Ash does some simple and inexpensive logo design work - http://inkash.com/Print
that background... geocities?
Ask HN: What to do for logos?
11–20 of 57 posts
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#12twitter bought its logo for hella cheap, but go find an online graphical design community. Most of them are looking for any type of work to add to their portfolio and most will do it for free or on the cheap.
I really have to disagree here. I think this is absolutely the wrong attitude to have towards the design community. If someone came to this community and asked to build them an app for free they would get shut down. Instead of putting up $300 on 99 design have a look around for a designer that makes logos that you like the look of and send them an email and ask what they can do for that amount. You might only get a f…
Did you have experience with this? Do you have any experience with logo competition and logo designers?
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#13twitter bought its logo for hella cheap, but go find an online graphical design community. Most of them are looking for any type of work to add to their portfolio and most will do it for free or on the cheap.
Oh yeah, web designers love when people ask for free work because they "love to do it anyway" or because its "good for their portfolio"
/sarcasm
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#1499designs. I feel bad about it because I would hate to see a programmer in the same boat. The truth is I just haven't found a versatile designer that's reasonably priced whose work I consistently like. As long as 99designs consistently provides better results for less money i'll probably keep using it.
Second this, have had a great experience with 99 designs in the past.
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#15Do a quick logo yourself. You can use Inkscape or GIMP.
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I really have to disagree here. I think this is absolutely the wrong attitude to have towards the design community. If someone came to this community and asked to build them an app for free they would get shut down. Instead of putting up $300 on 99 design have a look around for a designer that makes logos that you like the look of and send them an email and ask what they can do for that amount. You might only get a f…
"you'll be doing the whole design community a favour by not asking for free work." This is a free market. Supply and demand. If people are willing to do quality work for free, let them. If someone is looking for quality work and they find it for free, they should take it. Doing a group of professionals "a favour" does not enter into the equation. "If someone came to this community and asked to build them an app for f…
Apps are simply more valuable than logos, period.
It isn't too hard to make an app generator that pumps up generic apps in a similar way that icons can be made by slightly tweaking another preexisting icon.
The value with apps is much the same as it is with icons (or design, in general); in how unique and well thought out it is, how well it applies to what you need it for.
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
I really have to disagree here. I think this is absolutely the wrong attitude to have towards the design community. If someone came to this community and asked to build them an app for free they would get shut down. Instead of putting up $300 on 99 design have a look around for a designer that makes logos that you like the look of and send them an email and ask what they can do for that amount. You might only get a f…
"you'll be doing the whole design community a favour by not asking for free work." This is a free market. Supply and demand. If people are willing to do quality work for free, let them. If someone is looking for quality work and they find it for free, they should take it. Doing a group of professionals "a favour" does not enter into the equation. "If someone came to this community and asked to build them an app for f…
I agree with your first point in as much as people are free to work or not work as they please. That said, here's some perspective from the design side which may help you understand how designers may think about these kinds of things, even if you disagree or find it a touch extreme: http://www.no-spec.com/faq/
As for your second point, how much would you say the brand equity of Apple, Coca-Cola, or Nike is worth? They would simply be selling electronics, sugary water, and shoes if they didn't have design and marketing experts building and executing their brand (experts who I'm sure have been compensated quite handsomely). While I'll agree that it's easier to "throw together" a logo than a web app, good design does require reasonable skill, training, and experience.
ADDED: I guess I should be clear that I'm rebutting the assertion that design is necessarily less valuable than software development, not that startups require Fortune 500 branding.
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#18Learn a little bit about typography and then peruse fontsquirrel.com, pick an interesting font and let it do the work for you. Most enduring logos are not graphically complex.
Simple Logos: Bayer, 3M, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo etc
I also second the recommendation to make friends with inkscape and gimp
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
"you'll be doing the whole design community a favour by not asking for free work." This is a free market. Supply and demand. If people are willing to do quality work for free, let them. If someone is looking for quality work and they find it for free, they should take it. Doing a group of professionals "a favour" does not enter into the equation. "If someone came to this community and asked to build them an app for f…
I agree with your first point in as much as people are free to work or not work as they please. That said, here's some perspective from the design side which may help you understand how designers may think about these kinds of things, even if you disagree or find it a touch extreme: http://www.no-spec.com/faq/ As for your second point, how much would you say the brand equity of Apple, Coca-Cola, or Nike is worth? The…
Many of the issues no-spec brings up (ie: mostly misleading the designer about potential reward) are not present on 99Designs and contest sites, as people knowingly compete in contests for exact terms up front, not for potential jobs.
The brands you mention are priceless, but the logo is not. Nike's logo was cheap as hell, for instance.
99Designs serves a completely different market, and I think the "How much is a F500 Company's brand worth?" argument HEAVILY confuses marketing, design, branding and advertising.
Re: Ask HN: What to do for logos?
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
"you'll be doing the whole design community a favour by not asking for free work." This is a free market. Supply and demand. If people are willing to do quality work for free, let them. If someone is looking for quality work and they find it for free, they should take it. Doing a group of professionals "a favour" does not enter into the equation. "If someone came to this community and asked to build them an app for f…
I agree with your first point in as much as people are free to work or not work as they please. That said, here's some perspective from the design side which may help you understand how designers may think about these kinds of things, even if you disagree or find it a touch extreme: http://www.no-spec.com/faq/ As for your second point, how much would you say the brand equity of Apple, Coca-Cola, or Nike is worth? The…
In the early stages of a company, the logo contributes very little to the company's success. All it does is signal that the company is somewhat professional. It requires little uncommon expertise to achieve this goal.
The comparison to Apple, Coke and Nike isn't applicable. You're describing a different product than most startups are looking for.
Exhibit A: http://techcrunch.com/2006/07/15/is-twttr-interesting/
Exhibit B: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_logo