Some of the logos in the "Logo design contest" for Minerva Surgical are apalling. As a graphic designer, let me offer a few tips...
1) Making a logo using clipart is like making a skyscraper with lincoln logs. Don't do it.
2) Putting text on top of a photograph of a flower/woman/whatever is not a logo.
3) If you don't know what the word "typography" means, well, this may not be the contest for you
4) If you even THINK about using Comic Sans, I will be forced to leap through your computer and slap you upside the head
Submit Blog entry | FreshBrain5) Paint is not a logo making tool. Honestly, why does Microsoft even make it anymore?
6) Use a vector program. If you don't know what that means, look up "vector vs. raster" in google.
7) Don't just use something a tutorial told you to make. Please. It may look good, but it will lack soul.
8) NO TEXTURES.
9) "Abstract Art" aka random doodles and blindly using the pen tool is not a logo.
As much as I hate doing this, I really do, here's some examples to compare:
Good Logos:
https://freshbrain.org/activity/submission/minerva-surgical-logo-7-0
(I'd include an inverse version, as it would be difficult to print the glow on every medium)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/u17609/pink_spotcolor-_BIG_.png
(hehe... yes, it's mine. I love Museo. It's a great font. The faucet makes it asymmetrical, making it visually interesting)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/MS%20Logo%2013.png
(Nice, subtle blue gradient)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/MS%20Logo%2017.png
(GREAT looking logo. Downside: No correlation to company, looks very tutorialized. Kerning is off too. See between the R and the G in Surgical?)
The Not So Great Logos
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/IMG_2025.JPG
(This is more of concept art... not a final logo. Not bad as concept. Needs to be made in a vector program.)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/Minerva13.jpg
(...Not a logo. Pretty flower. Not a logo.)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/minerva1.JPG
(No words necessary.)
https://freshbrain.org/activity/submission/xo
(Sort of looks like drugged up teenager. No relevance to company. But not a bad symbol.)
https://freshbrain.org/activity/submission/minerva-contour
(I give you props for trying this out. But no.)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/Picture%204_1.png
(Is it going to be the pink flying squirrel or the snake rod thingy? Both is overkill.)
https://freshbrain.org/activity/submission/first-logo
(3D doesn't usually work. Only on some very rare occaisions.)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/Minerva%20Surgery%202.jpg
(It looks like wordart. Wordart is the lepper of graphic design. It's not graphic design. It uglifies the world. Please don't model after it.)
https://freshbrain.org/sites/all/files/contest/minerva%20surgical_0.jpg
("Nothing exemplifies the refreshing, exciting, possibilities of life better than the prospect of "A New Day." Unfettered, unincumbered, and unhampered by the past, "A New Day" logo represents Minerva Surgical in the best possible light." WOW. You could sell ice to an eskimo. Better luck at being an ice salesman. I'm not sold on this logo.)
NEW! Other Community Member Submitted Logo:
It is so horrible that I almost love it. Here's the message and link I got:
"You listed some bad logos, but I found one particular gem I thought I'd share with you. It literally left me speechless. ;)"
http://freshbrain.org/activity/submission/minerva-logo-9
...I'm speechless too.
Also, let me apologize if I've insulted you or your logo. I truly am not a bitter, horrible person!
If you're looking for inspiration, check out http://logopond.com They've got some GREAT logos!!!
A good logo should communciate the purpose of a company, the feel the company wants to present, and will be one of the number one selling points to a client.
Comments (7)
Claygoetz! congrats!
This is the most perfect article ever written! you would not believe the amount of time ive spent telling this exact thing to people who call themselves designers on this site! Read the PHOTOSHOP? bulletin on the contest page! ;)
And this whole excuse about people ages 13-18 dont know mush about design and tools is BullSh*t! Ive been designing a SELLING my logos to REAL companies all over the world since i was 17! so that excuse is bullsh*t! if you dont have the knowledge of at least the proper tools to use you dont deserve and shouldnt be in this contest! like seriously! look at some of the horrid so called "designs" submitted! to they really think that a professional medical company would dare be seen with those monstrosities as their identities?!?! thats like United States have Osama BinLaden as our president! These people seriously need to just get off theyre dsamn computers and leave the designing to people who actually have an idea and know what theyre doing.
thank you Claygoetz!
@nwongfeiying:
I'm not sure what you mean. Unless you are thouroughly experienced with Illustrator/Fireworks/Photoshop(least preferable)/Pixelmator(super basic)/Other credible design software, it won't be as easy as you say it is. You could be Pablo Picasso, but I'm sure he doesn't know anything about the pen tool. Really, that's what it comes down to: talent, and the tools. You MUST have both to do well. Best of luck in your pursuit!
Your situation and mine are different. I'm a programmer and my work is roughly in the same area. Not only that, all of my work would have some sort of link because they're all created by me. So all I have to do is create a logo and then somehow change it for each program. It's fairly simple for me.
Because it's the same program, I can just have a basic one now and improve it later. Look at IE's picture. It used to be a plain unshaded one color E, but now it has gold and different color blues in it. It shouldn't be too hard for me.
nwongfeiying:
You talk big game. But just "jumping" into the graphic design community is not easy. Yes, there will be a ton of bad logos. That's why I'm posting this. People's biggest misconception of graphic design is that it's just "fun", "easy", like "playing all day". All actual things I've heard from people. I love your confidence, but be careful because it is not snap your fingers easy. I've been designing for over 4 years, and my coworkers on the Media Team I'm on have been designing MUCH longer, and coming up with a clever, unique idea is just as hard.