Home of the BrewNosers

After some very spirited discussion on revamping the Brewnosers logo, a topic which has been kicking around off and on for some time, I think the time has come for a change. AFAIAC, our current logo is a horribly bland monstrosity, and I would like to have something considerably different. I had been discussing some of this with Jeff Smith, and a lot of input here from everyone would be great, as I'm sure there is a lot of different opinions. My vision is a basic symbol that people could have some fun with, akin to this kind of work, easy to recognize, easy to modify:




So let's hear some ideas, because that's just one possibility, and there are many others. Now.

The first thought that comes to my head is to ask Brews to design whatever idea we come up with.

Yeah, that idea was put out there. But we've been bantering this around for a while, and I assume if he wanted to do it, it would have been done already. Jeff is a graphic designer BTW, so this kind of thing is his arena as well.

Even though I've been silent on the matter, I've been playing around with a couple ideas during my spare time. Would definitely be great to get as much input from folks as possible, keeping in mind that we won't be able to incorporate every idea into the final product. But I'd love to be able to have a couple different options/concepts for us to choose from.

Still pretty quiet here. 28 people logged in and only 3 opinions? Am I going to have to beat answers out of you?

I'm okay with coming up with something new but I don't think that the old one is so bad that we need to ditch it entirely.

By the way, I don't have a clue what that thing is you're using as a logo these days.

You already know about my opinion.

The current logo is fine for a website, but lacks a bit of "eye-catchieness" for use on T-shirts and Hats

ratchet wrote:The current logo is fine for a website, but lacks a bit of "eye-catchieness" for use on T-shirts and Hats

Agreed.

KMcK wrote:By the way, I don't have a clue what that thing is you're using as a logo these days.

It's a band logo. You will have heard their music if you watched the Matrix movies. And it's just a concept, that being a logo or 'branding' that doesn't have to remain stagnant. It's easily modified while being completely recognizable.

I'm not sure what to do really, other than if we can integrate the Atlantic Provinces in it somehow. I think the current logo focuses too much on Halifax when we are now spread across the Atlantic Provinces.

mr x wrote:

ratchet wrote:The current logo is fine for a website, but lacks a bit of "eye-catchieness" for use on T-shirts and Hats

Agreed.

Another thing that just occurred to me after reading the t-shirt/hats bit is that I'll need to keep that in mind when designing th e new logo. Something like the Rammstein logos that have a "glow" around them will get very expensive to screen print or embroider on hats and shirts.

I agree that the old logo needs a bit of a refresh, but it's style with solid edges is much more conducive to printing. Maybe we should be looking at updating/refreshing the current logo rather than throwing it out completely?

I don't think we need to have those kind of effects, I just threw that stuff out as an example of a design that can be used in different ways. Certainly, printability (ie $$$$) for hats and t-shirts should factor into any construction.

A crazy cartoon image could be distinctive as well.

Is anybody here familiar with "Blackadder" ? Forget the t-shirts and hats, I say we get us some novelty drinking breasts... go to 1:33



As far as serious logo go, I have no ideas. Having the Atlantic provinces in the background could be interesting, but not as the main focus. Also, since we're the Brewnosers, using a schooner could be an idea (but not The Ship because I don't want us getting into trademark trouble).

akr71 wrote:Is anybody here familiar with "Blackadder" ? Forget the t-shirts and hats, I say we get us some novelty drinking breasts... go to 1:33

akr71 wrote:As far as serious logo go, I have no ideas. Having the Atlantic provinces in the background could be interesting, but not as the main focus. Also, since we're the Brewnosers, using a schooner could be an idea (but not The Ship because I don't want us getting into trademark trouble).

I'm thinking that some sort of nautical/atlantic theme would be apt.

I think maybe for shits and giggles I'll do a bit of a broad refresh of the current logo, and then another compiling other good ideas from this thread and we can go from there

So keep the comments and ideas coming or X will have to start beating opinions out of people.

The one thing I do know about graphic design is don't do it by committee.

KMcK wrote:The one thing I do know about graphic design is don't do it by committee.

Oh, I know very well. I've been doing this for quite a few years and have seen so many good brands reduced to shit by committee.

Just trying to gather feedback that I'll take away, sift through, and come with something (hopefully) great.

akr71 wrote:As far as serious logo go, I have no ideas. Having the Atlantic provinces in the background could be interesting, but not as the main focus. Also, since we're the Brewnosers, using a schooner could be an idea (but not The Ship because I don't want us getting into trademark trouble).

The idea I am proposing would be easily adaptable to the AP's in the background, but would focus on a core logo that could be used in many other ways as well. I know Jeff understands where I am coming from, but for those who don't, allow me to use my rammstein example again. Look at the many different ways you can use a very simple but distinctive logo. And that was an idea Andy. No beating for you, unless you want one.


x

I am also partial to stupid cartoons though.
Anyway, more ideas please.

mr x wrote:I am also partial to stupid cartoons though.

The Big Snit wasn't stupid!

For a bit I pictured a hop-bomber flying over the maritimes. To give it more of a maritime flavor, you could switch out the plane for a schooner of privateer's ship blasting hops from the cannons.

I know, its a little corny...

Yeah, or something like this, except with hops and malt:

I haven't been around long enough to really weigh in on a logo, but I do like the idea of incorporating hops, barley or something beery. Things like the brewing networks tap on its logo, or the hop grenade of the BN army works really well and is simple to silkscreen. Details and overlayed colours all end up muddling the image and make it harder to recognize. I really like the classic look of the current logo, I would wear it on a hat anyday, but as mr x said, it's next to impossible to adapt for special events or themes. Plus the Halifax-ness in the words doesn't help us mash dwellers, aleanders, etc...

lol, marsh dwellers. I guess Freud was right.

At the time the logo was done, there was a club in the Valley (FARTS - Fellowship Against Repulsive Tasting Suds) one in Dartmouth, and one in the North End of Halifax. We wanted to distinguish ourselves from those other clubs.

The "Halifax" part can certainly go now.

I have greatly enjoyed having a hat and T shirt when travelling at beer festivals and conferences. It identifies you and people come right up and chat about Nova Scotia.

That said, I never really liked the logo - the concept of a beer mug/lighthouse is OK, I guess, but it's not that obvious, and really just some reference to the ocean - our ocean is all that is needed. The name is a pun, and the logo could be too. (we did have one draft of a sailing ship with a blue nose on it chasing a beer....)

A graphic designer would understand immediately that a passing reference or linkage to a theme can be accomplished in many ways, some very subtle.

Even, for example, by something as simple as a hop or cluster of hops, but coloured ocean blue instead of green. With BrewNosers Homebrewers and Nova Scotia on the back or front. A black hat with a bright silver blue hop logo would be able to convey some of this, and certainly could provide some of the modern edge that X likes.

You could get a choice with or without text embroidery as well.

It's a logo, a brand, if you will, and the communication part of the design has to be there for it to be complete. It needs to say "beer, Nova Scotia, and club"


Jeff

So maybe something along these lines. On a black hat or T-shirt it would look pretty good. Maybe the extra $$ for a silver thread for lettering and an outline around the hops?

Since designing by committee is agreed to be a bad idea, I say just put me down for a t-shirt and a cap, whatever the logo (I don't mind the current logo, but it is a bit busy)