Logo Design Critique
hananya van den Berg
The logo design that I came up with includes my initials, ‘h.vd Berg’ and the number of my desk, ‘12’, as well as a computer modified version of swirl that I created in my sketch book. This logo works for me because it reflects my individual style as a designer and
The logo features two main visuals; the text and an image. It combines the two in a visually pleasing way which aims to attract the viewer and also be symbolic of who is being represented. The image of the swirl was initially an unintentional creation that I came up with when I was testing with a lead-pacer while designing logos. I liked the look of the quick scribble – the shading, the pressure of the lead on certain points and the placing of the curls. The image of the swirl may seem abstract and pointless to viewers and this is the only problem I had with my logo, and there is not really any meaning in the particular shape. The swirl is an abstract shape which represents my design process and it also reflects my taste for soft images that are gentle to the eye. I decided to preserve the original colour and texture of the lead pencil swirl on the logo because it retains the uniqueness of the creation and also presents the relation of my end-product logo to my practical process of designing. The light, gray-lead colouring of the swirl is soft to the sight and easily fades into the white background, which I especially aimed to achieve at the bottom of the image where the line appears to continue downward. The ‘bubble’ texture of the swirl also represents my graphic preference of smooth, soft lines and adds a bit more to the design than just an ordinary swirl.
The text in the logo confirms my identity, as well as further presenting my style in design. The darker grey of the ‘h.vd’ and ‘12’ set the text apart from the image, reinforcing the clear, plain message of the text. The light green of the ‘Berg’ gives an emphasis to that unique part of my name. It also provides variety to the logo as a whole as it contrasts with the two shades of grey, presenting a bright and colourful aspect of me. The script, calligraphic font of the ‘Berg’ is symbolic of creativity and freedom in design as it stands alone and distinct from the other, basic text. I also chose to make this part of my initial stand out because it provides a main focal point for the viewer, and it also succeeds in creating a visual balance of colour and form for the logo image as a whole as the text is situated toward the centre of the logo. This visual balance presents the image as a whole, simple and creative design which blends together the different elements and features of the logo.