New CS Logo Development/Opinions
From the CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.
Comments regarding logos
Past Logos
This logo is here for reference. Please put it here if you have a better copy.
The Current Logo
This logo is here for reference.
Concept Proof
This is only a CONCEPT PROOF MOCK UP. NOT ACTUAL LOGO
Use this logo as a blueprint or inspiration for your own variations
Clipart was used in the mockup displayed on this page
Where the idea comes from:
- The human body, consisting of many parts that form a symbiotic whole.
- Design of currency: microdesign is in pretty much every currency design: it is about authenticity.
- InkArt Style of design, used in icons on the New York Times
- a Hawaii based artist that designs micro art graphics
- The Unilever Corporation Logo
The visualization of such an idea
Picture a logo that instead of being made of solid colors, it is made of several micro pieces of art, microscopic icons that represent these ideals, concepts, places, cultures and so on. Those shapes and colors make up the hole shape of the logo. So imagine a combination of symbols of Heraldry for things like generosity, hospitality and love, national symbols and flags of countries around the world, all super small and colorful that put together can recreate a very meaningful idea of the world as by the CouchSurfing Community. Think about it: It is made of small pieces, details, emotions, things that you need to look really hard to see, or zoom in to see detail. It ultimately represents that only by looking in detail, by going deep in the microscope of things, we are able to realize life in full. We often fantasize life because of the lack of depth perception. This logos has an ideal to visually represent change in a more positive direction.
Possible ways to show this concept
- A planet wrapped by a big C
- The letters CS linked together
- A family crest shaped logo
- A couch
A few symbols Used
- Boat - travel symbol
- Tree - nature/balance
- Dove - freedom
- heart - love
- Bull - spanish symbol
- Shell - serenity
- Hand - work
- Swiss cross - care
- Flags - countries
- Human silhouette
- Chinese Dragon - asia
- Female/Male
- Dolphin - oceans
- Fish - food
- China - asia
- Leaf - nature
- Acorn - nature
- Grapes - pleasure
- Recycle - care
- Canada
- Eagle - hollistic
- Male
- Cock - france symbol
- 4 leaf clover - ireland
- Canoe - travel
- Bench - hospitality
- liberty - north america
- Wing - freedom
- Oldman - wisdom
- Cloud - creativity
- Quetzal - hard work
- spiral - eternity
- christ- religion
- Yin-yang - religion
- water drop - life
- star - light
Logo 1 - Two intersecting arches forming a combined CS
Introduction
I came up with this Idea while writing a thank you note for a great host last week while staying here with a friend. We also discussed symbolism and multimedia applications which I tried to put in writing too. Sirius 19:11, 3 December 2006 (EST)
It is just a rough cut, but the main ideas are there. I encourage all graphics designers to take a shot at it if you want and post it! I'll describe the main idea below, as I'm good in seeing before my mental eye but not so great in putting it into a picture:
Idea Description
- 2 arches intersecting like a small ring that was cut in half and one part moved down
- The arches are exactly the same size, but opposite color (either white/black or maybe other light/dark color)
- Text right to the 1st arch is "ouch" in a very similar type set as the half arch that stands for the "C"
- If the "Couch" letters are white, its best to make them all outlined, otherwise distinction can be made by color.
- Text right to the second arch is "urfing" in a wide curvy energetic typeset, not outlined but bold", very similar to the type set currently used for the CS logo, maybe even nearly exactly the same.
Benefits
- Logo can be in full color, even impressive eyecandy 3D type, but looks good in a simple black and white version too
- Logo can be reduced to the "combined CS" for short application like favicon, site icon, Logo, etc.
- Logo can be reduced to simpler versions without tampering with the recognition value of the Corporate Design
- Logo can be viewed upside down or other angle without hampering the recognition factor
- Logo is simple enough to be easily remembered and complex enough to provide corporate identity.
- Logo does not rely on colors just on contrast, hence can be colored in the desired Coroporate Design Colors without problems.
