Entry #1 Thanks for the submission, I truly appreciate it. I really like the gray scale on the background going from light to dark. It portrays a nice steel look to logo.
This logo is too "Team America". While I appreciate the Patriotism aspect, if Patriotic symbols are to be used, they need to be the subtle undercurrent of the logo instead of the primary factor.
#13 - I really like the "SA" in the middle of the badge. I like the concept of the two eagles but I'm not crazy about these exact images. The tag-line "Firearms - Ammunition & Training" should be changed to all hyphens intead of one hyphen and one "&".
I can't read what it says under "CHL Training" because it is too small.
Could there be a different geometric shape as opposed to a simple oval? Add more edginess to the overall design, especially the font.
Perhaps incorporate the "SA" into almost a secondary logo that might be "SA Training Unit" or something cool sounding that makes one think the logo represents Stillwater Armory as a whole organization but the inner portion provides the emphasis on "Traning" by creation of the "SA Training Unit (or whatever)" emblem. Almost as if the same Stillwatar Armory badge could be seen but the inner portion could say "???Rapid Response Unit???" or "???Custom Gunsmithing???" or any other aspect of Stillwater Armory. While those other inner portion emblems may never exist other than the "Training Unit", the idea is they could. It would be as if the Training Unit were a division within the organization.
Stillwater Armory : This design is more of a tactical design that better fits your training program information that you have provided. I did add ( NRA Certified Instructor ) And I can also add your web address if you would like. The image of the semi auto pistol can become a revolver or any gun of your choice. Or both revolver and semi auto? The SA will stay in the design like you have asked, and the shape of design has been changed as you requested. The text has also been changed and you can also request any text that you would like better than the on used in this design. The word (Training ) can also be changed to (Training Unit ) ? I Hope this design is a improvement , and more to your design needs. Simper-Fi
I like the crest appearance. I appreciate you taking the time to research our NRA certified instructor classifications but think we could drop that aspect of the logo. I liked the "SA" font from #13 better. I'm not a big fan of the red & blue as they are too soft. I'm not a fan of red period so maybe we could drop that and use more of a metaillic or gun-metal blue.
Maybe take the stars out with the exception of a single star between "Firearms * Training". That would sum up what we do pretty well. I'm not a big fan of the two pistols but I don't know what else to put in there. Perhaps if the "SA" was a very cool logo itself with some edge to it, that could fill the middle of the badge and Stillwater Armroy could be located somewhere else on the logo so that the "SA" becomes more of the central focus point.
I think the scroll area at the bottom needs some color in it...probably a similar color to the center of the badge.
I also think we need to lose the background color that fills the square (not on the logo itself) as that would be difficult to translate into letterhead, shirts, etc.
#17 - Thanks for your quick update. Still need to work out more masculine colors and add that edge to it. I do like how it looks on the black background but the final logo would need to have a blank background. By seeing it with the black background, it tells me that the logo would look good on a black shirt but I don't want to put a black square with the logo in it on a white shirt or whatever.
#17 - Again, love how it looks against a black background. I think drop all the stars, drop the NRA portion, drop the "Firearms - Ammunition - Gear" and just have "Firearms * Training" on the bottom scroll. Use the star currently under the NRA portion and put it in the bottom scroll. Still need to add that "Kick your ass" to the logo somehow.
#18 - Yes, really like where you're headed. Thank you so much for the quick response and great design work. I would like to hear your thoughts on keeping the "Firearms - Ammunition - Training" in the logo. I think the bottom scroll depitcs what we do very well with just the "Firearms * Training".
I would like to see the logo with the "SA" in the center of the badge and the text removed as mentioned above. Maybe see something done with the top of the badge instead of just straight across???? Maybe it comes to a point or it curves and "Stillwater Armory" follows the curve????
I'm not sold on the two pistols being in the badge but I don't know what else could be there...I do feel there should be something there other than just the name and SA logo.
Can't wait to see what you come up with next. Really like it!
