am looking for something lighter and more balanced.

These feel too heavy and busy for my taste. The logo has to be simple and give a sense of elegance and luxury without trying too hard... it needs to feel open and effortless.


Xpressions: I like your idea very much (version 3, post #23) and the way you are playing with the letters, but unfortunately the image it evokes in my mind is that of a paperclip, which is not right. I like the metal-looking shading... it looks like a metal badge, which is interesting. Is there a way to make it look less like a paperclip?

[nutscreative]

Hi, 2 more options attached. Thanks.:)

[nutscreative]

:)

[tini1]

;)thanks

[newmediaguru]

Nutscreative: Thank you very much but the green isn't really working for me, and the design still feels too rough for my taste. The F seems too compressed against the G (it has less weight than the G) and my initials don't seem to blend into the circular design very well. I like the circular idea, but the logo feels too heavy and too rough for my taste.

Designers: please try to visualize how your logo would look at the top of my webpage as well as watermarked in the corner of the photos I posted above -- does the logo work when you do that?

Offbeat: Could you play around with the placement of the logo in relation to my name? Ie the logo between the first and last part of my name, or at the beginning or end of it? Something a bit more horizontal? I am thinking about the watermark -- the logo looks great at those small sizes, but it might be hard to read my name underneath it when the font is so small.

[tini1]

different layout...:)

[glyphica]

:)

[newmediaguru]

Hi Tin1, thanks for your idea. The proportions don't feel quite right -- I am looking for something that gives an impression of elegance -- the bars of the F feel heavy to me, and the weight of the initials does not feel balanced in relation to the fonts you've used for the name.

EDIT: Tin1, I hadn't seen you first version -- I prefer it to version 2, especially the way it looks when it is small.

[tini1]

...I choose the fonts to contrast/balance the logo mark.....:yes:

[newmediaguru]

Tin1 thanks, but it feels too much like a maze with no exit!

[tini1]

:)version 1, different font....

[newmediaguru]

Glyphica: Thanks for jumping in! I am a fan of your work and was hoping you'd submit something. Do you have any other ideas? Version #1 is ok, but I'm looking for something really beautiful that grabs the viewer's attention with its simplicity and elegance.

[newmediaguru]

ATTN: I have removed the business card requirement. I am no longer asking for both a logo and a business card -- just a logo. The price has dropped by $60 to reflect this change.

I will start a new thread in the print forum once we have a logo to work with.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted thus far. Please keep the ideas coming!

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v1

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v2

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v3

[newmediaguru]

BlueCherry/JJohnson (Jennifer):

Version 1: I like the concept -- the line in the middle reminds me of the centre focus point that I see in my camera's viewfinder. However I think I am looking for something a bit more elegant. I like the simplicity and the graphic quality, but the bars are a bit too thick and blunt for my taste.

Version 2: The diagonal line separating the two letters in the lower left hand corner is interesting.

Perhaps these designs would be more appealing if they were compressed vertically? IE if the designs were more square than rectangular?

Version 3: Thank you very much for the idea but this is not at all the right quality -- I need the logo to look at once modern and fresh and classic, and this feels too delicate and feminine.

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v4

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v5

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v6 this isn't square, but I think the symbol is much better

[newmediaguru]

Thanks Jennifer: I think I actually prefer the simplicity of Version 4 and Version 5 to Version 6... Version 6 feels too complicated to me. I don't really understand what the lower part is doing! IT also ends up looking a bit like an "S" when it is in black.

While I prefer Version 4 and 5, I agree that there is something missing -- perhaps the lines are now TOO thin... maybe split the difference?

I want the logo to look elegant, but it still needs to be bold and confident.

I keep coming back to the logos of the luxury brands like Luis Vuitton, Coco Chanel, and Givenchy:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/logocomp.gif

So far, Offbeat's V1s is my favourite:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/offbeat.gif

I also like Offbeat V3:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/offbeat2.gif

I am curious to see if anyone has any other ideas that are in this vein (or completely different, I'm open!) -- but this is the feeling I am going for.

luxury, sobriety, perfection, simplicity... something that creates a strong but classic impression.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice5.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice6.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice7.gif

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4.png

[Rongie]

My turn ;)

[newmediaguru]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4.png

xpressions, that is beautiful! Quite striking... thank you.

