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View Full Version : [Project Complete] - Logo for East Sydney Software - $125


Ciaran Keating
07-10-2012, 11:49 PM
(Admin code added by Palmer - 80G72002V0963661L)

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

What type of product or service do you offer?
We are a software consulting company. We build custom business systems for large and small clients.

How long have you been in business?
Six years

What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity?
We’re rebranding the business with a new name. We are starting a new marketing campaign mainly targeting totally new prospects, although of course we’ll be targeting existing customers too.

When is the deadline for final entries before choosing a designer?
End of July 2012 would be nice.

Audience Profile:
Please describe your existing audience
Our current customers are mostly in the large corporate world. Usually we have a relationship with a person within a business unit who manages their relationship with us directly. That is, we have a fairly personal relationship with our customer and do not go through purchasing departments or other red tape.

Who would you like to add to your audience?
We’re particularly keen to acquire new customers in the IT sector – either independent IT firms who provide outsourced IT services to businesses, or in-house IT staff.

Perception/Tone/Guidelines:
What type of logo would you like?
We would like a logo that means something, even if it’s vague. So a customer could say “You know the guys with the xxx logo.” Definitely not some abstract shape, definitely not just the initials from our name. And most definitely not something cold and corporate.

Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?)
No – we’re wide open to suggestions.

Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo?
Nothing definite, but we do like one design idea that a friend suggested: A compass with the E for East and the S for Sydney, and maybe the Software part of the name slightly separated. A light nautical feel would be OK because the business owner is a sailor. But we’re not mandating this design or theme – be creative.
One thing, though: it should be possible to sketch the logo on a scrap of paper, otherwise it’s too complicated and not communicable.

Communication Strategy:
What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business?
A major part of our business personality is that we are personable and very easy to work with. We let the quality of our work and our support service speak for itself. That is, we don’t explicitly tell people how good we are, because everybody says that. Instead, we focus on making it easy for our customers to engage us.

What is your tagline or slogan?
At the moment we’re toying with a tagline of “Everything is possible”. Not committed to that, though, so we don’t want it embedded into the logo. The attitude behind it is this: our customers are often amazed that we can do stuff with computers that they hardly dared ask for. Another tagline we’re toying with is “You CAN afford custom software!” The idea behind this one is that our customers often assume that custom software will be too expensive, and so they don’t bother trying.

What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience?
Their business will be better if they have custom software to automate some of their business processes. And it is possible. And affordable.

Where will your new logo be used?
Business cards, letterhead, web site, invoices, marketing postcards.

Competitive Positioning:
Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos?
IBM: corporate and boring. Accenture: utterly meaningless. www.intergy.com.au (http://www.intergy.com.au/): not really a logo. www.cosource.com.au (http://www.cosource.com.au/): meaningless. www.ssw.com.au (http://www.ssw.com.au/): inoffensive. www.cnglobal.com.au (http://www.cnglobal.com.au/): meaningless and corporate. www.advantixtech.com.au (http://www.advantixtech.com.au/): too complicated.

Not competitors, but some logos that we like (or at least, we like some of the design principles): MySQL, MasterCard, London Underground, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Shell, 7-Eleven, Lego, Apple, Nike, Westpac, Adobe, Olympics.

What sets you apart from your competitors?
We’re warmly professional. Our customers don’t want rigid SLAs and tight contracts, they want someone who’ll solve their problems.

Ciaran Keating
07-17-2012, 05:06 PM
Hi,

Perhaps I've misunderstood how things work around here. Or perhaps nobody's interested in my project. That's cool. But just in case...

When I said "end of July would be nice" I meant that I'd like to have a logo by that date. I figured that three weeks was a reasonable time to allow for revisions and so on. So if you're interested in this project then please let me know.

Or maybe the fee I've offered isn't enough. Frankly I think $125 is a low figure but I started at Design Outpost's minimum for my first project to see how it might go. I don't want my cash tied up in PayPal red tape if things don't work out. But I'm happy to pay more if the project is going to proceed. If you're interested but the price isn't attractive, then please let me know.

Otherwise, if it really is the case that nobody's interested then I'll just withdraw the project and look elsewhere.

Cheers,
Ciaran

nhr
07-18-2012, 01:01 PM
Hi :)

Ciaran Keating
07-18-2012, 08:23 PM
Hi nhr,

Thanks for your design. I like its not-serious feel.

