For my up and coming Gunleather business, Big River Leather, I've been working on a logo and makers mark. I had a few ideas, tossed them around, shared them with my wife who is a graphic artist of 20 years + and she came up with a few, which this one I liked the best - simple, clean, easy to read and unique.

As a logo on letterhead I would have the company name and possibly a slogan underneath it. This is the artwork for the stamp and logo only right now. IT would be the one on the left, the one on the right is for artwork purposes only.

Give me your first impressions please on this one.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ironguy,

They remind me of this:

I think it is too generic - it tells you nothing about what you do. It is the sort of thing that corporate America uses to have a name that says nothing about a big conglomerate. Like the BP logo, or Accenture.

I would pick something that at least suggests what your business is.

As to graphics - I think there is a little too much empty space in the oval, and the type doesn't seem to match the curves.

Sorry to seem so negative. I do like the oval shape and ribbons, but it doesn't say leatherwork to me.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I think it is too generic - it tells you nothing about what you do. It is the sort of thing that corporate America uses to have a name that says nothing about a big conglomerate. Like the BP logo, or Accenture.

I would pick something that at least suggests what your business is.

As to graphics - I think there is a little too much empty space in the oval, and the type doesn't seem to match the curves.

Sorry to seem so negative. I do like the oval shape and ribbons, but it doesn't say leatherwork to me.

I think jhe888 gave some great advice. Plus, it reminds me of the pepsi logo.

quote:

Originally posted by HuskySig:
They remind me of this:

Ouch. Yeah, that's not good.

it looks like a bar of soap to me.

I liked it,

clean and classy

I can see the river in there.

What type of leather goods? Holsters? Belts?

Can you incorporate those into your logo somehow?

For example...I'm in Aviation, and here's my logo:


Now I understand that is a bit much to tool into leather....and simplicity is going to be important....but I agree that when they see the logo the customer should have an idea of what your company does.

Western branding....which you also incorporate into a separate logo...could work.

So come up with a brand that you would tool into your product, then make sure that brand is a prominent part of you logo. You don't have to have the exact same mark & logo.

Just an idea.... I saw "makers mark" and thought this was going to be about whiskey! lol.

Perhaps making the shape of a "cow hide" or use as sort of a watermark in the oval.

or

Make the oval and elements look like tooled leather, maybe a laced edge etc.

I like the logo but I would pick a more "stylized" font for the BRL text. Maybe something a little western looking, liek the Calibri font in MS Word.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I think it is too generic - it tells you nothing about what you do. It is the sort of thing that corporate America uses to have a name that says nothing about a big conglomerate. Like the BP logo, or Accenture.

I would pick something that at least suggests what your business is.

A makers mark is typically very simple design. Look at Del Fatti


OR any other makers marks, simple ovals with the name in it.

I might use the one on the left as a letterhead logo and the OP as a makers mark. the one on the right was kind of where I started with this.

This just in!

A variation -



I did not want to say anything at first to sway anyone , But I live on a stream called Big River, thus the theme.

Of those three... this one for sure:


The others look too "Progressive" for a business that produces quality leather goods.

Not that you're asking but "Ironguy Leather" with your avatar seems like a good name/makers mark for a holster company.

The BRL is sort of already in the logo if you repeat the river thing:


See what I mean?

(please excuse my GIMP skills. Bleh.)

As others have mentioned the first set of logos was too generic - you need something to convey your identity - especially with just the letters BRL - you could be anything - and the fact that it is on Big River, probably won't mean much to anyone outside the area.

With that said - I like the most recent with the thich river line (bottom one) - the best of the lot. I still think there is a way to convey gun leather better though.

The shape of the river creating an very abstract form of a waist/holster.


Again, just trying to find a way to move it away from the generic. Its a pretty design, but could be used for anything. Since you don't have a ton of money to build brand awareness - your logo needs to do more - Nike can get away with the swoosh - because they spent millions telling you what it is.

quote:

Originally posted by fz4vgq:
Of those three... this one for sure:


The others look too "Progressive" for a business that produces quality leather goods.

+1 for this one so far. Simple and to the point.

quote:

Originally posted by fz4vgq:
Of those three... this one for sure:


The others look too "Progressive" for a business that produces quality leather goods.

I agree with this one. Tom

quote:

Originally posted by ironguy:
This just in!

A variation -



I did not want to say anything at first to sway anyone , But I live on a stream called Big River, thus the theme.

I like the bottom one in that the river can be both a B and an R, and the outer curve of the circle an L. Personally i like logos where you can dissect the letters of the acronym (sorta like Rush Limbaugh's logo).

That said, i definitely prefer the "original" black field with white river logo, and i think it'd come out well in leather.

Oat

I was thinking of DelFatti's mark when I looked at yours. The reason I think his works is because it looks like a brand (which I am sure is not accidental), which suggests cattle and leather.

Of the ones you have posted, the one that writes out "Big River Leather" is the one I like best. It is definitely a better graphic design and also has what is obviously a river and the word "leather". Again, the one you first posted looks too generic, too sterile, and too corporate. That will be your logo after your company is bought by some conglomerate (and you retire a millionaire) and the logo is redesigned by some advertising firm.