Look ma! Let's put it on the fridge! Logos - Mundotribe

This one was perhaps the most researched and abstract logo design. Also while working at PAX as a master control operator (by now, you may see I did a lot of dreaming and doodling there - but I still did my job!) my co-worker began talking to me about this project. Her boyfriend at the time was in a ban and they needed a logo. After explaining to her a few times I was more of a web designer than a graphics designer (By this time my work experience score was logos: 2, websites:0) I finally accepted the challenge but promptly warned her I was not a logo designer. None the less, I did the research, played around in the sketch-pad and ended upp with this.

Here's the lesson in this project. I learned more about my future as a freelance designer through this process. My first business meeting was how I envisioned it. In the clients backyard, at night, while they played poker and drank beer and we all smoked our cigarrettes and discussed the grandiose plans we had for this marketing and identity. I was so excited driving home, I felt accomplished and talented. They liked the results as did I. Someday, I can pull out and post some of the other ideas on this logo. I think I had about four diffent final designs with tens of variations in color and design. It narrowed down to two concepts: a round drum or a character tiki logo.

And this next part is not for the purpose of knocking them down any. They were two successful and talented individuals with more drive than I had at the time, but one thing was overlooked and that was the payment of the project. Although I initally offered this to them for free (mostly my insecurity told me my designs were amatuerish and not worth payment yet) they insisted on creating a payment. We discussed the options of royalty payments and of a straight forward buyout of ownership. Niether one was ever resolved or paid. In the end they chose this logo which was straight from the sketchpad to photoshop and was intended for developmental purposes. And low and behold, I saw later, one of my worst nightmares, the some non-vector based logo stretched out across a page or an area.

They have still used this logo as of last I had scene, wait, hold on, let me check ... yes, they're still using it. So the positive side, is that it's a successful identity. The client liked it. And its useable. As an artist; a designer, I suceeded. As a freelacer, a contract employee, in business, I failed. Lessons learned in this project:

• Written contracts are necessary (we tried that route later on and it never worked out either, I finally gave in)
• Never send anything but a final product to the client - maybe THIS should be included in the written contract.
• Friendships with coworkers can survive contract work with their boyfriends, especially if they break up.
• Vector! Vector! Vector!