[Project Complete] Oct 1st - Captive Oceans Identity/Logo - $125

[CaptiveOceans]

(Admin code added by Palmer - Y63718830)

First, please let me tell all of you how impressed I am with the work you have done for past clients. I am sure this will be just the first of many times I will get work done through this awesome group of creative people... :D

Here is who I am and what I am trying to get accomplished: My company imports various different products for the marine aquarium trade from several different manufactures from Europe. Most of the products are high end and many times state of the art. Some of the products I will co-brand and others will be sold as my own products. I am looking for a innovative logo and font for the company name. My own (unsuccessful :blush: ) attempts at the creation of a logo always included the "C" and "O" in one way or another. I believe I am not that creative, so I leave it up to all of you to come up with something. You can check out my website at www.captiveoceans.com to get an idea of what I do.

I am looking forward to seeing what you can come up with. Oh yeah, one more thing....I will go on vacation on May 5th for a couple of weeks and won't have internet access.

TIA, Gary

[Bill]

Here's my entry...

[eziey]

:)

[CaptiveOceans]

Bill and eziey, thank you for your ideas.
I am leaving for a two week trip tomorrow and won't be able to give any feedback, but it would be great if I could see more ideas... :D

[Jsanqunetti]

here is my entry


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/jsanqunetti/captiveoceans2.png

[shnickerdoodle studios]

One from me...

Thanks,
Deanna

[CaptiveOceans]

Thanks for the additional designs. Is there any way I could get some suggestions without the "fishy stuff" :D I am not sure how to explain this, but I feel it would make me look like a small retail store. ( :rolleyes: Not that I am a huge company, but I would like to give the impression that I am)

[MOZ]

Here's one from MOZ

[samoyloff]

http://samoyloff.com/0506co01.gif

[eziey]

:)

[Fran]

:)

http://img176.echo.cx/img176/6320/captiveoceans4na.jpg

[Fabian]

Hi :)

[Senter]

here you go a stylized version of a reef. 2 Color Spot very cost effective.
http://www.thinkkre8tiv.com/captive1.jpg

[CaptiveOceans]

Thank you all for the additional entries. I like the simplistic direction samoyloff and fran are taking with the logo. I feel that if there is any "fish" or "ocean" related graphic incorporated in the logo it makes my company seem "small". It would be great if you guys could create the logo more general. I hope I make sense... :D

[samoyloff]

http://samoyloff.com/0506co02.gif

[samoyloff]

http://samoyloff.com/0506co03.gif

[eziey]

:)

[Senter]

http://www.thinkkre8tiv.com/captive2.jpg

[Senter]

http://www.thinkkre8tiv.com/captive3.jpg

[CaptiveOceans]

This is going in the right direction. Could you guys try to come up with something utilizing the letter C and O, but still look simple and professional?

[Senter]

Anothe onehttp://www.thinkkre8tiv.com/captive4.jpg

[samoyloff]

http://samoyloff.com/0506co04.gif

[eziey]

:)

[Jsanqunetti]

A couple more from me.....

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/jsanqunetti/captiveoceans3.png

[pracus]

http://pracus.fc.pl/co1.png

[pracus]

http://pracus.fc.pl/ocean1.GIF
http://pracus.fc.pl/ocean1a.gif

[samoyloff]

CO // Fish eye concept..

http://samoyloff.com/0506co05.gif

[Trysen]

:)

[CaptiveOceans]

I think I like the direction Samoyloff is taking, especially the simplicity of his design #co04 a few posts above. Can you guys try one more time ... :D

[Christian]

:) Here's my go at it

[CaptiveOceans]

Anybody else have some ideas how to incorporate the C and O into a simple logo?

[Lori]

Hi Captive Oceans,

Thank you for responding to my request so quickly - we all appreciate it.

Seeing as you have a great deal of super designs already created, maybe you should give some individualized feedback to each designer (or at least the ones that are closest to what you envision) about what you do and do not like with the designs they have presented.

It becomes hard to stay creative when the client is not telling you what it is that they like or don't about the work you present, and if you take the time to do that for the team, I can assure you will see a great deal more response from the designers.

While I do not design logos, I am having a hard time understanding what more you might be looking for so that is why I am saying that a bit more feedback may be in order :)

[Lori]

... I forgot to add...

