Current design proposals

First in a series of current design proposals I wanted to post. This one for www.greenway500.com bike shop in Indiana. I assume you will recognize the original logo and my adjacent initial design. My intent was not to change the elements within the logo but rather, update them. The elements represent two common services provided and the shield is significant because the shop is located just off the www.cardinalgreenways.org and a major highway. Owned and operated by a highly qualified mechanic and overall cycling guru, it deserves a logo to better match the service provided. As it is a work in progress, look for a final design in the coming weeks.

They Call Me Mellow Yellow

A short lesson in color selection. Yellow is the happiest primary color. One of the strongest colors to pull in a viewer from signage. Next time you are on the road look around at how many signs use yellow and black. Yellow and navy. Yellow and red. Can you say, McYellow? From the paintings of Rembrandt to Lichtenstein, yellow has been used effectively with great control. When yellow is out of control, terrible things happen.

This pre-disco 1975 image from www.jalopyjournal.com takes happiness and freedom to a whole new level. A dude of great courage in an unfortunate alignment of yellow clash and fashion blindness. Penny loafers aside, can we assume the gent in the middle dressed in the dark...with the aid of a strobe light. 

It also points out the sound practice of conscientious decision making. Think of the unconscientious decisions made before this guy ventured out of his groovy abode. In a couple of years, he will hit the disco floor in, no doubt, bell bottom shorts.

Recycling Shirt Design

About a year ago, I designed an award winning logo for Kedia Recycling in Hamilton, New Jersey. I am currently working with the company developing stationery, business cards and T-shirt designs after a company name change. Now called, Kedia Metals, above is one such design on navy tee with the revised logo featured on the back of the suggested tee (right).

My task was to design a tee that even people outside the recycling business might find cool to wear. An edgy, contemporary front with a selected subject for the back. Each tee has a different recycling subject on the back, this featuring an aluminum can.

New Web site Logo

My most recent logo design was for a news blog, Angry White Dude. My visit to the site immediately brought to mind a dart board (imagine that) which became the basis for the logo. It was an instant success. The site's authors are going to target some thing, person or cause on a regular basis. Not much else to say except  the logo looks pretty awesome in the banner. A simple design which directly supports the site.

This site totally shuns any political correctness, skewering many in the process with sarcasm. There will be something on the site to either cheer or disapprove of I am sure. Just don't get in a tizzy over it. Just because someone does not share your opinion, does not mean it is not valid.

Community Logo Designs

One of my latest logo design wins is for two residential communities under development by Innovative Residential. They are a leading real estate developer in Saskatchewan building attractive communities with quality homes for families.

There was a desire to have two distinct logos, both representing an upscale community environment and having a family resemblance. An approach used many times, both are clean and stylish if not groundbreaking in concept. Providing the right end result is always my first concern. This time it has worked, as this brief testimonial attests:

"Mr. Burgess was extremely efficient and willing to submit numerous iterations based on our comments and feedback. A creative designer with good attention to detail."

Online e-Teacher Logo

Another recent first place finish (and the monetary reward that goes with it) was my design for VLE Teacher, an online teaching resource. The intent was to clearly portray their online presence. I was encouraged my design was favored right from the beginning. There were many variations submitted before the deadline arrived, but this is basically my original concept. Despite tough competition, the client was not swayed by the other designs.

Itialian Imports Logo

 
I was awarded first place and prize money in a recent logo design contest. Wolesale Italian Imports sells high quality, designer clothing, online. The client requested the logo be in black, understated yet elegant. I envisioned a clean, simple and stylish presentation. A open font which  has a slight edge to it.

Sometimes a simple and clean design seems to be the easy way out. But it takes discernment to know when to stop designing and let it be. Some of the best logos are timeless because they are deceptively simple. GE, Shell Oil, the Nike swoosh, Volkswagen or the Coke Cola script remain virtually unchanged after many decades. I do not suggest my logo fits even remotely in this category. My assignment was simply to provide the "perfect" logo for this particular business. Apparently, it worked out pretty well.