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Post by seawell on Jul 3, 2023 11:11:13 GMT -6
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Post by drbill on Jul 3, 2023 11:39:01 GMT -6
^^^^ These are BY FAR the best IMO, and are now starting to get into some creative territory. All previous were too provincial and literal for me. I don't really like the lower black and white ones, but all the others are hands down better than the other options AFAIC. |
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Post by copperx on Jul 3, 2023 12:51:59 GMT -6
^^^^ These are BY FAR the best IMO, and are now starting to get into some creative territory. All previous were too provincial and literal for me. I don't really like the lower black and white ones, but all the others are hands down better than the other options AFAIC. Exactly. This is getting closer to good design territory. |
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Post by honkeur on Jul 3, 2023 13:40:46 GMT -6
These are looking cool. I like # 2 and 3 the best. A microphone brand shouldn't have the connotations of friendliness or coziness. Microphones are not baked goods or homemade jam. They're kind of industrial tools, built by technicians, with specialized scientific knowledge. I think a "cool" logo is essential to inspire the customer's confidence. (Not "cool" as in "hip", but just -- understated, not overly friendly, not too down-to-earth.) |
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Post by gmichael on Jul 3, 2023 13:55:38 GMT -6
Here's roughness at it's best. I have had my graphic designer read the thread too but I don't want him to have free reign just yet as these ideas are gold. I love the reverse colouring of the hex so I'd like to keep that but how about the name written this way (with a cool letter design of course) View AttachmentA graphic design person should never be let off the leash and if they will only work that way, they are neither a professional nor the right content provider for your commission. Also, it would be prudent to hire 3 graphic artists preferrably from different parts of the world to work on the same mockups and see where that round of work leads to, and keep distilling it down to the simplest most profound..you'll know it when you see it.
The ones Mr Seawell has posted are great, even if they look more like perfume company logos at the moment, he is totally on the right path. Having slept on it, I think a logo confined inside of a shape is not the way to go, don't like the hexagon at all. I really like the modern aesthetic of borderless logo's. The font's will be everything, and the best logo's only use 1 font, and definitely not the grandma's old fashion jam nostalgia curly fonts.
A custom font that is not so blatantly obvious but has an aesthetic vibe would be fantastic.
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Post by paulcheeba on Jul 3, 2023 13:57:27 GMT -6
2 is really cool but I miss the hexagon as it gave it a more unique and relevant approach.
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Post by paulcheeba on Jul 3, 2023 14:00:17 GMT -6
The other problem with many graphic designers is they are dedicated followers of fashion when all you want is something timeless.
On the other hand doing it by committee or test screening can level the life out of it. I think it’s still circling the airport. Ideally it should just work and sell itself.
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Post by crillemannen on Jul 3, 2023 14:39:19 GMT -6
Nr.2 looks classic. I agree with Paul a nice hexagon would make it even better. I do like the incorporation of a bee as well.
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Post by chessparov on Jul 3, 2023 15:26:47 GMT -6
Still all way above me. But if a Bee lands on the Logo after out little Spelling Bee... You know the (bad) jokes just may happen.  Back to our regularly scheduled Hive Mind.  Chris |
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Post by mics on Jul 3, 2023 18:18:00 GMT -6
So many great ideas. I really love the bn coming out of the logo. I have asked my graphic designer to make me a few few mock-ups of the bn coming out through a hexagon as the shape will work really well. I’ll post them here when he has done them for some opinions. The think tank is certainly shooting for the stars here. Thanks guys.
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Post by gmichael on Jul 3, 2023 18:52:09 GMT -6
The other problem with many graphic designers is they are dedicated followers of fashion when all you want is something timeless. On the other hand doing it by committee or test screening can level the life out of it. I think it’s still circling the airport. Ideally it should just work and sell itself. 100,000%.
Finding the right graphic designer is a trick unto itself. So many of the self taught and trade school only are mediocrity copying mediocre waiting to happen. A great graphic designer has done multiple degrees, has lived and experienced life immersed in different cultures and industries to settle on a skill that is exceptionally obvious.
The process of partnering with the right graphic designer should have some tension to it, a design worth fighting for is a key ingredient to a successful outcome. Web designers are the epitome of the worst possible candidate for a graphic designer. So are friends, any over familiarity on a personal level means the process is compromised from the start. A logo can design the fate of a potential empire, there is nothing warm and fuzzy about it, it's one of the most critical decisions a business can make. While I doubt that there are many "expert" microphone logo designers on the planet, an expert graphic designer with the capacity to work as a logo mid wife is out there. An experienced FMCG product manager is a vital team member to liaise between inventor and the hired help.
