The Creation & Evolution of The Pheasant Logo
Being an entrepreneur means becoming a jack of all trades, especially when you are starting out and budgets are low. If you need something done, you rely on the kindness of friends & family or learn to do it yourself.
When it came to creating a logo for The Traveling Pheasant, my know-how did not extend beyond my vision, partial experience with graphic design layouts and my own hand drawing. I greatly needed help in turning my sketch into a professional digital file.
I reached out to a few colleagues to see if they had time and were willing to help out and thankfully, one agreed! After choosing the fonts you see on the website today, I sent the text files and photos of my sketches over to be worked into an official logo. This would open the door for the website launch, social channel pages, and ordering promo materials for when the trailer is open!
I had begun playing around with sketches of the original logos I chose, wanting to add in more detail making them look “more pheasant.” They evolved and gained added elements like the tail feathers and distinctive markings on the belly and neck.
This being said, it became too much of a time-consuming task for my friend with their other work, but I did receive the Adobe Illustrator files that were the essential starting point that I needed. Now, it was just up to me to make the tweaks.
Only problem: I have no idea how to use Illustrator and it has been years since I had played around with it!
Enter Adobe 7-day Free trail. TOTAL LIFESAVER!
If you have worked with Adobe before, you know that you need to pay monthly for the license to use the multitude of programs and, unless you are a student or teacher, they are quite expensive.
This 7-day trial was a full-on race of 12+ hour days and the sheer determination and will to finish before time ran out in order to save money.
Taking the files my colleague so kindly started, I learned how to manipulate lines and points, thicknesses (weights) and paths of text with the help of a few Google searches and YouTube videos. I am sure that there were plenty of short cuts for those who are truly proficient and would have taken a fraction of the time, however, I must say that I was proud how they turned out and I was able to manage.
Learning how to manipulate the file was only half the battle. The greatest obstacle was myself and my need to see ALL the options.
I torment myself by presenting all variations and combinations, then getting stuck between the final two contenders.
I had alternatives in line thickness, outline vs. full color, brand color combinations, text placement, wording (with “Mobile Coffee Bar” or without?). For the standing pheasant, I agonized over if the coffee cup should have one steam swirl or two? Have a leg bump or no leg bump?
As painful as my creative process is, I am normally always pleased when I look back, feeling I made the right choice. I made a decision on which to use for the website, but I feel I am still deciding on the final version based on the color I decide to paint the trailer.
In terms of timing, I just made it! It was a lengthy process of creating the nomenclature then saving/exporting all of the files in .jpg, .png and .svg formats. However – mission accomplished!
Did you see a favorite version?
The little pheasants also still need names & I am taking suggestions!
Never stop learning,
Heather
Comments