And it's more compass-inspired than actual compass, which is totally fine by me because I'm not mandating a compass theme at all. I did a few sketches of my own and found, like I suspect you did, that putting the East beside the E and the Sydney under the S just doesn't work because it makes the aspect ratio all wrong. In my sketches I just abandoned that association altogether, but I like the way you've left a hint of it behind.

I have a few comments on details such as the font, but I won't trouble you with them right now in case we decide on something completely different.

Have you had any other ideas?

Cheers,
Ciaran

cre8or
07-24-2012, 07:24 PM
You know... that company with the grinning platypus... EAST SYDNEY SOFTWARE!

I would like to present this as my idea for your new logo.
I may be totally off the mark, but here's the convoluted thinking behind the brand:

The platypus is only found in Australia - it might be a bit of a cliché, but stick with me... The TAGLINE "Everything is Possible" reminded me of something I once heard:

If you ever wonder if God has a sense of humor, just look at the platypus.

So, I created a grinning platypus - he's smiling because he knows "Everyhting is possible".

The little guy is fun, memorable - because he's not your typical "Software Spokesman". He's unassuming. He shows that you're different, and he's definitely not corporate.

I would appreciate your thoughts and feedback.
Respectfully,
Kimber
:cre8or:

Ciaran Keating
07-26-2012, 06:24 PM
Hi cre8or,

Thanks for your design. It certainly incorporates several of the things that I believe are important: it's not corporate-serious, it's identifiable, and its essential form is simple. You've also captured something else I like but which I don't think I explicitly asked for: it says that we're different.

However, I'm afraid it might be a little too cute for us. To start with, it's not immediately obvious that the character is a platypus, partly because it's too fat and its bill is too short and its feet have claws rather than being webbed. A real platypus does indeed have claws, but they're not so obvious. I know your design is stylized, but unfortunately it's not really recognizable as a platypus.

Another reservation is that here in Australia it's pretty meaningless to draw attention to our Australianness. It might even have a negative effect, a bit like having a leprechaun logo if we were in Ireland!

There are a few detailed problems with the text, too. First, the "Everything is possible" tagline should not be in the logo because we are not committed to it. That fact obviates the objection that the font is too fancy for us. Second, the word "software" is dominant, and the name "East Sydney" is almost hidden.

Cheers,
Ciaran

cre8or
07-26-2012, 06:43 PM
Thankyou kindly, for your very detailed feedback - I appreciate it.
I'll see what else pops into my head.
Kimber

glyphica
07-27-2012, 09:46 PM
v1 :)

glyphica
07-27-2012, 09:46 PM
v2

Ciaran Keating
07-29-2012, 03:27 PM
Hi glyphica,

Thanks for your designs.

You have achieved some of the things we asked for, such as simplicity, sketchability, and not being abstract. But unfortunately the designs are ultimately too cold, hard and even forbidding to suit our corporate personality.

The trident motif comes across as positively aggressive to me. I suppose you were pursuing a nautical theme as I'd mentioned and you intended to evoke the Neptune connection, but I see the trident as a vicious weapon.

Thanks again for your contribution.

Cheers,
Ciaran

cazeyzman
07-29-2012, 03:45 PM
A kinda simplified version of the compass, simplified down to the arrow, which also corresponds to the main interactive tool "clicker" of the mouse.

Ciaran Keating
07-29-2012, 03:46 PM
Hi nhr,

It's about time I gave you some of that detailed feedback I hinted at...

Overall I like the design. The font has a few features that jar a little with the image we want to project. First, it's a little hard-edged. Second, I know it's part of the font's design, but the missing bit at the bottom left hand corner of the D, and the large square serif on the E give the font an unfinished look. In fact, the font seems unsure whether to use serifs or not, and that increases the sense of unsettledness. In general, then, could you try a slightly softer font?

Personally I prefer not to use all capital letters, but that device often does work well. Would it be possible to see it both ways?

Finally, the colours. Will we need to commit to colours here, or will we be able to change them later as our overall branding theme comes together?

Cheers,
Ciaran

cazeyzman
07-29-2012, 03:47 PM
Another concept. I know you mentioned maybe to actually represent something, So I chose the worker bee, which represents productivity and efficiency, something your business tries to offer your clients.
All comments welcome.

cre8or
07-29-2012, 07:18 PM
I'll try again.
Leaning towards the sea, a fish, which abstractly suggests an "S" in the negative space. "The sofware guys with the fish in their logo".

