Quick Logo....

[mocman]

Me and my wife own a pet grooming business called " The Pink Poodle " Grooming Parlor. I need a logo for cards and stickers and might add some sort of poodle. Just need to know if I am heading in the right direction...Thanks

[macworkerbee]

Ok, I see what you're trying to do, I don't know if I necessarily like the idea but I get it. To be better from a technical standpoint try increasing the size of the smaller letters. When that logo gets shrunk down to go on a business card, it will be very difficult to read.

Good luck and feel free to post any revisions for comment.

[ChicoWeb]

Sometimes being too creative, can loose the value in the logo. Keep it to basics. It took me a few to put it together to understand. Not to mention like the poster above me said, bad idea when it has to be shrunk.

Just messin around.

[iJesus]

You'll probably figure it out; but, here's what I'm thinking:
(I actually do think you already have a good idea though)

EDIT: "Poodle" is a strange word once I think about it.

[shamrock593]

Maybe something relating to the grooming bit:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/7879/logomacrumorsiz8.jpg

[mocman]

I really appreciate the feedback so keep them coming. Shamrock and Chicoweb I also like your direction. I really need all the help that I can get. Here is another with a poodle.

[MacBoobsPro]

Just messin around.

This is the first thing I saw in my head when at looked at the original. If you look closely it looks like the snout of a dog.
:)

[ntrigue]

No offense to the OP, but a poor logo deteriorated into an awful logo. I particularily enjoy the one with bubbles for the 'o'.

[liketom]

yep i agree - i've PM the Bubble poster a favour :cool:

l

[mocman]

another with paws

another

[liketom]

your font is too heavy - the original one with bubbles looks nice a slim line very stylistic

[LeviG]

Just messin around.

that double 'p' looks very very familiar to me but I can't think what its from to me.

[mocman]

and another

[likeavaliant]

no offense, but these logos of yours arent getting any better.

maybe you could stick to grooming dogs, and pay someone that knows what they're doing to make a logo for you? there have been a few great options thrown out at you that caught my attention. you could start there.

shamrock's bubble logo is quite eye catching, btw.

[klymr]

your font is too heavy....

Heavier logos, meaning more visual weight, tend to be remembered more. Thinner font lines aren't always better. Personally, I'd step away from the logotype mark approach and move towards a pictoral mark with a simple signature line.

[mocman]

likeavaliant no offense taken, just knew someone like yourself was just waiting to bash someone for trying something ourselves. Why do you think I posted it on here? Maybe for some direction which I appreciate........I do not claim to be a logo designer.......

[anim8or]

Why not combine Chicoweb's logo with the idea from shamrock593 and make the 'P' into pink scissors....

I would mock it up but im in the middle of working on a website! :o

[LeviG]

likeavaliant no offense taken, just knew someone like yourself was just waiting to bash someone for trying something ourselves. Why do you think I posted it on here? Maybe for some direction which I appreciate........I do not claim to be a logo designer.......

You've got to understand that people on here often do this for a living and as such we offer advice for free (it's not normally). I kind of agree with him in that you haven't really improved with the designs that you've produced so far. We also see a lot of people who try to do a logo themselves and 9 times out of 10 it turns out rubbish because to put it bluntly making a logo is a lot harder than a few clip art images and some text or having photoshop, hence the reason why designers get paid to do the work.

Now have you actually taken any of the designs suggested into consideration, are you designing in black and white first (pink is not a good colour to start with when doing initial mockups - colour comes later). Have you got an overall company image that you adhere to, do you need to have the full name in the logo etc. There are so many things that need to be taken into consideration when doing a logo as this is usually the core of the corporate identity and has to say a lot about the business.

Now as a quick idea which came to me while I was typing this -
a (typical description) poodle is basically a head, 2 fluffy fur ball bits around the leg to body joints, legs and a tail. You could do a stylised poodle using the 2 'p's to represent the fluff ball bits with the legs and add in an outline + head and tail 'outlines'.

Images for reference to design below and note this is not by any means a finished idea but more to show what I'm trying to describe.

[JasonElise1983]

as someone who does a lot of logos, here is my advice. (well, my real advice would be to hire someone, but you apparently don't think that a good, well designed logo is a good investment in your company, so i'll move on from that)

the name "The Pink Poodle" is a very literal word describing a dog. Everyone will get that, so i would stay away from other dog references in the logo. Focus on what your company actually does, and if you can, focus on what makes your company different. Think of things that represent grooming. Are you hi-end grooming? are you reliable and or fast? Do you use some special soap, shampoo, grooming technique? Figure out what you ACTUALLY do, and then design a logo around that idea. That doesn't mean be literal about it, it's ok to be abstract. Also, start with a pencil and a peice of paper. Get some ideas, if you can't draw, that doesn't matter. Atleast throw down ideas, phrases, quick, dirty, raw sketches. Put everything down that comes to mind. Then figure out what it all means, and design a logo.

