c4countdown

Yeah so I don't claim to be a graphic designer by any stretch of the imagination but I've had a fiddle over the last couple of days with some ideas for an apterous logo.
Here are a few of the results, most of which are just 'first draft'-y.

Most of them use the original 'a-pterous' idea of a wingless beetle. Just looking for some feedback really and ideas etc.?
Couldn't be arsed to do a poll or anything like that as it'd be nice to have some verbal feedback and I can add to this thread with new designs or versions at a later stage.

1. Reworking of the original icon


2. Half beetle


3. Beetlebum A


4. Blue letter tiles

Oh my God. This is so good.

I love logo 4 as it tells people what apterous is all about at a first glance, but beetlebum A (picture 3) is awesome too.

In order of preference from best to worst: 2, 1, 3, 4, although 2 is ahead by miles for me.

Reams, you know that weird clock in Cambridge opposite King's, with the evil bug creature on top.. I always imagine that it is somehow connected to Apterous, and that you designed it.

I like no. 1 the best, as it's enigmatic and tells you absolutely nothing - apterous is so cool that it doesn't need to be explicit about what it is. For the same reasons, no. 4 is the one I like the least. It tries too hard. 2 and 3 are interesting in-between places. Good stuff though, Matt.

I'd like an animated version of number 4, where it rearranges to "ARSE POUT" and back again.

If this is a vote, I vote for 2!

The (sole, IMO) advantage of #4 is that I don't reflexively reach for something to squash a bug with. That said, I rather like #2 (half a bug is better than one?), and then I suppose #3 ahead of #1. That first bug just looks ugly to me, for reasons unknown.

Richard Brittain wrote:Reams, you know that weird clock in Cambridge opposite King's, with the evil bug creature on top.. I always imagine that it is somehow connected to Apterous, and that you designed it.

I'm most flattered. For those who are not familiar with weird Cambridge esoterica, RB is referring to this... thing.

Link

Ooh, liking the competition. Avoiding saying my own opinions yet but happy to hear everyone else's.

Charlie Reams wrote:Avoiding saying my own opinions yet but happy to hear everyone else's.

This seems to run contrary to everything this message board stands for.

Jon Corby wrote:I'd like an animated version of number 4, where it rearranges to "ARSE POUT" and back again.

Especially if this could be designed to look like one of those Ibuleve promos.

I like Jono's bug-eyed little mascot. Apterous does need cheering up. More cartoon characters from everyone.

Ben Hunter wrote:I like Jono's bug-eyed little mascot.

[superfluous comment deleted]

I love #2, Matt, for when a scalable logo is required.


I just did these for a laugh:









Edit - changed picture host.

Brilliant folks. Why a picture of Countdown in the background? Apterous is in no way related to Countdown whatsoever

Ace pics Alec. We really should get a poll going. More ideas from you techno-geeks please.

I like Matt's #4 best. But why am I not surprised that a bunch of boys find the bugs appealing??!!!

Having researched a number of corporate logos over the years, I would like to point out that you don't need everyone to actively LIKE the logo but you do want to avoid anything that a proportion of your 'customers' actively DISLIKE. Neutral is fine for logos as long as they communicate the correct message. As apterous.org is really about words and numbers, I feel that logo #4 communicates that best!

Kirk Bevins wrote:Why a picture of Countdown in the background?

Like I said, I just did that for a laugh, mate.

Alec Rivers wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:Why a picture of Countdown in the background?

Like I said, I just did that for a laugh, mate.

It's OK! It's good - I was just trying to keep the pretence that it's in no way related to Countdown.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Alec Rivers wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:Why a picture of Countdown in the background?

Like I said, I just did that for a laugh, mate.

It's OK! It's good - I was just trying to keep the pretence that it's in no way related to Countdown.

Oh soz, I get it now.

I've combined bits of Jono and Alec's designs to make it look as though the apterous bug is SHITTING OUT LETTERS:



Yes.

That's cool Jim. He actually has that slightly guilty look that shitting dogs have too. Nice work.

JimBentley wrote:I've combined bits of Jono and Alec's designs to make it look as though the apterous bug is SHITTING OUT LETTERS

A-lol

This logo implies that Apterous is shit. I don't like it.

JimBentley wrote:I've combined bits of Jono and Alec's designs to make it look as though the apterous bug is SHITTING OUT LETTERS:

It's rather clever that he's also shitted them in reverse order, too.