Zym Blog graphic

[TheZimm]

I was wondering if this was better than the older one I posted, I tryed to find that thread but couldn't find it.

http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p339/Zymman/GraphicBETA-1.png

Zym

[jdl8422]

Its way way too busy. The script font alone is a little tough to read, when you add the grey shapes to the background its especially busy. I think you should just focus on the type first then worry about putting it on some kind of background or composition. Also, the script Z reads as a stylized 3, maybe its just me.

[TheZimm]

Heres my revision, I'm new to graphic design and want to get an eye for a good pic, so all criticism is accepted

http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p339/Zymman/GraphicBETA2-1.png

Zym

[dcubed20]

why is there an iphone? is the blog about iphones?

and the background shouldn't be part of a logo, since the idea of a logo is that it can be adapted and transplanted easily to different uses.

[TheZimm]

why is there an iphone? is the blog about iphones?

and the background shouldn't be part of a logo, since the idea of a logo is that it can be adapted and transplanted easily to different uses.

Yup, its an iphone app reviewing site. So do you think the first or secind is better, I feel the first is

Zym

[tominated]

does it have to have a script font, because it doesn't really seem right for an iphone app review website

[jdl8422]

stop worrying about a background or what you can put the type on. Start with a simple B/W font. Use illustrator to combine/manipulate fonts to make your logo. You need to think about what people think when they see your "zym blog". I honestly would never see it and think of an iPhone app review. Do some research on logo design. Dont steal others designs, but see what works and what makes them successful. I would stay away from the script, zym isnt a common word already, so to use a stylized font doesnt help.

[TheZimm]

Aight, thanks for all the criticism

Heres what I got, let me know what you think(btw those are app icons in the background on the iphone):

[jdl8422]

Why are you still trying it with color and putting it in a composition? I would recommend using illustrator and manipulating a font or fonts to create a typeface. Once you get a good logo in B/W (just the type) then you can worry about adding color and putting it in a composition.

[SwiftLives]

You seem fixated on putting your type inside of an iPhone. My advice is to try ten different concepts that do not involve an iPhone, but do somehow relate to iPhone Apps and reviewing.

Secondly, please start with black and white. This will help you concentrate on the form of the logo. Once you're fairly confident with that, then you can start adding color. And I would also suggest using a very limited palette when you do add color.

A logo needs to fundamentally be legible without having to stare at it to decipher it. Crazy backgrounds and spectrums really detract from that.

[TheZimm]

Okay, black and white got it(well at least in 2 the other one has a gradient background);
Try without the iPhone, got it(well at least in two)
I think I did everything you guys said, here are the products:

1:
http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p339/Zymman/GraphicBeta4.png

2:
http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p339/Zymman/GraphicBeta41.png

3:
http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p339/Zymman/GraphicBeta42.png

Zym

[chilipie]

It's not really a logo though, is it? Type only logos can look fantastic when done well, but that just looks shoddy - there's nothing in the text that implies it's related to iPhones/apps/whatever.

[TheZimm]

It's not really a logo though, is it? Type only logos can look fantastic when done well, but that just looks shoddy - there's nothing in the text that implies it's related to iPhones/apps/whatever.

Thats a really good point. I've been looking at some other logos etc. and heres what I came up with.

http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p339/Zymman/Zym_Blog-1.jpg

Zym

[JasonElise1983]

hmmm...well, i'm not trying to be an a$$ but, have you ever designed a logo/blog header before? I mean to me, you are just pasting type and other elements together and using every photoshop effect you can think of and then Voilá!...done. ok, so i took 5 minutes and threw something together to give you an idea of something that would look more polished. I'm not saying to use this or even try to replicate this. This was 5 Minutes, and is not that good or clever, or even slightly creative. But it's alright, and to me gets the point across a lot faster.


If i were you, i would start with just type, see how intersting the word Zym would be on it's own, or if it looks good run together with different weights. ZYMBLOG or zymblog. Try clean and simple san serifs. Try to stay away from cheesy photo filters. Think of what a review place is about. Maybe it's a series of stars. Maybe it's 4 stars in clossy "app" boxes that sit on a dock like backround. Rating...Apps...iPhone. Don't use a picture of an iPhone, that's pretty lame. I also would stay away from showing certain apps in the header, do you have permission to use their artwork? do you have permission to associate your blog with their app? i'm sure that's a "no". Anyway, try a lot of things....

