Any graphic designers/marketeers to give advice?

[climbanymountain]

All you arty mumsnetters, please help!

I am setting up a v small consultancy business and trying to come up with a logo.

I need help and advice. Had some suggested logos designed for free but they're awful.

Do I need a logo or is it Ok to just go with the name of the consultancy? If the latter, how can you make this interesting? Any tips or ideas MUCH appreciated.

[climbanymountain]

.

[casbie]

you need a designer, if you want your company to look good and professional...

a designer not only creates your image, but should also be able to make templates for email footers/headers, business cards, on-line identity, as well as stationery. they will also assess the market for you (who are your competitors?) and where you need to advertise.

if you want a good design, i'm afraid you have to pay for it.

: )

it is always worth getting a good designer on your side as they often have other problems solving skills, relevant for business.

[colacubes]

Hi climbany, I work in print so deal with these sort of things everyday, yes you do need a designer, not just for the logo but for the artwork to be set up for you to do your stationary etc. Depending on what it is you want and then what artwork you need setting up, will be dependent on price, obviously, but you dont have to go to a big design house plenty of designers just setting up, or work from home will do something for a reasonable budget.

What line of business is it?

[quickdrawmcgraw]

I might be able to help. You could email me at [email protected]
You may be able to just use the name, with some styling, but you'll need to have in in print format.

[climbanymountain]

Thanks.

casbie; how much would a typical logo cost?

cola; it's going to be local writing and public relations.

quickdraw, thanks for your offer of help. Are you a designer?

I have some ideas as I've been spending night after night coming up with ideas and researching fonts, typefaces. But I do need someone weith this kind of background plus I have no software for designing myself

[quickdrawmcgraw]

I was a multimedia designer for 5 years although it's not what I do now.

[casbie]

i have usually charge nothing for the design of the logo, but for the printed material you order/by job...

so a brochure (A4 folded into three) is £240-ish, plus printer's fee.

it is all dependant though on the work involved, whether your applying for funding (EU/Lottery/Local Council. etc), whether we like you etc...

honestly, look in the local yellow pages for a one-man-band and then go and meet them and see if that's who you want to work with.

obviously, it works better if it's a long-term relationship, rather than 'just a logo' brief, as you'll get your value for money then!!

[colacubes]

climb, I think you should take quickdraw up on her offer, as for logo, my advice would be, simple is effective, and it wont age, colours and design can give away the age of the logo,and you want to remain consistent.

Also from a printers point of view, one colour is cheaper to do, all stationary, b cards etc will be less costly, more colour = more cash.

[climbanymountain]

Thanks cola and casbie.

Quickdraw has been a complete star and helped me out.

[quickdrawmcgraw]

[colacubes]

Good luck climb, and well done, Quickdraw.