All help appreciated. Logo design.

NewFrockTuesday

I make jam and "give" it to my friends who in turn make a kind donation to the Rotunda special care baby unit via a moneybox I happen to have on me when they get their jar.

So Im thinking, I have a bit more spare time on my hands than I thought I would have so Ill have time to make more jam. Anyway, the long and the short is, I can cook but I have no clue as how to go about putting a logo togeather.
The jam audience is getting a bit larger than I thought it would so i cant just scribble the name of the jam on a plain label anymore. A) time wise I reckon if I have a neat label, more punters = more money for the unit.

As I said I will be eternally grateful for any links or designs you can get/give me. Free jam for the winner!! I promise!!

leftofcentre

Whats the name of your jam? Whats your name?

For these hand made goods the secret is not too look too proffesional.

People like that rough, handmade look, eg handwritten labels etc.

Do not try to be hartleys ;-)

NewFrockTuesday

Thanks for the suggestions. I see what you mean.
Yeah, I dont want to be too slick but I dont want the jams looking as if they are made in a shack somewhere.....d'you know what I mean. Theres definately a line I dont want to cross.
Even if I did, say still writ ethe name of the product....which is something |I def consider, then Id still like a logo of some sort.
Do you have any links?

Its Red Frog Foods btw.

leftofcentre

To be honest i would go for a name change. The word frog would not endear me to a food product, espically strawberry jam

You can get a logo here for about 100 quid:
http://www.designoutpost.com

But seriously change the name.

NewFrockTuesday

mmm. Good point.
Frog jam...tasty!!

NewFrockTuesday

mmm. Good point.
Frog jam...tasty!!

BrianD

Make sure you get ownership of the brand and don't have to pay a rental on the logo.

NewFrockTuesday

Right. Good.
Any more advice anyone?
Im not going global with this....but Id like it to be somewhat controlled.

heggie

as a designer i would advise agains those template logo sites, they are not truly custom logos, and your logo is your image, you need a lot of input. It's a charity if i read right, so i would think plenty of designers would do it for a reduced rate or even free for their portfolio

telecaster

As its for charity, why dont some of the lads with decent design chops post up a few efforts as a freebie...

you'll be
a) helping outing Dellgirl
and
b) giving us all a look at what you can do

coolcon

i just put together this in a couple of minutes . .
I dont usually do that sort of thing, but i buy this kind of product at Farmers markets and i know what people like myself look for. Dont go all out with fancy designs and the like... just something simple which can be clearly identified. in the picture above , obviousley, the strawberries stand out. It features the word "homemade" which helps and the backround is off-colour to give that sort of rustic / homemade feel. By the way, my picture above is of poor quality - its only an idea. Good luck.

heggie

coolcon wrote:

i just put together this in a couple of minutes.

And it looks it, OP if you want a logo, do it right, not half arsed, that will do more damage to your brand than not having one in the first place.

coolcon

I was not suggesting she use that, it was merely to say that it should be simple. i know it looks like terrible!

cosgrove80

Before you get anything designed, make sure you are happy with the name.

Although it's only a small thing now, it may grow to something bigger. You could be the next Paul Newman (the sauces, not the film career )
If it does you'll be seeing A LOT of those labels, so just make sure you're happy with the name.

The logo in turn, will obviously stem from the name. A homemade/farm kitchen approach is probably the best way to go with the design alright. A character or cartoony direction could work also, considering the focus of the charity.

Best of luck

stepbar

Have you ever seen the jam they sell in dunnes? the ones with the very plain label? (nxt time im in dunnes Ill get the name). Have a look for them nxt time, maybe even ask the manager how well they sell, (must not be doin too bad if dunnes are keeping them on their product line). Suppose my point is that you can invest all you like in creating a fancy logo but if it tastes like S***E well ur label wont be much good to you.... Emphasising a homemade brand / unique taste / natural ingredients in my opinion would be far more important than a fancy label / logo if you want to get a premium price (differentiation its called)....

BTW doin a MSc in Strategic Mgt in college, so If u need any advice send me a PM ill try and answer ur q's

heggie

dont assume a 'plain' logo didnt have a lot of design work going into it. in my opinion its far harder to design a good, simple work than a fussy full colour job.

DadaKopf

heggie wrote:

dont assume a 'plain' logo didnt have a lot of design work going into it. in my opinion its far harder to design a good, simple work than a fussy full colour job.

That jam company, Bonne Maman, or something, obviously had a lot of work put into their labels. They look simple and homemade, but they're a highly refined brand identity.

