Suppose this can go here... logo design

[jowensphoto]

I designed a logo for an up&coming vineyard in my area. The owner is a friend from high school and was very specific with her request. It made it easier and harder all at the same time since my personal style (curly-floaty-girly stuff) was not what she wanted at. all.

The first image was what she called the "spelled out logo" so that's what I'm calling it now lol. The original colors chosen were navy, green and gold, but we both agreed that it looked kind of like crayon. Being the 'skins fan she is, she asked me to try burgundy and gold. We may change the colors again, but here's the design:


The second part of this project is a monogram. Again, hard for me to come up with since monograms are typically curly and very embellished. I'm not really feeling this one, but something keeps me coming back to it, like if I tweak the *tiniest* thing it will look better. Sigh...


Comments/critiques/suggestions are welcome!

 

[EmmaBproductions]

The second one defo.

 

[jowensphoto]

All three (there's another I haven't worked on yet... have to go up and do some actual photography lol) will be used, so I need to get them all perfect.

What is it you like about the second one?

 

[amolitor]

Is the word RUN actually important? I assume it is, but since you didn't explain I figured it's worth asking..

In the monogram, the C feels like it's cocked a degree or two too far clockwise, and is messing up the nice curve over the top. Rotate it slightly counter-clockwise and see what happens?

ETA: Also, the curve of the C is larger than the curve in the top part of the R (obviously, it's how letters are made!) which is throwing the balance off. Consider shrinking the C or enlarging the R, or both, just slightly, and see what happens there!

 

[jowensphoto]

RE: Monogram, I agree completely. I could tell something was throwing off the curve, just couldn't sit and stare at it any longer! Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try it out.

The area where the vineyard is located is known as Crooked Run. I do see that Run is over-emphasized by the bright yellow lettering and that part did look a lot better with the original color scheme. We have a few ideas in terms of new colors to try out, so I'm hoping that tones down the word.

 

[480sparky]

The first one makes me wonder what the deal with RUN is. Am I supposed to run?
The second one fails, IMHO, because it's CVR.

 

[CA_]

What is the budget for this logo? It's 100% worth purchasing a quality font if you're doing a letter'd logo. I mean, really really worth it.

Also, when you're doing logos, you need to have a 1 color version (for boxing / packaging). 1 color, vector, clean and simple. The largest corporations in the world have a 1-color clean lined version of their logo that they can build on from that. But I'd keep it simple and clean. You're off to a good start with the 2nd one.

good luck!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

On the monogram, I would keep the C and R straight/horizontal and lower them, and bring them in tighter to the V.
I hate monograms for putting the last name letter in the middle. I know that's how they are though. My problem here is does it work for a business name? It seems odd to me.

On the first one, you really need to work with your kerning.

 

[o hey tyler]

The first one makes me wonder what the deal with RUN is. Am I supposed to run?
The second one fails, IMHO, because it's CVR.

Run is often used as the suffix to a street name. Crooked Run vineyards is the name of the business. I'm not sure where you've managed to formulate the idea that the label is telling you to run.

Jess, I like your ideas but I feel the need to be refined a bit. The red and orange text doesn't display well on the black background, and it was tough for me to read the text between the words. I don't think that it's necessary to incorporate a tilt or bend to your design just to appease the name of the business. It can be tacky if its blatant; you feel me?. Something simple and elegant can work for a vineyard, and that's the route I would take personally. (Although I don't know the owners or what they want out of a design)

The font also doesn't really stick with me either for a branding... Have you checked out fontsquirrel.com? Lots of beautiful fonts there for free. Keep at it, I know you've got some good ideas a brewin'. ;-)

 

[480sparky]

.......... Crooked Run vineyards is the name of the business........

Then they both fail me. I assumed, by the first logo, the name was Crooked U Vineyards. I imagined it like the old cattle farm systems used for branding cattle.... and a crooked capital U in the arch over the main entrance.

Now, if the Crooked were the same color as the Run, I might have got the name right.

 

[o hey tyler]

Then they both fail me. I assumed, by the first logo, the name was Crooked U Vineyards.

Don't take this the wrong way, but are you fully or partially color blind?

 

[480sparky]

Then they both fail me. I assumed, by the first logo, the name was Crooked U Vineyards.

Don't take this the wrong way, but are you fully or partially color blind?

No. I just read it as "Crooked U..... so what's the deal with run?"

