September 8, 200817 yr Hi guys, I've not posted here in a while (which is good because I've been kept busy ) so i thought i would ask... I'm sure a lot of you must have had this problem before but I would be interested to hear how you guys cope with designing a website around a disgusting or tacky logo. My latest client has provided me with their logo and the design I produce must be based around it and use their colour scheme (attached image) I've no doubt i will be able to create something from this but the result will not be as good as it could be due to their nasty colours lol. So any tips on working around problems like these?
September 8, 200817 yr Haha! I feel your pain! I have had similar experiences to the point that I even re-designed a logo and offered it for free to the client cos the original was soooo bad! My only advice is that you keep the site clean, with a lot of white and use the colours from the logo sparingly. The yellow and the pink could go ok, but I personally would keep the green to an absolute minimum! At the end of the day, as long as the site looks good then hopefully people viewing it will say nice website - shame about the logo.
September 8, 200817 yr Man, that's one fugly logo Keep the website images to a minimum and use CSS - it'll be easier to change the colours around once you've convinced them to have a new one designed
September 8, 200817 yr Author The problem for me is that its mainly old Estate Agent companies who have these logos... redesigning their logos is not possible since its on all their flyers, boards, shop front etc and would cost them a small fortune to change.
September 8, 200817 yr I agree with the first comment, use lots of white in the design and only use the pink and yellow on things like headings and dividers. Keep it really simple but as stylish as you can manage.
September 8, 200817 yr I think lots and lots of white and using these 3 colours only for highlight should be ok. Think http://famfamfam.com/ One thing might be, can you modify the three colours ever-so-slightly so that they don't clash quite so terribly? Or introduce a bright green which goes with the dark green, and with the pink and yellow?
September 8, 200817 yr Lol, I thought I'd have a go and see how it looked: http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/529862/Dirty_Secret
September 8, 200817 yr I agree with all the rest. Keep it as simple as possible using a lot of white. Try using the colours only in mouseovers and other little things like bullets and stuff. Try downsizing the logo as much as possible without making it to small and try and make another focal point for your users.
September 8, 200817 yr Lol, I thought I'd have a go and see how it looked: http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/529862/Dirty_Secret Haha! that actually looks quite nice!
September 9, 200817 yr Haha! that actually looks quite nice! It's not amazing, but it's also not quite as horrific as it first appears! I'm really interested to see how this project pans out.
September 9, 200817 yr Author It's not amazing, but it's also not quite as horrific as it first appears! I'm really interested to see how this project pans out. lol me too, im a programmer not really a designer
September 9, 200817 yr lol me too, im a programmer not really a designer Me too... Just keep it nice and simple and you should be fine.
September 9, 200817 yr If the client wants you to design it around the current logo then I'd do that! The reason they want you to do so is because they probably have business cards already printed, fascias on the shop, prints on the van etc with that logo, if you change it then the website isn't going to fit with the rest and I doubt your client is going to change his whole company around on your say-so. I had a bit of a tricky client who wanted a website creating with their existing logo and colours, it's here if you want a look, it got some good feedback on here. http://benanderton.co.uk/cglass/
September 9, 200817 yr Maybe if you explained to the client just WHY this logo is so bad (and makes their company look a little amateur) they would be more willing to change it (and possibly get you to design it) I know this is not what you originally asked but the way I see it, it will be very hard to design a great site that uses this logo as a main feature (both in colour and everything else). How well do you know these clients? Good Luck! @ericadux Great Idea, how about it Ben? A wall of shame in the design section? (I can smell the flame wars already!)
September 9, 200817 yr It's not amazing, but it's also not quite as horrific as it first appears! I'm really interested to see how this project pans out. I agree - this is what tests us as designers! if you can make something look good from shaky foundations then you really do have the 'skills' so to speak.
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