Which logo is the best? - 7 new designs! [Archive]

JamesFoote

Oct 5, 2008, 07:14 PM

OK, this is the second poll I've had to make, but I think that the 7 new designs (10 total) I have just made open up the possibilities a little bit. Also I might as well let you know that the app shows lets you view and share App Store news, reviews and rumors in advanced ways.

1.http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5909/picture1bz7.png (http://imageshack.us)

2.http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1421/picture2vq2.png (http://imageshack.us)

3.http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4924/picture3ku2.png (http://imageshack.us)

4.http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/9434/picture1at4.png (http://imageshack.us)

5.http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/907/picture2bu8.png (http://imageshack.us)

6.http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4531/picture3dl1.png (http://imageshack.us)

7.http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6357/picture4oo4.png (http://imageshack.us)

8.http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2312/picture5rj6.png (http://imageshack.us)

9.http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4546/picture6ul2.png (http://imageshack.us)

10.http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8187/picture7ds3.png (http://imageshack.us)

(PS: they all look better blown up!)

admanimal

Oct 5, 2008, 07:28 PM

None of these icons give me any clue as to what the app actually does, which is never a good sign. Trying to put a screenshot of the app on its icon is also a big mistake, IMO.

Niiro13

Oct 5, 2008, 07:44 PM

None of these icons give me any clue as to what the app actually does, which is never a good sign. Trying to put a screenshot of the app on its icon is also a big mistake, IMO.

You didn't see #4 and #5 where it says "App Reviews"?

Anyway, to be honest, I don't really like any of the icons.

I might consider #6 if you removed the shine (UIPrerenderedIcon).

admanimal

Oct 5, 2008, 07:50 PM

You didn't see #4 and #5 where it says "App Reviews"?

I saw that it said something, but didn't squint to see what. Like I said, none of these icons gives me any clear idea as to what the app actually does.

firewood

Oct 5, 2008, 08:00 PM

You need to find an artist who can come up with really clever symbology for "app" (not phone) and reviewing, if that's the function you're trying to convey to a user or buyer.

None of the icons above seems much better than something random, at first glance.

Rojo

Oct 5, 2008, 08:28 PM

I hate to say it, but these are some of the worst icons I've seen....and I've seen some baaaaaaaaad ones in the App Store.

Just hire a graphic designer to design the app for you. I would ignore an app that had an icon that looked like any of these, because I would assume it's not a very good app. Having a well-designed app will mean MORE downloads, which will pay for the cost of hiring a designer.

apfhex

Oct 5, 2008, 09:17 PM

Like others, I'm not a fan of any of the designs shown, and might not want an icon like that on my iPhone's screen. :/

You need to find an artist who can come up with really clever symbology for "app" (not phone) and reviewing, if that's the function you're trying to convey to a user or buyer.
How about the generic OS X application symbol (the brush, pencil, and ruler), with 5 stars below it? Some of the stars could be hollow/outlined to convey, for example, a 3 star rating. A simple, pixel-perfect execution of an idea like that would work really well IMO. Anyway, someone skilled at making icons would probably be who you should seek out.

mobilehaathi

Oct 5, 2008, 09:20 PM

Honestly, I'm not feelin' any of them.

mickbab

Oct 5, 2008, 09:23 PM

How about the generic OS X application symbol (the brush, pencil, and ruler), with 5 stars below it? Some of the stars could be hollow/outlined to convey, for example, a 3 star rating.

Nice idea, i was thinking of the app symbol before.

Watabou

Oct 5, 2008, 09:58 PM

Honestly, I'm not feelin' any of them.

Me neither.

Alphanumeric

Oct 5, 2008, 10:32 PM

The website is scarier than the icons...

Jonnyfive

Oct 5, 2008, 10:33 PM

My vote is on number 6!

OneMike

Oct 5, 2008, 11:17 PM

Seems like I'm with the majority picking #7.

However, to be honest it was more picking which I dislike the least then which I like the most.