-je

[TheZimm]

hmmm...well, i'm not trying to be an a$$ but, have you ever designed a logo/blog header before? I mean to me, you are just pasting type and other elements together and using every photoshop effect you can think of and then Voilá!...done. ok, so i took 5 minutes and threw something together to give you an idea of something that would look more polished. I'm not saying to use this or even try to replicate this. This was 5 Minutes, and is not that good or clever, or even slightly creative. But it's alright, and to me gets the point across a lot faster.


If i were you, i would start with just type, see how intersting the word Zym would be on it's own, or if it looks good run together with different weights. ZYMBLOG or zymblog. Try clean and simple san serifs. Try to stay away from cheesy photo filters. Think of what a review place is about. Maybe it's a series of stars. Maybe it's 4 stars in clossy "app" boxes that sit on a dock like backround. Rating...Apps...iPhone. Don't use a picture of an iPhone, that's pretty lame. I also would stay away from showing certain apps in the header, do you have permission to use their artwork? do you have permission to associate your blog with their app? i'm sure that's a "no". Anyway, try a lot of things....

-je

Okay,

I've never done anything like this. I was just taught how to use photoshop a couple of years ago, so i would use it just to fix up some pics, never create something. Here I have tryed to take your advice, and you weren't being an a$$, I need the criticism =]

Zym

[xtrmntr13]

zym yours isnt too bad just second one look weird with the 3d effect

ok this is just a simple try (took me 10min)
it features the colours of the app store and these small scroll dots from the touch

xtrmntr

[jdl8422]

I will say you are def moving in the right direction, still not their yet. One thing I noticed from all your ideas is you are trying to squeeze 10lbs of sh*@
in a 5lbs bag. I would focus on the words Zym Blog, dont worry about the tagline or anything else just yet. I also noticed you are trying to work in some app icons. Why not make your own app icon to go along with your logo.

[TheZimm]

okay, so I think this looks better than the other version, I c=hanged the text a little that says "Zym Blog", I centered the stars a little more, and I put the phrase on the top, I think that it seems a bit less cramped up there.

Also, I made a little mock up that took me like 30 seconds literally, and was just wondering if I should continue this way for my own icon.

Thanks for all the feedback

Zym

[jdl8422]

no offense, but it looks like it took you 30secs. why dont you sketch some ideas and put some effort into it.

[xtrmntr13]

just stay away from the 30sec stuff ... try to think what others will thing your blog might be about if they see one of your logos.
Somehow you have to connect it to the app store, but dont squeeze in too much

[TheZimm]

Okay so is the logo good?

Also, heres an icon I spent a lot more time on =]

The text doesn't look good to me at all, I just don't know how to put it on there better, I dont know what color to do etc.

Zym

[jdl8422]

Once again you didn't listen to what everyone has told you. Stop worrying about color and the iPhone image. Just work on the typeface. Try a little more than just typing the word Zym Blog and picking a typeface. Try combing type faces, combing different weights, modifying the typefaces in illustrator, create your own custom type. Do not worry about some gradient photoshop effect or putting the type in something. Try and get your logo to work on its own, in black on a white background. I think people will start to get frustrated when they give you advice then you just put another idea on here without using that advice.

[TheZimm]

Once again you didn't listen to what everyone has told you. Stop worrying about color and the iPhone image. Just work on the typeface. Try a little more than just typing the word Zym Blog and picking a typeface. Try combing type faces, combing different weights, modifying the typefaces in illustrator, create your own custom type. Do not worry about some gradient photoshop effect or putting the type in something. Try and get your logo to work on its own, in black on a white background. I think people will start to get frustrated when they give you advice then you just put another idea on here without using that advice.

okay, yeah true, sorry. I tryed messin around with the typefaces and made half black and the other white(I could change colors later to my site's colors)

[JasonElise1983]

Closer. But I personaly don't see any relevance to an iPhone or it's apps now. You don't need an iPhone or a piece of an iPhone, but with a name like zymblog, it needs to be recognizable as a blog about iPhone apps, or have a better name. Look at what other iPhone related blogs did.

