McKee Organizing Services logos

[rainy]

I'm a freelance graphic designer. McKee Organizing Services is my client who needs a logo. I offered several design concepts and Leslie McKee has chosen two of them. Unfortunately she can't decide which logo she likes the best. So could you please vote and help her to decide? Which logo in your opinion works better?

Also any comments on how to improve them would be appreciated.

BTW: My vote is for the "Blocks" concept

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Leslie McKee comments:

Please choose between two!

I am a Professional Organizer, specializing in residential and home office organizing. I asked my designer to tie in the elements of Pittsburgh and Order. I want a simple clean logo. She gave me two good choices and now I can not decide. Any suggestions are welcome.

The Key Logo ties to my name that give it "stickiness" which is especially good on a business card. People may really remember McKee (McKey???) The Key element can be used later--like "Keys to getting organized". I don't like the way tagline breaks up the business name and becomes to prominent. I also think will be harder to work with when designing my website. The graphic say nothing about order.

The Blocks Logo shows order and keeps my business name and tagline in the right position and proportion. It seems to pop more. It seems more colorful. I see more web design possibilities here. The image is relaxing-the city and the 3 rivers (blocks) coming to order.

Leslie McKee

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http://www.babenko.com/outside/forums/mckee_logos.gif

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Thank you

[grease]

Keep it simple by removing many of the blocks. You can achieve the same concept with 9 or so blocks and your logo will have much more impact. Likewise, flatline the buildings to the left.

Grease

[mos]

Thanks for the design advice. 15 out of 19 people liked the key logo. Is there anything else we could do to the design? What do you think of color? Is there any other element that could show the order concept?

[rainy]

Thanks for suggestions, but I think that:
1. By reducing the number of blocks I will have to scale them up to eliminate the gaps between them. That automatically makes the icon a lot bigger. Plus large blocks will draw attention away from the Pittsburgh skyline. And I think three blocks in a line don't make a strong pattern.

2. If I flatten/delete the building on the left we'll get just two towers, which is not that interesting. I think that the building on the left is good for a contrast. And if you're suggesting making it lower, then it's not geographically/politically/or whatever correct. This is how the part of the Pittsburgh skyline looks like (I traced it over the photo).

No offence, but I already thought about it and I don't think these changes will improve the logo. But thanks again.

- rainy

[grease]

Hi Rainy,

If you were designing an illustration for this company I would agree with everything you stated. As a logo, however, simplicity is a key element. Sacrifices are made in favor of memorability, and impact. I think you are very close, but keep in mind that every distinct element is an additional element that needs to be remembered. Assuming that this company does business off-line, you will run into printing restrictions. 3X3 means nothing to me, other than the fact that its less than what you have displayed. Try another smaller matrix that works for you - or consider only the bottom of one side breaking off (a la Xerox) Just a thought,

P.S. Think outside the box :) The squares could easily be rectangles, allowing for a much more simplified matrix with the same concept.

Grease

[mos]

RECTANGLES--that may work. The three lines of block also stand for the 3 rivers that meet at the point in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is also known for having more bridges than VENICE! On an earlier version we took off the buildings on the left and added a bridge on the right (sort of a small arch supported with verticle lines)--would that add strenth to the logo or make it busy. What do you think about a white gradient that makes it look like sun is shining on the building from the upper left corner. ARE WE COMPLETELY DROPPING THE KEY LOGO?
Thanks for your input--I've been losing sleep over this thing!:)

[mos]

I would love to get some votes on which logo you like!
MOS