Help me design a Logo - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

MexicanOnABike · 03-04-2007, 07:42 PM

hi!
I'm working on a little project where i need to create a logo. It's for Eco-tourism and hotel and restaurant services. (Éco-tourisme et Hôtelerie).

the focus is more on the ecotourism so I tried to keep it mostly to that but everytime, it looked like a sports logo. and if I try to include both, it seems too busy. So I decided to ask the good people of TFP to help me out. all I need are ideas to get me started with something better than what I have.

analog · 03-04-2007, 09:02 PM

Did you want to show us what you are starting with so we have a jumping-off point, or do you want to start from absolute zero? An example of some kind would really help explain what you're looking for...

MexicanOnABike · 03-04-2007, 09:09 PM

ok, more info: i started a few times and everytime it sucks. for now, i have no restriction for colours or w/e. "MHSEH" is the letters i can use if i want to incorporate in the logo. It needs to be vector.

What i'm trying to get now is a professional looking logo that can incorporate both ideas of eco tourism( canoing, hiking, fishing, etc..) and hotel/restaurant service(hostess, server, bartender, chef, etc..). so you see how hard it is to mix those 2 together?

right now, I thought posting here would give me a little brainstorming. Anything i think of i'll post here.
stupid example that i had when i started was putting a little server in a canoe or something like that but when i put it on paper, it just seems wrong.

Mister Coaster · 03-05-2007, 07:16 AM

Is "MHSEH" the name of the company? Or is that just an acronym? Either way, it doesn't read well (at least not in English) And I woldn't use it. If it does read well in (French is it?) then use it. If the company name is "Éco-tourisme et Hôtelerie" then work with that. If the company actually has no official name, then thats probably the place to start this whole project. It isn't the designer's job to invent the company, just brand it.

Seeing as there ARE so many things that "could be" part of the design, I'd first try to eliminate as many as possible. Pick one element of eco-tourism, and one element of the hotel and somehow combine them. Don't overcomplicate it, the best "professional" logos usually have very little illustration as a part of them. But the illustration is simple and to the point. I'd say "outdoors" is the hero of eco-tourism, therefore something like a tree or a mountainscape would be good for that. For hotels, perhaps a bellhop or a suitcase?

Also, consider the target audience. Is this company attempting to sway conventional travelers toward eco-tourism, or are they targeting the niche market of those who already know about what it is? That could greatly affect the design.

MexicanOnABike · 03-05-2007, 08:40 AM

thanks for the reply! it's actually all french things that's why i didn't bother to write it out.
"Majeure Haute Specialisation en Eco-tourisme et Hôtellerie" so the acronym is what I might use but i know it doesn't work that well. as for the target audience, it's a course offered at a highschool. kinda like a coop. so they need a logo to advertise it in the school. it's really not a big deal but i just can't make anything that I don't approve of.

I guess I'll start making some ideas and see if i can get some Criticism and Comments here.

Mister Coaster · 03-05-2007, 11:01 AM

Yikes, that is a mouthful. Maybe MHSEH is best.

Since High-School age kids are the target, if it ended up looking like a sports logo, that might be a good thing. I wouldn't specifically attempt to avoid that general look.

One thing I thought of was a hiker in shilouette, like on a road warning sign, with big hiking boots & a walking stick, but instead of a backpack, have him pulling one of those roll-behind suitcases. That combines an outdoor activity with hotel-style travel.

MexicanOnABike · 03-05-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Coaster

Yikes, that is a mouthful. Maybe MHSEH is best.

Since High-School age kids are the target, if it ended up looking like a sports logo, that might be a good thing. I wouldn't specifically attempt to avoid that general look.

One thing I thought of was a hiker in shilouette, like on a road warning sign, with big hiking boots & a walking stick, but instead of a backpack, have him pulling one of those roll-behind suitcases. That combines an outdoor activity with hotel-style travel.

wow. you're full of good ideas! i worked on a few ideas myself today but not as good as your last one.

more updates to follow!

Mister Coaster · 03-05-2007, 11:20 AM

I'm full of something alright!

kurty[B] · 03-05-2007, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MexicanOnABike

What i'm trying to get now is a professional looking logo that can incorporate both ideas of eco tourism( canoing, hiking, fishing, etc..) and hotel/restaurant service(hostess, server, bartender, chef, etc..). so you see how hard it is to mix those 2 together?

First thing that came to my mind by this description is a three or four colored logo with a silhouette of a person in a canoe (edge of the canoe going over a whitewater/waterfall), and in the bottom right-hand corner a silhouette of a person holding a tray of food.

bermuDa · 03-09-2007, 05:03 AM

How about making the person in the canoe going over the cliff the tray holder (just a thought that came to mind; unless you are training extreme butlers this might come across wrong). I like the idea of a hiker's silhouette pulling a rolling suitcase; it's a good example of combining the elements you are trying to express in your mark.

