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Archive for May, 2010

6 clever ways to get more clients – Convince and win!

Categories: Logo Design Tips
Written By: Nora Reed

You might expect that the most grueling job for logo designers is to master the use of software programs. But believe me… learning a software is a piece of cake as compared to dealing with a client. Convincing them is the most arduous thing a designer has to put up with. The primary task is to persuade them to hire you in the first place. Explaining them that every designers’ approach to logo design trends is unique and diverse is a herculean task.

Here are some ways in which logo designers can convince their potential clients who are looking for a logo design”.

 

1. Keep the best in store:

Although it may sound eerie at first, but keeping the best in store for the last helps a lot. A technique that designers can employ is to exhibit their good and better design works initially and when the time is ripe, use their best designs to impress clients. The key here is to store your best weapons in the arsenal for the precise time and use.

 

2. Be a natural professional:

The first thing you need to build is “the image”. As the saying goes “The first impression is the last impression”, convincing clients is primarily based on the impression you make on them. By saying this, I do not necessarily mean dressing up in a formal tuxedo or using stylish wardrobe. The first impression as a logo designer is through the words you speak. The more professional you will sound, the more your chances of convincing the client. But sometimes, designers tend to overact and mess up the image. The key is to stay natural and poised in front of the potential client.

 

3. Simplify your contact process:

Let’s face it… not all clients are familiar with the online contact procedure. Neither are they comfortable in filling out lengthy and detailed “Contac Us” forms. So, if your contact us page is an epic one, you can be sure to lose most of your potential clients. One should keep the contact folio as simple as possible for the client.

 

4. Tell, Show and Do:

The best way to convince your client to hire you is by example. By explaining your client a previous assignment of yours, he would understand as to how and why you are different from the rest. You could start off by narrating your best client story and the way you solved his corporate identity issue. This way the client will get to know how you will be facilitating him in his design query.

 

5. Client Testimonials – The real ones!

When the previous point does not work in persuading the client, you can use this one instead. One of the common ways of showing off your talent and experience is through client testimonials. When you narrate your previous client success story and the potential client doesn’t seem to buy it, you can exhibit a client testimonial (an authentic one). Although this sounds like show-off, it does the trick in impressing the clients.

 

6. A little humor does no harm:

when all hope is lost and you simply cannot convince your client through any of the above tips, go for the lighter side of persuasion. Employ a light humor by ridiculing the clients’ silly notion of getting a logo designed by their neighbor. Make sure your humor is constructive and not demeaning. But make sure not to cross the line and keeping the humor to acceptable levels.

 
 
 
 
 

Designers’ approach to logo design trends – Action and Reaction!

Categories: Logo Design Tips
Written By: Nora Reed

Logo design trends are always hosted by a mixture of reactions. Not always met with a warm reception, they sometimes face fierce resistance from its critics. Irrespective of the field, trends are useful in analyzing the future course of events in the industry. Although the “origins, history and future of logo design” is a debatable subject, we can always make a rough assessment for future prospects.

Logo designs trends in 2009 were widely debated and questioned. The situation has been somewhat similar for logo design trends in 2010. Since newer trends emerge every now and then, it is vital for logo designers to comprehend them as fast as possible. This will help in coping with the rest of the industry players. A simple example of changing trends is In-game advertising, the new platform for logo design.

But what are the possible reactions to logo design trends? Every designer holds a different attitude and viewpoint, thus eliciting a different response. Here are some likely ways in which designers approach logo design trends.

 
 

• Acknowledge & Implement:

Although the notion of adopting a design trend would sound uncanny for some, still most designers follow this mindset. Let us make it clear that implementing a logo design trend does not necessarily mean plagiarizing. To differentiate between the use and misuse of logo design trends is important. In other words, there is a difference between logo plagiarism, inspiration and coincidence. For instance when a client asks you to make something in a pattern similar to a particular design, it does not mean that you merely replicate it. What the client actually refers to is the design pattern and not the exact design.

