I’m just beginning the adventure of self-employment. I Finally got through all the red tape and am now starting to fill in the gaps. I’m digging the hole for my first custom home in about three weeks (weather permitting) so I don’t have a lot of time (or money) for a fancy card design. I wanted to at least have something with my name on it that I could give to people, so I drew this logo and brought it to a printing shop where I had them fill in all the fonts etc. I only printed a few because I’m sure I will want to change it before too long. I was interested by the thread that blue started with his thread so I’d like to ask you guys to do the same with my card. By the way the design does reflect my interests. Sorry about the poor quality I’m not quite as technologically advanced as some of you guys, which actually surprises me, I thought old guys were supposed to be “technologically challenged” !!
Edited 3/4/2005 10:25 pm ET by sunny
Replies
Ah... sunny, or should I say sonny.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=24441.1
is an old thread here on Breaktime that includes a lot of data on posting pics and the Irfanview download.
Cheers
The final splash of SanchoRon receded from shore and returned to sea.
Now but a passing memory to some, the fallen comrade to friends, and an unknown for those to come.
The death merchants united dealt the blow to what aim?
Edited 3/4/2005 10:30 pm ET by the razzman
Edited 3/4/2005 10:32 pm ET by the razzman
I guess that didnt work. I'll try again.
I like a lot about this. I can tell at a glance what you do (or at least I can assume what you do), plus you've answered questions I haven't even gotten around to asking--licensed, insured, etc--and that gets you brownie points if I'm a potential client. From the graphic, I even get a sense of the type of craftsmanship you value.
Josh-
I like it. Basic and to the point. Also attractive and well thought out. I have always considered cards to be a "reminder" of you after meeting someone face to face.Quality, Craftsmanship, Detail
What Cloud said. This design instantly gives me not only a sense of what you do but also a hint toward your level of craftsmanship. Cut down on the text a bit, which others have already commented on. The first logo is much nicer than the second, the latter looking very much computer generated and harsh.As with my comments to Blue on his logo, look at your design in gray scale before coming to any final decisions. Even in the age of low cost ink jet printing and on demand digital color presses, there are still ample occasions to use a logo in one color.FWIW, a professional designer should always provide logo samples in 1, 2 and 4 color variations covering the realm of potential uses. typically, I would also provide my clients with versions containing various amounts of ancillary text as there may be times when you want to use the simplest of icons alone.Overall your logo appears to really hit the mark.EDITBTW, your first example appears to be printed on a type of speckled, recycled paper. If not you should seriously consider that as well. The type of paper spec'd on a project can play a big role in the overall effect. In your case, given the style of logo and design astetic it conjures up, a speckled, recycled stock would be a good choice. Avoid gloss or cast coat stocks in this case as they would conflict with the design asthetic of your logo. If nothing else go with a matte finish paper. Your printer should have plenty of paper catalogs from which to choose, if not your designer.
Edited 3/5/2005 4:01 pm ET by pino
I like it ...
I like the tag line.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
yeah.. but did you read what the kid said about ya???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
do it over and over enough times and it's not a challenge any more...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Nice... if that's your sign, the only thing I might say is to remove the street address (unless you want customers coming there) and remove the city/state/zip (people know if they see your sign or truck in their town that you work there). Also remove the fax number. A little less text would make it easier to read what is there. If it's a biz card then you need all of it.
Emphasize the web address once you get the site up.
Sunny, most posters will hesitate to offer negative comments unless you specifically request them. They like to think that they are hardened guys used to wallowing in the mud, but deep inside they are all a bunch of teddy bears.
My own feelings are this: if you are simply trying to disseminate the basic info, drop the graphics and stick to a simple well organized font. When you are ready to spend a couple of hundred bucks, have the graphics done professionally on some high end card stock.
Since the dawn of the computer age, well actually since windows 95 came out, small independent trades people have been doing their own cards. These cards serve their purpose and are fine for passing around to other tradespeople but if you want your retails clients to "feel" your professional ability, then you should avoid going the cheap route.
If those graphics are coming out a lot more sharp than the picture shows, then I say fine, those graphics will do. They obviously must mean something about your product and when people see your houses and look at your graphics, it will tie in together. There was something I wanted to say about the info, but it will have to wait...I cant see the pic now and I cant remember.
blue
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
move the graphics left a bit. The trees don't add much, but overall, the layout and info presentedis good. The pegged frame conveys a message of olde quality methods.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Trees like that are a part of lots of logos out this way... we love 'em
I think that is very good for a business card.And it can easily be scaled for a truck and yard sign.For the sign kill the address, fax number and the liciensed, bond, & insured.Drop your name or make it smaller.But increase the size of the phone number and website. Those are the 2 most important things that people need to remember.And pull the tag line out of the timber, at least on a truck sign. It is fine there for business card, but will never been seen on a moving truck.Also on the truck sign you might want to simplify the timber frame and trees to black and white line art.So you can still make keep the same theme, but tailor it to the situation.Also you have a good name and corresponding URL. Someting that is easy to remember and no trickly spelling. To often you might see some like Will-O-Ridge-Const.com You remember the name, but then when you try to enter it in the computer you can't remember the all the spelling and contractions and give up after 3 or 4 tries.
Those trees look too full for Anchorage
like your card
Edited 3/5/2005 10:03 am ET by Shoeman
Hey everyone, thanks for the feedback.
I'm not sure if I was clear in myfirst post, but I do want detailing critique if possible. I think I like this basic idea and could probably be happy with it over the years, but I would like to get it RIGHT ON if you know what I mean. I'll attatch my rough(very rough) idea for a truck sign. See what you think of that one.
