Scott, stick with a type solution. Take the high road with this one. Just use the firms' name and the abbreviation for Attorneys at Law. Use some elegant printing process for the stationary like blind emboss or foil stamp. Just some thoughts

I agree with Daniel. I'd err on the side of a lawyer identity. If you want or the client wants a mark, I'd go very, very subtle and even then tend towards typographic (monogram) designs.

Dan and Chris:

I both hoped and expected to see posts from you. Thank you for the "counsel" (this job has put me in lawer mode). After abandoning an ambulance as an image, I developed some directions that are somewhat in line with what you've both suggested. I will create a primarily typographical logo which will probably, but not necessarily have some associated imagery that leans more toward the lawerly side.

I spent a lot of time brainstorming to come up with an image, voice and communicated purpose for The Law Office of Gary Saunders. After a couple of hours of scribbling notes and sketches, I found a couple of directions that successfully merge these two business interests (law / real estate). The first direction, and the one that I favor, focuses on "commitment" (contracts, pen, ink, paper, etc.), with a visual emphasis on people and reliability. The second approach also focuses on "agreement", with a visual emphasis on handshakes and good old fashioned trust. I prefer the first, because it is serious and believable and the visuals I am coming up with are lawerly; while the second seems like it could be perceived as too old fashioned (handshakes are no longer trusted) and clich

With regard to printing, consider engraving. It has been classicly popular with Lawers for some time. It's a little more spendy, but will produce some great results. Results which are also difficult to reproduce cheaply in turn reducing the potential for fraud.

Hildebrant.

A couple of you have suggested some nice specialty production treatments that I did/do intend to implement. Now that I've started getting somewhere with the design direction, it definitely makes sense to do something like that. If anyone's interested here is a good source

Scott can you get away with just: Gary Saunders LLC

Make that the main emphsis and put Attorney

I was actually pushing for Saunders Law Firm, but it didn't fly. I'm stuck with the mouthful, however, I was able to eliminate the LLC, which clients could care less about.

My client paid me a visit today and saw the logo directions that I had posted earlier today, and he wants to push the third design, so that'll be the direction that I pursue from here on. Below is a JPEG rendering of a stationary suite utilizing that logo

That is pretty radical for a law office! But I like everything but the pen.

John (or anyone else):

I am trying to convey the contractual agreement with the pen. Ya'know, the "in ink", "on paper", "in writing", thing. This lawer's service is primarily based on protecting assets, investments, transactions (primarily real estate), etc. This contractual agreement was one of the only things I could come up with that was common between the two businesses (law / real estate). Can you think of some other image(s) that might work better than the pen? Do you not like this pen, or any pen?

Mahalo!
Scott

I love the pen! Gives it a bit of whimsy. Keep it bro.

Here's what's goin' to print. I made a few tweaks, and there was some undesireable client intervention that brought it to this point. Personally, I preferred the first direction better.

The yellow represents the gold foil stamping that will accompany a lightly embossed logo. "Lightly" so that it doesn't significantly alter the surface of the backside.

Scott, just make sure that the gold stamping is compadible with their lazer printers or you might have a problem. Also Scott you know you are making custom envelopes for this project. To achieve that effect they have to be printed then converted. Its more expensive and takes longer to get done. As long as the client is okay with that its a moot point. Are you going to print that color on the envelope (Background) or is it a stock color from a paper swatch. As for the pen I like it.

The problem I see with the pen is that it makes them look like a publishing company.

but it does seem like everywhere there is a pen, there's also "the law office of..." which makes it pretty clear it's *not* a publishing company...

I agree.. the context is there. The pen isn't too off radar for a law firm.

"The problem I see with the pen is that it makes them look like a publishing company."

Well, except that the logo clearly states that it's a law office. ;o)

I like it. Nice job.

Well, my bad. The pen is *clearly* the way to go then.

Scott, nice work! (I fell off the radar for a bit, so this is the first I'm seeing of it.)

I agree with Tom and John, I like everything but the pen. Part of it is the fade on the pen. It makes it look like pre-fab stationary to me. For a law firm, I envision a crisp image, with defined edges. Essentially, I see it as grey & fuzzy vs. sharp & clean, and the latter wins.

So, I'm not anti-pen, but I'm not feeling the execution. As it is, I think it'd be stronger without than with. The fountain pen is a good choice for a law firm, so I'd develop that. Perhaps make the body of the pen glossy, so you have reflections to work with in the mark to make it end cleanly? Not sure.

It's definitely interesting that the firm wanted such a visually active stationary set, but I wouldn't be surprise if law firms start to open up their visual identities a bit, as the twentysomethings of today become the partners of tomorrow. Again, Scott, nice work.

"The pen reads as "author" or "writer""

Isn't that mainly what lawyers of this nature do? Write/author legal documents?

Obviously, generic iconography, in and of itself, means different things to different people. There's no getting around that. Short of putting a cliche scales of justice on the page, no imagery will literally convey 'lawyer' to everyone.

Which is a good argument for using the scales (clich

Wow! Who would've thought that this pen would cause so much controversy?

First of all, I should let you all know that the job is going to print looking like the last posted art, for the most part

For whatever reason I couldn't successfully get all of these images to load at once. Also, I meant to say that the final product will be 2-color engraved (gold and PMS), no foil stamping or embossing.

My opinion: (for what it is worth)
If possibly to not use the pen, you are better off.
It just seems to disctract and cheapen the image.
It is so much stronger with out it. If the client has a gun to your head (ie: his money, his project, his choice) then go with the more illustrative pen. The more photographic, the cheaper it looks.

Hildebant.

It just looks like STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY. It feels that it brings down the rest of your work. I suggest using just type.

"Obviously, generic iconography, in and of itself, means different things to different people."

The goal of an icon is to have recognition visually as to what you do. I am not saying that all icons are immediately recognized, but I feel that the pen is a mixed message. I don't think on every job there has to be an icon, especially if there isn't one that fits.

I know some of you argue that there is type that will be with the icon. But that backs up what many on here are saying- why have an icon at all. Why force something to work when it doesn't, especially when you have a classy clean type solution already. The pen will draw attention away from the foil stamp.

Even with the pen, your work looks good as always Scott. Have a good weekend.

Test

Isn't LLC some sort of legally needed thing for such ventures?

I like everything but the pen as well. The pen reads as "author" or "writer" and even "lettering" or "calligraphy".

pff. :^P ok. so. i wasn't as "articulate" I meant "author of books" or "writer of books". sheesh! semantics.