 

• Disapprove & Dissent:

Another attitude contrasting to the first one is complete denial to the trend. This attitude is followed by designers who believe that adopting a particular trend is contrary to the distinctiveness of a designer. This is true to an extent. For example, a logo design trend may be rejected on the basis of being identical to the ones already in the market. But on the other hand, rejecting a logo design trend would be akin to not availing the complete prospects of designing.

 

• Avoid and Evade:

Some designers tend not to react to logo design trends in any way. The attitude is to ignore the upcoming and emerging trends and stick to the basics as well as their instincts. You might be thinking ignoring is analogous to rejecting, but there is a thin line that separates these two approaches. When you disapprove or oppose a logo design trend, it is an active retort. While ignoring is a passive way of saying no to trends.

 

• Advance and Enhance:

This kind of attitude goes one step further than acknowledging and implementing a logo design trend. A very creative and ingenious approach to design trends is to take it to the next level. Optimistic logo designers learn from an existing design pattern and use their expertise to generate a new logo design trend. For example, the handwritten logos evolved from the trend of signature logos.

 
 
What is your approach towards logo design trends? How do you take the logo design trends…positively or negatively?
 

30 Fresh Logos to give you a helping hand in Logo Design

Categories: Logo Design Tips
Written By: Nora Reed

It is often said that behind every innovative logo design, lies a creative hand. But what if the hand lies within the logo design? Funny as it may sound but employing a hand design in a logo is a very profound technique.

We all are familiar with sign language and hand gestures. The hand can portray the symbol of victory,  friendship, love, hatred, synergy and numerous other ways. One cannot even imagine the myriad ways in which a simple hand can be twisted and turned to deliver a clever and emotional logo design.

Following are 30 inspirational logo designs that cleverly incorporate a hand in them.

   

Handmade Pictures

 

touchNerds

 

BeSmart

 

Work

 

Handmade cafe

 

Make A Shot

 

deerhand

 

Hypnocoach

 

NEFRSEF

 

Share Effect

 

Golden Friends

 

Oklahoma Museum Network

 

Helping Hands

 

Sign Up

 

RSSNAP : B/W

 

Fair Trade Growers

 

Sauerzweig Automobile

 

CustomPipes

 

Synergy

 

Handbook

 

Aircare

 

hogar de niños

 

Fernando’s Landscaping

 

Williamson Pottery

 

St. Francis Hospital

 

Hands Across America

 
 
Have your say:
Did these logos really made you ponder which creative hands could be behind these creative logos?

Famous brand name changes –What’s in name!!

Categories: Logo Design Tips
Written By: Nora Reed
 

Although I could not uncover the price of Google logo in my last post regarding cost of famous logos, but what I did find out during the research was that Google was originally named “Backrub”. This made me realize that many companies that are now famous under their present brand names weren’t so prominent under their previous names.

Some corporate name changes took place due to corporate mergers, some changed their identity to keep aloof from controversies while other corporate name changes are the result of logo redesign. Irrespective of the reason, a change in company name can have dual consequences. It may either boost the previous brand equity to the skies or deplete it completely.

Below are 10 of the most famous corporate name changes that ever took place.

 

1. Accenture – - – - – Andersen Consulting (old name)

Initially known as “Andersen Consulting”, this firm is regarded for one of the worst corporate name changes in history. The present name "Accenture" was adopted in 2001 for a whopping $100 million. The name was an apparent
derivation from the phrase "Accent on the future". The change finally proved fortunate, clearing it from a scandal involving Enron.
 
 

2. AOL (America Online) – - – - – Quantum Computer Services (old name)

The famous AOL was established in 1985 under the name Quantum Computer Services. It was renamed to “America Online” in 1991. Finally in April 2006, America Online officially adopted its AOL abbreviation solely, replacing "America Online".
 
 

3. Google – - – - – BackRub (old name)

Did you know that the no.1 search engine was once named "BackRub"? Larry Brin and Serge Page’s technology created Google in 1996 and nicknamed it Backrub, because the system verified backlinks to approximate the significance
of a site. In 1998, they decided to rename their business “Google” in 1998 that evolved from a spelling mistake of the word “googol”.
 
