Cariad Logo Design
Cariad Hypnotherapy is a very new logo design project, in fact it’s not quite complete as we have just reached ‘decision stage’ - I’ve been very pleased with the outcome of all three logo design concepts presented as has the client and now it’s time to pick one.
The Business
Cariad Hynotherapy will target couples, or women + chosen birth partner that are are trying for a baby (and perhaps having problems conceiving), considering or undergoing fertility treatment, and are middle to high earners that are open to the idea of natural childbirth and/or complementary therapies for fertility, child birth and beyond.
It is important that Cariad (which following my research I uncovered means ‘love’ in Welsh), convey to their potential customers that the solutions offered will be very individual to each case, and that they are exceptionally well qualified compared to most practioners in this field.
It was clear me after completing the design brief stage a fluid, that an organic style of graphic would be favoured over and above anything to hard/corporate. I silently concurred that this was appropriate bearing in mind the industry and mindset of the target market.
Amanda The Hippy
Interestingly enough, I’m actually very much the target market. Although my baby years are behind me as I’m definitely stopping at just the two children, for my first child I had a natural home birth with no intervention at all, not even gas and air!
I actually burned some Lavender oil during the birth due to it’s apparently ’soothing’ influence but have no idea whether it made any different or not!
LOGO DESIGN CONCEPT #1
Below is the first logo design concept presented to the client, the meaning is obvious and the colours were chosen because;
brown - perceived as as earthy/home/wholesome
turquoise - shades of blue are viewed as trustworthy and the shade also helps to ensure they are perceived as a ‘medical/professional’ which is important in view of the fact that they are highly qualified. It’s a little bit more interesting shade than going for pure blue, and the combination of the brown and turquoise is a nice modern scheme.
LOGO DESIGN CONCEPT #2
I felt so strongly about the colour scheme being perfect for the logo design that when I showed the second concept I used almost exactly the same colours. There is a slight difference to the turquoise, but you might not be able to even perceive the difference.
I explained that I felt the colours were perfect, but that I would show some alternatives if desired, but the client confirmed that indeed they also love the colours, and obviously the practical rationale behind their choices in terms of colour psychology is a winner.
The concept behind this design is that the plant is ‘fertility’ and growth - Cariad obviously means ‘love’ and what greater love than a parents love for their child of course.
LOGO DESIGN CONCEPT #3
The client asked me which was my favourite design, as all designs have gone down well and she’s struggling to decide, and I said it was between concept #1 and concept#3 below, but after further thought I decided that #3 was the best design all round.
This was my rationale for thinking this is the best concept for the brand;
- We can do a lot more with the icons seperately from the text in the future when used in various situations, and there is probably less we can do with the other icon in concept #1. I do like a logo that has a strong icon you can use separately. I acknowledge that the icon in concept #2 can also be used independently.
- It has a brighter and more friendly feel to it compared to the other designs; I feel this important in view of the nature of the service.
- The text is easier to read within the same height space of the overall design, this also is practical.
- We have the concept with this one of not just pregnancy only (swirl in the belly) but of ‘family’ to cover the ‘beyond’ section of the services and it serves to then not alienate men.
- The service is more obvious than Concept #2. This is a very abstract design, not necessarily a bad thing, but I do think it can be useful when you are conducting your marketing to have a design that at least hints at the service offering.
Lets see what the final choice is from the client. I’ll keep you updated.
What is your favourite design?
April 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I liked the first one, its was slear what is was about, and it just spoke to me.
Good luck with whatever one you choose, they are all great designs.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
The first one is powerful in its simplicity and subtlety
April 10th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Number 3
The first one is great, but 3 shows some support and security. Two is unclear as to what it’s about.
From both the designer Amanda, and Sarah above, I know less about this than anyone. I do know however that pregnancy is a stressful time, all sort of unfamiliar feelings and hormones are flowing and the next 18 years, let alone 9 months seems uncertain but otherwise now taken up by an unknown experience. Of course when conception doesn’t occur as easily as the contraceptive adverts show… then a whole load of other insecurities pop up. Number one shows a single mother as far as I can see, which perhaps would appeal to single mothers, or people going it alone… as you’re dealing with the conception stage initially, this would be quite a challenge for the best single mothers.
Number three on the other hand shows warmth, support and care which mother’s to be need at this stage of their lives. It shows that no matter what happens, you’re not alone and makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
Colours I feel are a perfect choice. I would almost be tempted to add a small dash of red as an accent and to express love, passion and warmth but after some experimentation would probably leave it out completely as in pregnancy, red is not always a good colour.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:41 am
I liked #1 and #3 but felt #3 would be more versatile going forward in future marketing campaigns as well as being a bit more obvious what it was about from the logo alone.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:20 am
I liked #3 with the swirly pregnant people - very apt
April 11th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Number 1 is calling to me, has an air of subtlety, warmth and honesty to it.
I like the font in number 2 and the ideology behind it but its a little more typical in style. I don’t like the layout but it does have a strong iconic feature which can be used on its own.
Number 3 has modern edge to it which may appeal to a newer generation of adults and like number 2 it has the icons but overall number 1 just seems right to me. I think its the softness that wins it over.
Definitely out of 1 and 3 but number 1 wins for me.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:52 am
It is a difficult decison as I’m drawn to the maternal aspect of icon 1, but on balance prefer the family nature of the third icon. The text of logo 2 is the best, in my opinion, as it’s modern and less clinical than 3. I do not envisage using fertility treatment in the near future and the larger ‘hypnotherapy’ of 2 works for me. On balance it’s number 3 for me. They’re all very good though!
April 11th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Thank you everyone so much, that is very very kind of you to give your feedback like this
April 11th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Beautiful colour choice. Lovely ideas.
I prefer number one because the delicacy of the mark goes with the delicacy of the subject.
But … it isn’t quite there with the line weights and movement between graphic and the font elements. To me, the figure flows, yet the font is more contained and controlled. So I’d either move the two apart, or tweak one or the other.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
1 for me
April 16th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Hi,
I’m the owner of Cariad Hypnotherapy and I thought I’d just let you all know that I eventually chose concept 3.
It was a tough decision as I was strongly in favour of concept 2 for a long time but I listened to advice from Amanda, from colleagues, friends and everyone who put their comments on this blog. Thank you all.
For me all of the designs were really strong and if I had only been presented with one of them I would have been happy (and I wouldn’t have had the problem of choosing either!). I followed some advice from Amanda and didn’t look at the designs for a whole day - when I saw them again with fresh eyes concept 3 stood out.
I like how it sits on the page. I like the fact that the logo can stand on it’s own without the text. I like the fact that it neatly sums up my target client group. I like that it is modern and bold.
What more can I say? Oh yes, on the basis of the logo design work I have now asked Amanda to go ahead and design my website and all of my stationery. I can’t wait to see the outcome!
Tracy
April 16th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Thanks Tracy for letting us know your rationale behind the choice, and how you arrived at it, and also for your kind words
May 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
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