Just foolin around - whatcha think?

[MikeSmith]

So I was just foolin' around with photoshop and all it's filters and I made this logo/splash screen for a fictional design company -
What do you professional people think?
Thanks!
Mike

Here's the address:
http://home.dejazzd.com/mikesmith/DeJaune.jpg

[*pixie*]

Heh! A pleasant background design... and I like the catch phrase down at the bottom. Clever. :) All around easy on the eyes and pleasing in general.

I see room for improvement, though. The "DeJuane Designs" is the name of the company and is probably the weakest part of the splash. They are kind of akwardly separated... when the phrase at the bottom overlaps itself. Perhaps play around with the company name and see if you can make it fit better or stand out more? Just a suggestion based on personal opinion. :)

Nicely done! Keep it up...

- pixie

[Good Christian]

I kinda don't like the overuse of filters. The typing is a little boring that's right.

[mattboy_slim]

I do agree that the over-use of filters can often cause a good image to go bad, I don't think that they were overused here. Although there may be quite a few used, they weren't so bad that it ruined the effect.

[Charm]

too often people don't pay enough attention to type and just slap it on last. the text should be part of the design! in this case, the type is totally disjointed from the rest of the design and kills it.

*CHARM*

[*pixie*]

Hear, hear.

[Good Christian]

I'm one of those guys who slap the text on lol :) i suck at doing type.

The way i see it is that the whole thing is kinda boring. It misses a good focus point. Wouldn't use it for a splash page. But if your just foolin' around then it's ok :)

[Fig]

I have to agree on the use of type, it does seem a bit "slapped on" for lack of a better term. Unfortunately this is the tendency of a lot of designers, type is an afterthought rather than a focal point. For something like a logo the type should be the first thing you think of, a logo will probably be used in print, web, etc., the background doesn't make that much of a difference. I don't feel directed anywhere specific with this design, nothing really attracts my attention.

I'd say try it again, but start with the type this time :)

Chris

[MikeSmith]

Okay, so I can't design type. :-( I tried something different this time keeping the DeJaúne and Design together more. What do you think?
Mike
http://home.dejazzd.com/mikesmith/DeJaune2.jpg

[*pixie*]

"DeJaune" needs a bit more contrast, try making it a darker color, but that is much better.

Does the little purple bunch in the center remind anyone else of a belly button? Heehee :D

[*pixie*]

Oh, and don't get discouraged... constructive criticism will only help you get better! If typography is your weak link, then work on it. We are only trying to help you build those design muscles. :)

[Fig]

Mike, don't get discouraged, type is hard, like I'd be willing to say one of the hardest concepts in design. You see a lot of "pros" that really have no sense of type at all, it's something that's developed over years. Best thing I can suggest is to keep playing with type and working at it, look at other designers' who you think use type really well (or really poorly) and figure out why what they do does or doesn't work. Read some books on type, and look up guys like David Carson and Neville Brody (who are either loved or hated for their use of type).

Whatever the case, start and try to think about where you want your audience to look, what you want them to focus on, where you want to draw their eye, then try to do it. Once you're done, look at it objectively. Does it work? If not give it another shot...

Hope that helps...

Chris

[Terphin]

Type is very hard to master, when i finish my design and i have the type to add, it take me double the time just to make the type fit with the image, and that is just fit with it not look good.

Well it looks good all i can add as an opinion is tweak the drop shadow a bit, by making it less blury, and making the distance a bit shorter, the last thing you can maybe modify in the drop shadow is maybe make it a little mor intense, but like i said my opinion, but give it a go if you want.

[Charm]

sounds like you are missing the point. most design involves some sort of text (some copy, the name of a company, etc...). these words should be part of the design process from the very first step.

adding them after 'the design is finished' will either make your job 100x harder or result in a poor design (or both!)

*CHARM*

[Dimebag]

I dont care what they say I recon its pretty cool