Appshopper.com
Toucharcade.com

Those two don't need obvious iPhone relation because of the relation in the name. Your name has nothing to do with it, so it is going to need some kind of iPhone or iPhone app or app strore relation. Look at the fonts used with these devices. Helvetica neue is the system font on the iPhone. Myriad pro (or something very similar) is apple's marketing and product font. Try playing with some modification on those. Or you could do something simple like a solid black circle with a white rounded corner square in the center to mimic the home button, and them in a real clean font write zymblog in like helvetica neue bold and light or myriad pro regular and light.

Things I would stay away from:
Picture of an iPhone
App icons
Apple logo
Icons that have no relevance.

I hope that helps.

-je

[TheZimm]

Closer. But I personaly don't see any relevance to an iPhone or it's apps now. You don't need an iPhone or a piece of an iPhone, but with a name like zymblog, it needs to be recognizable as a blog about iPhone apps, or have a better name. Look at what other iPhone related blogs did.

Appshopper.com
Toucharcade.com

Those two don't need obvious iPhone relation because of the relation in the name. Your name has nothing to do with it, so it is going to need some kind of iPhone or iPhone app or app strore relation. Look at the fonts used with these devices. Helvetica neue is the system font on the iPhone. Myriad pro (or something very similar) is apple's marketing and product font. Try playing with some modification on those. Or you could do something simple like a solid black circle with a white rounded corner square in the center to mimic the home button, and them in a real clean font write zymblog in like helvetica neue bold and light or myriad pro regular and light.

Things I would stay away from:
Picture of an iPhone
App icons
Apple logo
Icons that have no relevance.

I hope that helps.

-je
I took your exact advice, "zymblog in like...myriad pro regular and light." Also, I looked at those icons and saw how their pretty similar to their logo, so I made the icon similar to the logo(with the slide thing), also I made one with a home button like look.

I think I'm getting a hang of what a good design looks like, now that I look back at some they look really bad =]

Zym

[JasonElise1983]

I may be biased, but I like where the one on the left is going. Try playing with the type placement. Try it to the side, either side, centered below, inside it... Whatever. I will say, if you do have interest in design, take the time to really learn about it. It's not about software. It's about theory and ideas. Read up on it. Look at other designers. It's not an easy thing to do. Designers go to school for a long time, and it takes years to harness those skills. You may not have any interest in doing this anymore, but if u did, I don't want you going into it thinking it's easy, and not respecting the trade. Ok, my rant is over, good work!

-je

[jdl8422]

www.faveup.com

Use these for inspiration. Dont steal their designs

[monke]

I hope I don't come off sounding harsh, but your logo's just don't look good. They don't really look like anything, other then bad photoshop tutorials.

Past that, try incorporating different elements into your design, and not just copying and pasting stuff. For example, you could try using the iPhone home button as the 'O' in blog, or better yet the the logo in the App Store icon, that would look good.

Try staying away from the fun fonts, try something sharper, edgy, or bold. Look into some more indepth design tutorials and logo tutorials (try www.good-tutorials.com (http://www.good-tutorials.com/)) and learn from there. Look at logos that have related sites to yours. A simple google search pulled up this site (http://www.bloggingtips.com/2008/09/19/100-great-blog-logos/) that details 100 blog logos. Try and find inspiration or ideas from there and then design your logo. Hope that helps. :)

[xtrmntr13]

I guess the problem lies within the name ZYM.
nobody knows what it could stand for. In my opinion you should
look for a font that links zym with technology, a good scource is
http://www.dafont.com/.
most or all of the fonts are for free.

[jdl8422]

I think you are focusing too much on the computer/photoshop part of the logo. You need to focus on the basic fundamentals of graphic design, THEN you can worry about a digital composition in photoshop.

[LeviG]

Might as well throw mine in (I was bored so spent a few mins doing it so not 100%) - I took a different approach to Jason Elise (which is quite nice I might add) and took features of apples marketing style (ie the angle gloss, the reflections etc) and added it to a simplified ipod touch style (note old one and more to just edge the design more than anything), I took the dimensions from zimms blog image so should work with that ok.

I picked a font for ZYM (Madison Avenue) and kept the rest as myriad to keep it clean and simple.

