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ANDREW BARTON

Design & Illustration Blog

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Andrew believes in building relationships with his clients to create graphic communication tools that will build their business and grow their brand. With over a decade of experience, Andrew Barton Design focuses on branding, illustration, graphic design for web/print and animated motion videos.

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Recent Posts

  • Creativity Under Pressure
  • 3 Reasons to Update Your Logo Before 2021
  • In the COVID Era, Animation is the Future
  • Pandemic Pivot
  • My Best Year Ever

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Category: logos

3 Reasons to Update Your Logo Before 2021

3 Reasons to Update Your Logo Before 2021

So many businesses have faced incredible challenges this year. From event planners and fitness centers to restaurants and travel agents, it’s been a bumpy ride. On the flip side, other businesses have been able to use their downtime to focus on those often neglected marketing tasks. I’ve had several clients redo their logo this year.

If you’ve got time on the calendar and breathing room in your budget, use it to invest in your business. And your logo is an excellent place to start. Here are three reasons you might want to update your logo: 

1. Do you still like your logo?

You may find the logo you once loved feels a little tired. You’re not excited about it anymore and it shows. If you don’t love the logo, it’s hard to ask your team or customers to love it too. 

2. Is your logo dated?

Maybe the style (font, colors, shapes) were on point in 2003, but now it looks old-fashioned. You might consider something more current (not necessarily trendy but more in line with the times). 

3. Is your logo practical?

A logo with a lot of small details or several colors is tough to print on a hat, shirt, or coffee mug. It may also be tough to use as a social media icon. A good logo should have versions (and file formats) that look good on the web and in print.

A Few Examples

Now, let’s look at three examples from businesses who decided 2020 was the perfect time to give their logo an upgrade.

before
after

ShoreSource Business Solutions

ShoreSource Business Solutions provides accounting services as well as bookkeeping, payroll, and Quickbooks training. They liked their old logo but wanted a more professional and clean look to use as they expand their business.

before
after

Fisher Creative

Fisher Creative takes the burden of copywriting off business owners by crafting marketing copy that cuts through the noise so they reach more customers and grow their business. While their original logo was cute, it didn’t translate well onto social media platforms. It also visually depicted “writing,” which was too narrow of scope for their broad array of offerings.

DIY Computer Repairs

DIY Computer Repairs is an upcoming website that teaches non-tech people how to make their computers run smoother and faster. In this instance, the client wanted an iconic character included in their logo. I’m really happy with how this guy turned out.

We’re all believing 2021 will be better than 2020. Business will pick up and you want to be ready. Get your marketing ducks in a row so when we roll into 2021 your brand will be ready and looking its best. 

If your logo is falling short, let’s talk about whether it makes sense to create a brand new logo or simply refresh the one you have. 

Have a great week,

sig

Posted on September 23, 2020Categories design, logosLeave a comment on 3 Reasons to Update Your Logo Before 2021
Top 5’s from 2019

Top 5’s from 2019

Projects, Illustrations & Doodles: A Look Back at 2019

As a graphic designer, no two projects are alike – and I love it! The variety not only makes my work interesting but it also keeps me on my toes. I’m constantly being challenged to sharpen my creativity and imagination. 

Like many of you, I’ve been looking ahead to 2020 and what it means for my business. But, before I get too deep into the new year, I wanted to reflect on the projects of 2019. We often get so caught up in the day-to-day work, deadlines and demands, we forget to pause and look at the amazing work we did in the last 12 months. 

I use the phrase “top 5” loosely. I’ve worked on many great projects this year but these were all especially enjoyable for one reason or another. They also capture the breadth, depth and variety of the type of projects I work on.

Top 5 Design Projects 

Town of Mount Pleasant Annual Report: Annual reports can quickly become overwhelming and loaded with information. We opted, instead, to keep this report layout clean and consistent. The town provided great photography, which made my job easy. I created a custom illustration of a shrimp boat for the cover to tie in an important element of the town’s identity and history. You can see the full report digitally here.


SEWE gatefold

Southeastern Wildlife Expo Brochure: A long-time client, I love working with this annual festival. This year, we redesigned the VIP brochure to have a double-folded gate and three stepped inserts. 


Screenshots from animated motion video

Animated Video: Animated explainer videos are huge projects, but work great as a blend of simplicity and storytelling. For this project, I also loved the style of the illustrations.


Personal Posters: I did two poster projects for a fellow in town. It was a bit of a puzzle to make all the pieces fit together nicely.

This was an atypical project for me, and I really enjoyed the challenge. Here’s one of them.


