Enterprise//Developing logos.

As soon as I got back from Uni, I started to consider and develop ideas for potential logos for our enterprise company 'BOOK CLUB'. I am the first to admit that logo development, branding and identity is by no means a strong point in my design practice, though I felt that I really wanted a go in developing some ideas, and, at very least, potentially contributing some new ideas to the group.
Before beginning my own designs, I looked at existing secondary sources for potential inspiration- images, links, and annotation can be found below.

http://roytorkington.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2-roys-BS.jpg 

Great example of the primary stages of working with hand-rendered type (before editing in computer software to make vectored type, which is usual)- not perfectly crisp, of course, but a great consistency of weight of line and attention to detail with kerning and the descender(s) in particular is a great example of hand-rendered typographic design. 

http://www.joelcagedesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/S.I.Y_blue-760x1143.jpg 

Great application of textured background here- takes away any risk of the cursive script text being too formal/feminine for the band's (Kasabian) more "rock and roll" image.

http://friendsoftype.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/06_jealousy-950x950.jpg

Amazing weight of line and varying strokes using in this calligraphic design- a traditional typographic style which has been up to date with considered layout, leading and overlays for a very contemporary 

and sophisticated design.

http://www.doodlersanonymous.com/images/entries/da-ryan-03.jpg

An example of truly hand-rendered type here- with no post-production application through software- a great example of how good organic, hand-rendered type can be when it's done well. Also, a great example of how well combinations of various typefaces (and cases) work together- definitely a consideration 
for our own designs.

http://www.pressingletters.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/jhischebaby.jpg

Again, quite similar to some of the other styles I have blogged as a source of inspiration, this typeface has a beautifully light weight of line which visually communicates femininity and elegance- perhaps a little much so for our company, which we aspire to create a branding ethos of cool, contemporary, printed zine and bookmaking design- perhaps a little too traditional in this scenario.

http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/alphabetsoup/metroscript/

Although, in the other examples on this post have shown a more calligraphic style, one style that we had discussed to develop in our short meeting was a "preppy 1950's America look"- playing on the book club/school theme- our target audience also students. This design reminded me of a combination of MGM 1950's title sequence colour plates and the hand-rendered texts found on 50's American baseball outfits. Brilliant stuff.

A few quick designs I have worked on in terms of logo development before- again, as previously mentioned, not a strong point at all, but as far as I can, I want to contribute in all aspects in this group, not just the ones that I feel are my "comfort zones". Talking with some of the other group members this evening, more logo and identity work has been produced, so, when we regroup on Friday, I will propose that we all print off the work we have generated so far, and then select a top three to then discuss and select for our final design, to then for our 'Creative Review' advertising proposal design in to be completed. 

* Originally started generating my own hand-rendered type (left hand corner) but began to go off this calligraphic idea quite quickly- I feel we need something far more minimal and contemporary to effectively communicate our brand and aspirations for business.