School Paper Logo

[JohnMC]

Hi All,

I am currently working on a redesign of my school newspaper and I thought I would tackle the logo first. I am not a graphic design student so I'm looking for some opinions regarding what the professionals on MacRumors would do. I have not decided on color(s) yet but the paper is printed by a CYMK press. What do you think and what do you like/not like.

Thanks,
John

 

[Peace]

Link no workie.

 

[JohnMC]

Sorry. I fixed the link.

John

 

[Peace]

Is the newspaper in black and white or color ?

If black and white the top one looks pretty good but it should be much wider if it's to be at the top of the paper.

 

[JohnMC]

We have a twelve page newspaper with the cover, back and pages 6 & 7 in color. Next to the logo on the masthead is were we put the index.

 

[Peace]

So the front page is basically two column ?

 

[JohnMC]

Currently yes. We run a single wide strip down the left and have a wide strip on the right with our cover story.

 

[Peace]

Put the top one in the top left column.

 

[JohnMC]

Here is a very boring view of what the design layout of the paper currently looks like.

John

 

[Peace]

Here's a revision.

 

[GSMiller]

I like the first one, you can read it in a glance.

 

[SwiftLives]

Humor me - try it without the initial caps. Try it in lowercase. Something about the small caps is just bothering me. </subjective>

 

[Designer Dale]

Here's a revision.

I like the placement of this one. I'm not sure about all lowercase as suggested by SwiftLives, but it would be easy to try. I like initial caps in web addresses on business cards and such, but that's not important in a masthead because the font is large.

Dale

I did not steal your avatar. Honest.

 

[JohnMC]

Peace -- I like the placement of the index on your revision. I might steal your idea.

Swiftlives -- Here is the logo set with lowercase type.

Does anyone have suggestions for color use (possibly one or two colors)?

John

 

[NXTMIKE]

even though as a designer, i'm usually favouring minimalist works, i have to admit that you pulled off something uniquely different in the second original logo (the one with the ink stroke), and that's what I'd use. Otherwise, I think the type is generally good and set properly.

 

[Kwill]

Fonts may differ but the concept is not new


First rule of design: Research.
Second rule of design: Originality.

Nevertheless, since this name and concept have apparently entered public domain, your first arrangement is most appealing (with improved kerning). I don't particularly care for the exaggerated character weights. I am a sucker for creative use of positive and negative spaces. Hence I wonder how a white spot would look in the negative space of the "p" or the "o." As I ponder, it may not work well on small versions - appearing as though the character plugged up a bit perhaps.

Dotting the "i" with the word "the" gives me the initial mistaken read of "link" instead of "ink."

 

[NXTMIKE]

I am a sucker for creative use of positive and negative spaces.

...or what about a smaller white ink blotch, within the black ink blotch to simulate the hollowness of an 'o'.

 

[SwiftLives]

Okay. Figured out what's bothering me.

On the letters you've made larger - as the size has increased, so has the relative weight. So the "I" and the "S" appear to be bolder and thicker than the rest. And it doesn't have a sense of deliberation to it. But that's not going to be a simple fix. Perhaps try it at all the same height? No small/drop caps.

It's unfortunately even more prevalent in the lowercase version. Of all that you've posted, the very first one is my fave. I'd just tinker with the kerning a little bit as a previous poster mentioned.