Anchored (Rock Band) - $200 - Oct. 16th

[nevadabadgirl]

Forum Username: benHaskett

Company Details: Anchored is a new rock band from Denton, TX. You've never heard of them, because they haven't put themselves out there yet.

Type Of Contest: Logo Design

Contest Title: Anchored - A new rock band in need of a good logo

Contest Deadline: October 16th, 2009

Prize Amount: $200

Colors To Be Used: Black and white, unless you really think another color is necessary. Definitely at least include a B&W version.

Example URLs: DaughtryOfficial.com Home | DaughtryOfficial.com
Only Through The Pain
Nickelback // BURN IT TO THE GROUND VIDEO // Nickelback.com // ON TOUR NOW
Hinder
Creed.com ? The Official Website of Creed
Saving Abel - The Class of 2009 Tour

Looking for a logo for a band called Anchored. Kinda sounds like Saving Abel, Creed, Seether, Hinder, Nickelback, etc. We want the logo to use the full name, but for the 'A' to be unique enough that we could take it by itself and use it as a logo as well. Or, instead, maybe different logos for the name and for the 'A' - similar to Trapt's or Hinder's logo. We're going for sort of a Texas theme (Daughtry is a good example), but keep the aforementioned bands in mind when making the logo; we don't want anything too over-the-top or cheesy. Also--and this is very important--do not incorporate an actual anchor into the logo!

[Coy]

working on something now.

in your opinion would you want a Proment A that you can add any style text if you feel like changing it up in the future?

[benHaskett]

working on something now.

in your opinion would you want a Promenant 'A' that you can add any style text if you feel like changing it up in the future?

Well, I want the 'A' to be promenant, sure, but not so much that the 'nchored' would look out of place when placed next to it.

http://undinestudios.com/ex1.PNG

I'll assume you've heard of Metallica. Their logo is tied together with the 'M' and the 'A', and everything in between looks really natural. However, if you took thier logo and separated the lightning bolt 'M' from it, the 'M' would still be just as recognizable by itself.

http://undinestudios.com/ex2.PNG

On the other hand, both Hinder and Nickelback have good examples of having recognizable text logos, as well as recognizable "symbols."

So, really, I guess my answer is just... whatever looks good!

Hope that helps!

EDIT:

While I do like the Hinder logo, try to go for something a little "Flatter" so that we could present the logo in just one color and it would still look good.

[Coy]

Thats basically what I thought. Thanks

[Coy]

Here is my first submission. I could have spent a little longer on it but wanted to get the ball rollin for ya and it's about the end of my day.
Kept with the Texas feel i.e. country flavor type style. I didn't want to ruffen it up too much. and kept it all black and white.
http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...nchored1-0.jpg

[benHaskett]

@ Coy:

Good first effort, and thank you for submitting, but that's not what I'm looking for.

The font just looks a little too whimsical; when I look at the logo you made, I feel like I'm looking at the logo for a fantasy movie or cartoon (Like Sword in the Stone, Lord of the Rings... or even the Renaissance fair). My biggest quam is the way the ends of some letters thin-out near the end... try and keep consistant thickness throughout the word. We're definitely looking for something a little more bold and in-your-face... something... more serious in tone.

Also, the 'A' looks a little too friendly. Don't go for mean or anything (we don't want anything like Sepultura's 'S' logo), but not nice either.

Your design philosophies are certainly on the right track. You've got a nice, big 'A' there that can definitely stand alone, and the rest of the word fits nicely next to it. But unfortunately, the first attempt is off the mark. Because of this, I would suggest--instead of reiterating on your first attempt--that you go ahead and start again from scratch.

Would it maybe help if you heard one of the band's songs?

Once again, thank you for submitting, and please continue to do so.

[Coy]

@ Coy:

Good first effort, and thank you for submitting, but that's not what I'm looking for.

The font just looks a little too whimsical; when I look at the logo you made, I feel like I'm looking at the logo for a fantasy movie or cartoon (Like Sword in the Stone, Lord of the Rings... or even the Renaissance fair). My biggest quam is the way the ends of some letters thin-out near the end... try and keep consistant thickness throughout the word. We're definitely looking for something a little more bold and in-your-face... something... more serious in tone.

Also, the 'A' looks a little too friendly. Don't go for mean or anything (we don't want anything like Sepultura's 'S' logo), but not nice either.

Your design philosophies are certainly on the right track. You've got a nice, big 'A' there that can definitely stand alone, and the rest of the word fits nicely next to it. But unfortunately, the first attempt is off the mark. Because of this, I would suggest--instead of reiterating on your first attempt--that you go ahead and start again from scratch.

