Problem: Create a black and white symbol for yourself, one that embodies your identity as a professional. Your symbol logo should be recognizable, simple, and reflective of your values/personality/professional goals. Integrate your name so that both elements (the type and the symbol) are combined into an unified whole
Limits: Black and white, graphic symbol, created using the Pathfinder palette and/or Path menu commands. A well-considered, legible font to display your name, integrated or placed in proximity to the symbol. None of the following overused symbolic references should be used in your logo:
- your name or initials
- eyes
- paintbrush, palette, pencil
- globe
- computer
- key
- light bulb
- CMYK color swatches
Process:
- Research / Inspiration
- Take a look at the definitions and pros/cons of these different logo types:
Definitions: The LogoFactory | Elf Design
Examples: Symbol or Graphic | Wordmark or Text-based | Combination - Write down 10 words that you use to describe yourself as a designer or just a person.
- Think about what kind of image you want to project. Is your style conservative or edgy or somewhere in between? How do you want to differentiate yourself from others? What makes you special? These will all be factors in developing your logo.
- Take a look at the definitions and pros/cons of these different logo types:
- Experimentation / Iteration
- Make thumbnail sketches of a symbol logo that is recognizable, simple and reflects your values/personality/professional goals. Make sure others can describe your logo with at least 2 of those 10 words you use to describe yourself (see above).
- Refine those that are most successful. Bring in at least 3 hand drawn versions to scan in.
- Create a typeface worksheet to test out familiar and unfamiliar fonts. This is a good way of evaluating fonts that you like and determine which will work best for your combination logo.
- Development of Skill and Craft
Rework your logo sketches based on class feedback and decide on a final design.- Scan your finished sketch at 150 dpi, grayscale, and save as a jpg.
- Create a new CMYK document in Illustrator and place your finished sketch (scanned) as a template layer.
- Use the shapes and bezier pen tools to build the base of the logo. Use the direct selection tool to modify paths, as needed. Then use the pathfinder palette, compound path, and path menus to unify, divide, merge, and modify shapes.
- Integrate your name with the symbol logo. First step is to CREATE OUTLINES (Type > Create Outlines). This turns your editable type its editable vector objects. Observe the curves or angles of your symbol logo and the type. Play around with the relationships between both. You may manipulate the type slightly to help integrate it with the symbol, but not to point of illegibility. The finished combination logo should have an obvious relationship between the type and symbol. It should not look as though the type was just thrown in next to it.
- Expression of Form, Emotions, Concepts, and Voice
- Your illustration, while limited to by the constraints of the project, should express your unique voice or graphic style using basic design principles.
- Show a connection between the original research and the final illustration
- Thoughtful Assessment (Critique or Written)
- Bring all assignment parts to class.
- Be prepared to present, discuss and analyze your finished work in terms of concept, craft, and what you learned.
- State the following: your name, what you are presenting (title and design problem), which parts are successful and why, which parts are unsuccessful and why.
- Work Hour Tally
- In the info section of your file, define the hours committed for each portion of the assignment, including dates and times.
- Submission
Your illustration is due in the DropBox on the due date (check weekly class outline)
Your logo folder (jsmith_logo) should include:- Symbol Logo: jsmith_symbol_logo.ai
- Combination Logo: jsmith_combination_logo.ai
- Typeface Worksheet: jsmith_worksheet.ai
- IMPORTANT: Turn all fonts to outline