I will agree that if the zymblog square logo (post 25 left one) can be tweaked a little it could turn out quite nice and simple too.

[macbookairman]

Might as well throw mine in (I was bored so spent a few mins doing it so not 100%) - I took a different approach to Jason Elise (which is quite nice I might add) and took features of apples marketing style (ie the angle gloss, the reflections etc) and added it to a simplified ipod touch style (note old one and more to just edge the design more than anything), I took the dimensions from zimms blog image so should work with that ok.
[snip]
I will agree that if the zymblog square logo (post 25 left one) can be tweaked a little it could turn out quite nice and simple too.

I'm one of the reviewers at the Zym Blog, and I love your design. I agree about the square one too.

I also like xtrmntr13's design. (its at post 14 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=6833386&postcount=14))

[JasonElise1983]

I also like xtrmntr13's design. (its at post 14 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=6833386&postcount=14))


just for clarification, i'm post 14. xtrmntr13's design is post 16 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=6834511&postcount=16). Not that i really care if someone else took credit for the one i did, it's not that great. Just didn't want someone not seeing xtrmntr13's design, if that's what they were looking for.

LeviG— I love yours. Nice and clean, straight to the point. By far my favorite so far, though the rounded square (home button) one is coming in second for me. With a little tweaking, and maybe adding some of the elements you used in yours, (the nice subtle gloss in the corner), it would be perfect.

-je

[LeviG]

This is the good thing about having several designers working on a design, different people see where different things can be tweaked or used in different ways and hopefully come up with a decent final design :D

Now we just have to hope that zym blog's 'wordpress' styling doesn't stay brown because all our grey's and blacks won't really go too well :rolleyes:

[TheZimm]

Hey,

I've been hard at work trying to create better logos and icons.

Heres what I came up with, on the icon i dont know if the reflection is too much, just let me know:

Zym

[JasonElise1983]

honestly, i think you went in reverse. it's too cluttered. too messy now. the original one with the square is much better. keep the words together. and never...never, ever, ever, ever use vertical type like that. Anyway, i did another one. Kind of based on LeviG's but, different type and another element. Maybe it's the home button, maybe it's an outline of an app...who knows. Not too bad for someone who's been drinkin. Happy New Year everybody!

-je

[TheZimm]

Okay, so I asked but no one answered, is he logo as good as the others people made?, or no?

Also, is the one with the apple better, or without?

And finally, I redid the icon, how do you like?

Zym

[JasonElise1983]

Okay, so I asked but no one answered, is he logo as good as the others people made?, or no?

Also, is the one with the apple better, or without?

And finally, I redid the icon, how do you like?

Zym

Honestly, you are still going down hill from where you were at post 25. You are oddly placing text now. Yours aren't as good as one's other people have done. LeviG's is very nice, and the last one I did, isn't too bad (well, i don't think it is...but i'm still drinkin, and it's highly influenced by LeviG's). Look at those. What about them makes them good. simplicity. that's all. in post 25 you were getting there. now you are complicating it. I also am a little confused why you are working so small. work at the size it's going to be. i mean, what size is your blog header graphic giong to be? now work to fit that size. The iPhone slider thing isn't that great of a visual. it's boring and has too much going on, and doen'st say very muuch. I don't know, I applaud your effort, but i'll tell you like i tell most people. If you want a brand to be successful, hire a professional. a few hours in photoshop won't get you where a good professional designer will. YOu'll probably eventually get something good, but you are going to have to take people's advice, and really listen. sketching things on paper is always a good idea. even if you can't draw, a sketch is the birth of creativity...or something like that. but...at the end of the day, it's better to get someone who know's what they are doing to do it, though i love a good effort.

-je

[TheZimm]

Okay, so I completely redid the design, tryed to make it simpler. Also, I have no idea where to go with the icon, any ideas?

Zym

EDIT: click on the pic to view full size, otherwise it doesn't look nearly as good.

[monke]

One of the things that is just ringing a bell is your resizing.

Always, let me stress this, always hold shift to keep the proportions equal when resizing an image or logo.

Secondly, don't put the Apple logo in your logo. It's copyright and also its your logo, why would you put another on it in?

It seems like you are just plain confused.
Design the logo first, then the header, if I'm seeing things right.