[newmediaguru]

Thanks Ron. That is quite unusual! I don't find the shape particularly appealing, however it is very creative and original, so thanks again for your work. And thanks for helping me visualize what it would look like as a watermark.

I should mention that I very much liked the gray and orange in Jennifer/BlueCherryGraphics/JJohnson Version 1, post #37):

http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=121665&stc=1&d=1230676096

Now that I look at it again I like how bold and simple it is. Unfortunately I find that logo a little bland in black and white, which is what it will be when I use it as a watermark.

The logo must be simple and striking and look good both as a website banner and as a small watermark.

I have done a mockup of my three favourites so far:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/splasha.jpg

(my original favourite, but on a full-bleed orange background it is a bit hard to avoid seeing it in reverse (ie my eye tends to focus on the orange negative space instead of the white F and G).

This one is a bit less busy and more peaceful, but to my eye perhaps not as striking/original as the first one:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/splashc.jpg

Nevertheless, I do like how calm and classy it looks.

I think this one is also very striking:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/splashe.jpg

What I like about that one is that I don't focus on the negative space when it is on the orange background, and I think it will also look good as a small watermark.

Hopefully this gives you a practical sense of how I'm evaluating the submissions.

Like I said, I love the first one, but now I wonder if it will work on the full-bleed orange background since the eye appears to be drawn to the negative space instead of the positive white lettering. It's tricky...

Thanks again to everyone for their work. There is some beautiful stuff here... I appreciate it.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice8.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice8b.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice8c.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice8d.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice9.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice10.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice10b.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice10c.gif

[glyphica]

;) thanks!

[abby]

Project Update: This project is being updated to just a logo project for $400. Once the winner is announced the Client will be posting a new project in the Miscellaneous forum for the business card design so those Designers who can enter please do so.
~Abby

[newmediaguru]

Glyphica: Thanks, that's very elegant, however I'm not sure it works as a small watermark -- when the initials are the same tone as they are in the small versions we lose the separation of the two letters and the "over-under" linked effect that makes the larger versions appealing. The bar of the lower F is so close to the bar of the G that they almost bleed into one another. I like the idea, but I think the small monochrome versions look a bit too busy.

Offbeat: Thanks very much for suggesting all those alternatives. The first one remains my favourite of yours -- it's more classy than the revisions. I feel like the drop shadow reduces the classic power of the original, as does the boxed-in or stroked versions, and the original shape was the most powerful and appealing of all the ones you subsequently submitted. I will ask some people what they think, but for now my eyes keep seeing it in reverse (as a "2" instead of as my initials), especially when it's on the orange background at the top of my website.

While I like the two-tone designs, of all the designs my favourites are the ones that work on the strength of their shape without relying on colours to achieve their effect. The ones that feel the most classy and timeless to me have simple, pleasing, original shapes. To me they are most like the logos from the famous design labels that I posted in the project summary at the top of this thread and again in post #44 (http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showpost.php?p=363589&postcount=44).

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/logocomp.gif

I particularly like Expressions v10:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4.png

It is simple, elegant, classic. Because the shape is so strong, it works very well as a monochrome and will therefore also work well as a small watermark.

The same can be said of offbeatdesign's Version 1:

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice1.gif

In general, I prefer these square designs to the vertical versions which so far remind me of paperclips (!).

I will probably make my decision much earlier than January 12th -- I will most likely choose the logo by Sunday Jan 4th so that I can move onto phase 2 (the business card).

I am still open to seeing something completely different if anyone has any other ideas.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice12.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

Trying to get rid of the "2" in the negative space
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice13.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice14.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice15.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice16.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice17.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice18.gif

[Rongie]

I played around with an elegant small letter 'g' and a 2 color combo icon, but if take a deeper look you'll notice the capital 'G' inside in a white space. A non-sharp edges but still a squarish style. I wanted to keep the balance and equal weight of each line :) I hope you like it.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice19.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice20.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice21.gif

[shnickerdoodle studios]

One from me..Thanks, Deanna

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:)

[newmediaguru]

Thanks to everyone who has joined-in!

So far, these are my favourites:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/revisions/comp.jpg

Offbeat:


could you play around with the proportions of the initials vs the name so that the initials are a bit smaller in relation to the name?