Now, a marketing breif, company profile and some real skill would help you a WHOLE lot, but i don't know enough to know if you have any of that, so...good luck!

-je

[klymr]

as someone who does a lot of logos, here is my advice. (well, my real advice would be to hire someone, but you apparently don't think that a good, well designed logo is a good investment in your company, so i'll move on from that)

the name "The Pink Poodle" is a very literal word describing a dog. Everyone will get that, so i would stay away from other dog references in the logo. Focus on what your company actually does, and if you can, focus on what makes your company different. Think of things that represent grooming. Are you hi-end grooming? are you reliable and or fast? Do you use some special soap, shampoo, grooming technique? Figure out what you ACTUALLY do, and then design a logo around that idea. That doesn't mean be literal about it, it's ok to be abstract. Also, start with a pencil and a peice of paper. Get some ideas, if you can't draw, that doesn't matter. Atleast throw down ideas, phrases, quick, dirty, raw sketches. Put everything down that comes to mind. Then figure out what it all means, and design a logo.

Now, a marketing breif, company profile and some real skill would help you a WHOLE lot, but i don't know enough to know if you have any of that, so...good luck!

-je

Some of the best advice so far. My little tidbits...

• Make a list of all things about your business as was already suggested. What makes you unique? What are some adjectives that best describe your work? Sophisticated, elegant, stately, quick, sleek? Think of a bunch that describe who your are and then try to figure out how to portray those visually. Make a positioning statement of what your business is all about, who your target audience is, your mission statement or purpose, etc. How can you show ALL of this visually? Figure that out in beginning.

• PENCIL AND PAPER! Draw a very quick, rough sketch of every idea that runs through your brain. As my professor said yesterday, sometimes you have to give birth to all the ideas in your head, good and bad. Take the bad ones and toss them out. Just unload EVERYTHING. Once you get some good material, draw a nice detailed version with pencil and paper. Take it to a scanner after that and then produce it on the computer.

• Remember, everything is made of points, lines, and planes. Some of the better logos are made of more solid planes. Think of the Apple, John Deere or old Cingular logo for examples. Again, more visual weight helps you to remember the logo better. Not always neccessary, but it's a big help in standing out.

• Sometimes the more simple logos are the more powerful ones. It doesn't need to be complex. Just needs to get the message across as quickly as possible.

Those are a few quick suggestions I have. I don't have a lot of expirence in logo design, but I'm being taught by someone who has decades in the business with projects around the globe. Good luck, and keep up the effort!

[Eric5h5]

Also, you really want to make sure you have some kind of handle on grammar. If you're going to use that slogan, make it "Grooming at its best".

--Eric

[mocman]

still working.......

[ezekielrage_99]

This is the first thing I saw in my head when at looked at the original. If you look closely it looks like the snout of a dog.
:)

I was thinking it looked a little more like something else... Sorry my mind is still in the gutter after that bucks night a few nights ago...

[JasonElise1983]

still working.......

don't use real photography in a logo. it's bad practice and not needed. I get the impression you aren't listening to anyones advice, which is frustrating since you are asking for it. Go back and read what EVERYONE has said. there is some good advice in there. But since you posted it, i'll critique it

I'm ignoring the dog, because it's stupid. You need a more sophisticated font. You need a better pink color—go richer or more pastel. Not so RGB intense/cheap looking. The bubbles are too blue... It's just not a good mix with the pink. Try a lighter blue and maybe lean more towards a light blue/green. The bubbles also need work, but this could be worked out with your font. I don't like the fact that the bubble that is replacing an "o" is a perfect circle and your "o" is clearly not a circle. It doesn't read or flow properly. Now, you're tagline also needs some work in my opinion. It really sounds like something you spent 5 minutes talking to your 4-year old about, and that's what y'all came up with. "Grooming at its best." really doesn't say anything to me, other than: "this is another generic dog grooming place that is attempting to tell me that they are better by using this boring phrase".

ok, there you go. and just for some reference. I've been a paid graphic designer/art director for 8 years. I've personally branded numerous companies from small mom-and-pop shops to multi-billion dollar companies. I'm not saying this to sound like a pretentious A*$, but just trying to qualify my suggestions. I just don't feel like you are taking this seriously. Designers go to school and work hard for a long time to be able to do what we do. It's not easy, and it's not always fun, but we work hard at it because bad design can be detrimental to a company. Especially a competitive field like dog grooming. people need a reason to come to you, and an ugly logo with a cute dog in it is not a reason.

