🚀 go-pugleaf

Sounds like they are looking for concepts and you'll end-up doing the production. I'd recommend they do sketches for a review. You could go through what they present and weed out the really bad stuff. If they want to learn how to design a logo, they'll have to go through the same process we all did.

I understand that, and I understand that the concepts will be amateurish, but I can take the best and modernize it, make it better and yes, end up doing the production. I'm ok with that...

You could do worse than starting by scanning BLUDVLS Logo Manifesto from the Photoshop Lounge, Resource Repository here:

BLUDVLZ, "BLUDVLZ's Logo Manifesto" #1, 3 Aug 2003 8:23 am </webx?14@@.1de5f905.1dea2d83/0>

Even just the General Thoughts section at the beginning might give you some ideas on what to put in your guidelines.

      I'm doing a website for a company and during a meeting they decide that
      they will have kids from the community design the logo for their project.




[sigh...] After cringing and swallowing hard, I think John's got the best scenario.

But because of the extensive thought process that has to be part of the process of designing any mark, I think that you will have to be responsible for final selection(s) and refinement for print and Web use.

Neil

What guidelines do you use when you sketch out design ideas on a napkin for a client at a lunch meeting? This is what you are working with. Do not expect a child to know anything about design and printing. Leave their imagination unbound by restrictions. You will interpret their rough concept sketch into a professional design.

Jim,

Stan implies that the kids will design the logos, not simply present ideas to be adapted by a trained CID designer.

Neil

Neil, I don't know what I'm implying. I'm pretty lost as to where to begin. Jim's suggestion may be the best, but the client is requesting 'guidelines' so I'm just not sure what to give them...

Maybe they want contest rules. I'm not really qualified to do that, their lawyers should probably be the ones writing those up.

Stan,

Is the client's intent on the children doing finished art (which is the way I'm reading your original post)? Or concept driven, to be digested, modified, and finalized by you, as designer. If the latter is the case, then Jim's freer approach makes sense.

But I cringe if the client expects that the kids will deliver one or more perfect solutions.

Neil

I'm sure the client's intent is concept driven. They don't seem that clueless that they'd let the kids logo be the finished piece. And it would be cool too for the kids I think to see their sketches converted to a real professional looking logo.

At least, I hope the clients want it this way....

Tell them the original sketches have to be black and white. That will simplify this quite a bit and is the correct way to design a logo anyway in my opinion.

The colors should be secondary to the form in the creation process.

pbc

Stan, 

      They don't seem that clueless that they'd let the kids logo be the finished
      piece.




[Whew!] Paul also raises a valid issue, but I think I'd raise B&W as a secondary point, so that they can show color, but, ask for it also in black-and-white.

Neil

Stan, 

      They don't seem that clueless that they'd let the kids logo be the finished
      piece.




[Whew!] Paul also raises a valid issue, but I think I'd bring up B&W as a secondary point. Let 'em show color, but, also ask for it in black-and-white.

Neil

great, thanks guys.

I don't think that everything always calls for a professional design. This is a community project with probably little at steak, the perfect canvas to get kids involved.
I am involved in a charity group and recently held a logo contest for our group. In the guidelines, I mentioned:
- use of black and white, use of color
- how we will use it (on Tshirts, stationery, fliers, etc)
- the mission of the group
- the logo of the main organization to which we belong (using the logos side by side)
- the words it must include
- whether the logo is text only or includes a graphic
That sort of thing. Of course, everyone knew that the winning design would be re-drawn in Illustrator. I have to imagine that your client is willing to let the winning design be tweaked a little.

Guidelines are intended for the reviewers to make their task easier. Do you want entries submitted on letter-sized sheets? Do you want them emailed in a particular image file format? Are you prepared/capable to accept both print and electronic submissions?

A google search for similar logo design competitions is helpful. The guidelines on the following page are sensible.

 <http://www.google.co.uk/doodle4google/info.html>

      I don't think that everything always calls for a professional design.
      This is a community project with probably little at stake...




It's a housing project. Not a bake sale.

===

And as Jim mentions, there need to be basic standards for creation and submission.

Neil

      I don't think that everything always calls for a professional design.
      This is a community project with probably little at stake...




It's a housing project. Not a bake sale. There needs to be creative oversight and professional judgment in adapting any considered designs for implementation.

===

And as Jim mentions, there need to be basic standards for creation and submission.

Neil

Of course. Of course there needs to be professional oversight and submission guidelines. Of course.

If the client wanted a professional design, they could easily get one. I think that is probably not the point of their project. Getting the community involved can be a powerful thing.