Raja, i know that even you some time get fed up of boring, everyday projects and want to do something else, something more exciting, something without any input from any design committee so you can remember what got you in this 'industry' after all... Of course, made up brands can never stand next to real projects with real clients and real tasks in terms of final result and recognition that one designer receives, but, at the end, good logo is good logo no matter where it got from and if you get a chance to have some fun and eventually see that someone else is lovin' it and further more, buy it at incspring seeing that it fits perfectly for their business, why not? Way better than working on 'spec' sites, don't you think Cheers!

I think Raja brings up an interesting point. I do this for 2 reasons
1. Because I love it.
2. Because it pays the bills.
Think back in history of artists and how they designed out of passion. While it is true that is far harder to develope an identity from a someone else's concept and name, designers are the "creative" ones and the clients should probably be coming to us in the first place to create both the name AND Identity. So many times I scratch my head and wonder why people come up with such strange and long names only to make the task more challenging. I used to feel very strong about this issue until I realized it was only to please other peoples opinions and I need to satisfy my passions not what others think, and other designers do not pay my bills anyhow.

Ah logomotive & smartinup I couldn't agree more. To see brilliant designers creative talents set free on a design that has nothing to hinder it, allowing them to refine every aspect is something so beautiful to see. It has just as much merit as a brilliant logo solution created with the shackles of client requests.
By creating your own brands & identities you can showcase & tap into that unhindered talent. THAT is what makes some logos on here truly exciting.

I can say from my brief experience here that the majority of my real, paid for logos get bashed, but most of my concepts get good reviews.  From a strictly "pat on the head" point of view, it makes me want to design for Logopond critics and myself rather than clients.  Unfortunately, I've never been able to remotely interest a regular joe client in any of my concept work.  Additionally, the regular joe client prefers the look of my real, paid for logos.  As for real or concept logos on Logopond, I don't think it matters.  It is all in what the designer is using Logopond for.  For me it is about logo design discussion so it doesn't matter if the logo is read or concept.  I also use the critique I get to improve my personal professional portfolio.  The feedback I get here is priceless, if of an idealistic sort.

If all I could do is post the logo the client picked my book would look like S***T. I have to get acount team approval, SVP Creative approval plus client approval. The best ideas my friend rarely make it to the real world. Plus we get to show off what we think is good.

Post your best work, and use your best work to sell to new clients showing them what they should be looking for. A good creative manages people up and down stream from your boss to your client.

Cheers,

Cody

Last edited by Creativeheart (Dec 06 • 5:30 pm)

As designers, our role is to solve a problem.

(I don't like using the word problem, as it implies there's something wrong, but for the sake of the debate, I will.)

Included within this 'problem' is the task of educating clients why our designs are effective.

If it's necessary to start our careers with the use of fictitious logos, so be it, but after a certain number of live projects have been completed, I believe it dilutes a portfolio to keep the fictitious ones included.

Granted, from time-to-time, a client might butcher what logo choices they're given. Such is life. In this instance, you have an intriguing story to share, and this is why I believe a logo portfolio should include more details of the project than simply the final outcome. You can defend why your designs were an improvement upon what the client chose, and your rationale will help gain the trust of future clients.

I appreciate that LogoPond isn't used as a portfolio, and instead more of a designers' playground, which is great, but I'd love to see more live projects pass though these pages.

Just found this thread. Interestingly enough I made this post in a Feedback forum earlier today. Same subject matter, but looking at it from a different angle.

I'm just curious how many of you guys will be willing to indicate if the logo is not fictitious.

Including in these not just the versions accepted by the clients, but also the rejects and the "arm-length" versions of the real ones (e.g. with a proper name changed). Excluding however logos that are the results of evolving a real logo into a new "identity" - i.e. by tweaking the mark, realizing it looks like something else, then selecting a matching name and essentially creating something new.

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Last edited by epsilon (Dec 10 • 5:33 am)

I do a lot of work just to satisfy myself. I kind of view it as art, and I do a lot of it just for fun, or for t-shirts I want to get printed down the road. I have done a little professional freelance design work, but I am working in house for a company right now, so anything I do produce for our clients I don't have the right to post or use in my portfolio. Also, I haven't done any professional logo design really, mostly web/print layouts. But I enjoy it, so I do it for myself.

That being said, I'd have no issue identifying if something was for a real client, or just because I felt like doing it.

In the end, posting content on the site is beneficial I think, even if it is not for a real client.

Firstly, this site is made for logo inspiration. Just because it wasn't for a real client, doesn't mean it won't give someone else a spark of creative insight on a project they are working on.

Secondly, more content means more people come to the site. More people here means more advertising revenue, which helps the pond stick around.

If the work you're producing for your clients isn't some of your best, there's a problem. Like David said, it's your job to educate. If you can't agree on a solution that works for your client and is still aesthetically and conceptually pleasing, then you are not doing your job. Or perhaps you're just working for the wrong clients

And on the subject of real vs 'made-up' logos - I'm always a bit saddened when I see a great logo on Logopond and then see it show up on IncSpring....