The Matthews GroupLogo Design Contest

#6: Love this. The color is right, for sure. My only hesitation is that the object looks like a guitar pick or egg. I originally chose "abstract mark" in my contest brief, but I think I've changed my mind on that.

I have envisioned doing something script-y with either the M in TMG or with the word Matthews.

Also, I was looking thru the logotournament portfolio and really liked the winner of this contest. :

https://logotournament.com/contests/adverryting

Even better is this one: http://thebreakthroughconsortium.com/

The "blow-out" effect with the pieces floating off the main object is cool.

Thanks so much for posting this. It's outstanding.

I went thru logotournament and picked some logos I like. MIght be helpful. Copied here:

I like this template and the grey / gold (beige) color combo, but I'm open to other ideas, for sure:

http://demo.yootheme.com/nov09/index.php?yt_color=beige


When designers combine two opposing fonts -- like script and sans-serif block -- I find that particularly attractive. I also like designs where pieces of a whole are "blowing out" away from the design -- like in Hurwitz & Assoc in the consulting portfolio on this site.

https://logotournament.com/contests/adverryting

I also have a thing for trees. Like on this site:

http://www.singlemommyhood.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tree_illustration-final-09.jpg

and

http://www.jodymichael.com

and

http://rlv.zcache.com/chery_tree_illustration_tshirt-p235141624640808289q9q3_400.jpg

I went through the LogoTournament portfolio under consulting, and I really like the following:

Addison Taylor Floral Design

Sergio Urribarri

Aspire! Empower!

White Space Learning

Simplified Immigration

AdverRyting

Persch Consulting

The Breakthrough Consortium

multibrain -- local Social Media Pros

inner economics (LOVE the tree)

Hurwitz & Associates -- Insight to Action

I love the combination of script / block fonts in these:

https://logotournament.com/contests/woodinville_lavender

https://logotournament.com/contests/hotel_sidekick (the winner)

https://logotournament.com/contests/simplified_immigration

#9 is wonderful. Can I see Matthews in a more formal, Edwardian font? I don't necessarily want Edwardian (actually, I like something closer to Zapfino). I'd like to see more of a flourish.

Love the tree, too.

Re: fonts, I went to myfonts.com and found a few that might demonstrate what I'm thinking. I don't want to use Zapfino like in #16 b/c I think it's pretty overdone, but I definitely want something more elegant and formal than the sample font in #15.

I don't expect anyone to purchase a font ... this list is here simply to demonstrate as concretely as I can what I prefer.

On myfonts.com, I liked:

Script:
ellida
mr leopolde
elisara
lisa fiore
affair
intima


and for the other font, I loved
Carlton
Goldenbook
Shango

I have gotten some feedback from friends who are discouraging the tree. I like it personally, but several people have said that the tree theme is too disconnected from the mission of the business.

I cited in other comments that I like the blowout effect I've seen in other logos. It is probably more similar to my theme -- which is growing businesses through developing online reputation and credibility. This presents a bit of a problem -- I want to illustrate out-of-the-box thinking while maintaining a tasteful, elegant persona.

#15 and #16 are interesting ... however, my immediate thought was that the tree is crooked -- definitely not the word I want coming to mind for a prospective client. I was also thinking more along the lines of a tree the shape of a willow or chestnut -- if it's not round, I'd rather have it be wide than tall. However, that might be moot, since so many people have discouraged the tree.

#20 -- I personally find this attractive, but it is a bit too modern for my business. It drew my mind to cinematic thoughts. Most of my work, however, is writing. (That said, I *definitely* don't want any pen and paper logos.)

I should mention that if we need to dump the word "the" from the logo, that is fine.

#18 Garnett, if I were to keep going w/ the tree theme, could I see the tree without the ring around it? or, with a narrower ring?

#21 is great. A few things: (a) We need to pick a more elegant font. The one you chose is close, though. Also, I think I'd prefer all the text to be the same color (in this case, grey or gold).

Will be back soon with a better font.
Thanks! :)

Fabulous. I will see if I can find a free font for you to try. The ones here are too old-lady-ish.

By old lady-ish, I mean too formal. I want something a little prettier, with more flourish (which admittedly might be the wrong word).

I wonder why designers withdraw their concepts. So many of the withdrawn entries were favourites of friends & colleagues.

Wow, what a weird turn of events. I am kind of bummed b/c I really liked the tree that we had going.

Now the old tree that has since been removed had that "blowout" effect that I was going for. If anyone wants a sample of what I mean by blow-out, let me know and I'll post more examples. There a a couple of examples in the brief and the comments above.

I also think I need to lay my fondness for "fun" fonts aside and find a font that is elegant, somewhat formal, and has a flourish.

#36 is cool ... can we flesh out the tree a bit and try for the blow-out thing? I know there's a better name for that ... someone educate me, please!

I'm looking for a font similar to Zapfino.

#38 is striking. Again, though, I am hunting for a certain font. Something like Precious or Eutemia on
fontspace.com

Thanks, everyone, for the entries. I'm thrilled w/ the results ... it is actually hard for me to rank them b/c I like quite a few very much!

Would anyone be willing to forget the tree and post a wordform or letterform mark?

Thank you all!

#41 is pretty! I really liked the idea of the pieces of paper as leaves, since most of my work is writing. Would setting the font of "matthews" to script be too busy? You can omit the "the" if you wish. Also, the I would set the font to a shade of grey vs. black, but that is a small, inconsequential detail. Thank you!

#36, #39, #43 -- I have found a few free fonts that I really like:

http://www.fonts.ro/font/MA_Sexy

http://www.fonts.ro/font/lemon_chicken

http://www.fonts.ro/font/Linotype_Zapfino_Three (I didn't realize there was more than one Zapfino. Like 3 more than 1, for sure.)

http://www.fonts.ro/font/annabellejf

Hope I don't sound like a cliche, but Scriptina is also very pretty.