Australian/NZ commercial graphic artists by and large are terribly unrefined and less than appropriately educated and life experienced for such a huge task as branding what could become an empire inside a fickle and niche marketplace.
I don't think we are even within approach of the airport, possibly still building the wings for the plane itself! I think the gender of the graphic artist commissioned with the final copy for print is going to be key as well.
I'm aware this will offend those standing by to be offended but I say this in the best interest of the outcome. It's definitely an experienced, well educated well travelled mature male designer with lateral industry experience and references, or it's a crap shoot imo.
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Post by copperx on Jul 4, 2023 1:32:44 GMT -6
On the one hand, it's great that this thread had created so much enthusiasm. On the other hand, this thread proves again that bikeshedding is real. |
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Post by mics on Jul 4, 2023 1:53:57 GMT -6
Here are two samples from my Graphics guy. I love where it is moving to. maybe softer edges on the hexagon and the lettering? Maybe also the hexagon could be made up of hexagons or partially therein? what do you think. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by gmichael on Jul 4, 2023 3:20:16 GMT -6
The B looks weird.The borders on the inside of the hexagon feature are completely out of balance and has no efficient form. Overall, the font does not work effectively with the repeating hex like pattern.
I hope that's not the work of the graphic designer you intend to use to see this through with. For a pro, this is terrible.
It looks the exact opposite of professional.
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Post by mics on Jul 4, 2023 3:33:13 GMT -6
It's a 5 minute rough he has done for me off a verbal idea. pretty good actually considering it was taken from a word picture. It is a first draft of a first draft but just looking for thoughts and variances. I have instructed him that we need to make ideas fast and fluid during the spit balling stage as there will be tons of ideas and the real budget starts once the idea starts to cement itself.
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 4, 2023 3:39:53 GMT -6
These designs are quite Art Deco.
#525043141
Makes me think of an old Bakelite radio.
Possible a good thing .... classic 50's mic design?
Possibly too old fashioned?
The fact they're hand made in Australia is something to be extremely proud of
is there anyway of articulating that in the name/logo?
Just an idea to throw into the mix.
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Post by drbill on Jul 4, 2023 10:07:34 GMT -6
For me, Josh's ideas ( seawell) are still hands down far and away the best direction going here. They are classy and creative. Not really liking the direction your graphics designer is heading. But it's just my personal opinion. Carry on.... |
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Post by christopher on Jul 4, 2023 10:17:09 GMT -6
Just to confuse you and send your head spinning, I kinda like the original logo. The lightning bolts, etc. it’s the crowded lettering that from a distance has always reminded me of a rapper smiling while wearing a grill. Would make a killer grill, btw, speckled with diamonds, just sayin. So I always assumed they were rapper’s mics, and sort of ignored them based on that. Now enough time has passed, lots of models, that’s not the case - the brand has grown on me, big time. I look at the logo and I see it as fine. I might keep it and remove all the letters. Or keep the B and the Z and shrink it down vertically a little. Something besides red.. Grey, silver, purple.. etc. and BZ could be read as ‘bees’, .. since you mentioned the Rode thing.
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Post by seawell on Jul 4, 2023 10:42:02 GMT -6
For me, Josh's ideas ( seawell) are still hands down far and away the best direction going here. They are classy and creative. Not really liking the direction your graphics designer is heading. But it's just my personal opinion. Carry on.... Thanks Bill! mics , you can purchase one of those exact logos very affordably(I think an extended license is $80) that would allow your graphic designer to have the photoshop and illustrator files. You’re allowed to customize and use them on products to resale. I’d take one of those if you really like it and tweak from there so your artists isn’t having to try and copy or recreate it from scratch. I just searched “BN Logo” on stock.adobe.com to find these. |
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Post by the other mark williams on Jul 4, 2023 14:15:42 GMT -6
Here are two samples from my Graphics guy. I love where it is moving to. maybe softer edges on the hexagon and the lettering? Maybe also the hexagon could be made up of hexagons or partially therein? what do you think. View AttachmentView AttachmentThere are some things about the "BN" emerging from a hexagon that I do really like.