May I get a new deadline date for your project so that I can edit your title to reflect it? This helps the team to make sure everyone is taken care of :)

[CaptiveOceans]

Lori, I understand what you are saying. My problem is that none of the logo's so far has knocked me off my feet. I think I just don't know myself what I want. I like the simple approach Samoyloff is taking. I also like Christian's approach. I don't want to appear like a small company or have a logo that looks like I designed myself (or have a logo like a retail store). That's why I can't give too much input what I want. What would you suggest? Which of the logos so far have the most potential? I guess the simplest way to describe what I like is a logo that incorporates the C and O (from my business name) in a creative way without looking like I tried to hard. I hope that makes sense. As far as deadline, how about we set it for Oct. 1.

[Lori]

Hi, and thank you so very much for your response - we all appreciate it.

First - knocked you off your feet - ok. May I see some examples of logos (they do not have to be within the same corporate theme as you) that knock you off your feet? That, first and foremost is something I would like to know if I were working on your branding.

Second, I do not believe that any logo you choose from Design Outpost will come out looking like 'something you did yourself' since our team is comprised of some of the most talented branding designers available from all over the world :) Not to knock your talents by any means, but just assure you that our team is a professional team of designers with years of experience. We will do what it takes to get it right ;)

The problem with not giving 'too much input on what you want' is... without knowing 'from a basic idea' what you are looking for, it is hard to create. It is your job as our client to create us a picture of what you feel best represents you and what your company is. It is our job to creatively make that come to life :)

With regard to the entries you have received to date, I think that there are many that are well thought out, and would represent a good brand mark for you, as I have looked in depth over your site (which I hope will be your next design project - I was not thrilled (sorry) ) and read through the entire thread here...

In order to get what you want of your project you need to tell the team what you had in mind, and not expect them to 'read your mind' as to what is best. They do not know your business as you do, and only you can lead them down the path to assist you in finding a great brand for success :)

I hope that helps, and if not, please do not hesitate to ask any more questions!

[CaptiveOceans]

Lori, first, please let me apologize if I came across offending anyone (which I may have reading your response). That was absolutely not my intention. That is exactly why I haven't offered a whole lot of input into the logos so far. Believe me, if I had a vision of a logo (or even the slightest direction), I would let you all know. Unfortunately, I don't have a direction and I was hoping that I will know where I want to go when I see "that" logo that "knocks me off my feet". Also, I am afraid if I came up with a direction to go, I'd pigeonhole myself and not let the creative minds of your designers take the direction they think I should take. And, yes, you are correct, my website sucks. I did it myself and that should explain why I can't come up with my own logo... :rolleyes:

Here are a few logo's I just downloaded to give you examples of what I like (first 3) and what I don't like (4th). I also have a couple of logo's I created myself before I found your website, but the file is .cdr and I can't upload it here.

[Lori]

Don't you sometimes hate non-face to face interaction, LOL. I meant no offence at all in my reply, and I am sure the design team did not see one - I truely sorry if I came of at all wrong.

I can bet you that what you just uploaded will help us all, and now just sit back and wait until we present you something more...

Until then, it would still be beneficial for you to take some time and re- review the logos presented and list out the 'likes' and 'do not likes' of each :)

Thanks so much!

[CaptiveOceans]

I moderate a reef aquarium forum, so I know what you mean... ;)

As far as likes and dislikes of the logos presented so far. The logos with the "fishy" or "watery" design look too much like that of a retail storefront or what I would call "too creative" or "artsy" (if that makes any sense at all). The design by Moz would be a great logo for a surf shop (no insult, it just reminds me of that) whereas Jsanqunetti's second design could be that of an "art gallery". I like the simplicity of the logo's by Fran and samoyloff (especially his design #co04). Christian's logo is going in the right direction as well, though I can't place my finger on it why...

Please let me know if that is helpful. If this is still to vague, maybe you can give me an example of how I can give a better direction. Lori, thanks for your help... :D

[Trysen]

Hello :)

[Fran]

:)

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/3060/captiveoceans23is.jpg

[CaptiveOceans]

I decided I would like to go with Christian's design (message #30). How do I go about getting the files and is there a way for me to get a couple of different font/color suggestions from him?

[Christian]

:) Hey, good to see you're back. For any revisions or variations you might want to see, we can keep working on this same thread or message each other privately. Either way's good. What kind of variations were you thinking of?

[CaptiveOceans]

Hey Christian, thanks for getting back to me. I'd prefer if we could go the e-mail route... you can e-mail me at gary@captiveoceans.com

[Christian]

Hey Gary, sent you an email a few days ago but it was just now declared as being unable to reach your email address, do you have another email address? Mine is ChristianSanfiel@hotmail.com

[Christian]

Files Sent*