Always avoid taking any image from off the internet it’s really poor form. Plus that stuff is directly copyrighted, if we wanted to brag about our server and brand it more we should avoid using copyrighted material as part of branding more than we are (cause we are a GOT server)
So Graphic Designer here. I’m still a student and I’m still learning and am still seeing drastic improvements in my own designs. ( The Gods know I gag at my old Thumbnails now).
So are we redesigning our logo entirely? Or are we trying to come up with a secondary logo? I like the logo we have currently a lot but I get that it doesn’t match our current redesign.
That being said, a pixelated W on a shield is asking for a look I don’t think accompanies our redesign. Particularly if this logo was pixelated as Pixelated design trends are largely associated with pure text (or large illustrations). Adding a shape to it starts to read as being less intentional and potentially as low quality.
I’m not saying I dislike your ideas but some in conjunction to one another do not achieve a good quality logo. With a logo you generally want to reduce the information down so that you can’t reduce it anymore without taking away the idea. This is why so many corporate redesigns use Helvetica or other popular sans serifs as their logo with a symbol/emblem to pair (Pepsi, Chipotle). Others emphasize the choice of font as a word mark. (Disney, Coca Cola) and opt not to use an image to prevent information overload. However that being said, good design is clever and just becuase it seems simple doesn’t mean it is. Rather it can be harder to find where you can reduce information than adding more. Heck It’s a flaw of mine since I come from an illustration background!
So all that being said there is a lack of cleverness with a Ringbearer W on a shield. Least the current iteration alludes to illuminated manuscripts, and wax seals something more thoughtful. I think the success of this logo is simply because the decorative elements do not demand attention and instead add texture. This texture is present, reads well but isn’t overwhelming the type(W). While we can reduce the information down more it’ll lose the texture that gives it the appropriate charm.
So essentially if you want to come up With a design rarely ever go with the first idea. (Maybe the current logo was a “first idea,” for whomever design it if so, that’s impressive! ) I have Never my first idea been the best idea nor have I met anyone whose first idea was the best. Oddly enough the ideas you come up with when you’re running out of them tend to be better because you’re racking your brain and have to be more smart with your solution. This is one reason why most designers create hundreds of logos before narrowing down and redoing version. I once had a project where I had to draw 450 graphical and unique dogs to teach me that lesson and that was a minimum for a C! It totaled to 800 dogs drawn after doing revisions to narrow down and perfect the final 10 that are refined and complete.
So essentially, I would keep working and coming up with more ideas and stray away from unoriginal (found online: images or text) material. I
personally would encourage everyone have a go at creating a logo to generate more ideas! Maybe a logo contest?
I know this seems like I’m speaking directly and only to you geeberry. I assume you know more than the general populace as you’re doing web design and development. I’m more over-elaborating for those less familiar with design and would word this differently if I wasn’t public
DISCLAIMER: I probably sound like I'm being arrogant in what I said, and I want to acknowledge I'm no expert nor am I an amazing designer who would do this perfectly. I'm just approaching this as I see it from my own understanding and experience of logo design. I feel created enough to be logos to speak on this subject with some confidence. I've been in design for 4 years however 2 of which were illustration and so I approach designs from a very different standpoint than someone with a pure Graphic and typographic skillset. I like designs to be a more illustrative solution myself. So most of what I'm saying is based of how my professors challenge me to balance my approach.
Lastly as my department head said every day in class, "every rule applies 95% of the time." Just because I say it here, doesn't mean there are aren't beautiful solutions that work breaking these guidelines, it's just that they just rarely work.
