posted
I am happy enough with the layout, I am open to color suggestions but my main problem is that it looks fine on a rectangle but not on a shaped panel.
any thoughts as to how that might work.
the small outside lettering will be used only on some occasions.
-------------------- Miles Cullinane, Cork, Ireland.
From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland, Posts: 913 | From: Cork, Ireland | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
...It looks like it's going to roll away! Build it like a pyramid w. a secure base. Chuck the shape and colors, they should come much later in it's development. ...Time to get out the book MASTERING LAYOUT (by Mike Stevens).
posted
mr pickett, i have the book and have learned from it but not mastered it.
I am happy with layout of the lettering but not the surrounding shape, so do you want to explain your suggestion. or show by a quick sketch but please don't state the obvious that the shape is wrong.
thanks
-------------------- Miles Cullinane, Cork, Ireland.
From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland, Posts: 913 | From: Cork, Ireland | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
The shape does echo the lettering, which is as it should be. But perhaps add a border/outline to the shape itself. I would make a circle as the center, with a border around the perimeters. The Signs and Signwriting part inside that. Then have your name overlaid across it (brought to the front) Then when adding the additional text you could add another concentric border and put it, reverse-cut inside. I don't like seeing two different scripts in the same layout, maybe try a nice ampersand for the "and" or make your name and the "and" in the same but beefier script. I like the colors just fine. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
...If it is a LOGO you want developed (as you asked), it should work in BLACK on WhITE. ...But If it is a SIGN you are working on, then shapes and colors need to be decided on. ...If you are "happy" w. the lettering, why ask for LOGO help here?
posted
Miles, you've said you are happy with the layout - but it's the layout that I see causing the problem, IMHO. SIGNS/SIGNWRITING and the smaller copy form concentric circles, with your name sort of wandering across the center. Have you thought of possibly running the name on a straight line, rather than having it follow that sort of soft curve?
I'd make other suggestions, but I don't want to be seen as pushing unsolicited advice. E-mail me later if you want.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
A few quick/initial thoughts because that’s all the time I have at the moment. I’ll attempt to come back later this afternoon/evening to add some follow-up. (remember-my opinions and thoughts only=doesn’t mean much):
No clear leading of the eye
Differing text weights, while present, not helping my eye move/mind digest
M.C name on a waving line competes with a straight line panel
No cohesion, doesn’t present itself as “one complete thought”
I’m in sympathy with many of Billy Bob’s comments/observations
More later
Oval & circle layouts are usually a challenge (for me anyway). Use saturation & brightness (of whatever color) to help define depth/priority. Allow all the elements to work together. This is BY NO means a work of art or anything I would jump for joy about. It was however a five minute exercise to target some of the items mentioned above.
-------------------- Bob Gilliland InKnowVative Communications Harrisburg PA, USA
"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." Benjamin Franklin Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I am by no means a design GURU, but my thought was that you needed a shape around your name. Kinda like Gilliland did. I your outside shape better than a circle tho. Just my .02
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Cam, feel free to let loose as you have my permission!! please clear the floor folks, Cam is going to let loose. Don't hold back, i can take it.
just joking, but do free feel.
-------------------- Miles Cullinane, Cork, Ireland.
From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland, Posts: 913 | From: Cork, Ireland | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
I find signs and signwriting to be redundant. It's hard to say and kind of hard to read. Signwriting should say it all. It will also make designing a logo much, much easier.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
Sorry, Miles... I don't have a sketch for you, but for all the reasons mentioned in various posts above, starting with Billy's nice and bluntish explanation, neither of your layouts, in my mind, works.
Bob nailed priorities & consistencies in his layout, and it's nice, but it's a bit dated. Jill mentioned having more than one script- it goes further - you have many inconsistencies that don't help to get any kind of professional message across, in my opinion.
The blend in 'and' is nice on its own, but it has nothing else of any similarity in the layout. You'd be better to put a blend in one of the more important words, if you want to drive focus there, but you'd then need assorted outlines or something to separate it from the strongly-coloured background.
The hard question you really have to start with, is "what is the most important word/s?"
Is it Miles C, or signs or signwriting.
It's always hard for a signie to decide. It also depends on the surrounding environment.
In an area with no other signwriters, perhaps Signs is the most important, so people will know immediately what you do, but if you were in an area with 100s of signies, then perhaps Miles C would be best, to differentiate you from the rest.
So, what's most important to you- where is this sign going? On a card? On your car door? in the phone book? In the newspaper? On a billboard? In each case there's a different environment, a different attention span, a different audience, and a different competition, therefore different layouts & emphasis needed, in my opinion.
