The Kritikal Mass logo

chadster · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2003, 01:14 PM

Here's a rather simple logo I designed for an soon-to-come news site. Three colors, representing a newspaper. "Black and white and read all over."

Hope you like. There's a fuller version, but that will be unveiled at the site's opening. For now, this is the shortened version.

mikmik · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2003, 07:19 PM

I can't decide if the red 'THE KRITICAL MASS' is easy enough to read or not. I think that you could reduce the height of that part of logo (middle box) by 15 - 25% or something. Just to do something to make the words more legible. Otherwise, I really like the color scheme and if I'm correct, it will be a what is called 'liberal' viewpoint type of paper? The red certainly says 'anger' or 'enough is enough' to me, but don't come on too strong? I guess it depends how prominantly the logo will be displayed.
I like it but I don't know design concept or ideas well. Hope you get some good input.

matauri · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2003, 09:14 PM

I have to agree with Mik. Like the concept, but maybe the red is a little too hard to read in the size it is. Maybe the logo has to be a little wider I think.

Cindy

chadster · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 01:20 AM

Oh, you guys don't know what you're talking about! It looks fine, to me...at eye level with the monitor tilted at 45 degrees. :D

Seriously, though, you're right. It was a bit on the tall side. So, I squished it just a little. Let me know how that looks.

And in response to a previous inquiry, this news site is actually going to be quite conservative. There's a reason we're going for the "enough is enough" look, but that will spoil the surprise. ;) But that observation was spot on, I must say.

grease · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 04:33 AM

These are definitely revolutionary colors. This is about as high impact as you can get with text alone. Makes me think of the 'explicit material' or 'parental advisory' labels. Traditionally magazine or tabloid style publications rarely had visuals in their logo. I am not sure how you are postitioning yourself, but I would agrue that a logo would help people remember and identify with your site more easily.

Grease

matauri · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 08:56 AM

Grease...its not often I will disagree with you, but think I will this time :-)

You said it yourself...

Quote:

Makes me think of the 'explicit material' or 'parental advisory' labels.

Now, doesn't that just make you want to read it? :-) If you saw that logo on a bumper sticker, you would want to know what Kritikal Mass was. I think even the play on spelling works for it, which is something I am not normally a fan of. It has that 'tabloid' appeal. I think having anything else wouldn't have as higher impact.

But...on saying that 'chadster'....I still think you have to work it a bit more. Its now on the blurry side. I think if you widen it say 5-10px you will find it will look better.

Cindy

chadster · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grease

These are definitely revolutionary colors. This is about as high impact as you can get with text alone. Makes me think of the 'explicit material' or 'parental advisory' labels. Traditionally magazine or tabloid style publications rarely had visuals in their logo. I am not sure how you are postitioning yourself, but I would agrue that a logo would help people remember and identify with your site more easily.

Grease

Yeah, that's what we're going for. Journalism with a 'tude. Thus, the reason for a kind of heavy-impact logo. Drudge has a bunch of rather large italic letters staring you in the face. We're going for a slightly more subtle approach of the "Parental Advisory" look. ;)

And, like Matauri said, it kind of grabs your attention.

That said, Mat, I'll work on the blurriness. I also noticed that the white-on-black words look a little off-center to me. Does it look that way to anyone else?

matauri · #8 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 11:41 AM

just a little off center.

grease · #9 (**permalink**) 11-07-2003, 11:10 PM

Chadster, Matauri,
Perhaps you misunderstood my post. I think this IS a very high impact logo - and the fact that it looks like warning labels is a positive thing! I like the large text as the dominant, but I am just wondering if a minor graphic would add additional value. I've never worked on a newspaper,magazine,or tabloid logo. The standard appears to be a unique bold typeface and no visual, however online this might not be the case. For example, I will never forget the spoof newspaper, The Onion:
http://www.onion.com

Grease

matauri · #10 (**permalink**) 11-07-2003, 11:36 PM

yup...know where ya goin with this now. (BTW...used to love reading the Onion!)

I think it depends on what format he is going to use for the site. If it is going to be in true tabloid style, I think it will work well. Kind of that 1950's tabloid look would do well with it. But yes...on a convential type site, it could need something of distinction.

Personally, I would love to do that kind of site, the 50's look media. There is something to be said for an era that could express in black & white what we use 3d for now. But I admit, and after having tried it, it is a difficult one to pull off successfully over the web.

Cindy