Would it maybe help if you heard one of the band's songs?

Once again, thank you for submitting, and please continue to do so.

Thank you for the great feedback this does help alot.
A link to your songs would be a good source of inspiration..

[benHaskett]

@ Coy, and everyone else -

Check this out:

Boondock Records

This is a work-in-progress page put up by the head of the label for distributors. Click on Anchored (they're the only artist who's page is complete), and there are three songs you can check out. Also, on the bottom-right, you'll see a link to their music video.

[Coy]

The Band has a great sound. really liked the rif on Dirty in Texas.
I'll be working on some ideas that I hope matches the band.

Thank you for the link.

[Coy]

Really not sure if this will be something that you like, but after playing with some ideas this one just kept poping out at me on the page.
http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...nchored2-0.jpg

[benHaskett]

@ Coy:

Oh my goodness, that is SO MUCH BETTER.

I was seriously shocked when I saw this. A very pleasant surprise.

Our VP of Marketing said it was incredible and passed it on to both the lead singer of Anchored as well as the head of the label... we'll see what they say!

[onesummer]

my entry. thanks.

http://www.pauljobson.com/clients/logotemp/Anchored.jpg

[Coy]

@ Coy:

Oh my goodness, that is SO MUCH BETTER.

I was seriously shocked when I saw this. A very pleasant surprise.

Our VP of Marketing said it was incredible and passed it on to both the lead singer of Anchored as well as the head of the label... we'll see what they say!

Thanks for the nice comment.
I have one more submission and working on which A I've sketched to focus on, so I'll be playing with it for a bit.

[render]

Here's an idea i had with the dressed up version and the regular version under that! Let me know what you think, thanks!

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/v...dcanvas1-1.png

[robyn]

my try... thanks.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1097/anchored.jpg

.

[benHaskett]

@ Onesummer

A little too cartoony. Makes me think Land of the Lost. Although, I have to admit it would look great on a sports jeresy... Also, the 'A' in a box just isn't doing it for me as a recognizable logo.


@ Render

Wow, that looks great! Shockingly good.

Unfortunately, the description specifically asked not to incorporate an actual anchor into the logo. Sorry. Very creative though!!!


@ Robyn

Hmm... just not feeling it. The font and the logo kinda clash; the 'A' looks like a clean, serif font and the word 'anchored' is super dirty and eroded. Know what I mean? Also, the flame is a little cheesy.


My suggestion for everyone

Check this out:

http://undinestudios.com/logoproblems.png

We really liked this font (called Broken Cowboys and found on dafont.com) and we were going to use it, but it's the exact same font that Daughtry uses.

So, we need something that is different, but similar to the Daughtry logo. That means you should focus on:

1. Long, sweeping tails and the end of some letters.

2. A kind of "dirty" look.

3. Those little "spikes" that run through the middle of every letter.

Now, I'm sure you might have some questions about this, namely: "That was pretty much Coy's first submission! What Gives?" Well, while Coy covered almost all of that criteria in his first submission, it just wasn't... manly enough. I hope that doesn't sound wrong... We want somemthing that is warm, but also heavy on testosterone.

Your next question might be: "But then why did you praise Coy's second submission? It didn't follow ANY of that criteria!" Well, true, but it just looks good.

Sorry if this is too rambly. Please feel free to ask questions if you have them.

[robyn]

@ Robyn

Hmm... just not feeling it. The font and the logo kinda clash; the 'A' looks like a clean, serif font and the word 'anchored' is super dirty and eroded. Know what I mean? Also, the flame is a little cheesy.

Thanks, I'll try to make your request.

[robyn]

here's my effort.. changes on A, C and E ... tails are on the progress views.
..dirty look added on the C and E.
i am open for any suggestion. thanks.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1097/anchored.jpg

.

[Coy]

Well this is my last submission.
I didn't want to go too crazy with the effects. But can add/subtract from this.
Worked on the text for sometime trying to get it right. I feel its very different from Daughtry's font or any others you've posted.
let me know if you'd like to see variations with any of my subimissions. as I said I can add or take away from any of them, work on fonts whatever.
http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...nchored3-0.jpg

[render]

Sorry, i don't know why i didn't see that anchor incorporation thingy! I'm going for another look with this one. Here's one with nails in some of the feet of the letters to symbolize the word "anchored". Let me know what you think.. thanks!!!

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/v...redcanvas2.png