- Logo can be easily resized without harming recognition factor, in smallest size just the CS remains.
- Logo can be 100% vector based for easy scaling (can someone do vector based stuff? I would appreciate a vector based mock up)
Symbols used
- Related with the symbol of YinYang, symbolizing unity, spirituality, integration, power and transformation
- Black/white difference symbolizing we care for all people may they be white or colored
- Ring symbolizing unity, community, togetherness, encompassing of the world
- The open rings to both sides symbolize being open and receptive, so being including, inviting others into our group and sharing what we have
- The connection with the two rings symbolizes we walk together, build a group of people and also we shake hands, invite, welcome (like two people that are standing opposite and have their hands open to each other and shake their right hands)
- The move from the static couch (symbolizing the essential need and basic driving force of CS, a Couch request) to the energetic and moving surfing (symbolizing energy, travel, fun, surfing :-)) in itself symbolizes utilizing something simple and essential to create more, to create something beautiful, some special art that enriches our lifes.
- The written surfing also symbolizes emotions, connection, togetherness and fun as a basis (its below the couch that is visible on top, like on the surface) for the CS community
Further Ideas for Multimedia
1. Have a spinning world and over it/fading in a YinYang symbol and transform the Symbol into the CS logo outlined. In Detail:
- The whole YinYang OR just the inner dots (black/white) spiral
- The dots drop away
- The two sides morph into two connected arches
- then the right arch drops/turns/slides to build the CS
- the rest of the text appears to make up the CouchSurfing, i.e. the letters o,u,c,h drop down and the "urfing" writes itself on the screen, the two dots that dropped away could even make up the little o of Couch (white dot) and the dot of the little i in Surfing (black dot).
- At the end there could even be a surfer surfing the dynamic tail if the small g like a wave, for this the tail of the small g could look like a big breaking wave with white foam at the breaking top, would make the whole logo very dynamic.
2. See two stylized people from high above that shake hands then morph into CS symbol In Detail:
- View from satelite: Earth
- rapid zoom in on a pig metropolitan area, maybe in asia or afrika
- zoom to street level onto big place with many people running around
- zoom in on two people walking towards each other next to a big water fountain
- see them stop (now they fill the whole picture, person one - white boy, blonde hair - standing at NorthWest, person two - black girl, rasta looks - standing at southeast of picture
- see them both shaking hands for the first time and smile
- maybe section where the camera moves to side, sees both of them smile, exchange 1-2 words, bigger smile/laugh then move pans back into satelite view
- the two still handshaning people morph into the C and the lower S part still shaking hands
- then they become the simple CS logo and the text to make up the full couchsurfing logo appears/fades in
2.a Short version of above: Only see them aproach and shake hands in a simplified version of just two arches touching and merging into the logo
3. Surfer surfing a wave with a couch then zoom out to the logo where the surfer surfs the tail of the small g then fades
Sirius 19:11, 3 December 2006 (EST)
Discussion
It's hard to critique the sketch so I'd love to see a more finished product design for this.
PROS
CONS
Logo 2 – Enjoying cultural tourism
Introduction
This idea is a very simple representation of the main themes of couchsurfing – travelling (the globe), connecting people of different races & enjoying the experience
I’ve basically used the letters CS (in a sixties type font) to create a stylized face, showing enjoyment, intercultural contact (two shades) and the shading creates the globe effect
Idea Description
- The letters ‘CS’ forming a globe
- The separate letters are in different shades, representing the different races and people of the world
- The overall impression is of a ‘happy traveller’
Benefits
- Simple
- Friendly
- Emotive
- Brandable
As well as all the benefits of Logo 1:
- Logo can be in full color, even impressive eyecandy 3D type, but looks good in a simple black and white version too
- Logo can be reduced to the "combined CS" for short application like favicon, site icon, Logo, etc.
- Logo can be reduced to simpler versions without tampering with the recognition value of the Corporate Design
- Logo can be viewed upside down or other angle without hampering the recognition factor
- Logo is simple enough to be easily remembered and complex enough to provide corporate identity.
