Hello,
I uploaded the 2 versions for #4 and #6 (with #7 & #8) design, and also a black and white version, and on black background, to see how it looks...
In my opinion, the arrow brakes the view of design, make it more appealing and easy to remember......
Is like :..if u are just seen a normal "a", u start to think...
(Did i see that somewhere? I think i remember ..I saw it somewhere...but can't tell where.....nop...I think someone just start to write something, and dint finish it....Yes...that must be..."
and with the arrow, the logo is easy to remembered, because is making it unique.....is powerful because just seeing the letter "a" [with arrow] u know that is "that company...what was her name?...oh....adaptive...Yes."
The arrow also make a very good connection with the rest of the words, symbolizing a process.
Another power of the design is the color and the simplicity of design. And because the design, don't have gradients, mesh or other color effects, it's very easy to imprim(print) it on all possible materials at a low cost...from steel to wood, window, embroidery, etc...
Criss.