Hi! I designed a logo for TheGifts online promotional materials store. I had full freedom in creativity. Does imagination have a stop button? Let's see!

Task

I should create the logo for the website that sells promo production without following website's design as the design should be updated later. As I said earlier, I had full freedom in creativity and colors choosing. The logo should consist of "thegifts" name. And company's direction is selling promotional products from many providers. The company has about 100,000 goods on the website. Client wanted to have from 4 to 5 variants of logotypes to choose from.

I asked the Client about positioning of the company, necessary file formats, using the logo, format of our work. I asked about permission of using the logo in portfolio also.

The Client answered me and got examples of competitors' websites from Europe and Ukraine.

"If you know company's mission, goals, positioning, competitors, etc. - please, kindly share these with a designer. This action can to make Creative Process shorter, as the time that designer need for research decreased. This project is a good example of Client's readiness to work, as all information is clear and provided by the Client."

We discussed the project details, and I created 4 Mood Boards for it.

Mood Boards

Mood Board #1 - Simple

It's young, bold, flat, minimalist style.

Mood Board #2 - Craft

The Mood Board is inspired by handmade and craft paper. The graphic elements from it is like hand-drawn. The color pallete is calm and minimalist. With this Mood Board you feel like the thing inside the box has special meaning as you know the person that give it to you and think about it with warm feelings. You know the special characteristics of the person, know what and how he/she did. You may found the gift from this person among all gift boxes, as it has its distinctive features. Simple on the outside, has a deep meaning inside.

Mood Board #3 - Daily

It's style of everyday little happy things. The Mood Board is integrated into life, so the gifts are using as usual thing. The color pallet is soft and calm.

Mood Board #4 - Funny

It's bold, happy, full of energy and emotions style. You may see the diversity of colors in the Mood Board. The Board is associated with happy emotions when you open a gift or get surprised from something good and fun.

I created 5 logotypes, based on the Mood Boards.

Logotypes

Logo #1 - Daily

The logo consists of "TheGifts" name and is decorated as a ribbon.

"I like using the Pencil Tool in Adobe Illustrator so much! The tool helps to customize any graphic element so you will get unique shapes as a result"

Logo #2 - Crafted

The logo looks like a hand-drawn label that includes the company's name and represents its product - a gift box.

Logo #3 - Funny

All shapes of the logo are customized, giving life to the overall look. I added to the logo the look that is similar to gift box. Additionally, I added a ribbon to the "I" letter to finish the impression.

Logo #4 - Simple

I was inspired by gift boxes that lay as a big pile. So, I customised the font the way to make it signs of boxes. I made it so that the letters cling to each other. I added an accent to the logo by selecting the dot from "I" and "F" letter by coloring them red and purple to give them activity.

Logo #5 - Simple

I decided to use a simple geometric form as a graphic element with decorative font that give an accent to the logo. I united these elements by using the 'g' letter from the font as a ribbon for the gift box.

I used mockups to show to the Client the logotypes.

Revision

I sent to the Client all variants and got a feedback. The Client told, that all variants are super, but there is one thing I need to pay attention to. The logotype should be used for business purposes at first. I should create a variant with an easy-to-read, clear font.

"To be honest, I guessed that this situation might happen. I had a big desire to create something bold being inspired by some creators I explored recently and this desire closed my eyes from reality. As finally I expressed my desire via the created logotypes, then I felt my fault in this situation, because I acted using my own desire and did'n offer to the Client something different from those logos. But what surprised me then..."

The Client said that liked my style and offered me one more project - to create logotype for MerchBox online patriotic and touristic store that needs creativity.

"So via my mistake, I got the invitation to work on a new project. If you are a designer, like me, I don't recommend you do the same, because this is more likely exception than usual thing. This case make me to add new note that sounds like "Remember, that you may express your creativity in any way you want. But when you work with someone, you should think about the project's goals at first". With this statement I went to create new logotypes".

I designed 4 logos.

Logotypes - 2

Logo #6

I found a readable font and slightly changed it by creating a simple gift box from the 'I' letter. The logo can be used in both variants - with the gift box ahead the company's name and inside it, as a part of "gift" word.

Logo #7

I added "G", "F", "T", "S" letters inside the graphic element, so it looks like them lays inside of the box.

Logo #8

I decided to create something simple and minimalist, so I used colored squares as the graphic elements of the logotype. I added several variants for this logo that built with the squares.

Logo #9

The logotype that has a decorative graphic element is created by the 'G' letter and has the shape of a ribbon. In the same time the font of the logo is readable and has good scalability, so you may clearly recognize all the letters from small screen.

I created homepage designs and added several elements of brand identity with mockups to it.

Revision - 2

After some time the Client choose Logo #8 for TheGifts online promotional materials store.

Client's Testimonial

The most creative designer! Incredibly well-executed project! I recommend collaborating.

"I am grateful to the client for proposing the project and collaborating. The client is always in touch and ready to share information about the project. My task was very creative, so I had the opportunity to experiment with different logo styles. It was also unexpected and pleasant for me to receive another proposal for collaboration during the project. I appreciate for that, and I hope to create even better logos."

What is next?

I created the logotype for the MerchBox online patriotic and touristic merch store. Finally, the client chose the logo from another designer, but it was a useful experience still.

We are continuing our collaboration, and I get new projects from the Сlient.

Thank you for watching!

You have already read the story of creating the logotype for TheGifts online promotional materials store. I will appreciate your impressions in comments. If you are a designer and have similar experience, share it to me. Thanks a lot!

Best wishes,

Kateryna P.

Graphic Designer at Our Creativity Planet from Kharkiv region