I think these examples are headed more towards an Art Deco look, though, and I struggle to see the connection between what I know of BeesNeez mics and an Art Deco aesthetic. (Well, besides the Roaring 20s and phrase "it's the bees knees", I suppose. Maybe that's enough, but it doesn't currently match up in my head.) When new Art Deco is done in a modern context, it's typically either as a highly stylized throwback (often with limited shelf life), or meant to evoke the golden age of old Hollywood. Neither of those contexts feel to me like what I associate with BeesNeez mics.
Just my thoughts.
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Post by antipodesjosh on Jul 4, 2023 15:40:26 GMT -6
It’s tempting to jump right in to the visual expression. This usually happens in the second part of a design project. It could be helpful to use a process, such as the double diamond: blog.logrocket.com/ux-design/modern-double-diamond-design/In the first stage we: - identify the challenge (an example could be: how can we change the market perception of Beesneez from prosumer to hangs-with-the-best world-class manufacturing?) - get to the bottom of what’s behind the current perceptions (this thread is a good start!) - explore the problem space, conduct research, competitor analysis (e.g, Neat have a whole range of $100 bee-themed mics, which could be muddying the waters of perception) - look for insights and opportunities for a creative response - consolidate that into a brief for the visual components of the solution In other words, we figure out what work the brand needs to do, who it needs to communicate to, what it should “feel” like, and criteria for success. That helps keep the design on track, and prevents us getting lost in the woods. In the second phase, we work on the design solution: - research visual style, colours, things that inspire visually - see if there’s any aspects of how, where, and by whom the product is made, that could be inspiring for our visual style. I suspect this will be the main source of inspiration for Beesneez, there’s an authenticity and truth-to-materials (to borrow a Bauhaus phrase) that feels very important here - typefaces (licensing?) - wordmark/logo ideation. Usually dozens. - shortlist the good ones and try them out as rough mock-ups in-situ on some products, packaging, posters - pick the best one - final visual refinements, proportions, spacing, etc - consider material constraints (does it need to be laser cut, spincast, screen-printed?) - rollout/applications: apply new brand to packaging, invoices, signage, web Most designers will run some variation of this structure, it’s pretty effective. |
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Post by christopher on Jul 4, 2023 16:40:08 GMT -6
Great post.
The best mic that Røde made was the classic. Kinda a “what if” Tfunk went back to Neumann and asked for a 251 inside a Fet47.. My fav part, aside from the aged looks, is the Røde logo is nearly invisible. In other words.. logo is not that important
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Post by gmichael on Jul 4, 2023 17:19:35 GMT -6
It's a 5 minute rough he has done for me off a verbal idea. pretty good actually considering it was taken from a word picture. It is a first draft of a first draft but just looking for thoughts and variances. I have instructed him that we need to make ideas fast and fluid during the spit balling stage as there will be tons of ideas and the real budget starts once the idea starts to cement itself. If this were an existing big brand, they would have hired at least 3 different graphic artists to come up with a mock up based on existing logo plus the conceptual drafts to be taken into account for a current/modern direction. I don't share your faith in the graphic designer, some of the mockups by audio engineers are way better, way more imaginative and closer to being on point. I'm not seeing a pro caliber design skills on display based on his mockup.
Just my opinion though. Seawell went down the pro route and found pro examples that can be licensed to create mock ups, what he presented is a much more focused and refined approach to step 1. I would seriously try someone else, it's not personal but it's a bit like hiring a jazz producer to do a Judas Priest record. Graphic designers this far off the mark and this unbalanced in layout and form only get strike 1 and they are out. On to ther next. It's a daunting process man, getting attached to an underaccomplished designer can be fatal, it's nothing personal, it's just the process.
* It looks like work from someone who thinks they are just going to be handed the job with very little effort on their part. I see no effort to try and win the job, but most poignantly, having a bunch of graphic design software does not mean someone has taste or the self starter ability to try and win a job. Taste cannot be taught, it can be acquired but it is often as far as the copy cats ever get. No proper graphics person would make the obvious mistakes in form and balance thet this person has come back to you with. I'm sorry Ben, I'm not trying to be negative, only discerning based on my own experiences with graphic design.
No pro starts like this trying to win a gig.
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Post by mics on Jul 4, 2023 18:42:17 GMT -6
Here are two samples from my Graphics guy. I love where it is moving to. maybe softer edges on the hexagon and the lettering? Maybe also the hexagon could be made up of hexagons or partially therein? what do you think. View AttachmentView AttachmentThere are some things about the "BN" emerging from a hexagon that I do really like.