Amt

Oct 5, 2008, 11:49 PM

I kind of like the second one the best. =|

nakile

Oct 5, 2008, 11:53 PM

Yeah, they're all kind of bad.

I have an idea, though. I think that an icon based off that dialog box icon in the original Mac OS might be neat:

http://i35.tinypic.com/348hc9j.png

But instead of random gibberish in the speech bubble you might be able to put the app store logo or something to that effect.

razorianfly

Oct 6, 2008, 03:19 AM

Sometimes, I think when people are designing logos, they get lost in the fact of portraying everything the application does.
Fortunately, you don't have to. That's what your iTunes app description is for.

What you want is a globally recognised logo which symbolizes you and your application only.

The key to achieving this is simple. Complement colours, use fairly unique fonts, make stand out what you want to stand out, and most importantly, keep things simple.
Being in logo design for at least 3 years as a freelancer, I can't tell you the amount of stuff I have learnt just by watching other people and their experiences.

Below is a watermarked example of an icon I think your looking for.
I based it off the original design of our current web clip icon, and I think it turned out pretty trippy.

See what you think ;)

R-Fly

spooky2k

Oct 6, 2008, 04:48 AM

razorianfly

Oct 6, 2008, 05:11 AM

I love the fact that people help so much on this forum. However, has anyone heard of the saying 'too many cooks spoil the broth'?
This is what is happening here.

THe icons suggested are good ones, a lot better than the originals in this thread. The one I'd go for? Application symbol with the 3 stars filled and two outlined. That says 'app ratings', which is easily linked with app reviews. That's the best suggestion so far.

An icon needs to be:
-Simple
-Descriptive
-Eye catching

Do those 3 things and you're not far off a perfect icon for your program.

Your absolutely correct in everything your saying, and your suggestion is a great one.

While the above poster has given good advice, the silver icon with 'A' is as pointless as me putting a cat on an icon and giving it to you.

The application icon created above was a draft, and was not meant in any way to represent any final means of logo for 'Apper Reviews'.
I simply aimed to show that an application icon or logo should be simple, and effective - without the clutter.

R-Fly

PhoneyDeveloper

Oct 6, 2008, 07:34 AM

An icon needs to be:
-Simple
-Descriptive
-Eye catching

I'm going to agree on simple and eye-catching. I think you're kidding yourself if you believe that you can describe what an app does with an icon. There should be some tie-in with the icon image and the app but memorable is more important than descriptive. If the tie-in isn't that obvious I don't think it matters.

I downloaded the source for WordPress. Their icon is a big 'W'. Descriptive? Don't think so. Memorable? I think I can remember which app goes with the big W.

Complicated icons with lots of little parts that explain what the app does wouldn't be as good as a big W.

BTW, same with names of apps. Ever heard of Excel, Powerpoint? Not descriptive. Memorable.

mcdj

Oct 6, 2008, 09:58 AM

I think you're kidding yourself if you believe that you can describe what an app does with an icon.

Don't tell that to Apple.

http://rknydesign.com/osx.PNG

To the OP. You are dealing with a square format for an iPhone icon. But you keep trying to make the (vertical) iPhone the focus of the icon. Stop. The sides of your current icon designs are superflous colors that neither help describe the app or make the icon visually memorable. Icon real estate is precious. Use the entire square area. Don't limit yourself by trying to represent the iPhone. Your customers already know it's an iPhone application.

I'm also not sure Apple would let you nick their Apps icon for your own app. Maybe they allow it for the iPhone, but they tend not to lend out their icons.
What about something simple...? (ps the name I've given this icon might make a decent catchy name for your app.)

http://rknydesign.com/Astar.PNG

Rojo

Oct 6, 2008, 10:32 AM

http://rknydesign.com/Astar.PNG

I like this one a lot!
The only thing I might change is the "A"'s reflection. With the stars on top of it, it has a bit of a cluttered look there, when the rest of it is so clean. I'd say get rid of it, or maybe move the stars...?

grimjim

Oct 6, 2008, 10:37 AM

Actually, the point's moot, because Apple won't let you use any of them, as they all have a picture of an iPhone on them. It's one of Apple's guideline's that you may not have an icon that depicts Apple products or logos. I forgot that when I submitted my app, and Apple were, shall we say, kind enough to remind me... :D

mcdj

Oct 6, 2008, 10:58 AM

With the stars on top of it, it has a bit of a cluttered look there, when the rest of it is so clean.