What would you think of making the bars either a bit thinner or a bit thicker?

Please only submit revisions which you feel are superior to the original.
I like the logo as-is, I would just like to see the size of the initials reduced in relation to my name (so that my name is more prominent).
And I am curious if this is the optimal weight for the initials or if we can make it better by adjusting the weight of the bars.



Ron: I like how open your logo feels, and the use of negative and positive space is very clever!

Could you do a white on orange design, such as the one I posted above?
The logo feels a bit heavy to me.
Could you reduce the size of the initials in relation to my name so that my name appears larger?


Could you also try a version with straight instead of rounded edges?

I like your idea very much, I would just like to see the logo feel a bit lighter.


Xpressions:

Your logo is really very nice.
I tried opening it up a bit so that it doesn't feel so boxed-in (I would like the logo to feel open and inviting and not too rigid).


Could you try an unboxed, white on orange version such as the one I posted above?


Could you play with the proportions of the initials in relation to my name?




Deanna:
Your idea is very creative!
The black on white version is my favourite.
I was tempted to ask you to play around with different weights, but I think I am going to go with something less busy in the end.
I will be posting the logo on every page of my website, and I don't want it to detract from the photographs.
Your ideas is very nice, but I think it will be a bit too busy on web pages that already have lots going on. Thanks so much for trying something new and for "breaking out of the box".

Everyone: Please include a white on orange and a black on white version so that I can pre-visualize what the logo will look like at the top of my website (which has an orange background, see the first few posts for an example) and as a small watermark.

Thanks again to everyone for their submissions.
These are my favourites so far, but I'm still open to being surprised if anyone has any new ideas.
The ones that I like best are clean and simple.
They have a classic feel and are not too heavy or overly complicated.
They stand on the merits of the originality and strength of their shape and don't rely on coloring to work.

[tini1]

I added space between F and G, so it is more open, less maze like:)

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice22.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice22b.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice22c.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice22d.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice23.gif

[newmediaguru]

Offbeat: My favourite is still Version 1. I prefer the original font. Of the new versions the best to me is probably 22c. Thanks for trying out the different weights etc. I do like it with a slightly smaller FG so that my name is larger in relation to the rest.

Tini1: In your new version (V5) it looks like the G is a fist giving the finger to the F (!).

Ron: I've been looking at your Version 2 some more -- along with the other changes, could you also try joining the bar of the F with that of the G?

Something like this?

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/revisions/ronjoined.jpg

That's still too heavy for my test, but you get the idea...

Along with straightening some of the edges and lightening up the weight, perhaps you couls also compress it vertically so that the F is not so tall and the whole design is a bit more square? Something like this?

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/revisions/ronjoined2.jpg

Again, it's too heavy and the proportions aren't quite right, but if you could play with those ideas I'd like to see what you come up with.

Thanks again everyone.

[Rongie]

Here are the revisions. Thank you.

[Rongie]

with flat ends.

[Rongie]

connected FG

[Rongie]

a thinner line.

[xpressions]

Revised version:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4REV1.png

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice24.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice25.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice26.gif

[tini1]

:eek:.....Thank you for your feedback...never in a zillion years would I be able to see the G, finger thing:blush:

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:d

[newmediaguru]

Ron: My favourite is version 4. It still feels a bit too vertical. Could you somehow make it more square (ie compress it vertically without changing the width of the lines)? Please make sure you are using orange #b24e0b, (RGB - r:178 g:78 b:11) so I can try it out on my website without having to change colours in photoshop. Could you also try a version where the lines are just slightly thinner? I want to look bold and confident without being bulky or massive. I like the strength of your design, so I don't want to go too thin with it... If you are able to compress the logo vertically without thickening the lines, I'd also very much like to see you come up with a second alternate version that is just a little bit less heavy so that the lines of the F and the G are more like the thickness of the logos submitted by offbeat v4.1 and xpressions v1. That way I can compare the two side-by-side and try them out on my website.

xpressions: v4.1 is gorgeous. Could you make sure you're using orange #b24e0b, r:178 g:78 b:11? I don't have access to Photoshop at the moment, but I will be trying out the logos on my website later today and would prefer not to have to change everyone's orange to match my website colours.

