Category: Branding and Logos

It’s been a while since I last blogged due to a massively crazy workload these last couple of months, not that I am complaining of course.

I have been working with some lovely creative and talented people. Surprisingly, a lot of the work has been to do with re-working and updating existing logos for clients. So I would like to share some of this work with you.

The first is a new refreshed logo for Lizajdesign, Liza is a talented painter of children’s artwork and canvases. She asked me to help come up with a new concept for her logo, but still using her distinctive ‘giraffe’ image. I really enjoyed working on this piece as I was given an opportunity to re-draw the giraffe character in illustrator. Liza was keen on having an informal handwritten style font and after a while we settled on a font which had some character, so much so that the ‘z’ is exactly how Liza writes her name.

So here is the before and after. I love the zesty colours of this design and of course the cheeky giraffe.

Please go and visit Liza’s website to see the new revamped logo and check out of the the lovely designs (as seen in Vogue magazine).

I am hoping to add another post about some brand new logo designs for some equally lovely new clients soon.

With the recent troubles we have seen on our television screens and read about in the newspapers, many of us have wondered what we can do to help those affected by the troubles. Well, Zoe of Zoe and Drew decided to help set up a charity raffle.

She has managed to rally the help and support of other talented designers and makers based in the UK and together they have donated time, and goodies to be used in a raffle to help raise money for other independent businesses who have suffered as a result of the riots. All the proceeds will be donated to Retail Trust a charity working to support the 3 million people working in the retail sector in the UK. You can read more about Zoe’s plan on her blog.

The other day Zoe contacted me and asked me to help design an official logo for Riot Raffle. I was delighted to help out, even if it meant burning a few midnight oils to get it turned around quickly. With the support of the lovely team at bwebsites who are designing and developing the website (also giving their time free of charge) the project is moving along really quickly and I am sure it will be a great success once the launch happens.

Below is the final chosen design. I wanted something that was strong visually, but had soft curves. The black will go with any palette and the accent colour just adds a little interest. I am really pleased with it and the feedback so far has all been very positive.

Please go and visit the official website and purchase a raffle ticket. There are some amazing prizes to be had.

I recently asked by talented artist and illustrator Stacey-Ann to help her refine her logo and branding. Stacey-Ann wanted to re-focus her business more towards fine art and illustrations work and have a more professional and consistent brand image.

I instinctively knew that I wanted to have something quite organic and fluid to reflect the nature and style of her work, very romantic watercolours. We tried a couple of fonts and in the end Stacey-Ann settled on a font that was not too structured, but still had a formality to it. We decided on a lovely palette of rich purples and pinks and the result is now available for you to see on www.creativesque.co.uk/. She has recently ordered some new business cards and they look very smart indeed – see the blog.

I enjoy working with other designers as it’s often refreshing to have very clear direction on what colours and style, not that I don’t like being given a complete freedom either. This is why my job is so satisfying.

While you are there, please do check out her illustrations and paintings. All original and very unique.

The very lovely and rather talented designer maker Gail Iredale of Hush Baby Sleeping contacted me recently regarding some work.

In the process, she sent me her logo (which I later discovered that she had devised and then asked someone to translate into digital format for her). The problem was that Gail was not 100% sure about the logo as she felt that the URL didn’t stand out well against the gingham design.

I could see where she was coming from with her design and I knew that it just needed a bit of refining and polishing up. I already had a clear idea of the style Gail liked and so after thinking it over presented her with some ideas. I sharpened up the colours, created a new gingham pattern and added some ‘shabby-chicness’.

The final results are below. I am really pleased with the way it has come out and I think it just goes to prove that if it isn’t broken you don’t need to fix it, but sometimes adding some ‘go faster stripes’ makes it that little bit better!

Now Gail has a vector artwork file of her logo which gives her the freedom to create tiny little stickers to big floor standing vinyl banners. Spanking new e-shop to follow – watch this space!