 

[jowensphoto]

What is the budget for this logo? It's 100% worth purchasing a quality font if you're doing a letter'd logo. I mean, really really worth it.

Also, when you're doing logos, you need to have a 1 color version (for boxing / packaging). 1 color, vector, clean and simple. The largest corporations in the world have a 1-color clean lined version of their logo that they can build on from that. But I'd keep it simple and clean. You're off to a good start with the 2nd one.

good luck!

This is a pro-bono/portfolio building type thing, so the budget is pretty non-existent.

On the monogram, I would keep the C and R straight/horizontal and lower them, and bring them in tighter to the V.
I hate monograms for putting the last name letter in the middle. I know that's how they are though. My problem here is does it work for a business name? It seems odd to me.

On the first one, you really need to work with your kerning.

I know, I loathe monograms. I'm not entirely sure of the purpose, but I'm thinking it would be placed on a label on the wine bottle neck. This was specifically requested by the "client" or I would have never done it. Trying to stay true to my ideals while giving her what she wants is kinda tough!

Kerning. LOL I'm such a noob at GD I had to look that up. Yes, I agree. I can really see it in the last part of vineyard. I'm thinking that having each letter on a seperate layer would be the way to go?

The first one makes me wonder what the deal with RUN is. Am I supposed to run?
The second one fails, IMHO, because it's CVR.

Run is often used as the suffix to a street name. Crooked Run vineyards is the name of the business. I'm not sure where you've managed to formulate the idea that the label is telling you to run.

Jess, I like your ideas but I feel the need to be refined a bit. The red and orange text doesn't display well on the black background, and it was tough for me to read the text between the words. I don't think that it's necessary to incorporate a tilt or bend to your design just to appease the name of the business. It can be tacky if its blatant; you feel me?. Something simple and elegant can work for a vineyard, and that's the route I would take personally. (Although I don't know the owners or what they want out of a design)

The font also doesn't really stick with me either for a branding... Have you checked out fontsquirrel.com? Lots of beautiful fonts there for free. Keep at it, I know you've got some good ideas a brewin'. ;-)

I agree. Not elegant at all... and strangely enough, you know with vineyards being an epitome of elegance, her request was very specific in that she wanted something a bit more "fun" which, ahem, may have gone a bit cliche. She really did love the first one, so if she likes it, I'll keep it!

Thank you for the link, I'll check it out! Free is always good when the work is free!

Oh, btw... I think I might be the color blind one here. You said orange and red. The orange is supposed to be yellow/gold. The HEX was even called "gold". Hmmm...


Thank you all for the insight! I'm going to keep working on this and see what else I can come up with.

 

[Derrel]

Crooked Run Vineyards "worked" for me...I understood the name of the place was Crooked Run Vineyard.... I would be tempted to make the Crooked word angled upward more. The bright highlighting on the r,u,and n helps tremendously in spelling out the word Run...and that gold-on-black coloring--I see that a lot on labels from some of the vineyards. Seems of the 21st century and of the small vineyard arm of the industry (which is HUGE here, where I live).

As for the monogram...."Ugggg!"...utterly useless. Seriously. I am utterly opposed to basically, everything about it. Sorry J, but I have no love for it. No even an itty bitty widdle bitty bit o' love...

 

[jowensphoto]

Crooked Run Vineyards "worked" for me...I understood the name of the place was Crooked Run Vineyard.... I would be tempted to make the Crooked word angled upward more. The bright highlighting on the r,u,and n helps tremendously in spelling out the word Run...and that gold-on-black coloring--I see that a lot on labels from some of the vineyards. Seems of the 21st century and of the small vineyard arm of the industry (which is HUGE here, where I live).

As for the monogram...."Ugggg!"...utterly useless. Seriously. I am utterly opposed to basically, everything about it. Sorry J, but I have no love for it. No even an itty bitty widdle bitty bit o' love...

Thank you, I think that's what she was going for. It is reminiscent of the "Crooked R Ranch" type thing, and "country" was part of her vision. Again, we may change the colors, I think she's having a hard time with committing. Understandable, branding is a pretty big investment (I'm hoping this will lead to more work for her that I'll eventually charge for) so I can imagine why someone would want to be completely sure before nailing one idea down. Small vineyards are big here, too. The highway she is located on is pretty much all vineyards.

I know, I knooooow. I can come up with something better, but I'm just not inspired by the monogram idea at all. The one she used as an example was lovely, but do simple that it seems like even drawing from it would only lead to duplicating it. Uuuuugh.