I don't think I like the "K" serif poking the angus in the eye, and I'm not crazy about the angus hugging the "K" either�so I guess that leaves us with the No. 2 design. I don't like the italic type. What is the gray? Is it a tree? I'd lose it.

I think there is still some exploration to do here. I did some conceptualization for an identity that incorporated a rhino a while back. I lost the digital files due to a HD failure, but I might be able to dig up some sketches in the morning. They might spark something, or not.

Aloha!
Scott

The angus is one element. And the word Kautz is another. If they are side-by-side as in version 1 and 2, they shouldn't touch ... because the eye wants to see them as "one thing and another thing", not "one thingand another thing" (pardon my English).

If they on the other hand are intertwined, it's okay ... but watch out for production difficulties.

I think the 'tree' must have to go.

Beware that in version 1 and 2 there is too much space around A.

In version 3, could you avoid "cropping the angus with a scalpel"? You may have to put the angus in a frame ... I haven't got any solution to this right now ... Maybe version 2 could be realized ...

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Soren O

You might explore creating a medal, like they give out at a county fair. Implying award winning, gold medal that sort of thing. That would be one way of separating the illustration from the type. As its constituted now the look hardly looks premium.

i am going back to the drawing board and will post some new concepts soon.

thanks for the honest feedback.

scott, did you ever find any of your rhino sketches?

Sorry, I forgot to get back to you, but unfortunately, the answer is no. I thought I had them in one of my sketch books, but I guess they were done on scratch paper, which innevitably gets thrown out�a bad habit of mine. I apologize, but here is a rhino silhoette logo that might inspire something???
http://www.eckounltd.com/

Aloha!
Scott

Here are 4 new concepts . . . I think these hit the target much better than my original posting.

Any thoughts/comments/suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

I would throw out 3 entirely.

I think 2 is best.

The steer pictograph is much more abstract. I am reading it better in white than in black.

The type in the circular paths I must squint to read.

I'm not a fan of the dirty yellow type in #4

Andrew

2 and 4 are the best.

But their shape are rather different from each other ... where will the design be applied?

The drawing of the angus needs to be simpler and clearer. The drawing must be recognized instantly.

How about another colour ... for instance, maroon (red-brown)

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Soren O

What if you showed a steak instead of the live bull? Also, I'm seeing more of a bull rather than a steer or heifer. Not sure if either of that matters.

The logo will be applied to business cards, letterhead, magazine advertisements, and possibly a sign.

darrel -- thank you for the suggestion -- i went with an image of the "live bull" because the cows are not always sold for the sole purpose of butchering (in fact, most of the time they are not.)

do you think these logos are hitting the mark, or should i revisit more concepting?

I think #2 and #4 have the most potential, but I agree that simplifying/clarifying the angus would make it much stronger. It looks like you're using a software effect�Are you? If so, try tracing a photo in illustrator and taking more control over the shapes to create more clarity.

Personally, I would prefer to see the "red angus" type in #2 flipped to read right.

Overall, I like these two concepts. The circular shape feels kind of like a cattle brand. Considering the applications, I think I like #4 best, with a few adjustments to color.

Aloha!
Scott

the angus image is a rough illustration in illustrator -- since i am more in the concepting stage, it is pretty rough. although i do want to go with a more abstract, "sketchy" illustration similar to what i've used, i agree it needs some work & clarification.

What do you mean, Scott, about the type in #2 flipped to read right? (do you mean with the "KAUTZ RED ANGUS" to the right of the circle?)

Thanks again everyone for the input.

I mean, "RED ANGUS" is upside down. Turn it right side up. This action might require some kind of divider between "PREMIUM" and "RED ANGUS" (bullet points, or something), but I don't like reading upside down on a logo.

Sally:

Completely ignore my previous comments. I was thinking 'beef' sales the whole time. I just realized that your client sells breeding stock. I think you're on-target with the Bull.

Sally what I like about 2 and 4 is if you used metalic stamp for the gold color it would look very upscale and classy. I'm guessing that this product is expensive, like Kobi beef in Japan

Sally - I like where you are going - the illustration is better in these second rounds - but I think you may also try something a little more removed from such a literal illustration you run the risk of it looking clip arty.

Something with clean lines that would work well in single color - (the merril lynch logo comes to mind for obvious reasons) but what about a hoofprint or something with just the horns cradling the type?

I can totally empathize with you - I do design work for a supplier to the dairy industry. Udder dip, mating supplies and bull um... well lets just say essence... and there is so much cow imagry in marketing pieces and ads and so forth that a mark that is distilled down to a quicky symbol may play stronger than a more illustrative approach. Just a thought -

having said that so far I like #2, but agree with Scott about flipping the type right side up at the bottom - perhaps also think of using that seal without an enclosure around the type.

"�if you used metalic stamp for the gold color it would look very upscale and classy."

I was thinking the same thing.

Sally, I've made an assumption I shouldn't have. Is this mark being developed to be for the consummer of the beef or is it towards the distributors? What comes to mind on the consummer level is Boars Head Brand.

It is a company that sells the actual cows, mostly to other ranchers who are building their herd or to some who plan on butchering.

Frozen Foods comes to mind when looking at your seals. I can't give a concrete reason why.

I'm thinking of Red Baron or Freschetta...
The stacked circle and oval i guess.

I personally don't feel comfortable looking at the cute little cows innocent little face before I take a bite out of it's medium rare left leg.

i know what you are saying about #2 and #4 -- it resembles a packaging seal, which is why the consumer-end comes to mind.

This is a logo more for a Ranch, a Red Angus breeder, than anything to do with the consumer-end. Although the cows bought may be butchered it is much different than buying beef in a grocery store. Does that make sense?

Here is another idea . . . I took #1 and modified it a bit . . . should i explore this option more than the seal/stamp look?

Thank you for the input!

I like your first designs better.

The circle with K and bull on top of each other is far too complicated. It's like your telling two jokes at the same time. Which is better: a drawing of a bull, or a drawing of K defined by the negative spaces? I think the bull. But certainly not both on top of each other.

The circle as it is now is not likely to be reproduced in small sizes, let alone in one colour (where the rightmost part of the K would grow out of the shoulder).

If you were to balance a circle next to KAUT and the subline, I would place the circle higher, sharing a horizontal axis with only KAUTZ, not with both lines, thus letting the subline 'hang' underneath.

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Soren O

A good question to ask yourself:

What makes premium red angus different from regular beef?

The answer might be something you abstractly want to convey in your logotype.

Sally,
The logos you have designed look nice, but they do have a food design feel to them and after reading other posts it seems like many of the people think the company sells steaks not livestock. Perhaps you should think more "ranch" than individual "cow". Your design could show a few cows in a field, indicating breeding cow (without going completely graphic) rather than hamburger. Or not even show a cow, a branding iron, rope or fence sign are quick imagery that comes to mind when thinking ranch. Maybe it's something as simple as showing a whole cow to get rid of the food association, the severed head sort of leads one to think of butchery.

If your selling cattle to ranchers the odds they know what Red Angus Beef is. Sally you might loose the Cattle Illustration and make it straight type. I was thrown off in the beginning thinking it was a consumer logo.