...are really, really hard to do well. We're currently in the middle of a branding project for one of my classes. I've been working on a logo design due Thursday and...Oh. My. God. So many decisions to make! Logos may look deceptively simple, but I can't think of anything more difficult to accomplish than the appearance of simplicity. Wish me luck!
Showing posts with label branding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label branding. Show all posts
October 21, 2008
Logos...
...are really, really hard to do well. We're currently in the middle of a branding project for one of my classes. I've been working on a logo design due Thursday and...Oh. My. God. So many decisions to make! Logos may look deceptively simple, but I can't think of anything more difficult to accomplish than the appearance of simplicity. Wish me luck!
March 26, 2008
Under Pressure
(Minus David Bowie or Freddy Mercury.)
Is it just me, or does anyone else have a problem creating their art under the weight of high expectations?
I'm not talking about the stress of deadlines or anything like that. I'm fantastic at working under that kind of pressure. It's not even really other people's expectations that get me. It's my own.
Let's say I was about to start a painting and someone said to me "This piece has to be PERFECT because it's going into your portfolio", I'd be frozen. I wouldn't even be able to pick up a paint brush.
I think the equivalent happened to me this week in my Typography class. We have an ongoing logotype assignment. Most people just made up a company for themselves and branded it. I have my real shop - Honeydew Studio - which has been waiting for some sort of logo and branding since I opened it last year. It's already gone through probably half a dozen shop banners.
I worked up about 7 logos, none of which I was happy with, and brought them to class. Oh. My. God. My project went over like a lead balloon...and rightly so. None of my logos were any good. I'm starting to feel almost incapable of producing anything great because of all the pressure I'm putting on myself. I mean, if this logo comes out well, I'll be using it in the real world for years to come. I can be fabulously creative when I have to brainstorm a project for someone else. It's just that this particular project is for me and it isn't just a school assignment.
It's quite literally back to the drawing board for me this week. That will put me a bit behind everyone else. (They'll just be resolving their final logos and starting to design business cards etc.) Ugh. Any suggestions how to get myself out of this deer-in-headlights mindset?
Is it just me, or does anyone else have a problem creating their art under the weight of high expectations?
I'm not talking about the stress of deadlines or anything like that. I'm fantastic at working under that kind of pressure. It's not even really other people's expectations that get me. It's my own.
Let's say I was about to start a painting and someone said to me "This piece has to be PERFECT because it's going into your portfolio", I'd be frozen. I wouldn't even be able to pick up a paint brush.
I think the equivalent happened to me this week in my Typography class. We have an ongoing logotype assignment. Most people just made up a company for themselves and branded it. I have my real shop - Honeydew Studio - which has been waiting for some sort of logo and branding since I opened it last year. It's already gone through probably half a dozen shop banners.
I worked up about 7 logos, none of which I was happy with, and brought them to class. Oh. My. God. My project went over like a lead balloon...and rightly so. None of my logos were any good. I'm starting to feel almost incapable of producing anything great because of all the pressure I'm putting on myself. I mean, if this logo comes out well, I'll be using it in the real world for years to come. I can be fabulously creative when I have to brainstorm a project for someone else. It's just that this particular project is for me and it isn't just a school assignment.
It's quite literally back to the drawing board for me this week. That will put me a bit behind everyone else. (They'll just be resolving their final logos and starting to design business cards etc.) Ugh. Any suggestions how to get myself out of this deer-in-headlights mindset?
March 25, 2008
Typography Tuesdays
Oh you know what time it is! Time for another heartwarming typography discussion. Lol.
I have my class tonight, so that means last night was homework-cram time.
I was working on my logotype assignment for today. We had to invent a "company" and services (which isn't difficult for me since I have a real, still as of yet unbranded, online shop). Then we had to pick a color scheme and design the logotype for business cards, stationery, envelopes, etc. Six different versions were due today.
It's been over a year now that I've been trying to do this logotype thing for myself for real with no success. Of course, up until this year, I also had ZERO graphic design training. So, I thought maybe tackling the whole "identity" thing would be easier since I've been in school. Now that it's an assignment and I have to do it, it'll just come rolling out, right? Wrong. The only thing that was easier for me was deciding which fonts stink. Other than that? Same level of difficulty. How do I sum myself up when I'm not even sure what I want to say about myself?
Right now, the things I have for sale are children's illustrations, funny bumble bee ornaments, and stuffed animals. But I don't want to pigeon-hole myself into some goofy logo, because I plan on eventually expanding into more "grownup" artwork as well as (we all hope) graphic design. My favorite logo is probably the most boring one in the pack. I have 7 logos, but I sort of feel like not one of them are that great...so don't ask me to post them! I'm worried it's going to look like I didn't do a ton of work on this, when in fact, I've been wrestling this beast for too long. What a mess. My best hope is for a productive critique tonight to get me back on the right path. I guess we'll see what my teacher and class have to say. Sigh. Wish me luck!
I have my class tonight, so that means last night was homework-cram time.
I was working on my logotype assignment for today. We had to invent a "company" and services (which isn't difficult for me since I have a real, still as of yet unbranded, online shop). Then we had to pick a color scheme and design the logotype for business cards, stationery, envelopes, etc. Six different versions were due today.
It's been over a year now that I've been trying to do this logotype thing for myself for real with no success. Of course, up until this year, I also had ZERO graphic design training. So, I thought maybe tackling the whole "identity" thing would be easier since I've been in school. Now that it's an assignment and I have to do it, it'll just come rolling out, right? Wrong. The only thing that was easier for me was deciding which fonts stink. Other than that? Same level of difficulty. How do I sum myself up when I'm not even sure what I want to say about myself?
Right now, the things I have for sale are children's illustrations, funny bumble bee ornaments, and stuffed animals. But I don't want to pigeon-hole myself into some goofy logo, because I plan on eventually expanding into more "grownup" artwork as well as (we all hope) graphic design. My favorite logo is probably the most boring one in the pack. I have 7 logos, but I sort of feel like not one of them are that great...so don't ask me to post them! I'm worried it's going to look like I didn't do a ton of work on this, when in fact, I've been wrestling this beast for too long. What a mess. My best hope is for a productive critique tonight to get me back on the right path. I guess we'll see what my teacher and class have to say. Sigh. Wish me luck!
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