Design Critique

[TreyCox]

I am creating a new design business. I have already created my Facebook account, business card, etc. I'm just curious as to what you guys think of the direction that I am going design wise. Thanks!

And here is my business card

And my Facebook url: http://www.facebook.com/leopard.graphics.16

***If this shouldn't be posted on the forums then please delete, mods! Thank you.

 

[tech4all]

This isn't meant to sound harsh. Just hard to convey tone with text only

Right off the back I associate this with Apple. You're using Myraid Pro with Leopard. Not saying it's good/bad, but just sayin'...

Why did you choose Leopard Graphics as a name?

The Leopard only has three legs! Yes I know there both "there," but that could be seen as a oddity or something. I think the leopard should be more stylized. It looks static right now. Unless that's what you want, but it's hard to say without know the meaning behind the name you choose.

The business card: Loose the funky background graphics; it'll look like a printing defect when you get the printed. Come up with a better layout; centered is so MS Word and looks lazy. It's cool if you have poem or something, but when all elements are centered like that it's kinda "meh."

Business cards should say:

1) Who you are
2) What you do
3) How do I contact you

You tell them the rest when they visit your website and contact you.

IMO there's too much info on it. But simple-design person.

Get a URL; Facebook doesn't look professional IMO. If you're a designer, you should have your own self-designed website. And the email @outlook.com - what's that? Right now you have your business name, outlook.com, and Facebook. Keep in consistent with your business name for the URL, email, and website.

I admire your efforts though. Not trying to discourage you at all. According to your FB page you're in high school, that's when I started as well. So you may not need all I said above just 'yet' like an actual URL.

 

[citizenzen]

The leopard is a little "soft" ... in the sense that the drawing could be refined to look cleaner and more polished. I'd also be curious whether some detail in the face could add a bit more punch. You don't want to draw the face out, that wouldn't reproduce well small. But right now the silhouette alone just needs another touch.

One thing to consider is that the moment you say "leopard" with text you don't have to show the whole animal. Perhaps it's just the eyes, ears, head, tail or claw that can suggest the animal without depicting it completely. I believe that incorporating that with the text would make a stronger logo.

 

[DoctorWho]

I don't mean to sound harsh, but I have two words to say:

That, coupled with 'Leopard', makes it very easy to see where you got your inspiration from.

 

[SuperCachetes]

^^^ Agree with most of what tech4all said. The funky background treatment, especially - I thought these were really crappy scans at first.

The other mixed message here is that you've totally excluded the one thing that really makes a leopard a leopard for most people: spots. There's nothing terribly distinct about the shapes/colors you're using - it's nice that the motif is relatively simple, but in all honesty that could be any number of cats, and frankly in solid black I see a jaguar.

I'm okay with the use of Facebook, but the "16" is really out of place. Unless it has some significance (which isn't obvious from the materials you've presented), it just kinda seems like you're the 16th person to have a "Leopard Graphics" on FB.

Good luck with it.

 

[citizenzen]

The other mixed message here is that you've totally excluded the one thing that really makes a leopard a leopard for most people: spots.

Doh! That shows you how astute I am. I'm reading leopard, seeing a black panther and not realizing the disconnect between the two.

Well played.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Aprils fools 0_o ? BTW there are typos on the collateral you've put up.

I've seen plenty of these types of graphics business come up in my time, not sure what advice I could actually give besides the obvious being:
1) You've got a mac.
2) You've an interest with graphics
3) You've done a few small tidy small designs for friends/family and want to take it to the next level.


If anything I'd have to agree with citizenzen and tech4all they have raised some very good points.

Though tech4all I have seen a growing trend with some agencies going with facebook sites, it does work though needs to be done EXCEPTIONALLY well otherwise it looks poor not pro. Circul8 comes to mind...

 

[R1PPER]

As for the design....very uninspiring. My god man if you cant even create a great corp ID for yourself...how do you expect to do it for others.

What has a 3 legged leopard got to do with anything...aahhhhhhhh

 

[GoCubsGo]

As for the design....very uninspiring. My god man if you cant even create a great corp ID for yourself...how do you expect to do it for others.

What has a 3 legged leopard got to do with anything...aahhhhhhhh

Hey! Three-legged spotless leopards need recognition too!

OP, I'm no designer and merely a consumer and frankly, your design suggests to me that I could not use you to design a logo for me because I see nothing real creative. Your own company represents your work just as much as the rest of your portfolio does.

 

[R1PPER]

Sorry for being harsh....i remember creating some terrible branding even with 2-3 years experience. but at least you can look back at this and face palm in afew years

Heres how the professionals do it.

www.brandingserved.com

 

[charlieegan3]

I think for a graphics company something more vibrant and striking would be a bonus.

 

[fig]

My god man if you cant even create a great corp ID for yourself...how do you expect to do it for others.

That's not necessarily true...designing for yourself is one of the hardest things you can do.

 

[vigorblade]

This could be so much more interesting

Let's start with what you have:

The Silo of the leopard -

As have been mentioned, the silo could use some work. You know the two things that first come to mind when I think Leopard ? Answer: Spots and Strength

- I see no spots and your leopard does not look very fit. When you are creating a good silo from an image, it is very important to select the right image for your silo.

Sometimes it's also important to take a bit of creative license. I keep looking at this animals stomach and thinking it looks pregnant or out of shape, then the front leg (Yes, that may have been in your source image, but should you have kept it that way ?)

Your company is Leopard graphics, yet you excluded the most unique and graphic element of the Leopard. Why no spots. There are so many creative options you could have with spots (without going in a corny route of course).



Logo Type-

The Apple like font usage doesn't bother me as it does with others on the forum. It's clean, simple and could work, my issue is only with the silo.


Hope this is helpful to you. Keep at it.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

That's not necessarily true...designing for yourself is one of the hardest things you can do.

I'd agree, it's tough to separate the business aspect from one's self is a hard thing to do.

 

[citizenzen]

As have been mentioned, the silo could use some work. You know the two things that first come to mind when I think Leopard ? Answer: Spots and Strength

Totally agree. The other defining aspect of a leopard and cats in general is their muzzle. This leopard is looking directly at us, so the "face" is lost. By turning the head slightly to the left we could get some detail from the brow, cheek, nose or mouth that enhances the quality of "catness".

And just one word of encouragement for the OP ... I was a crap designer for many years ... and many would still consider me one. Design is a learned and practiced skill. You need to do a lot and see a lot before any real skill kicks in.

Don't let the detractors get you down. Just keep on plugging.

 

[Yamcha]

Don't feel discouraged, also I'd focus on one thing rather then trying to do it all e.g. Web, Logo, Print, HTML/CSS, Javascript etc..

Personally I'm a Web Designer, and my Logo design skills are still somewhat lacking, but I know many designers like myself who only delve in Web & Interface design, and they've worked with big companies like CBS, Yahoo, Google, etc..

 

[R1PPER]

On reflection.....Your company is up and running. I have seen company's who can spend years tweaking there Corp ID only to go under when its all ready.

If you get down time you can think about updating LeopardPrint. I personally hate white business cards...Sort of thing a print shop would churn out.

Maybe I will have a crack at it.