Hi all,

 

I'm sure many of you will have experienced it before. You are all set to design a website for a new client and they send their logo through to you and it's a Microsoft Word Special.

 

I'm curious to know, once you have picked up the shattered pieces of your soul after being sent such a monstrosity of a logo, how do you incorporate it into a nice looking website? Make it as small as possible? Box it off from the rest of the design?

 

I have spent hours tearing my hair out over a logo that looks like someone puked up and drew round it, and I thought I would see if anyone has any suggestions?

 

Many thanks,

 

Mark

Theres usually some way of making it look less horiffic.

 

Take it into Photoshop and see if you can add some subtle effects to it, make it look a little less clip-art-ey

 

 

Kyle

I'm in this situation right now. Their logo is truly awful and it's also burgundy/grey with a font maybe one step up from Comic Sans. I'm going down the 'box it' route I think - everything else I tried looked too bad.

heh Yep it is usual situation

Usually, in such cases, I offer to redesign logo. And usually they agree with that.

:D

 

Yep, that's often the case...

 

Normally, I will have met the client before I start work for them, so I've already checked them out and found out the degree of sh*te I will have to contend with. As I (kinda) specialise in corporate identity, it's often an easy sell to get them to see the error of their ways, if you show examples of good identities/implementation.

 

That said, the budget can often get in the way. Occasionally, I'll do the logo for free, as I wouldn't want a crap looking site with my name on it...ruins the reputation...

 

If they won't change the logo, evolve it a little "For web use" *cough*.

display:none ?

Hi Mark,

 

I would be honest with the client and explain that the logo is really bad and that you're happy to offer a redesign. You don't always need to reinvent the wheel. If the client is happy to use the logo they supplied in the first place, then spending 10 or 15 minutes free of charge creating a new one will most likely be time well spent. Remember that the client has hired you to create their online presence and in my experience anyway, the majority of clients will value your feedback. Of course there are a few that don't. But then you just make the best of a bad logo

 

Hope this helps.

Edited February 23, 201115 yr by jay pick

I agree.

 

You can put whipped cream and a cherry on top, but it is still a piece of ****.

Try to explain that to your customer and at the same time show him three-four very simple logo's you can produce within 30 minutes.

 

Be confident and carefull though, some people tend to get instantly emotional attachment to their first logo design and you might make them feel sad....lol

 

I had to change my first clients mind many times and had to incorporate others to carefully mention the poor design choices they made, and how it might affect their customers view of their company.

They eventually gave their designer (me) full control over the overall look.

 

Hey maybe you can earn a few quid on branding their company, make them a logo, letterheads and businesscards.

 

Good luck

 

P.

Hi Habitat,

 

I have also experienced this problem. Generaly i would go back to the client and ask if they have a better copy of the logo. At some point in time they must have had the logo produced in a graphics application.

 

Failing this i agree with KCooper, try to have a play with it in PS to get rid of any fluffy edges and sharpen things up a little, without altering it too much.

 

It is difficult with logos as much of the time it is not possible to just add a border as the logo is part of the identity of the clients company. With in mind it would be best to stress to the client the importance of the quality of there logo on there site.

 

Can i ask, did you see the logo before you started and design the site based on it, or did you do the site first?

 

I always find that it is easier to have the logo first for a little insperation.

 

Hope this helps

Hi all,

 

Thanks for all your responses. You are all right about suggesting a new logo, but as seedism said, some people get emotionally attached to their logos. In this case he already had it printed on his van too so I was pretty much stuck...

 

I went down KCooper's route and Photoshopped it a little bit and shined up that turd as nice as I could, but it still looked awful.

 

MrTim - I hadn't started the website until I saw it, and when I did 'Inspiration' was the last thing it gave me!!

 

That said, I sent the designs off today feeling like the "Send email" button was essentially an "End career" button. An hour later the client emailed back saying they liked them...

Edited February 23, 201115 yr by habitat

yep, I am usually honest and then show them some of the better logos in their sector and why they work really well.

you sell them a redesign or do it for free if its simple enough