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What's the story behind your portfolio/personal logo?

4 years ago from Lucas Debelder

  • Dan GDan G, 4 years ago

    I don't think I've ever seen a good personal logo. They're unnecessary and tacky IMO.

    2 points
    • Nuff ., 4 years ago

      Agree that they are unnecessary (is any logo "necessary"?) but respectfully disagree with the rest, at least as a matter of course. There are definitely tacky ones but I don't think that's by definition.

      I've seen loads that I absolutely adore and think are incredibly tasteful. Especially when the designer does something that would never work as a corporate mark.

      As examples, I think James White and Malika Favre's marks really distil their practices into one small, visceral form. Shyama Golden's sadly defunct llama was a perfect calling card for her. Raku Inoue's riff on a traditional Japanese stamp speaks to his heritage, aesthetic and values. Not to mention the people who come from lettering or street art and bring those traditions into their marks.

      1 point
      • Alex HoffmanAlex Hoffman, 4 years ago

        I don't have a personal logo – but I do have some branding that I follow from my website, resume, and business card. I don't think it's necessary for some designers, for others, I feel like it's critical. If you're a brand designer and you're applying to work at a big time agency without a logo – probably not goin look so great. If you're a UX designer with not the best visual design chops, maybe don't make a logo, just pick a nice typeface and write out your name.

        I tend to side with Sean Wes when he says, "a cheap business card is worse than no business card." In other words, if you can make a nice logo and you're trying to get jobs that require visual design chops a personal logo can be a really great way to get people to notice you.

        On the other hand, if you're new or not great at visual design, it's better to speak to your skills rather and show poor skills and remove all doubt that you in fact, not a good visual designer

        1 point
        • Nuff ., 4 years ago

          I think that might be oversimplifying it a little. You definitely need to be able to show your chops to book identity work, but you can do that through a portfolio. Thinking about someone like Mackey Saturday who hasn't invested particularly heavily in his own identity.

          On the other side of that, branding yourself can be a differentiator/positioning tool for all kinds of design professionals, regardless of discipline. Of course, you'll be judged more as a specialist (see web designers and their websites).

          0 points
          • Dan GDan G, 4 years ago

            The idea that not having a personal logo is going to affect how you are viewed when you for a job is ludicrous. People look at your work, even if you are doing branding as a profession.

            (is any logo "necessary"?)

            Yes?

            0 points