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

miso2 said:
I would have a simplified wolf or just the face on the left and have "VALDYR" in alphabet on the right, assuming that it is your maker's name (like "Valdyr knives").
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I'm leaning more towards something like this, the more I think. I sure did like the bindrune idea though. Perhaps something subtly incorporated into the wolf's face. I swear, its easier to come up with solid knife designs than logos it seems...
 
Hey W. It looks like you're getting a lot of constructive criticism here and I admire the way that you have taken it all in stride without getting defensive. Personally, I understand what you're trying to do but I'm just not digging it. That being said, this is your product, your idea, your business model, and your marketing plan. It sounds like you understand that this is not going to have mass appeal. So you need to do what you think is best. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you "retire" that logo. Companies re-brand themselves all the time. I wish you all the best.

amibri
 
Valdyr is an excellent name. You do not necessarily need a logo, just write Valdyr on the blade. But if you want a logo, I think a wolf is good because it explains the meaning of the Valdyr.
 
Kudos for researching market reaction.

Not identical, but some aspects of the design kind of makes me think of the NXIVM group that was branding women.

I have a rarely applied advertising art degree. My recommendations on logos is to keep it simple. Really simple. Memorable and repeatable.
One art director once shared, "Good design does not require explaining." (Hidden cleverness is perfectly OK)

If it were on a webpage filled with other manufacturers' logos, does it stand out or get lost?
Consider how it transfers to other forms of marketing, such as embroidered shirts and hats and whether it will be practical and cost effective.
Is it going to be too complex for an embroider to repeat? Are you going to have disagreements with them on accuracy?
Either have something really brilliant like the arrow in the FedEx logo or distill it down to the first initial and maybe some text.

If all of your blades are going to have that design, then there is merit in keeping a simplified logo with that theme. Perhaps a single V shape, but maybe tapering to one end like a Nike swoosh to imply a cutting motion. Think of it as two logos in one, the V and a subliminal check mark. Or widest at the center and tapering to the tips/ends/
 
Complications in a watch are greatly desired, but in a logo, not so much. Aim for something that is easily identifiable to the average person, that they can draw from memory.

Interestingly enough (without getting into religious debate), the Cristian cross is one of the best logos of all time, and possibly the most well known. At it's purest form, it is simply two perpendicular lines that intersect. Beyond the teachings of the church, the symbol itself is one of the major factors in the religions spread across the globe. It was easily scratched into stone, carved into wood, sewn into clothing, or painted on items by practitioners, and easily recognized by passers by. A Christian could walk through any city in the western world during the middle ages, simply look to the rooftops and find a church in moments. A pilgrim only had to look at the shield of advancing soldiers in the Middle East to know if they were friend or foe, without having to determine what the various colors and flags carried by an various army represented - if there was a cross displayed somewhere, they were assured of relative safety.

While you're not spreading gospel (as far as I know...LOL), the cross is the gold standard for logo's. Clean, simple, and easily identifiable. Sure it has deep symbolism tied to it, but from a design/marketing standpoint, the symbolism is secondary. It falls right in line with the Nike Swoosh, Apple's Apple, or McDonald's Golden Arches - all of which are easily recognized be even the average 8 year old.

You're obviously not going to have the instant brand recognition that these have. You're playing to a much smaller audience, and haven't even made a name in that field yet. But you can learn from them. A simple stylized element like a wolf's head, the V, or such, incorporated into the name, or placed beside it, can be used to great effect. And you can take that element out, and used it as an individual 'bug' to reinforce recognition.

Good examples of this include:

Amazon, who often uses the 'arrow-smile' by itself
Amazon-logo.jpg


Good Year with the winged shoe
good_year.png


Or Calvin Kline, where sometimes just the C and K are used (but always in the same font)
ck-logo-250x250.png






I know this became a bit of a dissertation (even more than I intended), but I deal with logos in one form or another everyday when I go to work. And I see a ton of really bad ones cross my desk, that stand out like a clown nose on otherwise great design. It kills me and my colleagues here in the design department to drop them on top of something we've worked long and hard to make look good otherwise. So anytime I can help steer someone in the right direction, whether I'm creating the logo or not, I do what I can.

Edited for content
 
jaseman said:
Complications in a watch are greatly desired, but in a logo, not so much. Aim for something that is easily identifiable to the average person, that they can draw from memory.

