Logo Design, need advice

[Farah]

To be quite honest with you, I have no experience in creating logos...at all. So I'm not sure whether or not this will make a good logo. I was asked by my school to create a logo for a tutoring program that takes place over the summer for students who need it. They didn't specify where they planned to use the logo, they basically just gave me the name for the program "Running Start," and what it's for, telling me I could do anything with it. I'd like some advice, since this is the first logo design I've ever created, so any feedback at all would be lovely. If it's bad, please tell me.

I hope I'm posting this in the right place...

[Digitalmar]

Nice concept. I like what you had in mind, and to start with a great idea is really the hardest part of the design process. Using the pencils to create the wing shapes for a pair of winged shoes is a great idea!

Now, on to the criticism... I think the lettering could use some work. The hand-drawn approach is not bad, but you should be a little more consistent with the lettering. For example, the "R" in Running is different than the "R" in Start. I can tell you're trying to "fit" the letters in the shoe shape, but that's a very tricky thing that's hard for even us pros.

The paper texture I think is a bit much. When it comes to logos, the simpler is definitely better most of the times.

What I would do is make the enter background a solid color. Try using black first. If your logo doesn't look good in b/w, it doesn't matter how much color you add to it. Make a logo look good in b/w and you're 90% done.

So, good concept, work on making letters more consistent and try a silhouette for the background with light (white) letters. Hope this helps!

[Farah]

Thanks DigitalMar! I took what you had to say in mind, and tried to make the lettering more uniform. Is it any better now, or could it still use some work?

I also changed the background to a solid color, and made a grayscale version for comparison. I tried a silhouette for the background with white letters, but that didn't work, so I opted for a lighter gray instead. The light silhouette looked fine in the normal color version, but not quite so much in the grayscale version though.

DARK SILHOUETTE


LIGHT SILHOUETTE

[Weeda]

Like DigitalMar said, it's a really cool concept. But I feel like you're taking the wrong approach if it's meant to be a logo. I would recommend scrapping any trace of photography from the final design. Typically you don't see any photography in logos... typically. Instead try drawing it by hand. If you're not good at drawing, you can even trace it. Even sloppy drawings can make pretty cool logos. But the key is simplicity, and what you have here is a lot. Try making it with nothing but solid lines and solid shapes.

Most good logos work in two to three values (values, not colors. Meaning black, white, and maybe one shade of gray. No gradients or gray-scale) Don't worry about choosing colors until you have a design that works in black and white finalized.

Finally, as good as it is to always try to incorporate text in with the image, I would say this is one of those instances where you should probably try to separate the two a bit more by taking the text out of the shoe and using an actual font to make it look more crisp.

... But then again, it's for school, so who really gives a shit, am I right?... eh?... eh?

Oh, by the way, I'm just a student, not a professional, so if I said anything erroneous, someone just correct me.

[Farah]

Thanks Weeda, I'll make another version using the advice you gave, and post back when I'm done.

[Farah]

Here's the redo:

[Dr. Quinn]

You've got far to much going on here. Try simplifying it right down almost to the point where you lose recognition of the objects. Then make sure the composition is working Then bring what details you need back to make the logo legible. You don't have enough experience to nail a complicated logo with the approach your using. I also recommend you do a bit of research into similar logos, you might get some good ideas on how the style can be executed.
I think you should try having the text separate from the shoe. It looks tacky on the angle. This would enable you to play with moving the pencil/wings to a more logical area and also make them larger to appear functional in proportion to the shoe.
I noticed everyone else is giving similar advice on the simplicity thing. Your still not doing enough, strip it right down. Next time you post give us a bunch of very different concepts to look at, its not cool to cling to the one your just limiting the potential of your design.

[Weeda]

... But also keep up the good work!

I definitely think it's looking much better. Depending on how much you care, you should give some of Quinn's suggestions a shot. But I know that when I was in middle/high school and they asked me to do shit I really just didn't care.

[Black Spot]

I actually think you don't need the word 'running' as the shape already suggests it.

[Farah]

Thanks for all of your help!

@Quinn?: I took a shot at your advice, so I hope it came out well on this go. Next time I do a logo though, I'll be sure to add different concepts to look at.

@Weeda: Thanks, I'm glad to hear it's looking much better. I might have to stop with this one though, as I'm going to have to give them the logo soon.

@Black Spot: I tried to remove the word "running" all together, but something was off. I am unsure what it was, but something wasn't right, so I added the word back. However, I did put less emphasis on it this time around.

[Black Spot]

The lettering is the main bit that is letting it down now. I don't know if it'll work but getting the letters to be more like they were part of the shoe might help. You know when you project text on a 2d shape and they form round it, bit like that.

[JGoodliff]

as said above - it's a great concept -
and you put some hard work in and it looks a lot better

the old school rule of thumb for logos is - if they can be reduced to fit on your thumbnail and it's still legible and gets the point across it's good - think CNN

when designing a logo you must consider all the possible applications - embroidery, silk screen, etc. start simple (I often start with one colour)

I like Black spots idea of incorporating the words and I immediately saw the lettering as laces - for an abstracted design

anyway - it came a long way and looks nice and clean

[millz]

i could make some general comments but i don't think the point would get across, so heres what i would changed.

I would remove the wings/pencils, they arent really necessary to the meaning of the brand and are too complex and distracting, remember simple is best.

Remove the outline on the shoe and lettering, it is uncessecary and when scaling, the lines will be too thin anyway.

Edit the type, change the font to one the reflects the meaning or message of the brand and the brands principles, kern the lettering. Basically make a new type lockup. The laces idea to me is too complex, a simple type lockup will have much more impact.

[TheDirtSyndicate]

i could make some general comments but i don't think the point would get across, so heres what i would changed.

I would remove the wings/pencils, they arent really necessary to the meaning of the brand and are too complex and distracting, remember simple is best.

Remove the outline on the shoe and lettering, it is uncessecary and when scaling, the lines will be too thin anyway.

Edit the type, change the font to one the reflects the meaning or message of the brand and the brands principles, kern the lettering. Basically make a new type lockup. The laces idea to me is too complex, a simple type lockup will have much more impact.

couldn't have said it better myself.
no really... i'm nowhere NEAR as eloquent as this.

[andrews@graphics]

The first and the important thing tat you should keep in your mind while designing a logo..that this is not design.this is the way to represent the company it should be simple and should not show that what the company exactly do.
Before a designer can create a logo, they have to learn about the company, what the company offers in terms of products and services, what the culture is of the company, and finally, what is their target market.

[rapxic]

get this book http://www.logodesignlovebook.com/ , its essential if you want to know how to create the perfect logo for any business.

when doing logos your image needs to tell people straightforward what is it about or hint.

i would suggest you to remove the text and work more on the image and then try to find a text that can suit it.

[StrikeCommando]

If you're going to stick with the shoe thing, I would make only START inside the shoe, and find a place outside of the logo for "Running".

With this shoe logo, though, I get the feeling it's too forced.

[Arhaeus]

The pencis need furder simplification.