The most important word is best in the middle. Balance the rest sensibly around that - but the most importand word needs to be the boldest, also, not the finest.
Sermon over...
Keep trying- it's a tough road!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
George, around here, people don't think that signwriting is still done, they think that everything is printed or vinyl stick on. I have picked up jobs that no one else could handle because I do still use the brush. It's the name I have been using for 20 years. Also if I just use 'signwriting' some clients won't even pick up the phone to ring me as they would say 'I don't want it painted'. The 'and signwriting' is supposed to just be a mention.
thanks for all the feedback though folks.
-------------------- Miles Cullinane, Cork, Ireland.
From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland, Posts: 913 | From: Cork, Ireland | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
Miles - I would echo exactly what Ian said... are you determined to use the layout you have or are you willing to step back, and consider the alternatives suggested?
Not being rude, understand, but I do think the design could use some major reworking, especially given that it is going to be your logo and a reflection on your work that everyone sees whenever you pass out a business card, or drive around town, etc.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
We have designed a lot of logos, and we do them all in black on white and then add the color after the design is tight. I would recommend you work on it until you really like it in black on white, and then when you color it in you will have a solid design that you are happy with. The more you refine it, the happier you will be in the end. Just keep at it, you'll get there...
posted
What about changing your business name to "Miles of Signs" ?
It's make signage & logo layout easier, and it's catchy & easy to remember and it's still appropriate.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Nice Glenn with the deliberate typo in there too!
(Now I'm on a roll, what about calling yourself
"Miles of Smiles Signs"
no one would forget that name!!!)
(Miles of Cork Signs doesn't quite work "...but I don't want a cork sign, I want a metal one!")
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
This keyboard makes me type 'sighs' instead of 'signs' sometimes...like when it's important...
"Miles Around Signs"...?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Ha ha, post a design for a new logo and your business is being renamed for you. That's just too funny. May I suggest you change your legal name to Miles Signwriter, that would simplify things. All this said in jest.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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posted
And, in an attempt to be genuinely helpful and answer your intial question, would you consider a ribbon behind your name?
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Mile's Styles bring up Bile. just kidding.A guy here advertises with a ripped off ghost busters logo... don't be spooked by high prices.If you want to represent your work take a photo of something you are proud of and let that be your calling card... My 2 cents
-------------------- Darcy Baker Darcy's Signs Eureka Springs. AR. Posts: 1169 | From: Eureka Springs, AR | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
You people are great, I go to bed and come back to find my business being renamed!!
No seriously, thank you, one and all. A lot of meat to chew but it is worth it. Ian and Todd gave me the most to think about and Glenn you have shown me a better way to approach this. Sean, you are right about 'the more you refine it the better it will be'.
I have been doing this a little on the fly as I am having a website made and the designers are looking for my logo.
So thanks for all the contributions, even you Billy Bob, I do think you were trying to help.
I'll post another attempt in a while. I just need to do some of this.
-------------------- Miles Cullinane, Cork, Ireland.
From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland, Posts: 913 | From: Cork, Ireland | Registered: Jul 1999
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"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Ian, Now I am trying not to think about your words of wisdom!!
I did get a chequebook from my bank years ago and it had printed on it, 'Miles Cullinane T/A Sings and Signwriting' but with a voice like mine I might starve
-------------------- Miles Cullinane, Cork, Ireland.
From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland, Posts: 913 | From: Cork, Ireland | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
I prefer Glenn's fonts, Miles - and Algerian, to me is up there with brush script as one "I'm not keen on at all" - eeeyuckkk!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Oops, I forgot to add /// Miles smiles & sighs ///
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
"Miles" ahead of your original. I echo Ian's statement about the Algerian. And you are squishing the Brewer's font to fit the ribbon. I would suggest a different font that is not so extended. Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
I like this much better. You are getting there! This version has nice layers and I like the alphabets you chose. And I am definately not the design queen but I think that it needs "something" in that white hole in the middle...Brushes? Amphersand (like Bob's design above)? Sunburst? I don't know what. Whatever it is though, I would keep it subtle and not real strong.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Tough font to read - especially when adding the outline/dropshadow.
And if it was perfectly legible, I would see "Miles Cullinane." What's Miles Cullinane? The business service certainly isn't readily understandable to me.
In fact, this has been a good post... I look at my own biz name "Outside The Lines" and while I think it and the icon of a line being drawn outside the confines of a box alludes to the artistic field - it really doesn't say what I do either... I may take this thread as an impetus to change my name as well.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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