Bad Logo Help

[acothran]

Here is an unfortunate logo that I am supposed to use to work miracles. This logo was "designed" by the business owner's wife who hand sketched it. A friend of mine (who is a respected designer) vectorized the logo and designed their business cards, which we printed. She now wants the logo on their new Flame Blue truck but she said it looks "scrutched" and the font is too small. She also said she might want to see some green in the logo. I'm now supposed to make subtle changes (she "loves" the overall logo) so it works better on the truck. I'm clueless on this. I can't just tell her the logo sucks and I don't even know where to start to try to make it better. I've tried some things and am just drawing blanks. Below is the logo on white, as it appears on the business card and also the logo on blue. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Allen

 

[acothran]

Here was one thing I tried on the blue. I changed the font to not appear so "scrutched", changed the wall to white (she asked to see that), and changed the leaves to green (per her request).

Allen

 

[SignManiac]

It's a bad logo to begin with. There's very little you can do to make it better, unless they start all over.

 

[Pat Whatley]

The font you changed it to is horrible and NEVER use and italic font on an arc like that.

Other than that you're stuck, that logo is killing them.

 

[visual800]

oh HEEEELLL NO! trash it and start over. this thing is dead do NOT recessitate!

 

[J Hill Designs]

do they grow cannibis or something?

 

[Flubber]

Are those POT leaves????????

jhill you took the words right out of my mouth...

 

[TammieH]

yeah... its unfortunate that people call "artwork" a logo

 

[Gino]

Wow !!

 

[OldPaint]

IF....... you are a skilled designer, you can take that and without getting them ticked off cause you cant fix that.............GIVE THEM SOMETHING to look at that will make them say WOW......NOW THAT IS AWESOME..........at that point her artwork, and how much she likes it will go away.................and you will now be "da man."

 

[acothran]

I agree with you all and am just clueless as to how to work with this thing. I could strangle my friend for vectorizing her sketch. He suggested they change it but there was this whole story about her inspiration for the logo (i.e. may have come to her in a dream) and the sentimental value. He used it, whipped up a business card, got paid, and now I'm stuck with it. You can't make this crap up.

Allen

 

[qmr55]

I was gonna ask what they grow lol but someone beat me to it..

 

[Justin]

I would ask them if they realize the leafs on their logo is marijuana leafs... They might let you do a new logo when they realize that..

 

[RobbyMac]

obviously it needs some playing with... but heres an idea to encapsulate the hands to allow for putting on different colors

 

[qmr55]

First, why are the hands WHITE? Have you ever seen someone with actual white hands?

 

[visual800]

stop putting hands on it, they are horrible and take away from the logo, trash the hands, the pot plant and the Lowes landscape rocks, lets do away with it all and start over. My god I cannot see right now!

 

[acothran]

I would ask them if they realize the leafs on their logo is marijuana leafs... They might let you do a new logo when they realize that..

It's a Japanese Maple tree. Yes, the leaves look similar but I've never seen a pot tree.

Allen

 

[acothran]

stop putting hands on it, they are horrible and take away from the logo, trash the hands, the pot plant and the Lowes landscape rocks, lets do away with it all and start over. My god I cannot see right now!

I understand and don't disagree....however....this woman is hard to deal with and said on the phone that she is OCD. This logo is her "baby" and she had an idea hands holding a retaining wall with a Japanese Maple. I'm trying to find a way to change the type (her request) and make it work on a blue truck.

Allen

 

[visual800]

ive been there and with kid gloves they MAY be converted to listen to better ideas. When you have a customer that creates their own they feel as though they own it but they have no idea how it will translate on vehicles or signage.

All I can say is lay some stuff out and compare sided by side, seeing is believing. if they wish to stay with what they did recreate it, do the work get paid and DO NOT put it in the portfolio!

 

[lexsigns]

ive been there and with kid gloves they MAY be converted to listen to better ideas. When you have a customer that creates their own they feel as though they own it but they have no idea how it will translate on vehicles or signage.

All I can say is lay some stuff out and compare sided by side, seeing is believing. if they wish to stay with what they did recreate it, do the work get paid and DO NOT put it in the portfolio!

GOOG GAWD!! Its horrible! Take visuals advise...we all have been there- take the money and run and be sure to charge extra for ugliness, deny it if anyone asks..

 

[lexsigns]

Oh I also give them the well it's great but may not work on a "moving vehicle" It gets very tricky etc etc ect... If it doesnt fly at least you tried