Seeking logo designer who can actually draw

[thunderbird]

I would like to find logo designers who actually do illustrations vs just playing with fonts and taking images, clip-art, etc from a file library and putting it together. More than once, after trying to outsource the task, when I ask for an adjustment that would be easy for a trained illustrator, the inability of the entity I hired to actually illustrate is rawly exposed. I've worked with real artists in the past who could draw an anime-like character if I ask or a lion, dragon, or a kumquat floating over a waterfall, without blinking. In outsourcing, the most rudimentary adjustment is met with deer-in-the-headlights confusion.

[FaJeeb]

Originally Posted by thunderbird

I would like to find logo designers who actually do illustrations vs just playing with fonts and taking images, clip-art, etc from a file library and putting it together. More than once, after trying to outsource the task, when I ask for an adjustment that would be easy for a trained illustrator, the inability of the entity I hired to actually illustrate is rawly exposed. I've worked with real artists in the past who could draw an anime-like character if I ask or a lion, dragon, or a kumquat floating over a waterfall, without blinking. In outsourcing, the most rudimentary adjustment is met with deer-in-the-headlights confusion.

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about, it turned out to be easier for me to learn how to digitally draw things than to pay other to present a hit or miss graphic.

Post what your looking for here, maybe I can help?

[Edge88]

We have a friend who studies ilustration and design in college. He design a logo for us from scratch, and made exactly what we asked him to. PM me your email address and I'll forward it to him.

[KarlWarren]

A few questions:

What is your budget?
Where are you looking?

The reason I ask...

You will NOT find a 'trained illustrator' hanging around on DP, etc. waiting to take on your job for <$50. If you want a 'trained illustrator' you will most likely have to pay trained illustrator rates.

If your logo is that important to your business, why are you not hunting down designers on design pro forums? Or speaking to a design consultancy?

Alternatively, check out 99designs.com and have freelancers compete to design your logo.

Kindest regards,
Karl.

[thunderbird]

Originally Posted by FaJeeb

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about, it turned out to be easier for me to learn how to digitally draw things than to pay other to present a hit or miss graphic.

Post what your looking for here, maybe I can help?

I want a picture of a grizzly bear emerging from a coin (like it is part of the coin but coming to life) holding a big dollar symbol instead of a big fish (salmon). This is to symbolize small businesses in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

[thunderbird]

Originally Posted by KarlWarren

A few questions:

What is your budget?
Where are you looking?

The reason I ask...

You will NOT find a 'trained illustrator' hanging around on DP, etc. waiting to take on your job for <$50. If you want a 'trained illustrator' you will most likely have to pay trained illustrator rates.

If your logo is that important to your business, why are you not hunting down designers on design pro forums? Or speaking to a design consultancy?

Alternatively, check out 99designs.com and have freelancers compete to design your logo.

Kindest regards,
Karl.

Holy cow, what's with the superior attitude, amigo?

[graphicsgenie]

Originally Posted by thunderbird

Holy cow, what's with the superior attitude, amigo?

Personally thought it was a fair point. 99designs would be my first port of call.

Good luck with your idea,

[thunderbird]

Originally Posted by graphicsgenie

Personally thought it was a fair point. 99designs would be my first port of call.

Good luck with your idea,

Do you like getting a lecture? Lots of people here get artwork done, and making such a lowly assumption about visitors here is kind of insulting.

[KarlWarren]

Originally Posted by thunderbird

Holy cow, what's with the superior attitude, amigo?

I do not have a superior attitude - just a lack of time at the moment, but I did want to help in some way so, I asked two questions to help guide you further... qualifying my questions with reasons. And then explaining the mistakes some people make when hunting for a logo designer.

If it came across as superior, I can only apologise for poor choice of wording. However, if you choose to answer the questions I can assist further...

Furthermore, my advice is good - 99Designs is all you'll need to produce what you want.

[thunderbird]

It's all right. Guess I had too much coffee, lol (but the latest news is that it's healthy). Thanks for the suggestion.

[theunknownthem]

I know some artists. Out of curiosity, how much do these type things normally pay?

[sbucciarel]

Post the project in Elance. There are real illustrators there.

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by thunderbird

Holy cow, what's with the superior attitude, amigo?

That wasn't a superior attitude. That was a valid response to the question.

Real illustrators cost real money. There are some dynamite illustrators on Elance and Guru, but you will pay for a custom illustration.

Not as concerned about quality? Go to 99designs. Most real graphic artists won't work for free, as is expected at 99designs, but someone might come up with something you like.

[thunderbird]

I appreciate helpful suggestions. Not sure why but I guess at that particular moment, the delivery didn't rub well with me (maybe it was the "quotation marks"?). We fixed up that little glitch, we're all good now and all is peaceful, happy, and cheery in this thread again.

I didn't say I wanted it dirt cheap, I'm getting responses to the effect that I did.I've worked with real illustrators, animators, etc., on real creative projects (eg films). Sure, it is all true that it can be expensive, especially in the West thus, animation and suchlike being outsourced to such places as China (where I used to live and work).

[LivingCovers]

I'm not that good at logo designs, but there're some guys here in the forum called logonerds...if you can just perform a search for them here, you sh'ld be able to get in touch with them...they're quite good and I admire their creations.

[KristiDaniels]

Have you ever noticed that the most successful companies have the most simple text only logos?

Here is the highest converting site on the entire Internet:

Flowers and Gifts for Valentine?s Day and All Occasions ? ProFlowers

Here is the site that gets the most traffic on the entire Internet:

Welcome to Facebook | Facebook

Here is the site of the richest company in the world:

Walmart.com: Save money. Live better.

See the pattern?

Here are some others to ponder:

http://www.Sears.com
http://www.Kmart.com
Target.com ? Furniture, Baby, Electronics, Toys, Women?s Clothing & more
Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more
Yahoo!
http://www.Microsoft.com
MySpace
Twitter

Colors and fonts often play a role in successful logo design. Rarely does pictorial artwork.

Maybe that will save you a task on your "to do" list and some money.

[thunderbird]

Originally Posted by KristiDaniels

Have you ever noticed that the most successful companies have the most simple text only logos?

Here is the highest converting site on the entire Internet:

Flowers and Gifts for Valentine?s Day and All Occasions ? ProFlowers

<snip>

Wow. I have a friend who is fourth generation Cockney flower vendor who emigrated to Canada for reasons unknown. Tough as nails and stubborn as a mule, but maybe that will help me convince him to put up a proper website!

[SuiteJ]

I think it would help if you express these concerns to your designers. Ask beforehand if they are going to design an illustration from scratch, and not use/manipulate a stock image.

Also, if you see a killer portfolio of illustrative designs, ask them if they have personally illustrated them all from scratch. Sometimes, you can see the style similarity in a portfolio, but not always. Asking should clear it up as long as they're being honest.

I agree with the 99Designs recommendation. If you post a project there and offer to pay a decent amount, you will have a ton of really high quality submissions to choose from.

Cheers
Jay