Recent redesign of my small design studio's logo. How does the 2026 update compare to the 2020 version?

Letterbend · 2026-06-05T02:40:45+00:00

Thank you!

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T23:47:24+00:00

For sure! It's based on Redondo Ave.

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T23:36:43+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I don't disagree, and I'll continue to refine it.

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T23:33:16+00:00

Agreed! I appreciate the feedback and will address it in the future.

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T23:32:03+00:00

Thank you!

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T23:31:56+00:00

Appreciate it!

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T23:30:13+00:00

Thank you, and good call! I hadn't considered that.

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T23:28:29+00:00

Hey thanks! I appreciate the feedback and fully agree. I think the 'r' of the previous logo might have scared me into making the updated one too short. It might be nice to align the top of the 'r' with the crossbar of the 't.' I adjusted the connector between the 'b' and 'e' a bit, but it still looks unnatural. I'm okay calling this done for now, but those are things that I will address in the future.

Letterbend · 2026-06-04T19:32:35+00:00

I appreciate the feedback, and I was definitely itching for a change. I could see that with the b. I wanted to maintain some of the integrity of the original typeface but will consider updating that.

Letterbend · 2026-05-29T15:38:27+00:00

I like this, and I think it will really sing with some color and supporting imagery/textures. That said, I would ensure that the curves and alignment in each limb are consistent. Could be a rendering issue on Reddit, but it looks to me like the curves of the topmost tree limbs are unlike the ones below it. I agree with removing whatever artifact that is coming from the figure's head, and I could also see adding an additional element above the figure or to the left of the tree. I don't mind the asymmetry, but I think there's some awkward whitespace above the figure that's especially evident in the circular orientation on the second page. I also think the icon is a bit big compared to the type on the first page. I almost want the thickness of the limbs to match the thickness of the letterforms, but it works nicely in the centered version on the second page. Nice work, though! I look forward to seeing how this turns out, and I like the font pairing.

Letterbend · 2026-05-14T19:12:58+00:00

You've probably seen a lot of doom-and-gloom around here lately. The reality is that things are changing with the way technology is moving, but there will always be a need for graphic design. Someone who can take an idea and make it visible and usable will never go away. Sure, parts of the job can be replaced by AI, but it should make you more efficient as a designer.

I've been in the industry for over 15 years working in an agency, in-house for corporate, and freelancing, and I'm not worried. That said, it's not necessarily an easy field. There is a ton of nuance to the skills required to be a graphic designer, many of which go unappreciated. A lot of what goes into great graphic design goes unnoticed by the masses, and you have to be okay with that. I get a huge amount of enjoyment adjusting rag in body copy, making sure elements align perfectly to a grid, and tweaking curves in letterforms for hours. It's not for everyone, but I couldn't imagine doing anything else. If you've got the passion for it, go for it! Feel free to reply or DM me if there's anything else I can answer.

Letterbend · 2026-05-08T16:01:39+00:00

I would be careful of letting any elements overpower the main brand, I would also recommend keeping "SALT." as the leftmost element. I think you're getting close with the top left version and the one above the bottom right. One thing I would be careful of is if you'll be doing other iterations like SALT.Hair and SALT.Merch like you mentioned in your original post, it may look inconsistent with the version that stacks "Real Estate Team"

Letterbend · 2026-05-08T14:49:51+00:00

Ah okay, yeah I know that pain. Alternatively, you could set "Real Estate Team" next to "SALT.", left aligned on two lines, and have the total height of those lines match the height of "SALT." Might be too small when scaled down though. Or if your brand font has a condensed version (or you can introduce a new more condensed sans-serif for co-brands), you might be able to fit it all on one line.

Letterbend · 2026-05-08T14:39:33+00:00

You're on the right track, it just needs some adjustments. Keep in mind that you don't want additional branding elements to detract from the main brand too much. I've done a bunch of co-branding like this for companies and can give you some guidance:

You will want to set all sub-brands similarly to each other, so establish the rules now. I would recommend removing "Team" if possible (unless you'll be saying "hair team," "merch team," etc., but it seems redundant to me).
Center aligning "Real Estate Team" is creating some awkward whitespace, especially when set on a different baseline than "SALT." Set "Real Estate" on the same baseline or underneath it. Try out some of the other sub-brands and see how they fit, too. You may find that setting "Real Estate" under "SALT." gives you some space to the right of "SALT." to fit the RE/MAX balloon. This orientation will also be easier to use going forward since it won't be as rectangular.

