Critique Bookstore/Cafe Logo, Please

[Ronald]

A print shop I interviewed with needs me to finish this assignment for a mock book store/cafe as a final test. Here are some logo concepts. I then I have to make a 2-color letterhead, business card, and small menu. Any advice would be greatly appreciated in regards to the logos or even the other items. Thank you.

[terrie]

I really like the first logo (top line) on the left...the green doesn't excite me all that much but it's a sort of retro color that suits the design. The design to the right of that first one is also nice although I think the word "Leaf" might be bumped a tad to the right.

I'm not sure about bottommost (book edge) at all primarily I think because it's a bit too wide (long?). I wonder if you narrowed it down (shorten?) a bit it if might work better--smaller font size for the text and bump up the logo size a little bit so it's more visible.


Hope the above proves useful...



Terrie

[Bo Aakerstrom]

Apart from the ones Terrie mentioned I read: Loose Books & Coffee Leaf...

The first one could work but as it is it looks a bit dated.

[Ronald]

Thanks, everyone. I favored toward the bottom-center colored version and started making my card, letterhead, and menu with it until I decided to try one more approach.

Using some of the same elements from my favorite version, I think these are far more modern and the main name would be legible from a distance, yet they maintain a bit of rustic literary or creative charm with the right-hand secondary elements. I feel a lot better about these.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

I didn't have time to post before but I preferred the Book one in #1 to the round ones and I would have liked to see the books & coffee a bit more prominent.

I think #2 are all too "ill defined" to be a logo

FWIW

[Ronald]

Thank you, Hugh. It's interesting to see the varying opinions; I requested a critique of this on another graphic design forum, and the members emphasized how poorly these intricate logos would translate to vinyl signage and small items like pens. I gave in to those pressures to simplify and use larger shapes, so the second logo set remedied this somewhat; although, the guys on that forum still think the skinny typewriter font and delicate ampersand brush are still far too intricate for a logo.

Although it doesn't necessarily pass every test for an ideal logo, overall, I genuinely like it. Attached is the business card with the final logo.

...Upon further observation, I wish I would've tried transforming the double L's of "Loose Leaf" into iconic little open books. A design oversight.

[terrie]

I like what you've chosen and I think your later idea of playing with the L's might be workable--if nothing else, interesting to see what you come up with.

With respect to signage and small items, I wonder if tweaking just the ampersand (I really like the one you chose) for those specialized items would be an option--you could either choose another ampersand or, just tidy up the one you chose by removing bits and pieces that don't translate well?



Terrie

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

I like the whole card (despite the concept of leaves of coffee ...... if only they served tea!) but don't see it hanging together as a sign out side which the first generation round ones.

Who want's to be a designer ....