Offbeat: Could I see V24, V25, and V26 with the original colours of V1 (gray name)? Also, for V26, could you lower my name a little so that it is lower in proportion to the logo? I like this idea very much, so if you could balance it out a bit better that would be great. Also, please make sure you are using orange #b24e0b, r:178 g:78 b:11 so that I can drop the logo onto my website when I have access to Photoshop later today.

Tini1: I like the black on white version much more than the drop shadowed versions (again, I am going for a classic shape, not effects). The logo feels a bit too much like a metro station logo, but I like the idea.

Deanna: Thanks, but I much preferred your diamond logo to this one! It was more classy.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice27.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice28.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice29.gif

[newmediaguru]

Thanks Offbeat. When I asked if you could lower the name a bit in V26, I was thinking of something like this:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/revisions/Fabrice27b.gif

In this example I'm not entirely sure the logo is the right size in relation to the text, but that's the general positioning I had in mind when I was giving feedback on V26. If I could see something like that on orange and as a watermark, that would be great. Thanks again.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice30.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice31.gif

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:)

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:):d

[Rongie]

Here's the revised squarish with RGB color palette. Thank you.

[xpressions]

Thank you. Here it is with the requested background:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4REV2.png

[newmediaguru]

Thanks very much.

I have narrowed it down to these three:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/sidebyside/splash5-offbeat29.jpg


http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/sidebyside/splash5-ronv4b.jpg


http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/sidebyside/splash5-xpressions42e.jpg

I would like to change the colour to something more appealing than the orange. I am open to your suggestions!

Designers: Could you submit your logo designs with the colour of your choice that you think is best suited to your logo and my website/image?

You may want to re-visit the first few posts in this thread for inspiration (I posted samples of my photography etc).

I am looking for a colour that works well on white or black (when I display the logo on my letterhead and business card or in print) and that will also work as a good website background colour.

I generally like blues, reds, and grays, but I am open to anything at this point.
The logo colour needs to make a good background colour for viewing my photos and also be a strong enough choice that it can become part of my brand identity.

I am hoping that you can use your intuition and experience to come up with a good match.

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/ebay/Fabrice32.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/ebay/Fabrice32b.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/ebay/Fabrice32c.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/ebay/Fabrice32d.gif

[newmediaguru]

Thanks offbeat.

Designers: A quick note to say that I am interested in your personal recommendations and suggestions regarding the colour you think would work best for your logo in the context of my business and with the purpose I stated in post #1.

I do have access to Photoshop and can change hues etc quite easily on my own, so seeing a dozen variations here is not that useful to me without your personal suggestions -- what I'm most interested in is what colours you feel would work best, given your experience and your intuition and your personal feeling about the project and your take on my photography. What colour do you think would work best for your logo and my business?

As a test, does your logo colour work as a web background for the signature image I posted above? That's the first thing I'm trying out, and then I'm trying to imagine if the colour would work as the background to the other pages on my website such as this one:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/samples/mockupc.jpg

The next thing I am doing is seeing how the logo looks if it is filled with the colour you have suggested and appears on a white or black background (to simulate how it might appear in print in a magazine on a white or black page).

The logo shapes you have submitted are bold in and of themselves - I am not sure if I should go for a bold logo colour or a muted logo colour. I'm looking for your suggestions on what you think would work best here.

Something young and vibrant might work, or something more subdued and classy might be right... if I new, I wouldn't be asking you!

Thanks again.

[OffbeatDesign]

These would be my top choices, but color is very personal. I am drawn to these colors more than a muted palette. I also like the original orange.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/ebay/Fabrice32e.gif

[Rongie]

Upon studying your photography style, the vibrant of your images, and the lively approach to the business. Here are the best 3 colors that suits your site and could be the whole theme of your branding. My creative intuition guided me to use the precious metal and expensive stones colors that reflects your portfolio. Silver (or diamond), Gold, and Peridot (lighter tone).

I also revised the chosen icon according to your mock-up.

Thank you.

[Rongie]

:)

[Rongie]

..and lastly, a semi-peridot and crystal color combined. My best choice for you as it's unique, precious, elegant and your vibrant images will stand-out.

Looking forward to your comment.

[xpressions]

I would stay monochromatic and as neutral as possible to avoid clashing with your artwork. Black/tan/brown/cream/white/gray....it's elegant, timeless and classic:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4REV3.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4REV4.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4REV5.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/fabrice4REV6.png

[giant]

here's my try,..
thank you :)

[davegk]

concept 2.1...