-je

[mocman]

Thanks Jason for the advice. Right now I am not worried to much with color as I am with the actual logo itself. I really want to nail it first then worry about colors. The slogan I put under the pink poodle will not stay but that is just something to check the layout as "grooming parlor" might be there.
As far as not listening I am but maybe not understanding all the way. I posted it on here as everyone else just seeing what will work.

[klymr]

Thanks Jason for the advice. Right now I am not worried to much with color as I am with the actual logo itself. I really want to nail it first then worry about colors. The slogan I put under the pink poodle will not stay but that is just something to check the layout as "grooming parlor" might be there.
As far as not listening I am but maybe not understanding all the way. I posted it on here as everyone else just seeing what will work.

Start by writing down what makes you different from every other grooming business. Why do you stand out? What do you want to tell people about your place? Try to figure out those things first and then maybe we can help you determine the imagery to match those characteristics. Everything you've been posting looks so cliché and like every other grooming logo out there. Let's make it unique to your business!

[Apple Architect]

that double 'p' looks very very familiar to me but I can't think what its from to me.

It maybe from Pretty Polly. Think it used to be in pink

http://www.jcpr.com/imgs/media/Pretty-Polly.jpg

[mocman]

.......

[LeviG]

It maybe from Pretty Polly. Think it used to be in pink


no its not that, its much much closer to the design suggested
edit: similar to this one (linky (http://premierpromotionssite.com/images/pp_logo.jpg)) but that wasn't what I was thinking of.

[JasonElise1983]

so i had 15 minutes and illustrator already open, so here are some quick, rough ideas.

-je

[anim8or]

so i had 15 minutes and illustrator already open, so here are some quick, rough ideas.

-je

To the op;

I really think you outta listen to what people are saying on this thread otherwise it was pointless you posting...

To the poster who made this...

Awesome, you captured the idea from my previous post exactly.

Nice work.

[JasonElise1983]

To the poster who made this...

Awesome, you captured the idea from my previous post exactly.

Nice work.

Thanks! Sorry, i had meant to give you props on the idea, but was posting in a hurry.

-je

[Tilpots]

so i had 15 minutes and illustrator already open, so here are some quick, rough ideas.

-je

Atta boy!:)

[polar-blair]

so i had 15 minutes and illustrator already open, so here are some quick, rough ideas.

-je

ohh I like those ones, very sleek and sophisticated.

To the OP I think you should keep away from the cartoony dog look, and do something more like JasonElise's example.



Out of personal interest what is the font you used in the last example, I really like it :D

[likeavaliant]

i can wash my animal, no problem. it's pretty easy to do. but for something more, like a pro grooming, i'm going to take it to a groomer and pay what it costs to be done. i won't learn how to groom over night.
you can come up with design ideas, it seems pretty easy to do. but for something more, like a pro design, get it done by a pro designer! people here have obviously been more than willing to help. they didnt learn to design over night.

if your competition has logos that look like any of the ones people are offering you, i'd go to them before you hands down, based on the logo only. i'm really not trying to be a jerk, but i think that, from a business stand point, you'll do much better in the end if you just get it done right from the start. frankly, if you dont get a nice logo now, you'll end up realizing that you need one eventually... and why wait for that moment?

good luck with what you choose to do.

[JasonElise1983]

Out of personal interest what is the font you used in the last example, I really like it :D

It's Luxury Gold by House Industries
which i just realized when you asked me that, and i forget that their license agreement says to pay extra for logos i think. hmmm...

-je

[JoeDRC]

I'm not a maverick on photoshop and this took me 5 mins but here's my contribution (my bubbles aren't very good either :(! )


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee103/drclothing/Misc/PinkPoodle.jpg


EDIT: Blue on the bubbles could be the same colour as the blue text, I'd change it but I'm watching TV ^^

[shamrock593]

so i had 15 minutes and illustrator already open, so here are some quick, rough ideas.

-je

Brilliant! i

[Djmckee]

so i had 15 minutes and illustrator already open, so here are some quick, rough ideas.

-je

nice work, definatly the best logo ;)

[mocman]

Jason that is sweet. I have tried yet another....will try more colors....Now I see why you guys get paid well......

[Melrose]

so i had 15 minutes and illustrator already open, so here are some quick, rough ideas.

-je

I like. It looks better in the box, rather than between the words, methinks. I like it better between the words, but it kind of makes it look a bit "Walk for the Cure" kind of - to me it seemed a bit similar to the pink ribbon for cancer.