Thanks. Josh
p.s. shoeman, have you ever been up towards Cambridge?
Josh, I like that one a lot better.
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
That last one looks like the boards are broken instead of cut.I like your card design, Josh. That woodsy stuff always appeals to me. I like the trees on the left, and the wood frame. I might the wood frame just a little to the left, too. I'd give it a cleaner look, too, by getting rid of some of the address info. Also, don't you have to be bonded and insured to be licensed? So merely listing your license number implies licensed, bonded, and insured. In California, I think you specifically cannot put those things that are part of the licensing process. Overall, I like the design. As blue suggested, have a quality printing job done on good paper. If a person you meet likes your demeanor and what you seem to represent, when you hand him a prefessionally-produced, visually-appealing, high-quality business card, you'll only reinforce what he's aleady thinking about you. Allen in Santa Cruz
Edited 3/5/2005 12:07 pm ET by moondance
josh.. has a lot of good possibilities.. now apply it..
make a mock up and try it on a job sign... truck sign.. letterhead.. and try it in Black & White print.. a lot of logos wind up in black and white.. even if it's just from a copy machine..
if it's a logo.. it will stand the logo testMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Nice.But you want to bump up the size of the URL to at least the size of construction or maybe even the phone number.Print a full size copy out on the computer (lot of software will allow you to define a work size larger than the physical size and will break the print into multiple pages).Or do one to scale by hand using a magic marker.Then tape it to the back the truck and get back 50-100 ft and what do you see?
I thnik that Bill is making some excellent points. I 100% agree with make a majic marker one and get back 50 feet or so.
the first sing I made, even the sing shop could not offer me that info. we had nice signs made and installed on the truck. 20 feet back and its just a blur
also I like your card, I have now seen so many do it yourself, print out on perforated card stock, that I usually trash them
and a lot of clients will too
I m also real tired of the cards with the owners picture on them, especialy when the onwer has aged maybe 20 yeas and put on 50 lbs since the pic.
however maybe basic info for other trades , like to put in a rolodex or something is ok
not for me IMHO
Edited 3/5/2005 11:34 am ET by Isamemon
Edited 3/5/2005 11:34 am ET by Isamemon
no need to lse th trees, just don't devote 25% of the sapce to them
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Now let me critique your sign. The first thing I notice is the font. "Construction" should have the same font as "Willow Ridge".
The phone number and especially the web address should be larger.
I would add something over "Willow Ridge" to indicate what it is that you do. "Custom homes by Willow Ridge Construction" or something to that affect.
I also concur with the others here regarding the look of the posts.
Good Luck!
p.s. shoeman, have you ever been up towards Cambridge?
You talking Cambridge, MN or is there also a Cambridge AK?
I have been through Cambridge MN a few times. Used to live up in Grand Marais and would take various routes back to visit people in the St. Cloud area or down in the twin cities.
If you are reffering to a Cambridge AK - not sure if I have been there or not. If you can get there by road, I probably did - as I think I traveled nearly every bit of road there was when I lived up there. Prudoe bay to Homer to Tok.
We have alot in common.
I was born in Homer in a little log cabin built by my Dad with no power tools (not even a chainsaw to cut the trees down) did most of my growing up in Bethel and Cambridge, MN. Moved back up to Homer for a while and migrated to Anchorage.
What did you do up here?
I was running a lodge in Denali Park. Place all the way at the end of the road called the Kantishna Roadhouse. Worked there for three years until the owner sold the place to Doyon. Have been through Anchorage many times. I spent my summers at the lodge in the park and winters up in Fairbanks. Took several trips a winter down to visit friends down in Cantwell and Homer.
Getting back to the criticism of your posts...
I think you should find a way to include the tag line on the truck signs. I thought that was a great touch.
As far as cost for vinyl truck lettering, I think our's wound up costing about $100.00 per side but it was tossed in with a bunch of other stuff that we were having done so I may be a bit off.
Another thing. the use of contrasting colors is probably one of the most important factors to consider for any sign that someone is going to be asked to read while they are driving past it, whetere it be a yard sign or a truck logo. Make sure you are taking into account what color the truck is, as it will be the background that the colores of the sign will need to contrast in order to "stand out" and be easily readable.
Case in point; There is a guy here in town that has really nice yard signs which are printed on a white background, The primary colors in the logo are blue, green and gray. But then he bought a black job trailer and put the same logo on the side of it. It is pretty much invisible. He has been working across the street from us, and I finally had to walk across the street and get within 30 feet of the darn thing just to discern what his company name was.
does anyone have a rough idea of what nice vinyl truck signs cost?
You think vinyl will stand up to Alaskan cold?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'm not sure if it's vinyl, but I want some kind of sticker for my logo, not just a square magnet.
I like the business card, but there are a few things I would change:
First, I would state on the card what I do.
Second, I would remove the address. My reasoning is if someone is interested enough in my work, they will call me and ask to visit my office. This helps keep riff raff from seeing my card somewhere and deciding to pay my office and garage a little visit when I'm not around. Knowhutimean?
Third, and I know this is picky, but I would capitalize "licensed bonded and insured", and I would remove the www from the web address.
Other than that, I think you have a winner! I'll post my business card here for you to critique.
matt ...went to a wedding in Smithville , TN..
did anyone ever tell you waht adan & eve's last name was ?
you got it .... Smith
nice card.. good brandingMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore