Logo critique, advice

Well I know this is stated all the time.

Go to google.com

do a websearch for the terms, along with tutorials for the graphics application you use.

Then for inspiration(not copying) use google's image search for the same terms to see what might inspire you.

The problem with google is that you never know if you're going to get good resources or bad ones. I think it would be really nice to see some links to good graphics sites that talk about logo design, independent of specific graphic software or techniques.

You could look into design books by Robin Williams. Her books are mainly about design for beginners, and often have good tips on logos as well as loads of examples.

I have heard about her a lot - so I believe that it would be a good place to go...

Yes, and there are lots of general design techniques in there that can be applied to logos (like different ways of doing contrast for example).

Another idea would be to look at font sites. A lot of them sort by cateogry so you can go right in to a listing of futuristic or techno-style fonts and get some inspiration that way. Look at dingbats too.

1. Select that original shade of blue

2. Select that creatively unique spiral

3. Let the learning begin

The lesson: Dateline 1976 NBC. debuted a new abstract capital ‘N’ -- a corporate symbol that replaced the familiar peacock logo after 20 years. The cost of the new NBC logo was estimated to be between $750,000 and $1 million. After much ridicule, it took two more years before they got the really bad news. Nebraska Public Television NETV went after NBC for copying ITS logo; which it had broadcast for several years. The cost... 35 dollars and the time of one part time intern.

You quickly discover that in one's attempt to express their own individuality, one often ends up looking like a lot of other people. Something, after all this connectivity, one would think might decrease as people learn what one another are doing. Actually the opposite seems to be happening.

4. More learning. Turns out you might not own the logo or graphic design even if you paid for it.

Don't forget the ever popular swoosh and ball!

Another logo legend - the nike logo cost something like $15 to design but a similarly inexperienced designer.

I have a photocopy at home of an article from years ago rating the top 50 logos. I'll have to look it up when I get home. There were some interesting results.

Hey Volterra

You might try using Mozilla's Open Directory Project (dmoz) of sorted links:

http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Graphics/

I tried searching within that category on logo and logos but got no results.

Google can be frustrating, but I figure everyone can improve their searching skills. I get a little better all the time with practice and still have a LOT of room for improvement.

I thought D856C's post offered a good example of the incredible wealth of information available on the web.

Some development fora have boards that allow you to offer a small amount of compensation in a "design contest." I suppose if you don't pay much, you're not likely to get anything really outstanding. But you might get some ideas.

Seems to mme you have a pretty good start already.

I find this really handy.

http://www.pagelab.com/index.html

especially their article on letters that link... its the whole basis for my logo!