HUB Logo: This logo project brought together some of my favorite things: children, Charleston, church and a very specific and limited color palette. It was a fun project for sure! 

Top 5 Illustration Projects

camp map

Camp Map: I love camp. I love illustrating maps. When you put these together, it’s a good day at work.


Baby Shower Invitation: This postcard invitation was extra special: celebrating my sister’s first baby! The theme was jungle, so I created a fun jungle pattern for the front. And, on the back, I added some simple, clean typography. 


Tecklenburg Magazine Cover:  Lately, I’ve been combining a lot of digital and analog drawing. Here’s a good example: the cover of the December issue of West Of featuring a portrait of Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, who was just elected to a second term.


Heyward the Horse #2: I’m plugging away on my next Heyward the Horse book – and it’s almost done! It has been a real blast getting to the illustration phase. Keep checking www.heywardthehorse.com for more info.


pattern of kids and toys

Inktober: This isn’t a paying gig, but I committed to drawing a person every day for 31 days in October. It was definitely harder than it sounds, but also incredibly rewarding. You can read more about that project here. Or see all the drawings on my Instagram account.


Bye bye 2019

There you have it – a small sliver of all the projects I’ve worked on this year. Now I’m getting excited for 2020 and what’s sure to be another year of inspiring creations. 

Have a great week,

sig

Posted on December 6, 2019Categories design, illustration, logos, maps, print2 Comments on Top 5’s from 2019
Case Study: CrossFit Charleston

Case Study: CrossFit Charleston

Most businesses are multipurpose – they offer different products or services but all under a common umbrella. So, when it comes time to develop a logo or other branded marketing materials, it can be tough for the client to settle on an overarching “theme.”

It’s also important to remember our potential customers can’t focus on multiple messages. We need one simple message to grab their attention and move them to action. A logo that tries to do too much runs the risk of confusing customers and pushing them away.

CrossFit Charleston came to me looking to refresh their logo and create some new marketing collateral. In addition to their group CrossFit classes, they provide individual and corporate nutrition programs. Owners Holly and Clint Fisher wanted something that would reflect the focus on overall health and wellness.

sketchbook sketches of crossfit logo
I hit the sketchbook to rough out a bunch of ideas

We discussed a variety of icons and fonts for the logo. Holly was specific in that she didn’t want anything too “hard core.” People are often intimidated by the prospect of CrossFit, so a skull and crossbones logo was out. Tons of other CrossFit gyms around the country use kettlebells and skulls in their logos so we wanted to stay away from those cliches. Plus, Clint and Holly bought this existing gym in July 2018 and wanted to put their own unique stamp on the brand.

“I think it’s always easier to know what you don’t want rather than what you do,” Holly said. “We also knew we’d be living with this logo for quite some time and wanted to get it right.”

digitized logo icons
digitized icon concepts created on the computer

Often clients simply need a starting point. They need some designs to help them narrow down the vision they have in their head. I provided some logo and font concepts for CrossFit Charleston. None of the icons seemed to resonate so we ultimately decided on a typographic logo (aka no icon.. like Netflix or FedEx) that’s in the same family as the main CrossFit logo.

Still, something was missing. We discussed the need for some sort of icon to use largely on social media. After all, the “words” part of a logo rarely look good smashed into the circular profile picture of a social media account. We tried several different designs, but nothing quite clicked. I suggested they might be expecting too much from the icon and why not give one they liked a trial run. As a small business, it’s often easier to give graphics a test drive and then tweak as needed.

“Andrew said we were asking too much of the icon and he was right,” Holly said. “We wanted that one icon to define our brand, but, in truth, a lot of images and graphics help tell our story.”

We landed on this icon:

Icon in two color options and IG mock up
icon in two color options and IG mockup

Holly and Clint are planning to use it on social media and other digital materials. They can try it out and gather feedback. Not putting it on all the signs, printed brochures or banners means it can easily be changed without the expense of reprinting a bunch of materials.

I’m very pleased with the icon and the solution I was able to help my clients reach. In that respect, my job is part designer and part advisor. I listen to client concerns, questions and ideas. I offer advice and guidance. Together, we solve the problem in a way everyone loves.

“Logos are tough. They feel so personal,” Holly said. “As business owners, we see the logo as a reflection not only of our business, but also of us as the owners. I greatly appreciate having an outside perspective like Andrew’s. He can provide that practical insight that we can’t see because we’re too emotionally tied to the project.”

