trying for a new look

[rodnocker]

I am working on getting away from my original design for a flash site (currently at http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/fracomwebflashtexttext.html , to many comments about spiderman)

I have just created a new logo and wanted some thoughts about it.
http://flash.fracomweb.com/FraComWeblogo.gif

if you could tell me what you think, it would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rodney

[Eagle Imagery]

Hi Rodney

Please take this in the spirit it's intended: If someone were to come to you and say "should I do my own website - or get a professional to do it?" What would be your answer be?...

Same would apply to a logo, no?

Mark :)

[rodnocker]

I would tell them that there is more to making a website than putting a page on the web. I've not done much with logos before and that is why I posted my first one here. I am sure there are a lot of talented people out there, and I was looking for suggestions. If not, then I'll just try a few more things myself and see what comes of it. This is something that I am just starting and trying to get off the ground (about 3 weeks ago was my first try at learning flash).

Thank you for taking the time to respond,

Rodney

[Eagle Imagery]

Ok, here's some thoughts!:

Firstly, the colours don't work very well together. Some would say they clash.

The spacing is sloppy.

The logo looks rough overall and doesn't give a very polished and professional impression.

Most importantly, a logo needs to memorable if nothing else. "Be Seen"?...

As it stands, it's just a bunch of type with poor consideration for colour or finishing.

You say you've not done much with logos before. Should you? Should a web designer "do" logos just because they have the software?

Bear in mind that there's web design and then there's graphic design. :)

Hope this helps some! :)

[gelcreative]

Sorry, I don't like it - it looks amateurish - and grey ... so dull.

You're a web designer .... the word "designer" will lead me to think that my site may end up looking like your logo ....

I'm sure you'll get some good ideas and inspiration from looking around the web. Just visit sites randomly with a view to getting inspired ... don't look at other websites in your own business... look at anything and everything .... after you've visited about 50 - you'll start formulating some fresh ideas for yourself.

Look at shapes - look at typestyles, look at the breathing space in the logo .... good luck...

[rodnocker]

Thank you very much gelcreative, that is actually some advise I can use. I just kept coming up drawing a blank when trying to figure out some type of shape or symbol to incorporate with it. So I thought if I put something up, either I would get some advise or maybe come up with something else. I keep looking around at billboards when I'm on the road, and at webpages and stuff. I'm sure something will strike me interesting. One question for you though, I know about shapes and typestyles, but what is "breathing space"? I don't think I've heard that term before.

Anyways, thanks for the suggestions
Rodney

[gelcreative]

Hi Rodney

Breathing space = that uncluttered look. Give the words and shapes plenty of room .... blank space is not always to be seen as negative!

Looking forward to seeing your logo developments as you become inspired!

[rodnocker]

ok... give this another try...
http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/fcwlogo.gif

I pulled out the yellow, which I think was the "clash" comment from before. I think I have a symbol made up of the "FCW" in FraComWeb. I'm still not sure if I like this or not. I know most don't like the gray, but I'm trying to fit something that will go with the website template that I'm working on at my site (http://annex.fracomweb.com)
That's just a place holder until I can get the rest of the text in and finish the .html page to match it.[/url]

[Eagle Imagery]

19th century web design with a bit of whacky 70's thrown in?...

[bodgekaloopie]

There is a sense of clashing styles in this version.

Your web page template is high-tech chrome, the "FW" font in your logo reminds me of posters from the '60's (I know I'm older than most of you), and the "web design" font is reminiscent of the wild west.

Maybe trying something a little cleaner that will blend more comfortably with your chrome-look template will help you achieve the look you are going for.

[rodnocker]

And once more into the rabbit hole...
http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/fcwlogo4.gif
I realize it doesn't pass the "black and white" test, and I'm not sure if the font is readable enough... but I've got a couple more things on my drawing pad I was working on lastnight that I need to put on the computer, so we shall see.

[rodnocker]

and then there is this one... http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/roboarm.gif, which is a lot closer to the "black and white" test, but I'm not sure about the font... more to come...

[rodnocker]

and lastly for this morning... http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/cross.gif
don't think this one looks as good once it's converted from .fla to .gif...

[rodnocker]

and lastly for this morning... http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/cross.gif

don't think this one looks as good once it's converted from .fla to .gif ...

That's all I got this morning... hope something is getting close...

[Paul B]

A logo need to be distinct, individual and in some way put across something positive about your business. Read also the stickies at the top of this forum especially those on 'text logos'.

The one above might just do for a plumber or weldling company, but they carry none of the delicate style and technical competence required for web design.

Take a look at what other sites do, play around with shapes that are stylish and simple (you'll have trouble reproducing tones in black and how will it look in black & white?)

[rodnocker]

ok... I've ditched everything else and started new. I desided to try something a little bit softer (and hopefully easier on the eyes.
http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/fcwlogo5.gif
If this works, I'll just change the colors on the flash page that I'm working on to match up with the logo. Tell me what you think, and if I'm on the right track.

Thanks
Rodney

[Eagle Imagery]

Sorry to say Rodney that it still says "amateur".

You'll not do yourself any favours by using any of the designs shown here so far.

:)

[JMuncy]

Greetings rodnocker,

I think that you will find this post (http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=24925) handy. It is the "7 Logo Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them", it was posted by Grease (WebProWorld Moderator).

It looks like you are trying to focus more on the "text" style logo. So you might want to take a look at #6... I'll include it below.

"6) The Text-Only Logo
A text-only logo severely restricts the ability to express your company’s uniqueness and memorability. Larger, more established businesses can pull off text-only logos with exorbitant marketing budgets. One test of logo's effectiveness (marketing budget's aside) is to alter the letters and see if your logo is still recognizable. If not then you need to seriously consider a visual element. If you just can’t resist a text-only logo, consider a strong, unique typeface – preferably custom made."

[rodnocker]

Time for one more before I call it a night...
http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/fcwlogo6.gif
Less emphasis on the text and more on the graphic. I think I like this one better than the others. I still need to smooth the strokes out some, but it's closer to what I'm trying to get at. It started off as a quill pen, and got turned into this.

Let me know what you think
Rodney

[SnerdeyWebs]

It was cool to see this logo take shape! I like the last one and I think it would be best to make "web design" in black?

Looking good!

[rodnocker]

ok... changes made and posted...
http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/fcwlogo7.gif
I also smoothed out the stroke on the pen outline, and adjusted the feather some.

Thanks for the input Snerdey
Any more suggestions?

[SnerdeyWebs]

Sure thing and now that I see it the black is too strong. Make it the dark blue of the outline of the graphic =)

[rodnocker]

ok...
http://www.fracomweb.com/flashpot/fcwlogo8.gif
now the "Web Design" matches the outline, and the "FraComWeb" matches the graphic

[webhost1]

How about the font something like this

FraComWeb

All caps make it hare to read.

[SnerdeyWebs]

That's a Great Idea!

[Atlantean]

Hi Rodney! Your logos are getting better. It just goes to show how your skills evolve as you learn new techniques and concepts.

I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but if you are serious about promoting web design, will you be sub-contracting the graphics work to a graphics designer? Also, IMO, you are headed totally in the wrong direction creating a Flash website.

The main goal of your job as a web designer is to provide a quality, user-freindly and accessable experience for your potential clients. If your site, as the designer, doesn't impress the potential client, then he/she is just gonna scoff and move along their way and you'll have wasted valuable time.

I think your should forget about Flash and design a traditional, but unique, clean, accessable site using a table or CSS layout. Those shiny, gradient bars and grey and black backgrounds just do not invoke a feeling of confidence in your ability to ensure that I "Get Seen".