Concepts for New Site Logo

[RadioRob]

Based on the site naming contest, our members decided that our new name would be Company of Men. 

Now that we have a name, we need a logo.  I’ve been working with a few different designers to come up with some concepts for it and wanted to get some feedback. 

Below are some initial submissions. Don’t worry about minor typos, etc. Those will be cleaned up with later rounds. Right now I need to cut down the list down to a max of six. Then I’ll have those refined so that we can pick a final. 

1.

 

2. 

 

3.

4.

5.

6. 

7. 

8.

9.

10.

11. 

12.

13.

14.

15. 

16. 

17.

18. 

19.

20. 

21.

22.

23. 

 

[RadioRob]

You’ll notice many images have a light and dark version. This was meant to help us imagine what it might look like on a different background.

With the ones that you like… what do you like about it?  What would you change?  

I would encourage you to think about this representing our values, and it being our overall identity. 

[xyz48B]

I like the ones with the male symbol, ♂

Not excited about the rainbow anywhere. 

[Kevin Slater]

Not a fan of this one.  A little too eharmony.

Kevin Slater

[+ purplekow]

There were two that caught my eye that I particularly liked.  

The one with the man with the handlebar mustache and  his fedora pulled down over his eyes has a very 50's feel to it.  I like it for the design concept.  The man is mysterious and sexy.  It conveys  an allure with a throwback style. I can almost make out the motion of his taking off his clothing.  While some may think it recalls a closeted past, I like the secrecy and sexiness it conveys.  Another stylized man on the other end of the printed poster, partially hidden by the print banner and looking back would add to the noire style. That man could be a bit more modern looking with perhaps a more ethnic silhouette.  I would definitely wear a graphic shirt with that logo.  

The one that follows with a lone man standing in the middle with the C and the O having the male symbol also has a noire feel.  I do not think you need the male symbols or the rainbow colors. If you are going to use rainbow colors, subtlety with the rainbow just in the O as done elsewhere as the only splash of color would make it stand out without being overbearing.   Both the male symbols and the rainbow are overdone in advertising catering to gay men.  This one gives to me a hustler standing in the street feel.  Would rather see two men in this one as well.  

The men in most of the art appear alluring but very vanilla.  Adding just a subtle touch or kink or racial variety to the men would balance the throwback noire feel with a more modern diversity appeal.  

Edited March 12, 2022 by purplekow

[Kevin Slater]

8 minutes ago, purplekow said:

The one that follows with a lone man standing in the middle with the C and the O having the male symbol also has a noire feel.  I do not think you need the male symbols or the rainbow colors.  Both are overdone in advertising catering to gay men.  This one gives to me a hustler standing in the street feel.  Would rather see two men in this one as well.  

 

 

This one.  Not a fan in that I expect it to be for a pay-for-porn site.

I appreciate all the thought you gave your answer, @purplekow.

Kevin Slater

[+ purplekow]

I agree that it has that feel and that is why I prefer to the one with the mustachioed man.  But that could be James Dean standing there or at least that is my sense of it, which makes it attractive.  

In any case, I prefer the ones with silhouettes of men in them.  The one after the one just mentioned has a nice feel to it and it would be my choice if there was a male silhouette in that along with the print. 

[+ purplekow]

49 minutes ago, Kevin Slater said:

Not a fan of this one.  A little too eharmony.

Kevin Slater

Did Gwenyth Paltrow buy the site and is now listing it on Goop?

 

[+ purplekow]

Also would suggest the listing above be numbered so as to make referral to individual logos easier.

[+ JEC]

Love this one

 

[+ Lucky]

Rainbow colors are a big PLUS in my view!

My favorite (now #4)

Edited March 13, 2022 by Lucky
add #

[+ Charlie]

Unlike Lucky, I am not a fan of the rainbow colors, which I think have become over-used. There are several here that I like, but I am particularly partial to the two outlined figures in front of the outlined urban skyline.

[+ sf westcoaster]

I like the the two figures in front of the skyline - there is an element of class and sophistication in that logo. It also conveys a broader meaning to  the Company of Men as opposed to the incorporation of the rainbow colors.       

[+ Tygerscent]

Numbers 5 and 15 are fantastic~! Well done~!

 I find these playful, diverse enough for tee shirts and hats etc., all black and white just seems a bit stark/sterile to me… the color is vibrant and 

Edited March 12, 2022 by Tygerscent

[+ Tygerscent]

I like that you can make a logo/monogram out of it~ Maybe turn it so the arrows are up and down, (perpendicular to the horizon), to make a modified infinity symbol~ Interweave the “M” into the infinity symbol… If the infinity part is turned 45 degrees and the M remains as it is but elongated and interwoven, it makes a modified  “$” symbol~ 

Edited March 12, 2022 by Tygerscent

[+ Tygerscent]

Like this but make the “M” longer and interweave it into the infinity symbol to make the dollar sign~ …and add a border to the infinity symbol~ 

Edited March 12, 2022 by Tygerscent

[RadioRob]

I edited my original post to add numbers to each concept. 

[+ overeasy]

I find I like the simplicity of 16.

[+ Tygerscent]

Something like this but cleaned up… with infinity sign in orange and red w/ black border & the “m” black with grey border~ 
 Maybe enlarge the inner dollar symbol to overlap the “C”

Edited March 12, 2022 by Tygerscent

[xyz48B]

3 hours ago, Charlie said:

Unlike Lucky, I am not a fan of the rainbow colors, which I think have become over-used.

It was meaningful in its day, but now it seems trite and campy.

[+ Tygerscent]

5 minutes ago, xyz48B said:

It was meaningful in its day, but now it seems trite and campy.

I’m pretty sure that’s what happens to all of us eventually~ 😳

[+ Tygerscent]

I get what people are saying about the rainbow stigma… but the monochromatic black just seems lifeless and sterile~ It disappears when you make it a marketing tool~ Needs some color~ 

[+ Charlie]

I still prefer #12, but if we have to have color, I prefer #13.

BTW, #21 says "Company of Man"

[Kevin Slater]

15 minutes ago, Charlie said:

I still prefer #12, but if we have to have color, I prefer #13.

BTW, #21 says "Company of Man"

…and boy is he busy!

Kevin Slater

[RadioRob]

Yes a few have typos.  If we like the concept it will be corrected in the next round. However I’m not going to ask for a correction unless it’s a design that makes it into the top 6.