[davegk]

concept 3.1...

[davegk]

variation 3.2...

[davegk]

concept 4.1...

[davegk]

concept 5.1...

[davegk]

concept 6.1...

[davegk]

variation 6.2...

[newmediaguru]

Thanks for your ideas David. I need something more simple and classic in appearance and design, but I appreciate you jumping in at the end like that.

I solicited feedback from many different people and if there was one point on which everyone agreed it was that I couldn't go wrong choosing between the final three contenders (offbeat, ron, and xpressions). I ended up arranging the 3 logos next to a cross-section of my photos to see which one was the best match. Offbeat, I'm going to go with your design.

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this process. Ron and xpressions, the quality of your submissions was particularly high and you made this a very tough decision.

My thanks to everyone for jumping in so energetically and for responding to my feedback with such tenacity and enthusiasm. I appreciate your work very much.

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks a lot! Did you need any revisions? Which color scheme did you want to go with?

Jeff

[Rongie]

Congrats, Jeff.

Newmediaguru, goodluck to your new logo.

[newmediaguru]

Thanks Ron. Your work was fantastic as well. Jeff/offbeat's logo works perfectly with all of my images, but I liked your logo very much (loved the idea and the "hidden" upper-case G inside the lower case and the originality of the concept and the strength of the shape).

Xpressions' logo was also very elegant and effective (simple, strong and classic). It had a zen feel that I loved. I had an embarrassment of riches and couldn't have gone wrong with you or xpressions or Jeff!

Jeff, the only thing I might change would be the spacing between the logo and the lettering underneath it. I'll have a look again and see.

Thanks again everyone for all your work.

[BlueCherryGraphics]

Congratulations Jeff.

This project is being moved to the Revisions forum.

Client, you can access that forum here:

http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

However, you must be logged in to do so.

Once your project is complete and you have received the final files, please post a note in the thread confirming receipt of the files so the thread can be archived.

Thanks!

[OffbeatDesign]

Just wanted to check in and see if you decided on any revisions. Thanks.

Jeff

[newmediaguru]

-

[newmediaguru]

Hi Jeff,

I've been thinking about the revisions. I am mostly going to be using the logo as black on white, so I don't think I need colour variations. I can probably change the colours myself if need be. As long as you provide me with the logo in its native, editable format, I can adjust the height of the logo in relation to the text and play around with versions that have the logo itself in black and the text in different shades of gray.

Here is a sample of how the logo will appear:

http://www.westpointimage.com/logos/offbeat/offbeat.jpg

Could you keep a copy of the last version of the logo on file (the one you used to make all the colour variations... version 29?) and then suggest a couple of variations where the logo is very slightly higher in relation to the text and where the bottom "photography" is spaced out a bit wider or in a slightly lighter font?

I am most likely going to go with the last revision without any modifications, but I am curious to see if we can tweak it at all by creating a bit more air between the logo and the text and perhaps finessing the fonts underneath.

In what file formats can you send me the file? I will need to be able to make positive and negative versions and watermarks -- perhaps you could provide positive and negative versions and then give me files that are in a vector format so that I can edit to change colours as required. I usually work in Photoshop, so a PSD file in addition to an Illustrator file would be nice, but I think I can place your illustrator artwork in Photoshop at any size that I need, so that might not be necessary.

I have most fonts, but I will also need to know the exact name and font family you used, along with the font foundry so that I can make a perfect match.

Did you design this in Illustrator?

Thanks!

[OffbeatDesign]

Here are some variations. Thanks.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk146/offbeatdesign/Fabrice33.gif

[OffbeatDesign]

All logos on Design Outpost are designed in Illustrator (or another vector program). In addition to the vector files I will send over high res PSDs of the logo.

Fonts are Bauer Bodoni and Futura

[newmediaguru]

OK, I'd like to go with 33D. Could you also provide 33A as a reference in case I decide to revert back to that one? As long as I can edit the fonts directly in Illustrator, I can adjust the letter spacing myself.

If you could also provide a white on black version, that would be great.

Thanks for your work!

[OffbeatDesign]

Files sent via e-mail. Thanks!

[BlueCherryGraphics]

PROJECT UPDATE: moved to archives