Hey Guys;

My designer and I are working on a logo for my rebranding. I think I narrowed it down to the sample scene on this card. I pulled it off her PDF and played with it in PS to give her an idea of my recomended changes. I also quickly threw a card togther to see how it would work. Please let me know your thoughts so I can send the final design changes to her and also what would you do or not do with the card.

The three words that define my business are;

Unique-Sexy-Cool

Business Slogan is "R.U. Ready?"

What are your thoughts???

I like the aj, although I find the additions to the letters a bit distracting, honestly - is there some rhyme or reason there; maybe I'm not seeing it.

As for the card, incorporate your taglines if you're going to use them. I would think about using a 2-sided card to avoid clutter (ie, put your logo and tagline on one side, and all the contact info on the other, or something similar - there are tons of ways to break it up). As it is, I think the card seems a bit cluttered. Do you need all that info there? Can you pare it down, and put your website in a prominent place for people to get more info? Just a few thoughts.

Kewel....Thanx for the input.
Andy

Try it without the gradient and bevel....

~Bobbi

The squiggly stuff in the AJ doesn't make sense to me either. I think just the AJ would look cool. If you're stuck on having everything on one side (Kaitlin's right on about having 2 sides) I'd move the email address over with the phone number to balance it out or bring the phone number over with the rest. Pretty cluttered really. I really want you to have a rockin' biz card to "supplement your income" from your day job. Hope Johnny chimes in

To decrease some clutter, I don't really think you need a street address on a business card (for a photography business) unless you are BIG on studio stuff. You only need a Web site address and a phone number.

Ok...I will have the designer simplyfy the initials. I had actually wanted that but a friend had recomended adding something to it..Said it was boring. I to like simple but want to convey my uniqueness at the same time. I did paly arounf with the card and took out the address.

How about this, mind you I will be making the logo simple as well.

Thanx guys:)

Thanx for the input Shannon, will continue towork this out:)
Andy

You bet! The new version is much cleaner except there's: andy john images, Andrew M. John and ANDYJOHNIMAGES.COM all on 1 side. I say take out Andrew M. John since it looks like you're branding yourself as Andy John and put the "lifestyle photojournalist" centered under "andy john images." If you must keep the cities on there then evenly space them along the bottom and then you're good to go!

Kewel...Will make some tweaks and send it to the designer to get some samples. Good idea about "Andrew M. John" I had been thinking, "does that really need to be there???"

You guys are great.

I will keep the cities because by the greace of God, Im going to have active marketing in each area along with a rep in the Virgin Isalnds!

Well then those cities should be there! Just space them evenly so I don't go cross-eyed

I kinda agree that the aj by itself is too plain. You need something else, but the squiggles aren't it - they just don't add anything.

As for spacing the cities - try left aligning the first one, right aligning the last, and centering the middle - that might help with the cross-eyed-ness. Otherwise the different lengths are going to affect it.

Sorry, another question - what is the circle behind the letters supposed to be?

Kinda confused...I thought the squiggles made the logo to busy???? If I add anything wont that make it just as busy?????

The squiggles make it too busy because they don't add something of substance to the design, and just seem confusing. You need something more than what you have that serves some kind of design purpose.

Without reading to far into it, it represents our global ability. Plus on a simpler level, I picked it because it was different and... I liked it.

I think if I removed all of the design elements I should just scrap the logo all togther.

Great..Thanx a mil...Will keep you posted. This is a painful process. Been working on it since October.
Andy

Thanks for thinking of me.

I think the whole logo needs to be made over from scratch.
To me, it says 'cheap' (as in inexpensive) or run-of-the-mill - it does not say, "Unique-Sexy-Cool", sorry if that hurts, but that is my honest opinion on the design.

And as everyone here knows, I am NOT a graphic designer by any means.
But I feel I do have a knack of what looks nice. Of course, I HATE my own logo, which I designed myself - but that is a different matter...

Andy, you need to totally simplify this design - take it to the root level (basic color scheme) to see if it stands on its own.

From my own personal experience, it is too hard to design your own logo, or even have someone you know helping with the design. If you can swing it, hire a design team to whip up some concepts for you.

If I have time today, I might whip up an idea for you. But I will first check out your site to get a better idea of what you do, and if your 'Unique-Sexy-Cool' thing fits.

Blessings to you!

Thanx Johnny!!! No it does not hurt. Honestly, Im just trying to get this done and anyone who can constuctivly get me in the right direction is a welcome asset. Let me know your thoughts and we'll see if were on the same page or if I'm on another planet.

Cheers:)
Andy

"If you can swing it, hire a design team to whip up some concepts for you."

I wish I could but I just droped about 9K in my conversion to Canon so...., I really need to get something done since I rebranded my company. Maybe just something basic that I can transition into later becasue I really need to get my marketing in gear. Im paying for leads that are coming in every monday and I cant get anything out to them right now. The whole process is starting to frustrate me. I looking at taking this concept and sending it to Marathon Press to see what they come up with.

Okay, so I started playing with an idea once I looked at your site.

Tell me what you think.

