Logo design for Drumryden
Design brief
Drumryden is a new architectural firm in Scotland. The client asked for a simplistic, solid and angular text logo that symbolised the strength behind their developments. Red was stipulated as the colour of choice.
Photo courtesy of Factor 1 Studios.
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30 spot-on reader comments to “Logo design for Drumryden”
What are your thoughts?
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Looks nice! I like how you faded the underline and the ampersand. I’m thinking how cool it would be to have used a die cut in the business card to cut out that wedge shape of the D in your sketch. It would just add a little flavor. I like the color of the red you chose, too!
Always glad to see more of your work. You are very talented :)
Ooo! And you have a new photo up! Hmm, I think I’m a little partial to the one you showed us of you at Beer 2.0.1. It showed off your eyes!
it would be cool if the card felt like cement so they really get the structural strength in the business cards haha
The red appears to have an iridescent look on the business card, or is that just the photo?
Nice work again. One day people will see that the best things come out of Norn Iron! ;)
I had discussed a die-cut with the client but they opted for the standard business card size.
Interesting idea, Brett.
Armen,
The lighting effect on the reverse of the card is intentional. I think it adds a little extra interest, acting as an uplighter. The client also preferred it to a flat red finish, which is the important part.
Really great logo - simply, bold and clean. I will admit I’m not a huge fan of the front of the card with the client contact info. It just doesn’t seem to “meld” with me, although I love the back. But, that’s just me :)
My personal preference is for either left or right aligned text, as opposed to centre aligned - shown with the contact details on the front of the card. So I agree with you in some respect.
There were three different business card layouts presented and this was the chosen look. The other two ideas incorporated both a left and right aligned contact area.
I really like good typography, and the logo is well done. The problem part is the “Y” in my eyes, which really cuts a hole in these squarish letters surrounding it. That’s why it almost has to melt with the following “D”. I would have tried to use a font little more fancy, (Is it Helvetica or Swiss?)like Nimbus or Bureau…
Font looks like Helvetica or Akzidenz-Grotesk Bold. I think that it is a safe, if not great choice for an architectural firm. The kearning is slightly bit off, but I had to look for that. I think I would have personally gotten rid of the horizontal rule and instead of using a what looks like a 50% screen on the ampersand wouldhave just used a lighter weight to represent a more delicate human form within the rigid and encapsulating architectural structure.
Overall a great logo, and of course what matters most is that the client is happy. (I might have left off the centered choice for contact information and gone with just left and right aligned ones for them to choose).
Cheers!! =)
Thanks for your thoughts on this one. I had an issue with the ‘Y’ myself, and you’re right about the typeface - Helvetica Neue.
Igor,
Your thoughts are also very welcomed. Interesting suggestion with the ampersand rather than the tint.
I think I’ll be sticking to right / left aligned card text in future, and have actually updated the card layout here in the post, changing it for one of my favoured layouts (who says your portfolio needs to show the finished product?).
I didn’t even notice the lighting effect on the back of the card. So is that a gradient then? It does add a sophisticated feel!
Oh, and you updated the front… yes, I like the new one better, too. The only thing that doesn’t sit quite right with me on the front is the gap between York and Place and Edinburgh and, is that the postal code? It seems like a river, it divides up the text too much. But something tells me you did think about it, because you lined up the two rows of text perfectly.
You do have a great sense of typography, David. Is it something you really enjoy? You better say yes, otherwise I will be mad that it just comes naturally to you! ;)
Hello David. It is corporate design, natural and clear, which always demanded. Thanks you for such beauty. Looks nice!
Oh, I definitely prefer the new front! I can see why you favoured it. Nicely done:)
The lighting effect on the reverse is just that, a ‘lighting effect’ from Photoshop’s filters. You’re right, I did think about the river that formed in the contact details. The reasoning I gave the client behind it was that it forms a kind of brick pattern, relating to the building blocks of architecture. It also places an added emphasis on the post code.
Thanks for the kind compliment! I do enjoy typography, although like most designers I don’t read enough on the subject.
Dan, Lorissa,
Good of you to give your vote of appreciation. It means a lot.
Well, then the presentation is sophisticated because of your nifty lighting effect. And I like your idea about the bricks. See, I knew you thought it through! And that also makes it go in place with the leading between each of the sets of information, name and title, postal code, contact info. You’re just too good!
BTW, I’ll make my first official announcement. I hope it’s not too premature… I’m starting a blog. I just finished setting up WordPress. Not sure when I’ll make it live, but I’m working on it :D
Hi David,
not too bad logo I have to say..
your russian collegues (I have nothing to do with them): redbrand
here you can find more of their works.
projects
scroll down and you’ll see pages for going further in case you are interested.
Your blog is cool! I will be coming back often
Looks fantastic! A good, strong logo is always vital for a company, and I’m sure they’re very proud of the results there.
Dmitry,
Thanks for the link, and compliment. Just goes to show how all the simple ideas are already used. I have an article in draft form, titled ‘Just how original is your identity design?’.
Damien,
The client is indeed happy with the outcome, which of course is the main priority.
Nice work, David!
Hey nice simple design!..
For me, red side would be the front and on the back leave the text positioning and lose the logo, since it is already on the “front”.
If I were your client I would hand it out red side up. More powerful.
I like the simplicity.
Good point about handing the card red side up. Sometimes I hand my card with the foil blocking side up, to be sure it’s noticed.
The foil is a subtle addition, but costly, so I want to make the most of it.
Santosh,
Thanks very much.
Its a nice design and I think you covered the point of showing a strong logo very well. The type itself is bold enough to know the strength of the company. I also like the way you have adjusted the copy matter behind. It looks quite strong and yet very simple.
Very nice card what color gradient did you use and techniques to get that red color fade on the front ?
Michael,
I received your email and sent one back. Thanks again.
Hi David,
Just curious to know why you decided to use a serif typeface for the copy below the logo? Wouldnt it have given more of a blockier impression as an san serif or slab serif?
(ps. great blog, keep up the great work)
Good question. The client liked the serif type choice, even though I personally favoured sans-serif. Thanks very much for the compliment.
Just having a browse through your portfolio and saw this design - that top image suggests that the logos would look great on Moo mini-cards.
Have you bought any MiniCards from MOO? I’ve yet to try their service for any card type. I think you’re right. The dimension of this logo lends itself very well.
Not yet - they’ve only just introduced regular-shaped cards to their products, and now I can’t decide which of their things I want to buy!