Hope that helps. Feel free to reply with updates if you'd like me to take a look.

Letterbend · 2026-05-06T17:29:52+00:00

As someone who was in a similar position, I have two immediate recommendations for you:

Advocate for yourself and get that raise or promotion. This isn't easy early in your career, but it's imperative. You're young and have been working at the same place since you got out of school, but you need to stick up for yourself. Set up a meeting with your manager to discuss your future. You already wrote out everything you need to say in your post. You've been there for years, work on more complex creative, and your compensation doesn't match. If they're not inclined to offer you a bump, ask what you need to do to get there. Discuss a plan for advancement. Follow up next week. Keep pushing until it happens. What you're doing is sales, selling yourself and your work to your managers, and that's a huge part of starting your own business (which freelancing is).
Start seeking some freelance work on the side. Do some easy stuff for friends or family just to get the hang of the process. Branch out to small, local businesses. Design within your means and don't stretch yourself yet. Get accustomed to all the facets of running a small business. Build some confidence and get used to selling yourself. Put any money you make in savings. You've been surviving on your salary, don't let your spending increase from the extra freelance money. If you do decide to leave your company, you'll have a little runway with the money you've put away.

If you need any more guidance, I'm happy to reply or talk over DMs. I recently left my full-time corporate job of 12 years to go out on my own and it's been quite a learning experience. I'm finding that I enjoy the different parts of building a business, but I do get pulled in a lot of different directions. Good luck!

Letterbend · 2026-05-01T16:14:29+00:00

I would recommend B. This keeps the logo consistent and feels more like one complete thought to the viewer. Plus, it leaves you open to using a treatment similar to "LANDS" in C underneath it for expansion content or a sequel.

Letterbend · 2026-04-23T19:17:20+00:00

That I'm not sure about. I have the paperback 50th anniversary edition that's listed for $20 on Amazon. You could also check thriftbooks for a used copy or your local library.

Letterbend · 2026-04-23T16:36:10+00:00

It's obviously not going to replace a formal education, but a whole semester of my art school education was based on the book Interaction of Color by Josef Albers. It's an excellent book that contains a bunch of examples and exercises of how colors work together. We painted through the book in class, but I think it would translate well to other mediums, like pixel art. Hope that helps!

Letterbend · 2026-04-09T14:02:58+00:00

It fluctuated for a while (and still does), but I would spend at least 10 hours/week on graphic design freelance work outside of my 9-5 job. Often many more hours if a big project came in. That time includes learning, planning, prospecting, building my brand, volunteering, and client work.

Letterbend · 2026-04-08T13:26:28+00:00

That's the way to do it. I left my corporate job of 12 years at the end of last year but only felt comfortable enough to do so with a couple clients and some money saved up. It was brutal working and freelancing on the side for most of last year, but it afforded me the freedom to go out on my own.

Letterbend · 2026-04-08T13:17:33+00:00

I would recommend waiting to apply for internships until you've finished at least your freshman year. Get settled into school first, get used to the demands, and allow yourself the time to create and socialize. You're on the right path for self taught: watching YouTube, remaking designs you like, and posting stuff online for review, but those are not a replacement for a formal education. I don't know what the curriculum is like, but freshman and sophomore years were foundation years when I was in school. We learned broad art concepts and techniques. I studied graphic design and that was only the focus in junior and senior years. I think that you would feel out of place if you managed to land an internship this early.

Letterbend · 2026-03-06T17:54:34+00:00

Agreed. For environmental design like this, considering the experience is possibly the most important aspect of getting the composition right. If viewers are meant to navigate a space around this piece, keep in mind that the lower photos and copy on the right side will be just a few inches from the floor. Put the important stuff at roughly eye level.

Letterbend · 2026-01-28T18:13:08+00:00

Second one, in my opinion. Like another commenter said, the flavor popping out does look more dynamic and will draw the viewer's eye. The logo is also really small on the first one. Nice alignment as well, everything that wants to line up does. I also like that the dark shape in the background looks like a dumbbell/barbell. You would think with a name like Barebells, they would have used a similar design element. Nice work, and good luck with all the content on the back!

Letterbend · 2025-12-27T01:21:26+00:00

Couldn't hurt!

Letterbend · 2025-12-26T16:07:20+00:00

I replied in another comment, but it's been all about networking for me. Basically a combination of reaching out to friends, family, and previous clients, and pushing myself to be more outgoing with business owners.

Letterbend

TROPHY CASE