Here's an idea I'll through out there, done in less then 5 minutes:
150835

When designing and colouring a logo consider that it might be on both dark and light background. Make a dark version for lighter backgrounds, and a light version for darker backgrounds.

[jdl8422]

I still feel like you are just saying thanks for the advice and not following it. People say its getting too cluttered and then you clutter it more. Its starting to look like 5 or 6 elements just pasted on a board. You are also trying to make an icon but still squeeze the entire name of the blog on there. Look at photoshops logo and icon. There is a logo for photoshop then they use their dock icon that just has Ps in it. They arnt trying to squeeze Adobe Photoshop in a tiny square.

[TheZimm]

I still feel like you are just saying thanks for the advice and not following it. People say its getting too cluttered and then you clutter it more. Its starting to look like 5 or 6 elements just pasted on a board. You are also trying to make an icon but still squeeze the entire name of the blog on there. Look at photoshops logo and icon. There is a logo for photoshop then they use their dock icon that just has Ps in it. They arnt trying to squeeze Adobe Photoshop in a tiny square.

Whih one is too cluttered, this one (the one attached?-if it is then how, I tried to simplify it) or some other one, also is the icon w.o the writing better?

Zym

[TheZimm]

One of the things that is just ringing a bell is your resizing.

Always, let me stress this, always hold shift to keep the proportions equal when resizing an image or logo.

Secondly, don't put the Apple logo in your logo. It's copyright and also its your logo, why would you put another on it in?

It seems like you are just plain confused.
Design the logo first, then the header, if I'm seeing things right.

Here's an idea I'll through out there, done in less then 5 minutes:
150835

When designing and colouring a logo consider that it might be on both dark and light background. Make a dark version for lighter backgrounds, and a light version for darker backgrounds.
What image are you talking about with the resizing?

Great point with the apple, never thought of it that way.

Zym

EDIT: Now I've got a new logo, that header and a new icon, better? worse? all criticism needed

Also, is it better with or without the ipod ion the side?, I kinda think it looks badly put on, someone told me to put it there, so I did(not in this forum)

[LeviG]

Quick review of latest -
grey one with white 'glow' - what's with the ellipse at the bottom under ZYM Blog - it has no relevance to apple design or the 'touch' products in my view. You still haven't quite grasped the text principles that myself and jasonelise used - if you look at ours again and see whats quite obviously different - look at the line of the text your b is higher and breaks the line or flow that we used.

The new darker grey options - again whats the ellipse in the background for, what is the logo relating too and why is there a graphics tablet pen on a device that doesn't even use a stylus :confused:

And you still seem like you just play with the filters/effects within photoshop on a lot of the designs, design isn't just about seeing what filters work well :rolleyes:

So lets start from the beginning again shall we as your designs aren't really working as is :)

Now several of us (myself included, most of some sort of designer I would suspect) have given alternative designs (for free I might add) which have been highly regarded (including by one of your own bloggers) but you still seem to ignore the essence of what we had been doing so lets see if we can make you think slightly differently about your design approach.

So this is what I would like you to do before the next design comes out (note theres more to it than this but this might help - its not the easiest thing to break down doing logos etc) :)
1) Draw 10-20 different logos with pen and paper - no colour. Might be worth knocking out a quick grid with the correct proportions that would end up on your blog here.
2) Now take the top 3-5 designs and break them down into key parts, ie things like positions of image or text, thickness of text, style of text etc, what style of background.
3) From that list you should see what aspects seem to be drawing you in, ie is the text in a set area for example
4) Using these key points do a rough sketch of what the layout could be and then work around this for your next couple of designs.
5) once you have a black and white concept (you can do this in photoshop if you wish) then start to consider colour as at present your site is brown and the logos all slightly different.

Lets see if that makes an improvement :)

If I get some spare time I will do a very simple design revision of mine along with a 'iphone' app icon :)

edit: heres the revisions/app icon - think the home/start button 'o' might make zym look a little like ozym in one of them but they're only for ideas more than anything :) Took some aspects of jasonelise variation (not bad for someone who was a little under the influence :p) of my original and used the same sort of idea (different colour - felt blue was a bit last year for mine if you get what I mine so went for a more zesty colour :)) to add a bit of 'life' to it :)

Zimm - can you see how subtle alterations can give an entirely different feel to an image without having to resort to an entire redesign :)

edit: actually on thinking about it again the second iphone app button (zym) could easily be made into the basis of the header design. Just use zym and then a simple text (on a horizontal line like the other designs) to say blog/forum or whatever depending on section.

