I made some versions with the same concept, as you asked.
Use some floral designs, and a modified Au based on Shelley Allegro Script font. "Au" instead of just an "A" because think that would be more recognizable, and gives more personaliy to the brand. And it's the chemical sign of Gold.
For the intesection at the top of the Au, inserted the Fleur de lys, and some variants on versions.
I did some tests with other typefaces, but were rare, being different from the logo ones.
At the last version I try to make a little more simple design, based on the fleur de lys, I know its out of the brief, made it just like an exercise to see the font straighter.
I could try to insert some flowers in the A of Au if you want, and change the colors is not a problem.
I would be pleased if you give me feedback or respond to any request, and hope like my work.
Thank you for submitting your designs and introducing the shield emblem!
[applies #9#10#11#12 and #13] Thanks for asking, but we're not so concerned about colors now, and we can finalize near the end, so we will focus on design.
[applies to entry #13] This is a great 'corporate type' logo with good work on incorporating the fleur de lis and A together, and while we like it as an exercise, by itself it is not what we are looking for. That said, however, we like the more upright 'straighter' font for the 'Au' but don't know if that can be incorporated into any versions of the design enhancements below.
[applies to entries #9#10#11 and #12] OF all of these, we prefer your custom stylized fleur de lis in entry #11 and #12. Excellent job in deconstructing the fleur de lis! Can we see additional versions of #11 and #12 with the following enhancements: a) insert flowers into the Au, please show different versions with one, two or maybe three based on your artistic opinion. Flower designs we like are the turkish tulip in the brief, rose or carnation, and perhaps a lotus b) add any flowers not used in the 'Au' to the emblem design, perhaps replacing or overlaying atop the mid-points in the triangular shield border {?? for example the lotus could go under the 'Au'??}. c) Can we see different versions of similar borders for the shield? We like this one, but would like to see others that would work, perhaps like the Nicki Gray contest ones? D) We like The font chosen for use in 'Au' but not necessarily as the primary font for 'Aurelian'. can we see a standard serif font to see how the contrast would look, perhaps century/Century schoolbook.
[applies to entry #12] We like the combination of the shield into the circle emblem. However, the filigree lines / brush strokes seem weaker and tend to fade in. Can we make the lines inside the emblem somehow "Bolder"?
I've recycled some shapes from Nicki Gray contest as you asked, and made the Au more like an illustration, incorporating a turkish tulip on it, and a kind of floral highlight.
I tryed to put the flowers you named in order to represent the different cultures, and use more classic typeface.
I hope you like my work and do not hesitate to ask me for anything else.
Thank you for the fast revisions and the new entry General feedback: It is a bit difficult to see all the detail... can you reduce the "white space" on your artboard or bring the border closer to the edge so the displayed graphic is bigger on logotournament? Also, for entry #20 I will refer to the three floral elements from top (12 O’clock position) to bottom right to left clockwise... they look like two rose buds, a lotus and carnation but the details are hard to see. We do not want the flowers any larger (they are just the right size).
[applies to both entry #20] This is an excellent job of interweaving the different elements {flowers, lettering of 'Au' and floral filigree}. We like the embellishments you added to the letters 'A' and 'u'... not sure about the leaf coming out of the 'u' and going under. We would like to see: A) a different version of the leaf/branch embellishment under the Au, perhaps a thick solid line WHICH curves around and loops like an S or figure 8 on its side. B) For the rose buds at the top 12 O'clock position, can we have one rose bud centered instead of two. C) for the other two remaining flowers, please refer to the updated brief file I posted labeled version "v2 with revised Flowers". We like the lotus and carnation shapes on the first page of the new file, they are "profile" view silhouettes. Can you include these shapes?
other comments: We really like your use of the standard century schoolbook font, with the capital A and small caps on 'urelian' Very good and works well in contrast to the emblem above.
I made the logo a little bigger, so you can see it better. I hope it is enough, but I can upload just the details if you want to. I Made an illustration of the carnation and lotus, to fit in the lower places just like you ask me, and set just one rose at the top.
To explain my new version i have to say that, apparently, my entry #20 caused some copyright controversy. Although I used flowers on letters before, as in Nicki Gray's contest, and although you asked me to do so I have been accused of copying the idea. I am using my own custom typeface and flower models and I don't see where the problem is. However, I don't want to loose my encouragement nor energy, so I will carry on working on it!. :)
I made a 2nd version based on your comments, one, with flowers coming out of the A, and another, very similar, but the flower does not come out directly from the A.
Hope you like it and waiting for some feedback if you want me to change something.