Hey ... I like that:)

Do you think the site is trying to convey that (Unique.Sexy.Cool)? It has not been officaly launched, I have quite a few tweaks to make and the logo was just one element.


Thanx Johnny, that was really kind of you.




2nd silly question. The color pallet was my idea, not saying that Im feminine but my girlfriend always says that Im such a romantic (I guees thats good for a guy/detective) But, I also like pastels like lavender ect. I think they may clash with the Brand image and market that I am targeting in the D.C./MD/Northern Va. area which is upper income professionals and Capitol Hill types.

Glad you like it.

I am not sure if the site is/isn't conveying that - but I was going for three 3's in this concept.
You said that Unique, Sexy, Cool described your business - better to use that then the phrase "R.U. Ready" by itself. You can still use the phrase, but now that phrase makes more sense.

Use this for the fron of your card, then have the details on the back.
Keep it simple and stay within 2 fonts for the whole design - avoid clutter.

Now that's what I'M talking about. Johnny,

This is a concept, and we can color swap really easy.
If you want color, fine, just make sure it appeals to your target market.

I would suggest doing a free survey through survey monkey aimed at your clientele.
See what they like.

I forgot to mention your site.
I had to find it in a round-about way...
But I think it's too busy as well.

I found it slow to navigate. Did you spend a lot on it?
You may want to look at customizing a Wordpress template and use showit slideshows for some really unique.sexy.cool galleries... Send Kaitlin a PM - she seems to be the queen of Wordpress around these parts.

Here is a color swap on that logo.

You said you like purple, right?






Thanks.

Johnny, you deserve the

I think the purple should be pulled back about 40% - it's TOO purple IMO (not humble).

Yeah I did spend allot of money this year on it. Im going to have to take the hit for now becasue I have been spending way to much money on changing it. I think I will totally change it in a year or so but right now I cant afford to plug anything else into it without aome returns coming in. I can simplyfy it a little and that is what we are working on.

It was actually recomended by someone quite noatable who uses them but I dont think I have permission to use her name but she's a total sweet heart. I just need to make changes on my end.


Johnny, Im really liken this.

My thoughts..How could I incorporate this into say, My card, shirts, hats and a stamp for my proofs and products.

Just trying to get some ideas. What do you think of a color gradation?

No worries about your site, use it, it's not bad at all - it just seemed a bit cluttered.

As for the logo thing, I designed it with those things in mind.
You can take it and use it on anything I think. It shrinks up really well - the only thing you may have to alter is the 'unique.sexy.cool' bit - that can get lost at smaller sizes.

Avoid color gradation if you can. It looks fine on screen, but in most other uses it does not, especially if you are thinking of stamping this on wedding albums.


Would you like me to put together a card design for you?
If so, do you prefer standard cards (2x3.5") or are you looking for something... Unique.





Thanks again for the kindess!


I agree on the purple, it kind of punches you in the face huh?
Personally, I prefer my first color scheme, but if AndyJ wants color - than he gets color.

I wanted to start with a minimal budget, so I used VistaPrint.com to print 2000 cards one-sided for about $60 (look around for coupons & specials). They're not the fanciest (letterpress, embossed, textured, metal, die-cut, laminated, etc.) but my logo is what stands out and helps to detract from the fact that it's not fancy. My 2 cents.

Hey Johnny,

If you have the time, that would be awesome. Im going to use Dallas Card works to do a smoked frosted black card. The only thing that I would really like to add are the markets that I am actively represented in Which is Washington, New York or U.S. Virginislands.

The rest of the info can be pretty minmal.

Thanx for your expertise. Im also going to PM you.

Im totally cool with pulling the color back a bit. 40% sounds great to me it gives it that sense of color but not quite a punch.

"As for the logo thing, I designed it with those things in mind.
You can take it and use it on anything I think. It shrinks up really well - the only thing you may have to alter is the 'unique.sexy.cool' bit - that can get lost at smaller sizes"

You are so right, even at the low resolution, I tried it on a proof and it looked great. I added a keyline to it on the proof and a slight bevel and it looked hot!!

Yes, feel free to send me a PM about Wordpress - I've got a few things lined up, so it will be a little bit before I could do anything for you (if money is the concern). I could do as much or as little as you want to integrate with your site (and fit in your budget). Either way, I might be able to provide pointers as you go along.

Also, can you show what you mean by adding a bevel? I don't think you need it and it looks more sleek and sophisticated without one, if it's what I am imagining.

i like it
tone down purple a little -
i wonder how it would look with the 3 words all lower case ( i don't see a need to capitalize them)

unique~sexy~cool

Hi Kaitlin;

Thanx for the support. I appreciate it. as for the bevel... I just added it on the logo concept when I placed it on a proof. It just created seperation from the proof image. When I get to my home office I can send you an example.


Thanx Robin;

I really think im going to run with this concept. I cant beleive this whole project has taken so long and I may wrap it up with something in such a short period of time.

Good point on the capitalization... I'll work one up w/o and see how it looks.

Just tossing out a question for the group. Do you think I will offend anyone with the brand words at the bottom of the logo or should I go with my target cities:

Washington New York Virgin Islands.

I dont want to offend or look inappropriate to certian clients. What do you guys think??????