Don't forget, you're seeing it at over 200%. At 60x60, you barely see the reflection.

http://rknydesign.com/astar60.PNG

opeter

Oct 6, 2008, 11:14 AM

OMG, the "icons" in OP's post are very ugly... :eek:

However, i like mcdj's icon. Nice, simple, slick and effective.

Tilpots

Oct 6, 2008, 11:22 AM

http://rknydesign.com/Astar.PNG

I like this one a lot, but I think instead of just the "A", you might just write out "App Review" to make it really tell what the App is all about. Love the stars, too.

To the OP, your designs really don't tell the story. Make it obvious. All the design in the world is useless without the function, and in your case, the function is to clearly let the user know what this app is.

mcdj

Oct 6, 2008, 11:24 AM

instead of just the "A", you might just write out "App Review" to make it really tell what the App is all about.

Do you own an iPhone?
The name of an app already sits below the icon.

Tilpots

Oct 6, 2008, 11:28 AM

Do you own an iPhone?
The name of an app already sits below the icon.

Nope. But I've seen a ton of apps that spell out in their graphic what the app is. The stand alone A means nothing except a vague reference to apple's brush, pencil, and ruler, right?

mcdj

Oct 6, 2008, 11:47 AM

Nope. But I've seen a ton of apps that spell out in their graphic what the app is.

Yep, and it's one of my pet peeves (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=545139) about app store icons. It's generally redundant and shows that the icon designer lacks imagination.

The stand alone A means nothing except a vague reference to apple's brush, pencil, and ruler, right?

A is for Apps.

Tilpots

Oct 6, 2008, 12:04 PM

Yep, and it's one of my pet peeves (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=545139) about app store icons. It's generally redundant and shows that the icon designer lacks imagination.

I read your thread and I understand what bothers you, but I think it's a personal preference more than a law of design.

A is for Apps.

You and I know that from reading this thread, but a first time casual observer won't have the foggiest.

Like I said earlier, I like you're design for the most part, it's just my opinion. I think the OP might really get upset when he finds arn just one upped his idea with Appshopper (http://appshopper.com/).:)

PhoneyDeveloper

Oct 6, 2008, 01:10 PM

I think you're kidding yourself if you believe that you can describe what an app does with an icon.

Don't tell that to Apple.

Many of the references are obscure, but not non-existent. How about the Safari compass? The gears of Settings? The face on the Finder? A hammer and blueprints?

The Photoshop and Adobe reader icons are not descriptive.

I'm not saying that being descriptive is impossible or should be avoided. I just don't think it's the most important thing. Most of the time you can only get the reference to what the icon is describing after you know what the app does. It's not really a discoverable feature.

Maybe different people are different about this. I never paid attention to the meaning of the Safari compass before this minute. I guess there is a kind of descriptive meaning there but it never impinged on my consciousness for the past nine years. It still served its function of helping me to find that app among other app icons though.

A number of the apple app icons are basically screen-shots of the app. Terminal, Console, Spaces, Activity Monitor. You only get the reference after you've seen the app.

Donz0r

Oct 6, 2008, 05:59 PM

I can see you spent a lot of time designing all of these, but honestly they are all ugly. I'm sorry, but I think you're going in the wrong direction.
Look at apple's "remote" app picture, or any other popular app pic
Why have a picture of an iPhone in an app icon?!?! The one with the A and the stars that someone posted is Lightyears better than the 10 listed. You should go the simple and effective route.
all of those icons will look even worse when they're scaled down to the actual iPhone icon size, it'll just look like a little block of garbage