I will be posting revision requests / feedback and new rankings shortly, but I wanted to address the "copyright controversy" immediately:
For any artists reading this, please note that, immediately after posting the contest, I personally contacted several artists via direct 'private mail' whose work we really liked. Those artists were invited to participate, and in many instances, specific ideas were referenced that we liked. Toni is one of the few who chose to participate, and whose work, including the flower at the end of the nicki gray design was specifically referenced. This occurred on Day 1 of this contest before anyone posted any entries.
Although he is new to logotournament having just joined last month, I am certain based on the professionalism and creativity he has shown me throughout this process, that he is an expert and ethical artists who will do very well and prosper in this forum.
In the world of creative art, it is inevitable that some good ideas may repeat themselves. Moreover, my design brief specifically mentioned using elements such as the tulip and lettering 'Au' or 'A' and specifically connecting or interweaving these elements. These are common 'fair game' graphical design requests that I as the contest holder posted. We will continue with the original concepts he devised and I consider this matter closed.
Toni: if you should require any assistance in logo tournament let me know.
Thanks for removing the extra space around the artboard, makes the design very good to see.
[applies to entry #33] We will be using this as your 'base' and finalizing
Here's our feedback: A) Please remove the embellishment / tail at the end of the 'u' in 'Au'... sorry! We did not see this until you made this larger, but the tail makes the 'u' look like a 'y'. Instead, can we B) add a larger lotus (about one and a half to twice as big as the current lotus in the bottom left corner) facing up and under the 'Au' and blend seamlessly with the bottom border. C) since there has been a change in the 'flower balance' can we replace all the corner flowers with the original border points like in Nicki Gray This will make the emblem be more triangular and symmetrical... sorry again, but sometimes you have to see something different to decide you want the original.
We would like to see two finalized versions with A) traditional lotus design under the 'Au', and B) a deconstructed original lotus like your original Felur De Lis design... both with the original three pointed tips on the border as in the Nicki Gray design
The final product will have your Fleur de lis, representing West, the lotus at the bottom representing East, the tulip representing middle.
Thank you very very much for the support and the vote of confidence. You Really help me to prevent a problem.
I like the colours that you choose. I use Adobe Illustrator to pick a sample color from Mr_Do #30 entry, but it can not be 100% accurate, for low resolution and for the screen-print translate (RGB to CMYK).
Please don't worry about go back in previous versions. Im keeping them all.
For this entry I made first an illustration of a lotus, and set it just under the AU so you could see preserved the simetry, restore the original borders, to see it more triangular shaped, and remove the u embellishment, because you were right, seems like an Y. Sometimes spend so much time in front of a design that you end up not seeing the obvious.
In the second black backgrounded entry, i adjust more to the change that you ask me, and made other illustration of a Lotus and set it on the left decorating and adjusting it. I "deconstruct" a lotus, but the shape is much complicated than the fleur de lys, at last I eventually had to keep some petals filled so they do not look like a tribal tatoo.
Just when i finished this one, I thought it was a shame to lose the corners flowers, first for the concept and then because in this design can be inserted easily. So i made other one. To preserve the triangular shape, I change the corner filligree design and put the flower inside.
Once again thank you very much for the support and for the detailed feedback, and as allways, do not hesitate to ask me anything.
It was my pleasure to clarify the confusion. We think you're doing an excellent job...
A couple of general comments: For Aurelian, deconstructed lotus = good, Tribal Tattoo = BAD... :). so thank you for taking the artistic initiative and filling in some of the leaves... We like the new look of #47, but I think we prefer #45 because it balances the emblem with the fleur de lis and the lotus.
OK. let's use entry #45 and go forward. [revision request applies to entry #45]: We have a concern that the lotus leaves may not reproduce well in foiling since the lines are too thin. Can we reduce the hollow-out effect of thicken the gold line versus the negative black, at least in the outermost leaves. I think the center leaf is ok, but the outermost too are too thin. A) Can we see a version or two with solid outer leaf (maybe one of the two), and B) can we see a version with just thicker lines on the lotus petals. Lastly, C) minor adjustment to the color, looks bit yellow, can we go for a slightly deeper gold and also make the text 'AURELIAN' the same color instead of white
The above should finalize your logo for our consideration.
I made a version with the outer leaves filled and a little thicker petals.
Im not sure what you mean with the lotus lines, i think is the separation between petals, so for the 2ºnd version i let just perforated the centered one and set all more separated. Please tell me if i'm wrong.
It may be a little heavy, but just to see how it look I insert in the 3rd new entry the first lotus ilustration with all full leaves.