Hello all,

I'm new so hello to everybody. I'm a graphic designer that was recently
employed by a small internet start-up to design their web interface and
shape their branding.

We are currently running a logo poll on our final 4 shapes, and I would
very much appreciate it if you could vote on my logos and fill out your
thoughts.
The logos are flattened and one-color (black) for parity.

The start-up is web-community oriented

The poll is here -> http://www.octabox.com/octapoll.php

I am sorry about the abiguity, but I cant give away any more details.
We understand that you cannot comment much without knowing the
background of the company and much more, but we would like to know the
effect theses shapes has on you.

Thanks

<octabox@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1167664281.178800.316530@h40g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...

They all look generic and like I've seen them a zillion times elsewhere.

--Tina
--
Tina Peters
AxisHOST.com, Inc.
Serving the web since 1997

In article <1167664281.178800.316530@h40g2000cwb.googlegroups .com>,
<octabox@gmail.com> wrote:

I have to agree with Tina . . . none of those shapes really say much
to me at all. Have you tried thinking Octopus + Box? Maybe a box with
octopus arms melded to it??

But, yes, the shapes aren't "new" or "fresh" either.
--
cmp

Tina Peters wrote:

yes, good point. Even though most logos do start in a somewhat
generic way. And I don't see how anyone can judge them just on a shape,
without the wording, how it's going to be set up on it, etc.

Whatever the company is, it doesn't seem like any of those 4 really
says anything ABOUT the company. Aren't logos supposed to be somewhat
slanted to what the company is and stands for in some way? A subtle tie
in?

The best one, if I had to pick one (to me) is D, but again, how
would the wording be put on it? In a line across it, under it, around
in a circle in the middle of it?

I'm not much of a designer (at this point) but looking at it by
instinct, which I think the poster wanted. Like first impressions of
the shapes?

I'm new to this group, came here to learn, and already I'm giving
opinons on web design (LOL)

"inez"
|
| > The poll is here -> http://www.octabox.com/octapoll.php
|
| I don't see any logos...
|

Ouch!!

Inez is right, theses arent logos. Theses are shapes. We wanted just to
check the psychocological effect of every shapes. We still have a lot
of work!!



inez ëúá:

<octabox@gmail.com>

inez ëúá:
check the psychocological effect of every shapes. We still have a lot
of work!!
<<

Please don't top post as it disrupts the flow of the tread.

Inez's impression was mine as well but I chose not to state the obvious.

As to not being logos that is obvious to most here but that was not what you
said in your first post.

<snip text>

We are currently running a logo poll on our final 4 shapes, and I would
very much appreciate it if you could vote on my logos and fill out your
thoughts.

The logos are flattened and one-color (black) for parity.

<end snip text>

Inez, the OP asked for a review and opinions. It's not like the request
was 'do you like my new hat?'

You stated what I wanted to say but was reluctant to post. Quite frankly
there was no way anyone could except exactly as you put it.

The OP asked and you responded.

To paraphrase the movie quip 'you want the truth ... some folk can't handle
the truth'

ergo: if someone does not want to hear the truth, don't ask pointed
questions ... especially on the internet.

octabox@gmail.com wrote:
That's not how branding works. Design comes first. Psychological
impact comes later AFTER you've imprinted that design on the minds of
your customers.

The problem with the "shapes" you've presented is that there is no
meaning to them except (as was pointed out before) that there are
thousands of other logos out there that look just like them. The
"psychological effect" is "been there."

You need to focus on the company: what makes them unique; what their
personality is; what problems they can solve that the competition
can't; etc. A great logo comes from the process of really
understanding the company and its customers, not from picking out
shapes that look like they came out of some logo workbook. Look at the
Bahamas logo (www.bahamas.com) or the Space Needle logo
(www.spaceneedle.com) for examples of designs that come from positions
of understanding, rather than guessing.

The flaw in your current process is the polling process itself.
Because these shapes are generic and have no meaning by themselves,
you're going to get results based purely upon past experiences and
preconceptions -- people will pick (subconsciously or not) what is
familiar to them. In other words, if you're using this process for a
direction, you're going to wind up going in the most familiar
direction, not the most original one (unless, of course, you have the
insight to do the exact opposite of what people pick).

-- Robert

fsdstudio@gmail.com wrote:
Thank you very much for your long and detailed response, It is all
clear now. I know i have a lot of work to do.
How much time would you think it would take a good designer to produce
a good logo? from your past experience? being inexperienced i wouldnt
know what is the industry standards (im sure there is no standard but
some kind of range).

octa...@gmail.com wrote:

The real answer is probably not what you're looking for. It is:

"It takes as much time as it needs."

Really, we've had logos take months to develop, and some come in a
flash in inspiration.

Our process always begins with questions. We have a questionnaire that
we present to clients that asks about the company, the mission, the
market, the competition, the customers, etc. This serves as a
springboard for us to do some more research. It may be a couple of
weeks before we even begin the "formal" design process.

Obviously, this all depends on the size of the company and market. It
will take quite a bit longer, for example, to wrap our heads around a
national company versus a small mom-and-pop. Also, we don't just "turn
off" our design thoughts during the research phase. You never know
when a great inspiration will hit. We've had the final design pop into
our heads during the initial client meeting -- but even then, we still
make sure to do our homework on the company to make sure that
inspiration stands up as the right choice (the thing to be careful of
is that not always, but often your first thoughts are the most
obvious).

Think of a creating a logo like buying a house. Maybe you find the
perfect house your first day out. Maybe it takes you months of
searching. Either way, you have to live with this thing for years, so
you're not going to make a final decision without a lot of information
and a lot of thought.

-- Robert

Thanks all of you for the input, we have closed this poll.
But we are leading a new survey, and you are invited to answer to it
aswell.

http://www.octabox.com/productivity_poll.php

Thanks,
Octabox

fsdstudio@gmail.com wrote: