This logotype was designed to work the best in 2 color mode (can be modified to more colors of course). The image is simple (so it can work as a kind of stamp on a book or anywhere else), yet meaningful - it combines stylized letters "m" and "w", a fun shape of waves and at the same time a view of a swerving river from above. The whole sign conveys the meaning of enclosing (managing) an irregular experience into understandable frames. Easy and friendly. I hope you'll like it.
it's amazing watching you guys get going with a bunch of roughs and then slowly getting your head into the nature of the client's business ... you have a great job!
i like the concept as explained. i think our audience needs to be hit over the head, though, to get the M and W, etc. so maybe make this a bit less abstract.
also, more color please. maybe the m in one color, the w in another ... and the m color picking up managing and the w color picking up waterway? just some brainstorming here ... and somehow integrating that all with the name and tag in tight clean type?
we like your strong typography and the way you typically anchor in a clever graphic. our favorite designs of yours were golden gate sailing tours, waterproofcameras.com, first move, and prechnology.
we're a mouthful here with "managing the waterway" and "cruising guides and electronic charting" so that style ... tight typography and a central, relevant and intuitively GREAT graphic will be much appreciated.
we're really looking forward to seeing more of your concepts and also variations on #178/179!
please let us know anything we can do to help you and thank you for all of your hard work.
Thank you for the comment. It's pure pleasure for a designer to get such good feedback. I'm sure you'll get some really decent submissions with this attitude. I have been really satisfied with my first concept, so I took it and pushed it further, trying to use your suggestions. It's more readible and pleasing for the eye now.
Yes, it's much easier to get the M and the W. I think maybe it would be even easier with more color. All the designers seem to be dogging down in blue on blue themes ... which makes sense, given the water tie-in ... but please don't be afraid to use other colors. And that can help you make the M and W word connections more obvious.
And please feel free to try some other concepts out on us.
I'm still most sure of this concept. The viewer doesn't need to get all the meanings at the first glance. The most imprortant thing is for the logo to be memorable, positive and appealing and that's what I think this symbol captures with it's boldness and simplicity.
i like the feel of the boat "heading out" in #211. But I think the type appears an add-on or afterthought. Maybe less above and more below the graphic for balance. You may also want to capture some buoys (aids to navigation) on the water to be less abstract about the boat go out as well as underscoring the "managing" part of business.
I also like #213's concept. again, boat moving ...
Both need some punch though to make them stand out. Right now, they are cool but blah if you know what I mean. Hard to describe.
#222 continues to be neat. Color definitely helped but the graphic seems to disassociated from the type. And the W wave is too irregular and it's motion is in conflict ... so unsettling. Middle leg moving to right and right leg too pointy compared to other two legs. See what I mean?
my time unfortunately is still limited, which i regret a lot, but I hope we'll get somewhere with this. I'll try to revisit the other designs if I make time
I really don't know how this "ranking" and "not interested" metaphor is supposed to work.
But, unfortunately, I think it may mislead someone (and that someone could be you or me) into believing a concept is still alive if it's really not. That and Diana and I are trying not to hurt anyone's feelings. So we're probably leaving too much in the "ranked" column.
Remember, this is all new to us so please forgive our blundering.
Here's what I'd like to do and how you should interpret the next round of sorting:
1. If it's ranked, it's still alive and I assume you are working and improving that design along the lines of what we've either publicly or privately commented. I also assume you are generating new concepts because, so far, NO ONE IS WINNING. We are not satisfied with even the leaders (high rankings) ... otherwise we would have ended the contest earlier versus extending it. Make sense?
2. Otherwise, it's in the "not interested" column. Earlier, crcdesigns explained to me how to re-order everything at the end of the contest so as many people as possible get credits, and the leading designs all get ranked in the appropriate order (see above post). Never fear, I will absolutely do that at the END of the contest.
3. But for now anyway, the ranked entries are too clogged and they also aren't putting enough fire into either of us. Me, to drill down and focus on designs that could win the contest, and you to abandon concepts that shouldn't really be ranked and not competitive ... when bringing forth a new concept would serve you better.
So please do not be insulted when some concepts go quickly into the not interested column. Let's both communicate and focus on the potential winners!
And by the way, thanks once again everyone for all of the hard work and patience you're demonstrating,
I'm sorry, none of these concepts are making my heart beat faster. But I find myself having a difficult time saying why not ... or, more importantly, what would light my fire.
#366 is an interesting twist on the letter shapes but doesn't integrate with the name or tag very well #213 start to say something, traveling in a boat down a path #372 takes this one step further, but is extremely bland and unexciting (monochromatic)
Of the three, I think #372 has the most promise but it needs to get a BIG pick me up! Color and type should be re-worked, The right buoy could be red, the left green (that's how it works at sea, red-right-returning).
Let's blow this up and try some new ideas altogether!
Thanks, Mark
p.s. A lot of people asked that I don't bin things in the "not interested" column unless they are "horrible. Not a problem, I'll start ranking again ... with low rankings meaning what they mean and our dialog mainly taking place by post. Recognize that I do have a problem in that LT does not tell me when you have posted to this page. I only get notification with a "private message."