STILLWATER ARMORY: This design has been changed at the top with added curve and text following the curve. Firearms - Ammunition - Gear , have been removed as requested so as you can see the design without so many words involved. If you are into sales as well as CHL training , you might wont me to add them back at a later date. Ammunition and the price of it are going up fast and getting harder to get as things progress toward more Government regulations. Your tagline needs to be something special. Like a quote from a great leader ( Patriot )? I have always liked this quote. ( Better tried by 12 than carried by 6 ). William Wallace has a few good quote’s written in stone. Scottish I do think he was. I will do a little research for you on that subject. Sorry for the slow response. Had Church Sunday night and Mondays are always busy.
#40 - YES. I absolutely love the shadowed eagle on the badge. Wonderful! Still love your take on the "SA".
Not a big fan of the top of the badge sloping inwards. It looks like its compressing "Stillwater Armory". I like the blue border and blue words but I'm not in love with it. You've certainly proved you're a brilliant designer so I would love to see your take on something other than the blue.
Again, love the SA and love the eagle 100%. I'm still looking for a little more edge to the logo - maybe its the blue color that is softening it too much for me or maybe even the detailed scroll work. I think I really like the scroll work on the bottom but maybe that could be something with a little more aggression in it. Again, you're the great designer so I've learned too trust your interpretations of my comments and what you come up with next.
#65 - I really like the design and color scheme a lot. I like the Semper Paratus just fine but I'm not drooling over it. I do like the idea of a Latin motto and Semper Paratus might just be it.
The only thing on the logo that I would comment on is the Semper Paratus is too high and the top portion is being cut off by the eagle. Simple clean-up work so I'm not concerned.
I really couldn't add or comment on this logo for anything I would like to see different. You've done a wonderful job following my train of thought and this is extremely close. I hope you don't sit back and relax but keep thinking about how to make this logo even better...but I sure don't know how you would do it.
You've shown me how it will look against black but how well do you think the logo will translate into embroidery? I would be interested to see the artwork that would be sent to the emrbroidery shop to duplicate this logo. We're already thinking we could use other portions of this logo to really tie everything together. For instance, we would use the eagle (or is it a hawk?) as a large watermark on our stationary and .....
Stillwater Armory: I took a little time and did some research on Latin. The Motto ( Simper Paratus ) (Always Ready) is used by the Coast Guard. It is not as popular as the Marine Corps Motto Simper Fi. I like the Motto ( Simper Paratus ) and I also like the Motto (Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum) meaning (If You Want Peace, Prepare For War). I do not think that many people know the Coast Guard Motto. I think that if you like it you are free to put it to good use. I have also looked at your Logo vary close, and at this point I am open to ideas and looking at any other options we might have. I have remover the bottom scroll and also removed the side of the scroll and found that it does not look vary good without all the parts together. I will continue to refine your design and try different ideas. We still have a few days to go yet in this contest.
Stillwater Armory: I do not see a problem turning this design into a patch. Embroidery should go ok. The inner field is three shades , and the boarder has a fine gray line to divide against a black background.
I like both of those mottos...don't know if I prefer one of the other at this point.
I like the solid color of the outer portion presented in #72 & #73 - I think it will show up better on the embroidery work.
I won't say its perfect because there's always room for improvement...I just don't know what that would be and there's nothing about the logo I don't like.
I'm on the edge of my seat in anticipation of you coming up with something that would improve what I already consider to be the best design.
#164 - I just caught a glimpse of the darker eagle. That brief look told me I really like that new eagle. I love it in the shadow effect but I liked it as well more bold.
I love the new eagle design. I love the font you're using on everything and love the SA. I like the shield. Maybe you could start removing a few pieces of the design and see what we get. For instance, leave the eagle out of a design...leave the Latin out of a design...leave the SA out of the design...move the eagle off the badge...leave the scrollwork of the bottom...leave off the shield completely and build a design around the eagle...I don't know but I'm left with loving all the individual components but it seems just too busy with all of them crammed in there.
I'll leave it to your artistic skills as to manipulating the design.
#167 - Yes, I think I like where you're headed. Maybe make the Stillwater Armory more pronounced? I think you will strike a very good balance with your design as you mix and match the components. I look forward to each one.
#167 - I miss the "SA" on the logo. Maybe just drop the Latin? Still think we can find some compromise that will be perfect and I look forward to your design ideas.