Ciaran Keating
07-30-2012, 03:45 PM
Hi crazeyman,

I like your arrow design. You've surprised me in a couple of ways: First, it's effectively an abstract image (its real inspiration notwithstanding) but still I like it. And second, although I said I had no preference for colours the truth is that I generally don't like fainter colours, but in this case I do like them.

At this point I have no further detailed feedback. (Another surprise.) I like it. So it's on my shortlist for consideration with the rest of our marketing team.

I'm not so keen on your bee design. It's rather too busy - in fact, it's rather tiring to look at. And the busy bee metaphor really doesn't suit our calm and friendly attitude. I do like the colours and the fonts, though.

Cheers,
Ciaran

Ciaran Keating
07-30-2012, 03:56 PM
Hi again, cre8tor (or Kimber?)

Thanks for keeping at it. I hope you won't feel offended, but unfortunately your fish design just doesn't speak to me, neither positively nor negatively. I'm afraid I can't offer any more detailed feedback than that - sorry!

Cheers,
Ciaran

cre8or
07-30-2012, 04:27 PM
...I hope you won't feel offended...

Not at all :)

glyphica
07-30-2012, 06:12 PM
ES and a flag v3 :)

glyphica
07-30-2012, 06:12 PM
v4

im3d
07-30-2012, 11:29 PM
my entry

Ciaran Keating
07-31-2012, 02:33 PM
Hi im3d,

I like your design. It's on the shortlist.

Cheers,
Ciaran

Ciaran Keating
07-31-2012, 02:39 PM
Hi glyphica,

Thanks for your two new designs. The flag one might work OK for us, although it doesn't quite grab me. The other wavy design seems a bit too abstract for my personal taste, but my colleagues might disagree with me.

Cheers,
Ciaran

Ciaran Keating
07-31-2012, 02:43 PM
Hi everyone,

Thanks for your designs so far. We're having a marketing meeting this morning, and among other things we'll review your designs.

Cheers,
Ciaran

Ciaran Keating
08-01-2012, 02:32 PM
Hi everyone,

Thanks again for your entries. At our meeting yesterday we decided to proceed with nhr's entry, if nhr is still watching this thread.

Cheers,
Ciaran

nhr
08-02-2012, 06:30 AM
Hi Ciaran, thank you very much for choosing my design :)
I was little out but I am back. Do you want revisions requested in post #12?

Taldo
08-02-2012, 03:23 PM
Congrats, NHR. Please post when fils are sent :)

Ciaran Keating
08-02-2012, 11:58 PM
Hi nhr,

Congratulations. Everyone (colleagues and friends) chose three favourites, and yours appeared in everyone's set.

Yes, please try one or two slightly softer fonts, and let us see it in all-caps and in initial-caps.

Thanks,
Ciaran

Taldo
08-03-2012, 06:34 AM
Moved to revisions forum.

nhr
08-03-2012, 01:18 PM
Thank you, thank you :) :)

Revisions are here:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/DOO/ESS11_nhr.png

nhr
08-03-2012, 01:19 PM
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/DOO/ESS12_nhr.png

nhr
08-03-2012, 01:19 PM
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/DOO/ESS13_nhr.png

:)

Ciaran Keating
08-05-2012, 02:10 PM
Ah yes, these are better. Let me get opinions from my colleagues here and I'll get back to you.

Ciaran Keating
08-07-2012, 10:30 PM
Hi nhr,

Let's go with version 1.1, in the all-caps variant.

Thanks,
Ciaran

Ciaran Keating
08-08-2012, 03:43 PM
Oops! I didn't notice that this thread had run to two pages, so I didn't see v1.3. And in fact I prefer 1.3. So please disregard my message yesterday.

Please proceed with version 1.3, in its all-caps variant.

Thanks,
Ciaran

nhr
08-08-2012, 08:34 PM
Hi Ciaran,
Similar like you, I didn't notice your yesterday message. So, no problem version 1.3 will be ready for you. I'll prepare final files and send you downlad link today.
Sincerely,
Neb

nhr
08-09-2012, 01:20 PM
Files has been sent.

Please, check your Private Messages for the download link:

http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/private.php

Thank you very much again.

Ciaran Keating
08-09-2012, 03:38 PM
Thanks, Neb. I've downloaded the files and they look fine. Let's wrap up this project now.

To Design Outpost: Do I need to do anything special to let Neb get paid and to close this project? Or is this message enough?

Thanks again to Neb for the winning design, to all the other designers who participated, and to Design Outpost for facilitating the project.

Cheers,
Ciaran

Taldo
08-09-2012, 03:42 PM
Ciaran - The project is complete - thanks!!