Updating a label

[Cabbit]

Hello designer folks,

I am working with a client that sells shaving products and have come up with a update to the shaving soap labels as he will soon have 4 products and i have suggested that having 4 black labels with the same colour of text would be really difficult to tell apart at a glance.

Now i know little about design being a programmer other than basic typography, layout, and colour theory from college.
(They seem to think programmers need to know this stuff so i often get lumbered with design jobs)

I am looking for suggestions on how to better the design, my main aim was to get the dominant colour of the main ingredient to represent the label. The images on the label are from google and only for illustration i am going to take some photos then trace them to create a similar effect but higher res or vectored and of course with no copyright issues.

So without further ado here is the existing label

Here is my proposed update

And here is 2 more labels.

Note: I know i need to work out the colours for print and am going to order a water proof sticker for a proof print to get the colours right on paper. And the texture will be removed it is just to show the paper effect.

 

[citizenzen]

For a programmer, you're a pretty good designer. I really like the top typography, The Gentlemen's Groom Room and I like the direction you're taking using color and a simple illustration to differentiate the products.

My suggestion is that overall the label lacks contrast. I'm not sure how I'd solve that problem, but it's something I'd play with.

I'm jealous though. If only I could program as well as you design.

 

[Cabbit]

Thanks though the original concept of the logo was by another member here, i just used my own typography(with there permission for the concept/layout). So i can't take full credit for that.

As shown below is the original concept idea by elppa.

And the one i created.

 

[Consultant]

Colors too girly. I wouldn't look into those if I were looking for shaving products.

Does not say what the product is (shaving soap)

 

[citizenzen]

Does not say what the product is (shaving soap)

The smartest man in the room.

One other note ... I'd shorten that web address. You definitely don't need http://. You could probably even drop the www.

 

[designguy79]

Colors too girly. I wouldn't look into those if I were looking for shaving products.

I agree -- the new colors are very feminine.

Its hard to say what might work without playing with it some, but maybe forest green and gold, or maybe varying shades of brown?

 

[Cabbit]

Does not say what the product is (shaving soap)

Yep i forgot to put in the "Traditional Shaving Soap" part, but it'll be there.

As for the colours well yes i can make them more manly i guess but i do also want the colour to reflect the ingredient. Also a lot of these shaving products have labels with really soft colours and look like there from the 1800's with a almost worn look to them.

Though yes i do need to work on the colours to get them right when they print.

Below is a example of another shaving soap.

I guess a olive green may work and a rose for the other. I am reserving brown for one of the new soaps.

2nd Attempt

 

[citizenzen]

As for the colours ... i do also want the colour to reflect the ingredient.

I'm with you on this one. I actually think the colors work well with the rest of the packaging. The whole looks simply reeks of refinement. So long as that works for your customer base, I'd say go for it.

But I'm not crazy about how the middle text is crashing into the art. The spacing between GROOM ROOM and ESSENCE OF SCOTLAND is too generous when compared to the spacing below that.

I'd consider separating the information like this ...

the Gentlemen's
GROOM ROOM


ESSENCE OF SCOTLAND
SWEET GALE


TRADITIONAL SHAVING SOAP
HANDMADE IN SCOTLAND


If the drawing crashed into the bottom section of type I wouldn't mind that so much. But I'd try to leave the middle section largely untouched and easy to read.

 

[Cabbit]

Cheers i'll try that out over the weekend, gotta crack on my dissertation just now though

Bah all the things i do to avoid writing.