Multi-sensory Appeal Sight part 2

Happy Valentines Day everyone! Whether you’re celebrating with a special someone or treating yourself to something special make sure that you behave responsibly! For those of you who are of legal age here are some Valentine drinks to try out.

Ladies here are some Low-Calorie drink ideas: http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/16-low-cal-love-potions-valentines-day

Men you know what you like and most of you don't mind how many calories are in your drink so enjoy what you like or try something new.

So here are my four "must haves" when it comes to great logos designs.

1. BOLD- You want to have a logo what will stand out in a crowd, something that is unique, and will make people stop in their tracks and stare.

2. VERSATILE- The logo has to look good when at different sizes, like a billboard or a business card, it has to be able to inform at all sizes. It helps to make sure that your logo looks good in black and white since logos that do are generally a lot stronger and are able to work in a variety of areas. Also make sure that it works on different backgrounds or surfaces like promotional items i.e. t-shirts, hat, mugs, and key chains.

3. SIMPLE- The logo needs to effectively communicate the company's message to its customers. People don't like to take time to decode complicated logos, they want clear, and to the point information.

4. NO/LITTLE GRADIENT- This is a rule that was made to be broken. There are some great examples of logos that use gradients well, but there are a lot of instances where they are not used correctly. A great logo needs to be able to function without the aid of gimmickry, gradients add depth to the logo but a lot of great designers believe that gradients are just plain lazy.

Here we have NADARED Vodka and CIROC Vodka, both use gradients but which one uses it more effectively?

Let me say this, NADARED's name is bold and dramatic, it make a statement, and is reminiscent of an era of communism. The gradient star detracts from the impact of the font choice and the style that they are trying to portray.

Now lets get to the fun part!

Bacardi 

   Here we have Bacardi Rum and their iconic bat. The bat has been a part of the Bacardi brand since the very beginning. Facundo Bacardí Massó expanded his business to a Santiago de Cuba distillery, and in the rafters there lived a family of fruit bats. The free-tailed bat that Bacardi uses is the same kind of bat that aids sugar cane growers by eating the bugs that destroy their crops. Since the bat protects the sugar cane, which is important to Bacardi's process, they even placed the bat as the face of their brand; making it the guardian of their product.
   In 1890 the logo was black and red with a thick lined bat, from a distance not very noticeable, and nothing special to associate quality with the Bacardi name. Then the logo changed into a very complex drawing that added yellow-brown to the color mix. This logo also doesn't read well from a distance which is very important in making a killer logo. The logo introduced in 2002 has a gradient, which doesn't work in this case, the shape of the circle gets lost on the outside edge. Over time Bacardi has gotten closer and closer to the amazing logo that they have today. The bat is simple, clear, bold and cleanly accented by the yellow lines.

Cîroc
"We like ciroc
We love patrone
We came to party rock
Everybody it's on"
Shots by LMFAO

   Ciroc is an interesting vodka to say the least, they spread shock waves with their cold pressed French grape process instead of using grains or wheats to make their vodka like everyone else. 
   Ciroc uses a symbol and font combination for their logo that incorporates a perfect circle and the "Ciroc" font. This fits two of my rules: be bold and be simple, it definitely stands out on a shelf, a colored circle is pretty simple, and it looks like a button. Who can resist pushing a button? But it doesn't quite fit the bill for versatile, it has to be combined with the Ciroc name to be recognizable, without the name all they have is a circle. And there are lots of logos out there that use circles.
   Here is an instance where I am going to break out of the design world that this blog is all about and talk about flavor. It goes without saying that you have to have a product that tastes good. Ciroc has met with mixed reviews and since i've never been able to afford it I have to refer to consumer comments. What I have been able to gather is that Ciroc uses a Brand Ambassador, Sean Diddy Combs, to help sell their brand. This is a risky move in the world of advertising, famous people may have a huge fan base that will try to emulate them, but fame has its ups and downs. And that is not something you want as the base for your whole marketing strategy.   

Patrón
   Patrón is a tequila that has a truly beautiful package, from the bee to the bottle, this is a work of art. The inspiration for the logo comes from the raw materials used to make the tequila. Patrón is made from 100% Weaber Blue Agave which is pollinated by bees. The Patrón bee is an exquisite example of less is more. Their stylized bee is not obtrusive, works well with the name as well as without it, and is recognizable at any size. 
   This is a tequila that sits on the shelf and is noticed immediately, it's associated with quality, and luxury. Even if you don't buy a bottle, you still take a moment to pause and admire. At least I do!



Well that was a long post and I could go on forever! In fact look out during the week for a couple of mini posts about some other brands that I want to discuss. Thank you so much for reading, this one was a lot of fun, and I hope as always that you enjoyed reading it. Post any comments concerns or questions below and have a fun, safe, and awesome weekend!




Alyssa out!