Logo Critique (a bit image heavy)

daytona

daytona

Member
Hey guy's I've recently designed a personal logo for my Graphic design portfolio site and have been pretty happy with it. However, I've been looking into having some business cards printed, and now i'm having moments of "omg is this a pile of sh*t?!"

so i'd really apprichate a few comments before i go full steam ahead with stationary etc.

here's the site Tom Manning | Graphic Design Portfolio
and a few images
Business card first mock up (focus on the logo if you will, I know the layouts a bit iffy)
cards.jpg


sheet of coloured options
logo2.jpg


and the web logo
forweb2.png


I nervously await your responses:icon_hide:
Tom
 
Personally, I don't think it's bad particularly, but I'm not sure it says "graphic designer". It looks quite masculine, and reminds me of something you might find on a toolbox (think SnapOn tools) or a motor racing logo, or a builders merchants. But that might well be what you were going for!

I dunno, I think it's quite a simple solution, I'd quite like to see the process you went through to get to it, and what other solutions were binned in the process, because, to me, it feels like one of those "straight to the computer" jobbies.

Then there's my age old complaint of using initials for company names - I personally can't stand it. At work we know TWO CPD's, AND a CDP, an ROS, a CIB, NBAT, SLG, SIG and countless others, and it confuses the heck out of me. I'm all for a proper memorable names with actual words to be honest. But maybe that's just me.
 
Thanks for the response mate.
I know where you're coming from when you were talking about builders haha! I did one in orange and black and was confronted with JCB :icon_tongue_smilie: I have to admit 'masculine' may not be the look I'm going for but I do quite like a squat, bold, here-it-is kind of logo (a reflection of me haha?)

attempts.jpg


seeing as you asked there's some earlier ones, i got rid of some of the super early ones unfortunately and i can't be bothered to photograph my sketchbook...

I think the initials thing is personal preference, I totally get your points. I dont enjoy my full name Tom Manning visually. I'm also not a fan of 'names' like Daytona Designs when really it's just me, so why not call it my own name.

would be interested whether you'd prefer to see it in any of those other formats, and thanks for the solid reply!

Tom
 
My first thought was something similar to the above - looks like it belongs with something to do with motor racing.

The angles on that bar between your name and Graphic Design don't match the angle of the logo - fix that to make it see if the line sits more comfortably.



<< Obviously I was writing that while you were posting your second image... it refers to the card design!>>
 
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I like the green and yellow, changes the feel of it for me, to something a bit more of a retro sporty look (thinking of Adidas trainers for some reason ... )
 
haha yep motor racing fits too, I've also thought 'petrol station' at some stages.

I think ultimatly what I'm asking is should I keep working with TCM or should i work with my full name Tom Manning or somewhere between. I know this sounds self assured but I quite like the designs i'm coming up with. but if people think the TCM doesnt work then whatever i do i'm flogging a dead horse!

and your your right about the bar on the card, but it was just a quick throw-together I'll definatly try some different colours. as the logo on my site is black i dont feel constrained with my card and could have any colour i like! :icon_thumbup:
 
meow said:
My first thought was something similar to the above - looks like it belongs with something to do with motor racing.
Click to expand...

Before I read this comment I thought exactly the same. It still doesn't say 'graphic design' to me. This logo would probably work with many other types of selective business, but just doesn't work for me as a graphic design logo.

I don't know what other people think but just my personal opinion.
 
Noted, but I'm lacking a bit on solutions or alternatives at the moment.
would it help to have graphic design underneath or anything like that? is it the logo or just the initials? shall i look at initials in a different way? or scrap the initials
 
daytona said:
Noted, but I'm lacking a bit on solutions or alternatives at the moment.
would it help to have graphic design underneath or anything like that? is it the logo or just the initials? shall i look at initials in a different way? or scrap the initials
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Again, my personal opinion would be to drop the initials and use your name alone if you are using your name within your business anyway. I believe it would give you more scope.

It is easy to sometimes just say you're running out of ideas but if you just sit down with a sketchpad and scribble then you will probably find you have far more ideas than you first thought. It's much easier to draw 30 - 40 variations on a sketchpad than to work them up on a computer. It's all too easy to go straight to computer but what you think is making life easier is actually making life a lot harder.

Design is all about opinions and thats just my tuppence worth. :icon_smile:
 
well i'll go back to my non-digital drawing board and take a little look at full name options.
Tom Manning though >.> lame name...
 
To be honest, I quite like it. Going against the crowd and the popular opinion.
I'd definitely go with one of the coloured variations though to get that 'design-esque' feel across.
If that sort of logo reflects your style, in this case, I'd assume your design style to be bold, simple, effective design, then I see no reason not to run with it.
However, I don't like the business card at all, I feel like it looks fairly amateurish and needs a lot of work. The font weights need addressing, as there's no logical order of what to read first etc etc.
 
Tony Hardy said:
To be honest, I quite like it. Going against the crowd and the popular opinion.
I'd definitely go with one of the coloured variations though to get that 'design-esque' feel across.
If that sort of logo reflects your style, in this case, I'd assume your design style to be bold, simple, effective design, then I see no reason not to run with it.
Click to expand...

See what I mean? Design is all about opinions and you really have to go with your head in most cases. However, it sounds like you haven't explored the full name options so it might still be worth having a go and see what you come up with. You might come up with one that you were after all along.

Good luck!
 
Ian Bonner said:
See what I mean? Design is all about opinions and you really have to go with your head in most cases. However, it sounds like you haven't explored the full name options so it might still be worth having a go and see what you come up with. You might come up with one that you were after all along.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

This is the thing. Design is more or less a subjective art form, with the odd exception to the rules, where everyone just has to agree, the FedEx logo for example.
I bet you feel a bit like this :icon_Wall:?
Good luck.
 
I really appreciate all your advice and help.
it's especially useful to hear what 'vibes' the logo gives off.

I dare say I'm going to stick with the TCM format and tweak the presentation/colour etc. and see where it goes.
Thanks again guys
 
An echo here on the mechanical thing (looks like a motorcycle magazine masthead). I've also come to really dislike the rotated teardrop shape which seems to be everywhere right now.
 
Hi,

I think the ideas are there, just not the execution.

Personally, I'd look at using a different typeface, there's plenty of good free ones that look great for logos.

Chris
 
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