Opinions Please - Logos

I am looking for honest - structured opinions on some of my designs. Along with any opinions... any advice on how to improve would also be apprecaiated. I am all self taught... I have had no schooling or whatever... So anything that will help me become better is welcome!
They can be viewed at
http://wgradlportfolio.atspace.com
- If you would like to see a bigger version of one let me know.

Hi WGradl,

I think these logos are a good start, but they lack some very basic and fundamental design principles. I also noticed that you are "squishing" some of your text. This makes the shape of the type look forced and not right, and breaks a basic rule of typography.

Second, I noticed the use of textures/bevels, which means that these logos are raster based. Logos should be done in vector to allow for the many resolutions that they are needed in.

Finally, if you really want to get some practice, you need to be working with actual company names. They can be made up or they can be real, but a logo should always reflect the company it represents. By naming these "Template #1-12" you are not capturing the true essence of the logo.

Anyway, I am not trying to discourage you, just giving you my honest opinion. If you are truly interested in graphic design, I recommend taking some courses in design theory (and when I say theory, I mean courses that actually teach design priniciples, and not just how to use photoshop).

If you are interested in typography, check out this book:
Stop Stealing Sheep, and Found Out How Type Works

If you have any questions let me know!
~ John

Thank-You - I appreciate the honesty. How can anyone do better if they don't know what they are doing wrong.
The images are vector though. I can export them in .esp, .psd, & other formats as well. The program I use, allows the use of both vector & rastor - to create an end design.

I have a couple of more for you to look at if you would.

sure I do not mind looking at a couple more for you.

http://wgradlportfolio.atspace.com
Please check out the website again & click the "MORE" button in the upper right corner. I have also added other links to the current logo designs... so you can see them bigger. Just click on the image... & it'll take you to the correct page. Thanks!

I also forgot please check out
effectivedesign.atspace.com
Thanks!

Hi there,
There is nothing wrong with being self taugt, but i'm gonna be very honest here - your site and designs needs a lot more work. As already suggested you should try working with real company names, and really give more attention to detail.

Your designs are too complicated and you lose track of what's important. If you can use one color with the logo and people recognize the concept then you have done a good job. A lot of your works are missing concepts completely and don't really fit into any sort of category.

Your typography needs some serious work, your kerning is off with almost all your works and on some, the letter width is tweaked and looks cheap.
As for the raster vs. vector, your program may allow for many types of exports, but those images are NOT vector. Vector means it is paths which no matter what size they remain smooth on the edges. You use textures in there that just flat out are not possible in vector.

Thank-you everyone - for the honesty. Are there any programs you would recommend, or websites with good tutorials? Or in fact anything at all that would help me?

Hey - well we all started somewhere - so your on the right track.

If you want the best: Buy Adobe Illustrator / Adobe CS 2 Suite
If you want something affordable and fast buy: Xara X1

Although Illustrator is great i sometimes use Xara X1 simply because its faster.

What application(s) are you currently using?

RealDraw Pro. / Gimp / Inkscape

Thank-you everyone - for the honesty. Are there any programs you would recommend, or websites with good tutorials? Or in fact anything at all that would help me?

You mentioned you are self-thought. How did you thought yourself? What did you use for learning? What steps did you do to learn design?

Programs, websites, and tutorials will NOT teach you to execute a good design. They will teach you how to use a program, and what menu commands to choose/execute in order to carry out certain actions. PERIOD.

Here's a few books on design BASICS. They will cover the principles and elements of design. Needless to say, I did not compile the whole section of basic design books from Amazon, but any of these books should get you started (...PS: Reading only ONE book, is not enough to learn succesful design!...)

Design Basics
http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

Principles of Form and Design
http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

Principles of Two-Dimensional Design
http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

Design Basics for Creative Results
http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

Geometry of Design: Studies in Proportion and Composition
http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

Elements of Design
http://www.amazon.co...ce&s=books&st=*

Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type
http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

The Non-Designer's Design Book
http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

The Non-Designer's Type Book
http://www.amazon.co...ce&s=books&st=*

Before & After Magazine also have excellent design books. You can also download a few design samples from them in PDF format:
http://www.bamagazine.com/

Me being self taught is exactly that. I get the programs - then mess around with them until I have figured it out. I have also read some of the basics of logo design, but nothing that in depth.
I just would like to take a second to thank everyone for being so kind in helping me. Thanks!

As previously mentioned, I would also look into some of the more mainstream applications for creating vector images - as its apparent just by looking at your portfolio that these are not vector based.

It is very important for someone starting out to learn the difference between vector and raster based drawings as this is a fundamental basis for any designing. Just because you can output images as eps's does not mean that they're vector. Once you start using filters or adding bevels, drop shadows, highlighting, etc your image becomes rasterized. There are ways (depending on the progam that you use) where you can create these types of effects by hand while maintaining their vector quality.

Too much detail to go into here...... but definitely get started on the books that pentool recommended, as it is impossible to just "teach yourself" everything that you'll need to know just to even get started in this field.

I would also recommend that you read a lot of books published on logo designs as you study the principles behind. Analyze the designs shown in the book and try to figure out what made that logo clicked.

I read a very nice book entitled "A SMILE IN THE MIND" that discuss how you can use "wit" in graphic design (logos, brochure, packaging etc...)

Also read books on basic printing because they do influence your design. Goodluck

My appologies if this has been mentioned already. I think that the logos definitely need some help. For starters, it would be nice to see you stray from the 16 bit color system. Have some fun with the colors, they don't all have to be windows blue, green, and yellow.

Secondly, try to stay as far away from photoshop filters as possible. Unless you absolutely need to use one, just leave them alone and rely on your own design abilities. If you need a photoshop filter to make your design look good, then there is something wrong. Unless of course it is a filter that achieves realism in your design (such as making things look like brushed metal).

My final crit is how you placed all the logos together into one jumble. I think that its quite clear that not ALL of the colors of every logo match, so when you put them in a jumble, the colors tend to clash and make the whole thing look bad. My suggestion would be to place each logo into a separate square outline, giving it enough room to breathe. That way each logo can have its own effect on the audience without the others making it look bad.

Most of the other comments before mine apply as well, hopefully I haven't repeated anyone.

Good luck in the future

What do you mean by 16 bit colors? I try to stick with CMKY colors, if they want to print the design.
I never expected this kind of turn out. Thanks to everyone for helping me. I cannot express how much I appreciate it!

I just meant that your colors are a bit limited, there are millions of shades. You don't always have to go with the bluest blue, or the greenest green (i.e. the colors you might find in Paint).