 

4. Nissan – - – - – Datsun (old name)

Nissan was incorporated in 1933 under the name “Datsun”. The name “Nissan” came as an abbreviation used on the Tokyo stock market for Nippon Sangyo, a company founded by the President, Yoshisuke Aikawa

———————————————————————————————–
 

5. Pepsi-Cola – - – - – Brad’s Drink (old name)

Pepsi originated in 1893, as “Brad’s Drink” named after the pharmacist Celeb Bradham. In 1898, Brad’s Drink was renamed "Pepsi-Cola", now one of the most liked brand of soft drink. The name change was apparently due to digestive
enzyme pepsin and kola nuts used in the recipe.
 
 

6. IBM – - – - – Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (old name)

The company was founded in 1896 as “Tabulating Machine Company” by Herman Hollerith and incorporated as Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation in 1911. Ultimately, it was renamed to International Business
Machines (IBM) in 1924 when Thomas J. Watson took control over it.
 
 

7. SEGA – - – - – Service Game Company (old name)

The once popular Video Game System, Sega was established in 1940 under the name “Standard Games (later Service Games) in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, by the trio Marty Bromely, Irving Bromberg, and James
Humpert. Bromely proposed moving to Tokyo, Japan in 1951 and in May 1952 "Service Games of Japan" was registered with the abbreviation SEGA.
 
 

8. Sony – - – - – Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K (old name)

It was started as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation) in 1946. But the firm changed its name to “Sony” in 1958, an amalgamation of two words “sonus” and “sonny”.
 
 

9. Sprint – - – - - Brown Telephone Company (old name)

The Sprint-Nextel Corporation as we all known today has gone through various name evolutions. Initially it was established in 1898 under the name of the Brown Telephone Company. In 1938, after emerging from
bankruptcy, Brown changed its name to United Utilities. The company grew steadily through acquisitions and, in 1972, changed its name to United Telecommunications. The company decided on a new name and "Sprint", an abbreviated form for Southern Pacific Railroad Intelligent Network of Telecommunications was selected.
 
 

10. Yahoo – - – - – Jerry’s Guide to the World Wide Web (old name)

January 1994, one of the most prominent search engine was known as "Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web". Yes you’ve guessed it right. "Jerry’s Guide" was the former name of Yahoo, which is an abbreviation

for "Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle".
 
 
If you know about any other famous brand which used another name in its earlier days, do share it with other readers here.
 

10 Famous Logo Designs and how much did they cost?

Categories: Famous Logo Designs, Logo Design News, Logo Design Stories, Logo Designers, logo designs
Written By: Nora Reed

There is a vast distinction between the price and the value of a logo design. Some corporate logos are designed at exorbitant prices but their value is not parallel to the amount paid. While, several logo designs are made at a miserly price and still turn out to be extremely valued brands.

I have been asked many a times by some of my readers as to why the prices of notable logos are seldom told? This simple yet intricate query compelled me to probe the matter. After an extensive research and hours of painstaking Google search, I managed to round up the prices of 9 famous logos along with their respective designers.

Following is a table featuring 10 prominent logo designs with their price and other statistics.

 

glasgow logo  anz logo  enron logo  twitter logo  google logo

 

Logo

Designed by

Year

Price

Enron Paul Rand 1990s $ 33,000
ANZ - 2009 $15,000,000
NeXT Paul Rand 1986 $100,000
Pepsi Arnell Group 2009 $ 1,000,000
London 2012 Olympics Wolff Ollins 2007 £ 400,000
Glasgow 2014 Games Marque Agency 2010 £ 95,000
Melbourne Australia Landor Associates 2009 $ 240,000
Nike Carolyn Davidson 1971 $ 35
Twitter Simon Oxley 2009 $10-$15
Google Ruth Kedar 1999 -

 

london 2012 logo  london 2012 logo  london 2012 logo  london 2012 logo  london 2012 logo

 

Although I toiled a lot on the internet to find the price of Google logo but could not discover it. I would like you guys to help me out in unearthing the cost of designing the Google logo. Also, if any of the above given prices is incorrect, please let me know the facts.

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