Very good job - 'upscale' looking. Best one so far to be honest..

[macworkerbee]

Jason that is sweet. I have tried yet another....will try more colors....Now I see why you guys get paid well......

Wow, somehow you took a pretty nice looking mockup and turned it into a collage of too many elements haphazardly placed together. If you're going to use the scissors, why not incorporate them into the double P's? That makes it unique instead of just another pair of scissors. And why include the bubbles also? Putting too many elements in a logo is not a great idea.

As others have said, please if you would like to have a professional looking business, please just a hire a professional graphic designer to help you accomplish your goals. The process will be much faster than you making tons of mockups from clip art and the result will be so much better in the long run for your business.

[Tilpots]

Jason that is sweet. I have tried yet another....will try more colors....Now I see why you guys get paid well......

Awful. Sorry, but that's hideous.:eek:

Listen to the advice you are being given!

[SwiftLives]

mocman - Out of curiosity, why are you attempting to design this logo yourself? Do you do all of your dental work yourself?

I'm honestly not trying to be a jerk here. It's just obvious that there are some design concepts that you're not grasping. It's the same as why I assume you don't do your dental work yourself. You lack formal training and the tools necessary to perform oral checkups.

If people see a dog grooming business with a logo that looks unprofessional, do you really think they're going to trust it with their beloved animals? This is something you should consider.

Good luck.

_______________________

anim8tor - cool concept. JasonElise1983 - cool execution.

[Jim Campbell]

I have tried yet another....will try more colors....

AAIEE!

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa299/yupko/ze-goggles-zey-do-nothing.jpg

Cheers!

Jim

[likeavaliant]

after that last post by the OP...

i give up on this thread.
best of luck with your "business"

[mocman]

...
139142

[LeviG]

after that last post by the OP...

i give up on this thread.
best of luck with your "business"

I think I may well be following suit here.

Mocman, you're not taking any of the comments on board. You are doing what all home 'designers' do, ignoring the paid professionals who generally know what they're doing :rolleyes:.

Your latest effort - I don't even know where to begin.

[mocman]

LeviG, It really does not matter what I post on here it will not be suffice to professional designers. I own a successful computer business and never claimed that I was a designer. Have owned the Pink Poodle for 8 years.
I have taken into consideration all of the advice given. I may not understand it all as you ma see.
About hiring a designer I really like the satisfaction of completing things in life on my own. Like changing my oil in my cars, home repairs etc.
I posted on here for some direction and alot of people give great ideas. Now on the other hand people love bashing on here about whatever people do. I will succeed in hammering out a logo whether it is one of mine or some professional. Thanks MC

[leighonigar]

LeviG, It really does not matter what I post on here it will not be suffice to professional designers. I own a successful computer business ... Thanks MC

Jumping in, the thing about this is, the logo is important. As you obviously know, running a business is about making the decisions that maximise your profit, within your moral framework. People here are looking at your attempts and cringe. They're no better than what most eleven year olds could accomplish. A logo like this will cost you money in the long run as it just makes you look amateur, very. Sometimes you have to differ to those who know better than you. Doing so can be the smart decision.

Looking at your attempts so much is wrong I cannot imagine you alone making them right. They are horrific. Whoever was telling you to hire a designer was absolutely right, and right for you.

[LeviG]

I have taken into consideration all of the advice given.
but you're not using the information given to you.

About hiring a designer I really like the satisfaction of completing things in life on my own. Like changing my oil in my cars, home repairs etc. I never said hire one, but it would be the best approach from what I've seen so far. And no offence here, but changing oil/doing home repairs is nothing like doing design - can you say a mechanic/builder could do your (or my) job without any training, I bet in most cases it wouldn't be very good if they tried.

I posted on here for some direction and alot of people give great ideas. Now on the other hand people love bashing on here about whatever people do. again, you are not using the direction given, most have said they like jasonelise design (the one with scissors) so you go off and do one similar but still miss the key aspects of why people liked his design. Now its a barber pole which has no relevance to dogs from most peoples perspective.
You're still working with colour first, this is a bad way to work, have you used a pen and paper to do concepts? Have you made a list of what makes your company special? I don't think you have, so make a post on here about what makes your company so special and then we could probably tell you what to focus on.

I will succeed in hammering out a logo whether it is one of mine or some professional. Thanks MCI dare say you will but you will not get there without taking on board the advice - ask if you don't understand what we say.

[Eric5h5]

About hiring a designer I really like the satisfaction of completing things in life on my own. Like changing my oil in my cars, home repairs etc.

