Updates

Hi Designers,

Seeing some valiant attempts but mostly  missing the mark.

Here are some tips to avoid the mistakes everyone is makingto varying degrees.

READ THE BRIEF. I reviewed it again, I still think it’sclear on the ideas the logo needs to convey.

Still, in case I’m wrong (it happens), let me try again. Tosummarize: Logo must combine:

-PRIMARY IDEAS:

-sensible, intelligent, prudent. See my brief forsuggested images, but make sure the images are clear (Edurne? – good to usethinker but need clearer image).

(-Kudos to Aderline Ling for using something I hadn’tsuggested but which could work very well with some refining (gentleman w/monocle: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Yorkerto use as possible starting point, to create similar image). It conveys primaryideas AND adds a hint of wealth/money/sophistication/education.)

-SECONDARY:

Currency TRADING (and must be clear involves trading notjust money changing, as some have understood, reasonably, by trying tointegrate suggestions of a financial chart)

If your image can’t do both (hey, it’s not easy) so focus onhaving the image convey the primary ideas and rely on clear lettering thatintegrates at least 2 currency symbols to convey that the site is about forextrading and related investing

 Some points about thetwo parts of the project: the IMAGE and the LETTERING of the title

THE IMAGE: NEEDS TO PROJECT SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

Sensible, prudent, intelligent, ideally also forex trading(and not look like it could just as easily refer to currency exchange), thoughthe words will clarify the connection to forex trading if the image can’t.Ideally all of these ideas should be reflected in some way.

Note: Use of only the USD symbol is not enough to suggest arelationship with currency, you need at least one more symbol. The euro symbol  €   fits will as a substitute for an ‘e’.  The pounds/lira symbol £ might work as an Lsubstitute though I’m not sure if it doesn’t hurt clarity/readability. Forexample:

THE SEN$IBLEGUIDE TO FOR€X

or

THE SEN$IB£EGUIDE TO FOR€X (the £ symbol may interfere with readability, not sure)

Avoid graphic elements that don’t clearly contributeconveying those ideas. Please.

WORDS AND LETTERING:

1. Integrating currency symbols: It’s good to integratecurrency symbols in the title, because that helps convey the ‘currency theme’notehowever:

-The USD symbol $ cannot be used without at least oneother symbol, otherwise you lose the ‘currency’ connection. The euro symbol iseasy to integrate, for example:

THE SEN$IBLEGUIDE TO FOR€X

or

THE SEN$IB£EGUIDE TO FOR€X (the £ symbol may interfere with readability, not sure)

-Avoid putting currency symbols at the start of words,because it interferes with readability. See above example

2. If you must emphasize some words of “The Sensible GuideTo Forex,” obviously SENSIBLE and FOREX are the ones, because that is the site’sniche – safer, simpler forex trading, along with currency hedged income investing.However when in doubt keep all letters the same font and color, perhaps exceptfor the currency symbols that are integrated in the wording.

MOST COMMON MISTAKES:

Images that do not strongly convey the primary ideas or haveno clear connection to them, or add elements that don’t help convey those ideas

Lettering: Use of multiple fonts and colors for no clearreason and reduce readability/clarity.

Examples for inspiration:

Logos:

-www.forexcrunch.com:  note simplicity – one kind of font and colorexcept for the currency symbols integrated into it

-www.dailyforex.com: look at the logo used for their FXAcademy (should see it advertised on the upper fold of the homepage). Note theintegration of the owl – symbol of intelligence/wisdom, with the ‘X’ in FX.

I hope the above helps. Good luck

follow up to last update - a correction

-Avoid putting currency symbols at the start or end (added this now) ofwords, because it interferes with readability. See above example