With the logo completed, we were able to move on to other materials for a business expo: two rack cards, business cards and a pop-up banner. The results were a success!

collage of promotional assets including pop up banner, business cards, and flyer
clockwise from left: pop up tradeshow banner, business cards and flyer

Have you been considering a new logo or marketing material? I’d love to help! Shoot me an email.

Have a great week,

sig
Posted on May 30, 2019May 30, 2019Categories logos2 Comments on Case Study: CrossFit Charleston
3 Logo Examples: Conception to Completion

3 Logo Examples: Conception to Completion

Last month on my blog, I tackled a big graphic design conundrum: When is it time for a new logo? I posed a series of questions and considerations to help you determine if you need to create a new look for your business or brand.

logo design isn't a simple process

This month, I want to share three logos I’ve worked on recently. Logo design isn’t a simple process. Sometimes clients have a vision and sometimes they aren’t 100% sure what they want. But one thing is certain in every logo situation: the client has to love the end result. They’ll likely be living with this logo for many years, so it’s important we land on a design, font and colors they feel communicate their brand’s mission.

basic graphic design process loop

1. DM Armstrong, CPA

An accountant, this client didn’t want a cliche logo – no calculators or dollar signs. She also wanted to avoid explicitly using her initials as her logo. I embraced this challenge, and we ultimately landed on an abstract icon. It has elements of structure and movement, and, if you look closely, you’ll see checkboxes, a grid and a even a small hidden “d.”

2. The Hub

This logo is for the children’s program at a large church. It’s the place all the children visit for weekly church and education meetings. Illustration is my heart, and I’m thrilled when I can use my illustration skills for a logo project. For The Hub, transportation and home were both important parts of the theme. I also wanted to make it fun and youthful.

3. Homegrown Financial LLC

This client was launching a new company specializing in reverse mortgages so we wanted to communicate the concept of “home” but in a visually interesting way. In this logo, the house signifies “growth” with the upward motion of the roof (arrow). We wanted to use green to represent growth and money but opted for shades of green to make the logo pop.

As you can see in these three examples, every logo project is completely unique. Each client and business comes to me with different ideas about what they want — and don’t want — in a logo. My job is to distill those ideas into one simple design. It’s not always easy, but I love the challenge.

Have you been considering a new logo? I’d love to help! Shoot me an email.

Have a great week,

sig
Posted on April 16, 2019April 16, 2019Categories logosLeave a comment on 3 Logo Examples: Conception to Completion
Orthodontic Logo

Orthodontic Logo

I’m very passionate about designing logos. It’s one of the top three things I get to do in my job as a professional creative. Recently, I put that passion to work developing a logo for a Nirenblatt Orthodontics.

logo

 

horizontal logo

 

twitter background

map

Dr. Nirenblatt has a great practice and an energetic brand. Give him a call if you’re in need of a beautiful smile.

Have a great week,

sig

Posted on February 13, 2018Categories logosLeave a comment on Orthodontic Logo
Chamber of Commerce Logo

Chamber of Commerce Logo

mount pleasant chamber logo

I am super proud of this logo! I created it for the good folks at the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. We explored a lot of directions and ended up with an energetic, yet professional, logo mark.

As usual, I started with sketching.

logo sketches

Then I took the winning sketches to the computer…

digitized logo concepts in color

Eventually, we narrowed it down. Living and working in Mount Pleasant is all about water and sunshine, so I was glad the client picked a concept that incorporated both of those elements.

letterhead and business card envelope design thank you card design misc logo application

launch party

mount pleasant chamber of commerce logo

Finally, we had an awesome release party at the piano bar. The board members wore embroidered shirts and handed out stickers. The photo of the event was taken by the Moultrie News staff. Here’s a link to their article on the new logo.

Have a great week,

sig

Posted on May 16, 2017February 1, 2018Categories logos5 Comments on Chamber of Commerce Logo

St. Andrew’s Brand Identity

I’m proud to reveal the new and updated logo identity for St. Andrew’s Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC. St. Andrew’s is a vibrant and active organization with a large footprint in the lowcountry. As an Anglican church, they have a rich history and also strive to stay culturally relevant.

The Challenge

Develop a logo and brand style guide for the organization that could be used to represent the parent organization as well as their 4 campuses. They requested a style that is contemporary, clean and light. Most importantly, they asked me to steer clear of anything traditionally “churchy” or stuffy. The style guide included additional brand assets like two stationery designs, mission icons, patterns, typography assignments and some sample ways that the assets could be implemented.