[macbookairman]

Quick review of latest -

The new darker grey options - again whats the ellipse in the background for, what is the logo relating too and why is there a graphics tablet pen on a device that doesn't even use a stylus :confused:



I'll speak for Zimm on this one. Its not a graphics tablet pen. Its the side of an iPod Touch 2G (2G cause it has the black volume buttons)

5) once you have a black and white concept (you can do this in photoshop if you wish) then start to consider colour as at present your site is brown and the logos all slightly different.
Also, I don't know if Zimm wants me to post this or not, but we are working on a new site with a different color scheme. You can see it here (http://zymblog.appstorebeta.com/) (note its still under construction).

[TheZimm]

I'll speak for Zimm on this one. Its not a graphics tablet pen. Its the side of an iPod Touch 2G (2G cause it has the black volume buttons)

Also, I don't know if Zimm wants me to post this or not, but we are working on a new site with a different color scheme. You can see it here (http://zymblog.appstorebeta.com/) (note its still under construction).

Thanks for the clarification,

I've been pretty busy at drawing/sketching and then putting into photoshop. Here are my 4 logos that pretty much put together all the good parts of my sketches(sums up my sketches). theres one that I did not make that seems tacky to me, it would say Zym Blog with the slider and instead of it saying slide to unlock, it would say slide to read.

Criticism please and thank you =]

Zym

[LeviG]

they're the best you came up with :confused: what happened to all the suggestions we've all put forward?

quick input - my opinion.
top left - best of the bunch in my view but still not really anything more than text with (unnecessary) iphone icons.

top right - the g makes the shadow look wrong and the black o is out of context

bottom left - no just no

bottom right - the emphasis is on the blog not zym, I would do it the other way round, the background blends with the zym too much as well.

You say you left off the one based on the iphone slide - try doing with it with a simple zym blog (look at mine and jasonelise with colour and text combo) it may work if you can do it right.

I'm also going to be quite blunt here (on review of new site) - remove the link (http://zymblog.appstorebeta.com/photoshop-graphics/) offering photoshop work from your blog as to be honest you're not up to a standard to be offering it from what I've seen here.

[TheZimm]

okay, so I looked at that set with the yellow and I have to say they look really great. I made a couple like those(not exactly the same) and so here they are:

Also, I'm trying to make it related to iphones in some way, IMO just the square isn't related. Thats why I have the home button or the icons at the top in the designs

Do the g's look better?

Zym

[TheZimm]

they're the best you came up with :confused: what happened to all the suggestions we've all put forward?

quick input - my opinion.
top left - best of the bunch in my view but still not really anything more than text with (unnecessary) iphone icons.

top right - the g makes the shadow look wrong and the black o is out of context

bottom left - no just no

bottom right - the emphasis is on the blog not zym, I would do it the other way round, the background blends with the zym too much as well.

You say you left off the one based on the iphone slide - try doing with it with a simple zym blog (look at mine and jasonelise with colour and text combo) it may work if you can do it right.

I'm also going to be quite blunt here (on review of new site) - remove the link (http://zymblog.appstorebeta.com/photoshop-graphics/) offering photoshop work from your blog as to be honest you're not up to a standard to be offering it from what I've seen here.

they're the best from my sketches

good point about the page, thanks-taken away

Zym

[LeviG]

the big square Zb one isn't a bad start - tweak the height of the b, its a bit smaller, I would personally change the gradient to a grey rather than a green and how exactly are you doing the grey box as it looks a bit rough around the corners compared with ours.

Now the benefit of that simple square is
1. it can be used on iphone/touch desktops
2. its simple enough to just tweak the colour if you change the site for example.
3. change the b to an f, g (or any other letter) to represent forum or gallery - the b obviously representing blog.

You could if you wanted to use one of the other options (do the same with the b height) as a main title on the page but lose the iphone/touch button and just make it a normal letter as the square from the button is used in the 'main' logo.

