The Pen Shop Research

HISTORY

- one of two specialist pen companies nation wide
- started in 1858 by T&G Allan
- started in newcastle (british company)
- 19 branches nationwide
- new and old designer collections
- own brand called kingston started 20 years ago
- prince range £92,500 - £11

LOGO

This logo is too similar to the more common and popular GAP logo, its seen everywhere and gap are a clothing store so i think the rebrand will stop the association with the GAP identity. The shop needs to be more unique and different, it uses the same forms, typeface, colour and layout as the GAP logo. 

This could com from looking into handwritten fonts, calligraphy styles or just plain more bolder ideas involving just type.

STRAP LINE

'talking is for now, writing is for ever'

PRODUCTS

Research into their products, to get an idea of the forms, shape and curves they use to see if this will inform my design types.

LOGO RESEARCH

Here i looked at existing pen company logos, this is as the pen shop is a very unique brand as is one of only two companies that sell and specialise nationwide just pens. To look at existing logos then i could look at the companies and how they brand them selves along with the portray the styles and themes.

CHEAPER BRANDS                                  
bold                                                                      
colourful                                                              
sans serif                                                              
modern                                                                  
simple                                                                  

EXPENSIVE BRANDS
blue/black
serif
classic/old fashioned fonts
uses fountain pen symbol/shapes
darker colours

BOTH
clear to read
would work small ( on the end of a pen)
simple symbols, not just type
clear text

LOGO DESIGN THEORY

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/06/12-essential-rules-to-follow-when-designing-a-logo/

Important ideas behind this articles:

1. Start with drawing pencil stetches, 20-30, take time on this
2. Balanced designs works better, keep it equal and simliar on each side
3. Has too work small/large
4. Colour : must work in black and white, keep to similar colours, try out different combinations
5. Research audeince and client
6. Type : expermient, no common fonts, legiable small
7. Make it regonsiable
8. Try breaking rules, stand out
9. SIMPLE
10. Flat works but experiemnt
11. Research, brainstorm, sketch, develop, send to client, changes, finish
12. Us other designers

COLOUR THEORY

This here backs up my ideas for the colour scheme and ideas i want to show via my rebrand, it reflects my aims well.


SKETCHED EXPERIMENTS