I'm totally that way too, but there's a big difference between your own stuff and something that's part of a business. If you owned a restaurant, say, and you don't know how to cook, I sincerely hope you wouldn't decide to be one of the chefs just because you want to do everything on your own. When your customers start dying of food poisoning, the business won't last long....

Although it's not (quite ;) ) as bad as food poisoning, by now it's painfully obvious that you have no design abilities, so just do yourself a favor and hire a designer. There's no shame at all in being able to recognize your own limitations--quite the opposite, in fact. The most successful people in business hire people smarter than themselves and let them do what they are really good at doing.

--Eric

[wongulous]

Have owned the Pink Poodle for 8 years. About hiring a designer I really like the satisfaction of completing things in life on my own. Like changing my oil in my cars, home repairs etc. I will succeed in hammering out a logo whether it is one of mine or some professional.

This thread is such a trainwreck, and it's because of you. You have the best of intents, but refuse to listen to anyone's advice or even logic, and freely admit so. This quoted passage sums it up well.

Here you say that you have been a business owner for 8 years--how could you, in that time, have garnered the experience required to create a corporate identity? Hello?

You say that you like the satisfaction of doing things on your own; surely as a business owner you understand the importance in "outsourcing" some things. You may have access to buy all of the chemicals and gelatins and conditioning agents to mix and create your own dog shampoos--but do you, in your kitchen? Would it ever work as well as commercial solutions? Would you be sure that no dog would have an allergic reaction? Would the scent last as long on the coat? What if someone asks for a different type of shampoo, are you going to interrupt your businesses to go back to the drawing board to re-mix a new version and reinvest all of that money? How do you know it would "keep" as long before getting rotten without hard-to-find preservatives? Etc. I could make an analogy about installing a new furnace/air conditioner system, or about upholstering your couch, or catering your grand opening. Why on earth would you want to do that yourself if you want it to be presentable? I commend your computer-geek-like veracity of thinking you can master and "hack" anything, but in this case, you quite obviously cannot.

And I love how at the end you basically say you refuse to pay anyone for this service, and you're going to make a logo/identity, whether you do it yourself, or a professional does it for you. Great attitude there, cheapskate user. Just realize you're not likely to get another single OUNCE of advice in this thread.

And good luck to you--you'll need it.

[Topher15]

About hiring a designer I really like the satisfaction of completing things in life on my own.
Surely your company identity should be a business decision, not an ego thing? It's the first aspect of your business that potential customers see, so it should be done as well as possible (i.e. get a professional designer to do it). The presentation of a business will often be a deciding factor in whether people wish to use their services, so it shouldn't be left to an amateur to resolve. It's good that you're trying, but when professionals are saying the outcomes are not working, maybe it's best to heed their comments and hire a designer.

You say you've owned this business for eight years. What is the current logo you use?

[Spagolli94]

When you have an amateur logo, you have an amateur business. It's as simple as that. If you think that some of these DIY attempts are good enough for your business, what does that say about how seriously you take your business?

There was one that was actually pretty decent. Makes me wonder why so many people just volunteer to do this for free. My house needs some work done on the chimney. Maybe I should go to a masons' forum and post it. I wonder how many qualified masons will show up at my house an do the job for free???

[klymr]

When you have an amateur logo, you have an amateur business. It's as simple as that. If you think that some of these DIY attempts are good enough for your business, what does that say about how seriously you take your business?

There was one that was actually pretty decent. Makes me wonder why so many people just volunteer to do this for free. My house needs some work done on the chimney. Maybe I should go to a masons' forum and post it. I wonder how many qualified masons will show up at my house an do the job for free???

I agree. My professor told us a few weeks ago that when he is doing a logo for a business, he won't accept anything under $2,000, and with that he won't be putting much time or attention into the design. You have countless professional designers giving you some of the best advice in our field, and you've even been given some great ideas to work with, all at NO COST to you. If you don't want to take the advice we have offered free of charge and run with it, that's no longer our problem. I wish you the best of luck in your decision. I'll still be reading and watching the outcome, and perhaps even giving more advice, but only if you take a step back and realize we really want you to succeed.

Designers aren't in the business to watch people fail, at least not myself. That's what separates graphic designers from "fine artists." There is a service aspect to design that isn't included in fine arts. A client comes to us with a problem, and we help solve that problem by pouring out our souls to match the clients needs and wishes. It truly is painful to me to see us offering our words of wisdom and watching you toss them aside. So, I ask, if nothing else, try to adopt these things we have suggested and make your business a success!

[Melrose]

Why do threads always turn into this?

He asked for help.

People offered help.

He came up with other ideas anyway, for whatever reason.

Period.

[ChicoWeb]

This thread was worthless. Jason came up with the best idea by far. Offer to buy it from him and call it a day.