Initial Concepts

In the initial round of review, I showed them a variety of logo concepts. I usually like to present 3 or 4 to my clients, but in this case, I lost my self control. 🙂

logo sketches

Final Work

They finally selected this logo for their primary mark. Each campus would then incorporate their location in conjunction with this mark and identify with a specific color.

STA

church logo design

With the logo system locked in, I developed the additional assets and their brand style guide. Here are some of the included elements.

logo icon

icons letterhead diagram

Really enjoyed working on this one. Thanks St. Andrew’s!

If you would like to work with me to develop a logo and style guide for your brand, please get in touch: ab@andrewbartondesign.com or 843.882.7627.

sig

Posted on May 25, 2016February 15, 2017Categories design, logosLeave a comment on St. Andrew’s Brand Identity

Barnabus Logo

Barnabas

 

Logo for a local non-profit organization with a ministry to the homeless.

Posted on August 17, 2015February 15, 2017Categories logosLeave a comment on Barnabus Logo

RES Logo & Video

Teamed up with Team B Marketing to help their client with a new logo identity and an animated promotional video. RESolution is for a new software product geared towards scientists in large labs.

science logo

 

Screenshots from the video:

01 02A 08B 10 13B 17A

Watch the full video below.

Posted on July 16, 2015November 1, 2019Categories animation, design, logos

Logo Process: WP Charleston

Logo Process: WordPress Charleston

I’ve been inspired by watching some really cool webinars showing graphic artists discussing their processes. I’m going to follow suit and walk through my basic logo process. Specifically, I’d like to use a recent example, WordPress Charleston—a local WordPress user group. For starters, here’s how the final version turned out.
WordPress Charleston Logo
DISCLAIMER: I use the term “process” loosely. I still have tons to learn and my process is constantly evolving according to deadlines, budget, industry, caffeine level, etc. Also, no two projects (or clients) are ever the same. Sometimes I skip steps. Sometimes I add more. That said, there are a few key milestones I try to hit: Research, Sketch, Design and Polish.

Research

Context is everything so I do my homework. WordPress, in case you’re unfamiliar, is a web framework used by millions of programmers to make websites. For this project, it was important to highlight the unique aspect of Charleston while also acknowledging the progressive tech-edge of WordPress. The logo needed to be recognizable on a local (Charleston) and global (WordPress) level.

sketches for wordpress charleston logo
Sketching

After developing a solid understanding of what the client was looking for, I took to the sketchbook. This is one of my favorite parts. You’ll notice none of these look anything like the finished product—more on that later. Initially, I wanted to find a way to depict the “W” in WordPress without using their mark. Sketching was a good place to test this out. Quite often, I’ll end up completing two rounds of sketching. The first is for rough ideas and the second is more focused. Depending on the client, I may show them the sketches.

wordpress charleston logo design
Design

After floating the sketches to the client, we decided to develop a few. I brought my scanned drawings into Adobe Illustrator and started fleshing them out. At this stage, the ideas pour out— some big, some small. Some good. Most aren’t. If I’m not watching the clock, I can spend hours going down rabbit trails of design minutia. There is a wonderful improvisational aspect to this phase of the process, but it requires discipline to stay on track. For this reason, I love tight deadlines.

Next, I reviewed the digital designs with the client. And here, we hit a little snag. We had some interesting directions, but the client and I agreed that we weren’t quite there yet. So I went back to the drawing board and came up with our winner. This time I stuck closer to some foolproof wisdom: Keep It Simple Stupid.

wordpress charleston logo polish

Polish

wordpress charleston logo colorsOnce we nailed down the direction, I dug into the final details. How many colors? Add texture? Which fonts? These small (but important) details make all the difference in the world. Sometimes the last 10% of a project takes the most time. We ended up sticking with a traditional serif font for “WordPress”. For the remaining text I used a modern san serif to provide contrast and increased readability.

As for colors, there are always so many options that it can get overwhelming. After much exploration we ended up using a traditional brown as a base color and a handful of brighter options for the sky (below). The leftmost logo is the primary version.

 

wordpress charleston logo finals

Done!

And there you have it! I’m pretty happy with the way this turned out and the client was great. He was a fantastic resource throughout the whole process. As I look back on this logo, I see things I’d like to tweak and improve (on the logo and in my process). If I did it again, I’d focus on getting rid of weaker ideas sooner, but that’s always the struggle, isn’t it? The key for me is not to fall in love with any ideas too soon – if possible.

So what do you think? Do you have a different process? Is it set in stone? Feel free to add your comments below.

AB

Posted on June 12, 2014February 15, 2017Categories logosLeave a comment on Logo Process: WP Charleston
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