Business System: Initial Ideation Sketches

The assignment was to hand-draw 5 options for our business system utilizing our finalized logo design. I was very excited to actually be assigned to not work on a computer. I actually got to use a pencil! These little sketches took quite a bit of time but I think it was worth it. After the one-on-one with Ange, it was clear that the first of my ideas worked the best, the others began to get really busy as more elements were added.

The first idea stays clean and reflects the logo in that way. Inside the black banner sits a cropped version of the logo. This idea helps to push the idea of creativity more. Including the different symbols appeals to my audience and gives the design a level of sophistication and craft.

I haven't quite decided what pieces I will be including in my business system. A mailer to be sent to event goers and maybe a name tag have been thought about, but it's still up in the air at this point.

Business System: System Research

These three examples of business systems come from our text book for this class, Logos 01: an essential primer for today's competitive market. I chose them because each shows the wide array of pieces that can be included in a business system. The Heineken example especially shows the amount of pieces that can be created. Everything from t-shirts and CD jackets to stickers, lanyards and keychains. In the Mamamoto example, the pieces are similar in color but do no use the logo as a primary element as the smith&nephew example does.

I knew I didn't want to just use one source for my research so I expanded and looked in all of the Graphic Design books I had in my apartment. Over the past three years, I have acquired quite a few. After looking through all of them, I found the most success in the book I purchased for GD 1 last spring. The book is titled The Big Book of Graphic Design. I originally bought it because it is full of great inspiration, I had no idea the amount of business systems I'd find inside.

The image to the left is an example from the Ballet de Bim. I chose it because of the way the logo stays important even while the images change location and size.

This example comes from California College of the Arts. It shows examples of two letterheads and info cards. What was interesting to me the way the designer only used the top of the page to showcase the logo and other elements. The only thing that changes is the color of the paper in the info cards from the first example. 

References:

Walton, R. (2007). The big book of graphic design. New York: Collins Design.

Logos 01: an essential primer for today's competitive market. (2007). Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers.

Company Logo Design: Final Logo

It's done! After a final class critique I went with the logo that fist best with the art and design side of my company. This logo reflects the design aspect through the use of the copyright symbol but still represents the aspect of creativity and art through the used of 45 degree angles throughout.

From the last critique  I edited the wordmark through kerning and manipulating the letterforms away from the strict Century Gothic. At the ends of the curves in the C, E, R, and G I places a 45 degree cut to move the eye and make the type unique. I did the same to the C in the symbol.

In the end I am really satisfied with the finished logo. When I was doing the initial design I thought just black and white would be best and that is what I stuck with. It's clean and professional yet expressive and creative.

Company Logo Design: (Revised Design Brief)

Check out my reevaluated Design Brief post! I felt it needed to be done as, not only did the name of my company change, it didn't reflect my audience as well as it should. I tried to increase the personality of the company but still maintain a professional voice and attitude.

Company Logo Design: 2-Refined Roughs

Here they are! Finally, I'm down to two roughs. In our small group critiques as well as meeting with Ange, I decided these two were the strongest. It was getting to the point of over designing, so I just had to stop and being to put my ideas into context. I began to think of letterhead designs and from there my ideas really began to take on a tangible look. From those intial explorations, I am moving toward the second option. Separating the wordmark from the symbol presents many interesting options and opportunities. 

With that said, I'm not at that point yet. The critique on Monday will solidify my final logo for Creativeright. Highly simplified symbol or the stylized artistic scribble, color or no color? We will see on Monday!

Company Logo Design: 5 Digital Roughs

Moving on from the sketched I had done previously, I moved onto the computer to conceptualize and refine the designs further. The five roughs I chose to evolve reflected the sophisticated edge design professionals possess while relating back to the high school art programs.

The creative right idea came from the copyright of images as a design concept. This idea mixes with the connection to art supplies in schools are the word creative replaces copy.

This is designed to be read as 'ur creative right. It suggests the idea that it is an individual's right to be creative.

These two show the connection to an urban lifestyle. The money raised will go to art supplies for high schools in the Twin Cities and these reflect that.

The last logo is a more sophisticated take on art. The scribble reflects the idea of sketching. This is a step in the design process and so relates to design professionals.

Company Logo Design: Symbol/Wordmark

100 symbols and 100 wordmarks, sounds like a large amount, an it definitely is. Breaking through those design blocks was difficult but as the ideas evolved the ending result was much better. Also, just sketching every little idea that came into my head was beneficial.

I originally focused on the art supply side of my company. After an individual critique with Ange, I began to focus more on the design side. She pointed out that it must appeal to the art and design professionals before the students and school officials.

There is still much work to be done in this preliminary phase and I'm excited to see what comes out!