Thoughts on logos and maker's marks (Criticism needed)

W. Anderson said:
This was my main concern. I'm a visual artist firstmostly and tend to get carried away.
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A complex logo can look great, but it still needs to be recognizable. By uncle was a system maker out of CA. He used to use just his name. As time went on, he worked on a more complex design. But still included his name with the logo. Think Loveless reposing lady, super recognizable, but you still see the name. The Scagle mark and name, Randal Scimitar and Randal name, etc, etc

So the logo works, with the actual name included....
Or just the name and a symbol of a wolf, etc.

Here is my uncle's logo. Hornby with rams horns behind it. Recognizable and when you look at the name, you can still read it.
rJTN8QD.jpg

7LaRlDL.jpg
 
If you have to explain what it says, it's a fail.

You could use a decorative initial letter and spell out the rest of the name in a less decorative font. That'd give it style and still get the name out there.
Or you could use your graphic on one side and spell out the company name on the other.

As for the graphic. I think it is busy and that it won't reduce well. Once small it'll probably plug up and turn into a blob of sorts.
Etches and stamps aren't as sharp as a laser copy or view on a monitor.... especially when reduced to fit a blade.

I've been doing this stuff since the mid 70s and logo design is about as difficult to get right as anything.
I go by
Less is more. More or less.
:)
 
Ebbtide said:
If you have to explain what it says, it's a fail.

You could use a decorative initial letter and spell out the rest of the name in a less decorative font. That'd give it style and still get the name out there.
Or you could use your graphic on one side and spell out the company name on the other.

As for the graphic. I think it is busy and that it won't reduce well. Once small it'll probably plug up and turn into a blob of sorts.
Etches and stamps aren't as sharp as a laser copy or view on a monitor.... especially when reduced to fit a blade.

I've been doing this stuff since the mid 70s and logo design is about as difficult to get right as anything.
I go by
Less is more. More or less.
:)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice! I was also considering having it laser engraved. I'm always tweaking and redesigning stuff (I make band logos as well) and I'm sure, with advice
, I'll get it were it needs to be. You gotta admit though, the original design is cool in a cryptic way.
 
As a designer, quite frankly, the logo doesn’t work. I say that, not to be mean or brash, but starkly honest. If I client came to me with it, I’d highly recommend it be redesigned from scratch before moving forward.

From a business and design standpoint, a logo (especially one for a new business) needs to be instantly recognizable, and easily identified to the viewer. Remember, you may be making knives, but you’re building a brand.

Think of the most recognizable logos out there. Even if they are a bit abstract, they are simple and clean - Nike’s swoosh, Apples’s apple, Pepsi’s globe, or Chevy’s bow tie. Even if you didn’t know the names, you’d be able to recognize the mark if you say it, and easily draw or explain it to someone.

The wolf’s head is a good idea (you could even give it a bit of Nordic influence if you wanted). If someone didn’t know your brand, they would at least be able to quickly identify the logo a second time (if done right).

Feel Fritos PM me if you want some help.
 
I
jaseman said:
As a designer, quite frankly, the logo doesn’t work. I say that, not to be mean or brash, but starkly honest. If I client came to me with it, I’d highly recommend it be redesigned from scratch before moving forward.

From a business and design standpoint, a logo (especially one for a new business) needs to be instantly recognizable, and easily identified to the viewer. Remember, you may be making knives, but you’re building a brand.

Think of the most recognizable logos out there. Even if they are a bit abstract, they are simple and clean - Nike’s swoosh, Apples’s apple, Pepsi’s globe, or Chevy’s bow tie. Even if you didn’t know the names, you’d be able to recognize the mark if you say it, and easily draw or explain it to someone.

The wolf’s head is a good idea (you could even give it a bit of Nordic influence if you wanted). If someone didn’t know your brand, they would at least be able to quickly identify the logo a second time (if done right).

Feel Fritos PM me if you want some help.
Click to expand...
I'd like to pick your brain a bit, I'll be in touch. Thanks for the insight.
 
Something to consider. The blade shape of each my designs is based on the same geometry, of which I have yet to see in cutlery. Wouldnt that be something memorable?
 
@W.Anderson no problem.

PM me and I'll give you an email address. May not get back to you right away, but I'm glad to give you any insights or direction. We could even work out some sort of deal if needed on design work.
 
This is an early iteration of what my eventual mark would be. It is my initials, W.A.3. How would this stack up aesthetically?
WASigil.jpg
 
I don't see the W at all (I know where you have it, it just doesn't read)

Using the top of the 3 as the middle of the W closes the top off, and actually makes it read as a B instead of a 3

If this is a style you like and are going for, I would personally recommend moving the W to the left of the A ago it reads as WA3 - the W and A could share the common element.

Some thoughts... use the WA as a graphic element, but let the three be a more traditional seriffed or cursive numeral. Use the 3 as a Roman numeral. Drop the 3 lower than the WA.

If I may recommend it, get away from the graph paper (assuming you're still using it) as it tends to box you in, both figuratively and literally. Get a pencil and some blank paper, and just start freehanding ideas out. I'll sometimes run through 40 or 50 thumbnails before hitting on the right look, then I refine from there.
 
I liked the first one better.
I was playing with it and thought it kinda looks like a wolf howling.
Maybe you can make it look more like a wolf?

Wolf_logo.jpg


Edit: The image on the right was taken from the Internet and not my possession.
 
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  • I am a big fan of runes, and I like the runic appearance of your logo, but it is too complicated. Make it simpler. My own logo is J, S, and P -runes. It is not smart, but it is simple.
 
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