Vote for new Corporate ID

[da8iwr]

Ladies and Gentleman
We have 2 slightly different designs for a new business we are starting. Its a bit of security software that is installed into Joomla, so needs to look secure and good.

Any feedback would be great, and of course please vote for which ever you prefer

Version 1 - curved header and footer
Version 2 - straight header and footer

And please ignore my spelling mistakes lol

Thanks
Ian

Version 1

Version 2

Version 1

Version 2

 

[S-Marketing]

Whats going on behing the M and Eye on the first card?

 

[Astaroth]

Dont like the evil eye in the middle of the headed paper....

Where is the name/ job title to go on card 1?

 

[Kernowman]

Version 1 for the business card.

Version 2 for the docs paper, but not with the contact details at the bottom left. Top right is better.

Definitely no no no for the eye in the middle. If you MUST have an eye putting it in the top right corner adds the perception that it is watching over you/your cat/software/whatever

 

[kontracta_com]

For my 2p's worth I'd be version 1 of both. That said I think the logo may be a little bit too big for your business card and I agree with other comments about the eye watermark in the letter and the positioning of the address. They are only minor tweaks though, I like the eye catching (pardon the pun) designs overall.

 

[Officebird]

I like the second one. It looks more classy imo.

I'm with the others about the eye watermark. It looks a bot scary lol

 

[da8iwr]

Whats going on behing the M and Eye on the first card?

Hi Stretchy
We had left a layer turned on by accident, i have turned it off now

The eye watermark will be very faint in the printed version, but i might drop it completely.

Cheers for the feedback, any other comments, good or bad, will be great

Thanks
Ian

 

[Kernowman]

No doubt about it, the eye in the centre must go. That's because no matter how faint it is, it will still intrude onto whatever writing/text gets printed, making it diffuse and muddy looking.

The eye in the bottom right on the second sample is much better because that is effectively a "dead" unused space on the vast majority of letters you are going to be writing. If you intend to use continuation paper then just the logo top left and bottom right eye will still hold it's branding power without the main letterhead.

 

[da8iwr]

Dont like the evil eye in the middle of the headed paper....

Where is the name/ job title to go on card 1?

I would say at the moment, above the email, or in the top right of the white area.

I was conentrating on the header and footer at the moment though, as i like them both and cant decide lol.

 

[gordano]

The designs look professional, my preference is V1 on both card and letter. I think it would be better without the eye in the watermark. If you do go for a watermark then the eye in v2 looks a bit too sinister compared to v1.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

I like version 2 but that eye really gives me the creeps

 

[S-Marketing]

I prefer the first one but dont really think you are portraying the kind of qualities you are aiming for with either.

 

[da8iwr]

I prefer the first one but dont really think you are portraying the kind of qualities you are aiming for with either.

Hi Stretchy
Can i ask what you think the issue is, as im genuinely interested to here your opinion.

Cheers
Ian

 

[S-Marketing]

Hi Stretchy
Can i ask what you think the issue is, as im genuinely interested to here your opinion.

Cheers
Ian

I just dont see how the designs give any perception of security. They look very generic, the kind of designs people would have done themselves. If you ignore the eye, you basically have text and a blue shape which has no relevance to anything.

I appraise marketing materials every day of the week and often come across businesses that choose their materials and 'brand identity' based on nothing more than designing something that looks nice.

With marketing it is important that no opportunity is missed. Materials such as these are often your chance to either build, or further strengthen any positive message you may have. The most common mistake I see is for businesses to treat such materials as seperate to their other marketing messages. Logo's, business cards etc should ideally be the 'bringing together' of all your marketing and targeting efforts.

Further to this, marketing is the ideas and strategies you use to differentiate your business from the competition. The examples you have shown leave me just seeing 'another business card'.

I would suggest that you think more about what impression you are hoping to give, and design around this impression.

I hope this helps, it is not intended to be critical.