I'd agree that the name is offputting, but it might depend on the flavours of jam you make - for example, unusual ingredients.

I would certainly recommend that you get as much money as you can together and approach graphic designers (TRAINED ONES - who went to design college) and ask them to develop a basic concept and one or two-colour sticker to keep costs down. It's amazing how you can 'brand' a product for very little extra money if you think laterally. Talk to a designer about your ideas, how you feel about jam, how your customers feel about jam, and about the social role of your enterprise. Charity.

telecaster

I'm putting my hand out to be slapped here BIG STYLE...but

Doesn't anybody else think that with the amount of software that's accessible to most computer owners now, anyone with a bit of time and effort can produce a decent looking logo for themselves just by playing with fonts, colours and effect settings?

Heinrich

heggie

telecaster wrote:

Doesn't anybody else think that with the amount of software that's accessible to most computer owners now, anyone with a bit of time and effort can produce a decent looking logo for themselves just by playing with fonts, colours and effect settings?

eh no. i can buy sugar, and strawberries, and a glass jar, doesnt mean i can make good jam!

coolcon

Heres another simple design. Again i understand that its of poor quality, and for that i apologise. I also understand that people will complain about it but i was only having fun doing it, this is not something im good at. Any way, heres another

telecaster

heggie wrote:

eh no. i can buy sugar, and strawberries, and a glass jar, doesnt mean i can make good jam!

I would suggest that making jam is also simple....2 parts sugar to one part fruit....trial and error until it tastes good (for jam) or looks good (for a logo)

heggie

well i would suggest that you havnt a clue when it comes to identity design and the process.

DadaKopf

telecaster wrote:

I'm putting my hand out to be slapped here BIG STYLE...but

Doesn't anybody else think that with the amount of software that's accessible to most computer owners now, anyone with a bit of time and effort can produce a decent looking logo for themselves just by playing with fonts, colours and effect settings?

Heh. By the designs that have been posted, I suppose the answer is "no". Though it's true that programs make the technical process of designing more accessible compared to when designers were literally craftsmen and everything was done manually.

But there is good design and bad design. That's it, really.

telecaster

heggie wrote:

well i would suggest that you havnt a clue when it comes to identity design and the process.

perhaps...but I do make nice jam

heggie

cool

NewFrockTuesday

WOW!! I leave my pc for a day and come back and see all this help! Thanks a million!
The first jam rolling off is tomato and chilli - tasty with chicken, steak and as a dipper. I wanted a differnt kind of jam to kick start. I used to be a chef so making the jam is the least of my worries.

Thank you for all the advice and logos. Frog jam company is really funny! I was thinking about "ChilliBomb Foods" as a starter name for this jam till I see how it goes.
Ive put the hammers on the printing company thta we use at work so they will give me a really good price on printing the labels. Also an friend of a friend owns a kitchen equipment shop so she will give me the jars at cost rate.
The ball is rolling really well so far, so as I said, Im really grateful for all your help.
Ill update on how things are progressing when more strings are drawn togeather.

leftofcentre

Ah so its not your run of a the mill jam.

I would go for a more generic name, something that does not meation jam.

Essentially you are in the speciallity foods market.

What you should do is go into a deli and look at all the packaging.

That will give you a good idea of whats name and look works.

pokypoky

how about jim jams?

leftofcentre

pokypoky wrote:

how about jim jams?

Oh I like that, very good. Would work will espically the kids connection.

cosgrove80

Dellgirl2 wrote:

I was thinking about "ChilliBomb Foods" as a starter name for this jam till I see how it goes.

Not to be negative, but that name would suggest that most the foods you make would contain chilli and/or burn the mouth off you

Pick a name that means something to you. People like a personal touch. You could go as far as to put a second label on the opposite site, explaining the purpose of the jam/food and the story behind it

I've always thought the "Innocent" range of fruit drinks had good cartons in that regards.

stepbar

cosgrove80 wrote:

Not to be negative, but that name would suggest that most the foods you make would contain chilli and/or burn the mouth off you

Pick a name that means something to you. People like a personal touch. You could go as far as to put a second label on the opposite site, explaining the purpose of the jam/food and the story behind it

I've always thought the "Innocent" range of fruit drinks had good cartons in that regards.

Jamtastic?

Would be nice if indeed u could put a story about the purpose of making the jam etc as cosgrove said. I like the way Cully and Sully do this on the back of their packaging, a nice story is always good to read.