And are you really sure you want to go for green?

edit: on the new blog, try making the links at the top centred (depends on logo layout though) as it could make it nicer to look at - visuals are everything these days :)

[TheZimm]

the big square Zb one isn't a bad start - tweak the height of the b, its a bit smaller, I would personally change the gradient to a grey rather than a green and how exactly are you doing the grey box as it looks a bit rough around the corners compared with ours.

Now the benefit of that simple square is
1. it can be used on iphone/touch desktops
2. its simple enough to just tweak the colour if you change the site for example.
3. change the b to an f, g (or any other letter) to represent forum or gallery - the b obviously representing blog.

You could if you wanted to use one of the other options (do the same with the b height) as a main title on the page but lose the iphone/touch button and just make it a normal letter as the square from the button is used in the 'main' logo.

And are you really sure you want to go for green?

edit: on the new blog, try making the links at the top centred (depends on logo layout though) as it could make it nicer to look at - visuals are everything these days :)

With the gray box I just made a rounded corner shape in photoshop, also the icon automatically gets rounded corners when it's put on the home screen.

Do you really think it's that bad to use the home screen instead of the square, I really want to include that in the 2 designs I did(as the o's).

Eh, yeah kinda, Originally the colors of the site were going to be green and black/white/gray

And I really dont understand this, sorry could you explain:
You could if you wanted to use one of the other options (do the same with the b height) as a main title on the page but lose the iphone/touch button and just make it a normal letter as the square from the button is used in the 'main' logo.


I think the icon is fine and done (well at least IMO) and I'd like to make a logo and header off that (like I have been doing) is that okay or should I take a different route?
Zym

[vigorblade]

I have been following your progression on this ZYM blog project from the start and I tip my hat to you for your never seeming to ever become discouraged. That is saying a lot about your character and you wanting to actually learn and grow as a designer. Few understand that criticism (constructive crit) is a big part of becoming great at what you do. Who needs to be surrounded by yes men and women ? How could you grow if everyone says "Great Job" , "I like it", "Perfect" ? You are listening and not being combative and it shows in your progression. Zym, Just keep at it and remember that becoming great and staying great at anything, means continuously learning, finding and evolving.

- Vigorblade

[TheZimm]

I have been following your progression on this ZYM blog project from the start and I tip my hat to you for your never seeming to ever become discouraged. That is saying a lot about your character and you wanting to actually learn and grow as a designer. Few understand that criticism (constructive crit) is a big part of becoming great at what you do. Who needs to be surrounded by yes men and women ? How could you grow if everyone says "Great Job" , "I like it", "Perfect" ? You are listening and not being combative and it shows in your progression. Zym, Just keep at it and remember that becoming great and staying great at anything, means continuously learning, finding and evolving.

- Vigorblade
Hey,
Thanks a bunch. I just hope that these guys dont get tired of me :). I really am trying to keep at this. I really wanna learn how to become a better designer, and hopefully I have, or will achieve that.

Thanks again

Zym

[opeter]

Okay, so I asked but no one answered, is he logo as good as the others people made?, or no?

Honestly, it's ugly. Try to concentrate on the simple and effective use of type and colors. You don't need any weet-floor, etc. things. If your design doesn't work in 2 colors (black & white) it won't work with colors either.

Also, is the one with the apple better, or without?

You don't need any "Apple logo", be original. The apple logo will not help you, if your "design" is poor.

And finally, I redid the icon, how do you like?

No. Try to think, write down the words to a paper. Make a list. Make a selection. Choose one element. Try to sketch the thing on paper. If you are satisfied, sit down to computer and try to make it.

EDIT: the last one is not that bad, but it still need the WOOOAW. If you know what i mean? Think of the Nike logo.

[Jim Campbell]

You need to let go of:

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/jimcampbell2000/LogoAnnotated.jpg

... This. I can see your thinking, but because it's solid black, the whole of the rest of the logo falls away behind it and it becomes a distraction.

Cheers

Jim

[TheZimm]

You need to let go of:

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/jimcampbell2000/LogoAnnotated.jpg

... This. I can see your thinking, but because it's solid black, the whole of the rest of the logo falls away behind it and it becomes a distraction.

Cheers

Jim
do you think if I make the rest of the letters black in blog it'll be better?

Zym

EDIT: I made a few with black letters instead of gray better? worse?