nou Systems, Inc.Logo Design Contest

Hi,

My entries. I emphasized the "N" as an icon referred to "Nou" in my entries. The icon can be used along with the name or as stand alone.

#14 - 2 arrows symbolizing Analysis and synthesis in the (white)negative space you see the "N" - Nou understanding.
#15 - abstract arrows in the shape of an "N"
#16 - abstract version of 15
#17 - abstract version of 14
#18 - N with an arrow going up

Let me know what you think and feel free to provide feedback if you have any.

Regards,
Luke

We like the idea of negative space - can you do something with the letters "nou" (lowercase) rather than a single capital letter?

On #15, the idea of adding that "shear" to the capital "N" is good. At first we saw a lower-case "n" on the left side of that symbol, reflected as if in pool of water. That led us to consider a tilted (backslash-like) "nou". We think that could make a more interesting right-facing arrow when reflected. So, "nou" written as block/lines, and reflected, could make a more symmetric arrow. On #15, imagine reflecting this ascii art:
__ __
\ \ \__\ \__\

Maybe worth a try....

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. I read your general feedback and decided to create a design based on "nou"
Here are my entries:

#33 - I created an "n" and an "u" forming an "o", so in total nou. It's a monogram (the n and u are the exact same shape) This creates a very symmetric look and feel. The shape will always be the same when you change the angle. I think this matches with the things you want to communicate.

#34 - Abstract icon version of 33

Let me know what you think.

Regards,
Luke

Luke:

Thanks for responding. We like #34 and what you did with "nou".
Could you create some alternatives with various of these elements:

1) "INC" upper and lower case with some vertical options (we want this de-emphasized)
2) all caps and smaller "analysis | synthesis | insight" that fits between the "y" and the end of "INC" perhaps with bars and dots as well as dashes. We like that to be kept gray and subtle as you have it.
3) larger options (at least for easier viewing)
4) various color options between "nou", "systems", the circle and artistic nou
5) could you try some more "rounded" fonts, and less squared off?
6) could you try a dark circle as background / behind to the abstract symbol (keeping the circle that runs between the letters visible)?

Thanks!
nou

Hi nou,

Thanks for your feedback.
I uploaded some designs and I hope I got everything covered you asked me to do. I tried some different fonts. colors, layouts. Let me know which of these you like best.

Regards,
Luke

Luke:

Your design is looking great. We had a few additional ideas:

1) Could you try eliminating the space between "nou" and "systems"?
2) Could you use a bolder and more rounded font that highlights the symmetry between "n" and "u"? For example, the "u" in your #50 has the look we tend to like.
3) We like the continuity of the circle with the letters (as in #66) but are afraid the artistic "nou" doesn't "pop out" sufficiently. Could you make the lines continuous (as in your #66) but use a color fade to make the "nou" standout (as it does in your #57)?
4) Can you try dots and vertical bars between analysis, synthesis and insight?
5) Can you make "inc" (as in #57) all caps?

Thanks!

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. I just came home, so I wasn't able to create the variations. Will work on it tomorrow morning.

Luke

Hi,

#85 - space removed between nou and systems
#86 - capital INC
#87 - color fade on the continuity of the circle
#88 - bars between analysis, synthesis and insight
#89 - dots between analysis, synthesis and insight

I will be working on some different fonts. If you could let me know what setup you like best that would be great (inc or INC, continuis circle or broken circle, nousystems or nou systems, dots or vertical bars or horizontal bars)

Regards,
Luke

I looked for fonts where the n is the same as the u to create the symmetry. I found this fonts that are free for use: #90 #92

What I also can do is like this #91 (i like this font) I just wrote uou and then turned the first u to create the n.

Luke:

I'll write more later, but here is some quick feedback:

1) #90 font looks to thick.
2) #92 font seems good
3) We are still debating on the continuity of the circle. Could it fade to grey more quickly and stay grey? We want the nou to pop out but like the idea of continuity. We may revert back to the discontinuous one, but we wanted to see some options here.
4) We like all caps analysis, synthesis and insight with bars.

Thanks!

Thanks. I uploaded some variations based on the continuous circle. Please note if you want to use this font, you might want to use a different font for the "analysis | synthesis | insight". As you can see it looks good in lowercase #99. But in caps #100 the "A" is a triangle.

Luke:

Thanks for the design variations. We like #99 but have decided we need the discontinuity (gap as in #96 but thinner) to make the artistic "nou" stand-out more. We also like the swoosh affect coming to a point as in #99 and the "|" as the dividers.

We are still a bit divided on:
1) Whether the swoosh should be one color (grey) or have the coloring as in #99 with the blue tint at both ends of the swoosh.
2) Whether all caps or all lowercase look better for the analysis, synthesis, and insight and "inc". If you have to change the font for the all caps version, that is fine.

Perhaps you can show us a couple of options for these where the other features are as described above.

If it is not to much trouble could you also show a variation that has a small space (smaller than what you had before) between the "nou" and "systems" and perhaps one that has a small dash or dot. We thought it might just be nice to see what it would look like.

Thanks!

Luke:

Could you also show us one where the artistic "nou" is above the rest of the logo?

Thanks!

Hi,

#101 - discontinuous circle with smaller gaps, caps slogan
#102 - discontinuous circle with smaller gaps, lowercase slogan
#103 - nou replace by the mark
#104 - dot between nou and systems
#105 - bar between nou and systems
#106 - discontinuous circle with smaller gaps and swooshes in gray
#107 - the mark above the name
#108 - color fade on the whooshes (I don't like it :))

Placing reducing the space between nou and systems didn't work out. Let me know!

Regards,
Luke

Let me know if there is anything I can do.

Luke:

#106 is our favorite of these designs. Could you show us what the black-and-white (or grey scale) version would look like and what an inverted color version would look like for the logo (e.g., blue background, nou in white and swoosh some shade of grey that shows up on the blue background)?

Thanks!

Yes, will do it tomorrow. It's night here.

Can you try a different shade of blue? We think R=0, G=64, B=200 might look good. We'd like it to be a little bluer and brighter than it is now.

Hi,

#117 / #118 - different blue (0 64 200) and a lighter tint of grey so it will work on both dark and light backgrounds without you changing the colors.

#110 / #113 - 106 with a lighter tint of grey, so you don't have to change colors when applied to a dark bg.

#114 - greyscale
#115 - black
#116 - white

We like the brighter blue and lighter gray - good choice. In addition to #117, can we have one with a blue background just on the logo, not the text? We'd like it circular, not a box (like you've done previously as with #50). Also, can you make a version of #117, but on a black background?

We're hoping to see all the variants below in white / blue (0 64 200) / black backgrounds:
- just the graphic in a "circle" format not a box -- so that an imported jpeg has no white space in the "corners"
- graphic + nousystems, analysis | syntheses | insight, inc text
- graphic + nousystems text (no analysis | syntheses | insight, inc text)

Thanks!
nou

Uploaded the variations

#124 #127 two options for black, I don't know which one you prefer.