I think these examples are headed more towards an Art Deco look, though, and I struggle to see the connection between what I know of BeesNeez mics and an Art Deco aesthetic. (Well, besides the Roaring 20s and phrase "it's the bees knees", I suppose. Maybe that's enough, but it doesn't currently match up in my head.) When new Art Deco is done in a modern context, it's typically either as a highly stylized throwback (often with limited shelf life), or meant to evoke the golden age of old Hollywood. Neither of those contexts feel to me like what I associate with BeesNeez mics.
Just my thoughts.
Something about the BN rising out of the hexagon really grabs me. It is understated and yet strong. The font and design may still need a ton of tweaks depending on how it hits emotively but to me it seems to speak. Like a brand emerging from the hive. Maybe I’m just dreaming but the logo Josh put up (2) instantly grabbed me and I thought of the hexagon as its basis. I want to have a small logo this time maybe 13 x 18mm so it needs to be really simple but still have meaning. To me this has that but of course is only in its infancy. Also, maybe best not to smash my graphic designer as I stated earlier, he is reading this forum and is also dealing with me shooting ideas to him left right and centre. I have seen so much of his work a he is so talented. It’s not particularly fair to belittle his work when he is truly just a translator of my rough ideas and thought at a million miles an hour at this point. He also understands that fast is good for the spitball stage as time is money and the pit is bottomless. I’m not whining here but just feel we all show so much kindness to each other and should extend that to all that are here keeping up with the forum . |
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Post by gmichael on Jul 4, 2023 19:24:33 GMT -6
There are some things about the "BN" emerging from a hexagon that I do really like.
I think these examples are headed more towards an Art Deco look, though, and I struggle to see the connection between what I know of BeesNeez mics and an Art Deco aesthetic. (Well, besides the Roaring 20s and phrase "it's the bees knees", I suppose. Maybe that's enough, but it doesn't currently match up in my head.) When new Art Deco is done in a modern context, it's typically either as a highly stylized throwback (often with limited shelf life), or meant to evoke the golden age of old Hollywood. Neither of those contexts feel to me like what I associate with BeesNeez mics.
Just my thoughts.
Something about the BN rising out of the hexagon really grabs me. It is understated and yet strong. The font and design may still need a ton of tweaks depending on how it hits emotively but to me it seems to speak. Like a brand emerging from the hive. Maybe I’m just dreaming but the logo Josh put up (2) instantly grabbed me and I thought of the hexagon as its basis. I want to have a small logo this time maybe 13 x 18mm so it needs to be really simple but still have meaning. To me this has that but of course is only in its infancy. Also, maybe best not to smash my graphic designer as I stated earlier, he is reading this forum and is also dealing with me shooting ideas to him left right and centre. I have seen so much of his work a he is so talented. It’s not particularly fair to belittle his work when he is truly just a translator of my rough ideas and thought at a million miles an hour at this point. He also understands that fast is good for the spitball stage as time is money and the pit is bottomless. I’m not whining here but just feel we all show so much kindness to each other and should extend that to all that are here keeping up with the forum . I understand Ben. I'm not smashing him, I would guess that he is more than suited for small town domestic type jobs but it is abundantly obvious that he lacks a refined sense of form and balance. Even spitballing ideas should reflect the aesthetic capabilities of an artist. It's actually nothing personal either. We're talking about an international brand identification campaign that could redefine a small company into that which it aspires to be and the designers with experience in that realm would never have rolled out such a lumpy image for others to ponder the next step.
Hiring the local guy or your friend is such a kind hearted thing to do but at the end of the day, it's probably not fair to someone so lacking in aesthetic understanding to even be having to walk this gauntlet. The fact that his draft had two of the key mistakes that feature from the original logo demonstrates what I'm trying to say and have been saying to be cautious of. Of course I feel kind of bad saying this but I would feel negligent not saying anything at all.
I would say everything I write here to the designers face too not to be mean but because it's the appropriate response to the work submitted, regardless of the terms by which it was generated. I'm sure he is a fantastic person and is capable of doing adequate work and has the best of intentions but you can't teach taste nor can you be expected to pay while someone to fake taste. I think the kindest thing to do is find another designer and develop a in depth understanding of how to hire a proper graphic designer who has the chops for an international branding campaign. I'm sorry, but these words are actually one of the stages of the process. Not everyone is cut out for prime time. Sincerely and with kind regards, gene
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