- Logo does not rely on colors just on contrast, hence can be colored in the desired Coroporate Design Colors without problems.
- Logo can be easily resized without harming recognition factor, in smallest size just the CS remains.
- Logo can be 100% vector based for easy scaling
Symbols used
- Dark/light difference symbolizing we care for all people may they be white or colored
- Globe symbolizing world travel
- Happy face representing the enjoyable experiences gained from couchsurfing
- & the Symbols CS representing the brand CouchSurfing!!
Further Ideas for Multimedia
Well I think it would be great to have the face as a character who is traveling (the ‘happy traveller’), or the two different faces coming together, but theres infinite scope here for many different ideas, so I wont babble on…
Looking forward to seeing/hearing everyones feedback!
Discussion
PROS
Clearly readable both as CS and as a smiley face. Really friendly and inviting. I like that it's contained in a circle. That makes it easily usable next to any other graphics or text. Since we need to use the word CouchSurfing somewhere, I'd like to see how this would be combined with the logo. Words underneath? Wrapped around the circle? --Mattthew 19:57, 13 February 2007 (EST)
CONS
Perhaps too strongly suggests the 60's/70's. --Mattthew 19:57, 13 February 2007 (EST)
Logo 3
Image:CS logo design by TTT.png
Introduction
This is a black and white version. I could see the C and the S being different colors.
Idea Description
- C meant to subtly recalls a compass. Compass symbolizes travel and adventure.
- Alternately you could see the C as having a star burst. That also symbolizes adventure or action.
- S is turned into a dove with olive branch. Dove symbolizes peace and the cooperations of nations
- Alternately you could see the S as a phoenix.
- "CouchSurfing International" as opposed to "CouchSurfing.com" because we're not just a website, we're an international non-profit
- I'm intentionally pushing the readability boundary to give us more memorable and unique C & S letter forms.
- The visual connotations or tone I'm going for is "serious" or "important", but hopefully retaining some of the "fun"
Benefits
Image:CS logo design by TTT.png
- at smaller sizes, C & S are still readable.
Symbols used
- dove with olive branch
- compass
- star burst
Discussion
PROS
- Very distingusiable and probably an easy trademark. Clean and precise as well. Rich 08:40, 12 March 2007 (EDT)
CONS
Logo 4
Introduction
This is a black and white version. The color version wouldn't be much different except maybe text color differing from earth color.
Idea Description
- Letter C is formed by graphic of a globe stand
- Letter O is formed by a shrunk down globe
- "CouchSurfing International" as opposed to "CouchSurfing.com" because we're not just a website, we're an international non-profit
- Includes tagline "The world is smaller than you think", playing off of shrunken globe image
- The visual connotations or tone I'm going for is "serious" or "important", but hopefully retaining some of the "fun"
Benefits
- Works at relatively small size
- Simple, mostly text based design.
Symbols used
- earth
- globe
Discussion
PROS
- Readible, clear, simple. Inclusive of the slogan. Indicates world in two ways.Rich 08:44, 12 March 2007 (EDT)
CONS
The smallest size for readable text is about 200px x 88px. That's a bit larger than is ideal --Mattthew 22:39, 22 February 2007 (EST)
- Probably could be resolved by doing a variable font size on the slogan. As a logo too, what matters is distinguishibility as your likely to use the same sort of logo in a variety of fashions and sizes. Rich 08:42, 12 March 2007 (EDT)
Logo 5
Image:CS logo design couchwletters.png
Introduction
My quick mockup idea, very simple, perhaps too much? I don't see this as a final version, but maybe as the basis for someone's inspiration.
Idea Description
- Lower text can be placed either below or on the side
- Colors are not final, nor well thought
- Aiming for something to be rendered in multiple media
Benefits
Image:CS logo design couchwletters.png
- 55 by 35 pixels works OK:
- with the right choice of colors and proper selection of typography this could work
Symbols used
- couch
- abbreviation