If you would like further, more specific recommendations, please ask.

 

[da8iwr]

Cheers for that Stretchy, it's exactly the type of review im looking for

The software/script we have produced monitors for security risks. So the idea of the eye is to show the watching/monitoring process.

The logo of almost any established company, is text with some form of symbol. In general i personally dont believe that the symbol or logo needs to represent the product/service.

In fact most of the logos of the largest companies in the world have no resemblance to the products or service they provide.

• HSBC
• Sainburys
• WH Smiths
• BT
• Microsoft
• Sony
• Panasonic
• Coca Cola
• Pepsi
• Google

None of the logos for these companies have any likeness at all to the product/service they provide, just a very generic text font in most cases.

I would even go as far as to say, the only companies that do have a "likeness" logo, are the very cheap, low end companies like takeaways or an independent company that is ran on a shoe string. There is of course the odd exception, but in general im being very broad in my views here.

If you ignore the eye, you basically have text and a blue shape which has no relevance to anything.

But surely you cant "ignore" the eye, as it is part of the logo and will always be there, thats the point of a logo and the branding book. Its a bit like saying you could ignore the apple sign in the Apple macintosh's logo... but then it wouldn't be the Apple logo and would be just the word "Apple".

Its very difficult to produce a unique branding for a company that provides nothing tangible, as there is nothing physical to show or work around. With security, I feel the only thing we need to show is absolute professionalism, for if people don't trust your ability as a company, then they will never trust you as in the security job you are providing.

 

[rattytattydesigns]

I prefer 1 as well for both. Agree about the center eye. I think the coment about putting it at the top is brilliant, as its suposed to be overlooking security on sites

 

[da8iwr]

Thanks Ratty

 

[S-Marketing]

Completely see what you are saying but I think you are missing the point.

I'm not saying that the only way to portray security etc is to have a big picture of a padlock round a computer or something as obvious as that. Its more about the feeling of the design. For me your design and colour scheme says friendly and lighthearted. What it should show is strength, integrity and security. Its just all a bit girlie looking.Maybe stronger colours would help, I dont think pale blue is the way to go.

I see what you mean with your examples but companies like those aren't trying to achieve what you are trying to achieve. Multi million pound PR and advertising budgets can change the rules to suit yourself.

 

[Kernowman]

Completely see what you are saying but I think you are missing the point.

I'm not saying that the only way to portray security etc is to have a big picture of a padlock round a computer or something as obvious as that. Its more about the feeling of the design. For me your design and colour scheme says friendly and lighthearted. What it should show is strength, integrity and security. Its just all a bit girlie looking.Maybe stronger colours would help, I dont think pale blue is the way to go.

I see what you mean with your examples but companies like those aren't trying to achieve what you are trying to achieve. Multi million pound PR and advertising budgets can change the rules to suit yourself.

I know exactly where Stretchy is coming from, even though he is being slightly pedantic - perfectionist that he is

It is a little bit girly but not savagely so in it's present colour scheme, but if you change the primary colour to red and then desaturate it for the lowlights in the design . . . . . you get PINK which is even more girly

 

[S-Marketing]

I know exactly where Stretchy is coming from, even though he is being slightly pedantic - perfectionist that he is

It is a little bit girly but not savagely so in it's present colour scheme, but if you change the primary colour to red and then desaturate it for the lowlights in the design . . . . . you get PINK which is even more girly

Girlie isn't the right phrase but I dont really know how else to put it across. Its just too generic, too something of nothing. If that makes sense.

Not trying to be pedantic, but for me, it definately misses the mark. I'd be looking to do something strong and bold, not wishy washy.

Ill leave it there before I start making up words, to try and get my point across.

 

[Kernowman]

Something with a bit more power and impact to be noticed and recognised, something that distinguishes it from a myriad other business cards and letterheads perhaps?

How's about that instead of "girly"?

 

[sug4rc4t]

I like Version 1 one on both.