Interestingly enough (without getting into religious debate), the Cristian cross is one of the best logos of all time, and possibly the most well known. At it's purest form, it is simply two perpendicular lines that intersect. Beyond the teachings of the church, the symbol itself is one of the major factors in the religions spread across the globe. It was easily scratched into stone, carved into wood, sewn into clothing, or painted on items by practitioners, and easily recognized by passers by. A Christian could walk through any city in the western world during the middle ages, simply look to the rooftops and find a church in moments. A pilgrim only had to look at the shield of advancing soldiers in the Middle East to know if they were friend or foe, without having to determine what the various colors and flags carried by an various army represented - if there was a cross displayed somewhere, they were assured of relative safety.

While you're not spreading gospel (as far as I know...LOL), the cross is the gold standard for logo's. Clean, simple, and easily identifiable. Sure it has deep symbolism tied to it, but from a design/marketing standpoint, the symbolism is secondary. It falls right in line with the Nike Swoosh, Apple's Apple, or McDonald's Golden Arches - all of which are easily recognized be even the average 8 year old.

You're obviously not going to have the instant brand recognition that these have. You're playing to a much smaller audience, and haven't even made a name in that field yet. But you can learn from them. A simple stylized element like a wolf's head, the V, or such, incorporated into the name, or placed beside it, can be used to great effect. And you can take that element out, and used it as an individual 'bug' to reinforce recognition.

Good examples of this include:

Amazon, who often uses the 'arrow-smile' by itself
Amazon-logo.jpg


Good Year with the winged shoe
good_year.png


Or Calvin Kline, where sometimes just the C and K are used (but always in the same font)
ck-logo-250x250.png






I know this became a bit of a dissertation (even more than I intended), but I deal with logos in one form or another everyday when I go to work. And I see a ton of really bad ones cross my desk, that stand out like a clown nose on otherwise great design. It kills me and my colleagues here in the design department to drop them on top of something we've worked long and hard to make look good otherwise. So anytime I can help steer someone in the right direction, whether I'm creating the logo or not, I do what I can.

Edited for content
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I am beginning to understand. I should have something simple and workable tomorrow
 
A lot of excellent advice is being given here. And from a marketing standpoint, I don't have anything better to add.

Personally, I like logos/names that are concise, simple, and even if it isn't instantly identifiable, that it still has a way of catching the eye and imprinting itself upon one's memory.

I love runes. I use them frequently in my leather work. However, there are many different styles of runes, even within Nordic history and cultures. They are very easy to mess up and they will often spark debates from folks who might challenge your use of them, even if you are using them appropriately. So, you risk muddying the waters further by mixing them up in a conceptual design.

Regardless, I will be curious of your chosen design and I certainly wish you the best of success in your venture.
 
I like it.
The only complaint I have is that I would not know how to read the word (like which direction) without prior knowledge.

I am no machinist and not sure if it may be too fine and complicated for etching.
 
W. Anderson said:
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
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I see the WA3 clearly now but like the man said ( if you reduce it to fit on a blade it could turn into a blob ). I like it, it looks tribal yet modern:thumbsup:
 
W. Anderson said:
A different direction: Criticize please.
val.jpg
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While not to my personal taste, this is a much better direction. It just has too many styles competing together. It needs a cohesiveness of design to tie everything in.

The hexagon outline is very straight, bold and geometric. The wolf's head has a very Germanic stylization to it. And the runic forms have almost a caligraphoc quality with the semi-serifes on them. They don't all mesh together.

Also, I agree with the fact that it's not obvious what letter the name starts with.

Overall, this is something that could be realistically be refined to a good logo, if it's a direction you like.
 
W. Anderson said:
A different direction: Criticize please.
val.jpg
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d0afa98a92249538e0029621152ad593.jpg


I was headed that direction before seeing the quoted post. Maybe even simpler, do a stylized V inside a sort of stone-ish frame like the runes in this image. Like #14 turned on it's side. Then just write the Valdyr on the Ricasso. Much like Spyderco does.

This way you'd have a nice, simple makers mark AND it would be easy for folks to figure out it's a Valdyr knife.
 
Sorry, I don't like the second one.
It looks more like a Doberman than a wolf.

Maybe you can remove some hair and teeth to simplify the wolf head.
And move all letters to the bottom with "V" moved to where "Y" was, such that "VALDYR" will be more obvious.

Logo3.jpg


I guess this reduces the necessity of the hexagon, though.
 
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