Make a matrix of ideas, and try to think of different ways to combine them. Try to list the different ways you can visually represent these ideas to come up with new styles of conveying the image. From a strong vocabulary you will be able to draw strong visual impressions to use for different concepts.

Don't forget to share your results with us

Mister Coaster · 03-09-2007, 08:48 AM

Come on, Mex. I'm anxious to see what you came up with.

MexicanOnABike · 03-20-2007, 09:11 AM

oh i forgot about this thread. i've been so annoyed about this project than i almost gave up. I think I will go with something a bit more abstract for this one because tehres no way to make both ideas work. right now, i'm working on the text and colours so i might post that today later. See if i can get some crits & Comments.

03-04-2007, 07:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	Help me design a Logo hi! I'm working on a little project where i need to create a logo. It's for Eco-tourism and hotel and restaurant services. (Éco-tourisme et Hôtelerie). the focus is more on the ecotourism so I tried to keep it mostly to that but everytime, it looked like a sports logo. and if I try to include both, it seems too busy. So I decided to ask the good people of TFP to help me out. all I need are ideas to get me started with something better than what I have. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

03-04-2007, 09:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	ok, more info: i started a few times and everytime it sucks. for now, i have no restriction for colours or w/e. "MHSEH" is the letters i can use if i want to incorporate in the logo. It needs to be vector. What i'm trying to get now is a professional looking logo that can incorporate both ideas of eco tourism( canoing, hiking, fishing, etc..) and hotel/restaurant service(hostess, server, bartender, chef, etc..). so you see how hard it is to mix those 2 together? right now, I thought posting here would give me a little brainstorming. Anything i think of i'll post here. stupid example that i had when i started was putting a little server in a canoe or something like that but when i put it on paper, it just seems wrong. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

03-05-2007, 07:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	Is "MHSEH" the name of the company? Or is that just an acronym? Either way, it doesn't read well (at least not in English) And I woldn't use it. If it does read well in (French is it?) then use it. If the company name is "Éco-tourisme et Hôtelerie" then work with that. If the company actually has no official name, then thats probably the place to start this whole project. It isn't the designer's job to invent the company, just brand it. Seeing as there ARE so many things that "could be" part of the design, I'd first try to eliminate as many as possible. Pick one element of eco-tourism, and one element of the hotel and somehow combine them. Don't overcomplicate it, the best "professional" logos usually have very little illustration as a part of them. But the illustration is simple and to the point. I'd say "outdoors" is the hero of eco-tourism, therefore something like a tree or a mountainscape would be good for that. For hotels, perhaps a bellhop or a suitcase? Also, consider the target audience. Is this company attempting to sway conventional travelers toward eco-tourism, or are they targeting the niche market of those who already know about what it is? That could greatly affect the design. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW! Last edited by Mister Coaster; 03-05-2007 at 07:27 AM..

03-05-2007, 08:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	thanks for the reply! it's actually all french things that's why i didn't bother to write it out. "Majeure Haute Specialisation en Eco-tourisme et Hôtellerie" so the acronym is what I might use but i know it doesn't work that well. as for the target audience, it's a course offered at a highschool. kinda like a coop. so they need a logo to advertise it in the school. it's really not a big deal but i just can't make anything that I don't approve of. I guess I'll start making some ideas and see if i can get some Criticism and Comments here. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

03-05-2007, 11:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	Yikes, that is a mouthful. Maybe MHSEH is best. Since High-School age kids are the target, if it ended up looking like a sports logo, that might be a good thing. I wouldn't specifically attempt to avoid that general look. One thing I thought of was a hiker in shilouette, like on a road warning sign, with big hiking boots & a walking stick, but instead of a backpack, have him pulling one of those roll-behind suitcases. That combines an outdoor activity with hotel-style travel. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

03-04-2007, 09:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
analog Banned	Did you want to show us what you are starting with so we have a jumping-off point, or do you want to start from absolute zero? An example of some kind would really help explain what you're looking for...

03-05-2007, 11:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	I'm full of something alright! __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

03-09-2007, 05:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
bermuDa don't ignore this--> Location: CA	How about making the person in the canoe going over the cliff the tray holder (just a thought that came to mind; unless you are training extreme butlers this might come across wrong). I like the idea of a hiker's silhouette pulling a rolling suitcase; it's a good example of combining the elements you are trying to express in your mark. Make a matrix of ideas, and try to think of different ways to combine them. Try to list the different ways you can visually represent these ideas to come up with new styles of conveying the image. From a strong vocabulary you will be able to draw strong visual impressions to use for different concepts. Don't forget to share your results with us __________________ I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

03-09-2007, 08:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	Come on, Mex. I'm anxious to see what you came up with. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

03-20-2007, 09:11 AM	#12 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	oh i forgot about this thread. i've been so annoyed about this project than i almost gave up. I think I will go with something a bit more abstract for this one because tehres no way to make both ideas work. right now, i'm working on the text and colours so i might post that today later. See if i can get some crits & Comments. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-