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A Journey Through Time: How I Created My Vintage-Inspired Logo
Hello, fellow vintage lovers and design enthusiasts! As a graphic designer and vintage curator, I am always on the hunt for ways to merge my two passions – and that’s exactly what I did when I created my logo. Today, I’m going to take you on a journey through my creative process, from the groovy colors of the ’70s to the cool fonts of today. So buckle up, because we’re about to travel through time: A Trip Down Memory Lane: Creating My vintage-Inspired Logo.
The Ever-Evolving Logo: A Tale of Many Versions
Oh, my dear friends, let me tell you – my logo has gone through SO many versions. It’s almost embarrassing. But hey, that’s just part of the design process, right? Each twist and turn brought me closer and closer to the heart of my brand, a delightful blend of vintage charm and modern flair. I’ve heard other designers say they struggle with their own branding, so at least I’m not alone in this madness.
The perfectionist in me spent hours, no, DAYS, sketching idea after idea. And as my business evolved, so did my branding. I feel like I’ve become an expert on bees and happiness, having explored so many versions of these elements in my logo. At first, there was an actual bee buzzing around in there, but then I had an epiphany: why not capture the essence of a quirky bee without actually including one? So I set out to channel all the delightful quirkiness and joy of a bee without being too literal.
You see, when you’re crafting your logo, you’ve got to dig deep, my friends. Like, really deep. You need to uncover the true meaning behind your brand and figure out how you want your customers to feel when they look at your logo. But, of course, that involves researching your target audience and going down that rabbit hole… But hey, that’s a story for another blog post!
So there I was, on a quest to discover my brand identity. And then, one magical day, I sat down and – voilà! – I whipped up a logo in under two hours. After researching and practicing some new graphic design techniques, the pieces just clicked together, and my logo was born! And that’s the fun tale of how my logo came to be.
Seeking Inspiration from the Past: ’70s and ’80s Design
When it came to designing my logo, I found inspiration in the bold colors and patterns of the 1970s and ’80s. I love browsing through old advertisements, books, labels, and print materials, taking note of the unique fonts and delightful printer errors.
Can you believe how designers back in the day did their magic without our fancy machines and Adobe Illustrator? We have it so easy now, yet creating stuff still takes lots of time. Designers in the 70s had to use tools that took three times longer, and fans, like me, are still raving about their work.
Graphic design has come a long way! It’s fascinating to see how printer errors have transformed into delightful textures and intriguing effects. These days, artists recreate those vintage vibes and sell them to fellow designers to add character and a touch of nostalgia to their work. One of my all-time faves, Retro Supply, does this so well.
Creating a Happy, Quirky, and Fun Vibe
But let’s circle back to my main point: the ’70s and ’80s are where I found inspiration for my logo. I wanted my logo to radiate happiness and whimsy, so I turned to the iconic avocado greens, pinks, and yellows of the ’70s. These colors not only capture the spirit of the era but also pair beautifully together.
I wanted my customers to feel all warm and fuzzy, wrapped up in the cozy embrace of good design. You see, good design flows like a river, telling a story and striking that perfect balance between white space, fabulous font pairings, and harmonious colors.
My logo needed to be a little party of whimsical, quirky, and fun elements that would make everyone who sees it smile from ear to ear. After all, a logo is like a mirror, reflecting who you are and what your brand stands for. I can’t help but be drawn to playful palettes – even when I try to be all serious and professional, it’s like my inner child just can’t resist adding a splash of sunshine through colors and fonts. It’s just who I am!
And let’s not forget that little dash of feminine flair that I love to incorporate into my designs. To me, it represents life, vibrant colors, and the sheer joy of playing with delightful palettes.
Choosing the Perfect Vintage Font: Vintage Queens and Gopher Regular
Oh, fellow designers, you know the struggle is real when it comes to finding that perfect font – and then hunting down its perfect partner in crime. Most designs stick to just two fonts, maybe three, but let’s be honest, that’s kind of pushing it. Mastering the art of font matchmaking takes heaps of practice, but eventually, you’ll develop a keen eye for fabulous font pairs, just like curating those oh-so-cool vintage treasures.
It’s all part of the process, and the more you learn, the better you become. Maybe that’s why it took me ages to finalize my logo – but hey, perfection takes time! My go-to design tool is none other than Adobe Illustrator. Sure, it has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s worth it! The possibilities are endless, and the incredible work I’ve seen from other designers is just awe-inspiring.
For my logo, I was on the hunt for a font that could bring retro and bubbly vibes to life. And that’s when I found it: Vintage Queens! This font’s curvy lines and playful spirit whisk us back to the golden era of vintage design. But to keep my logo fresh, I teamed it up with a modern sans-serif font, Gopher Regular. This sleek typeface adds just the right amount of contemporary elegance, creating a match made in design heaven with Vintage Queens.
A Winning Color Combo: White, Pink, and Reddish-Orange
When people first look at my designs, they often say, “Oh my goodness, I just love the colors!” Now, let me tell you, learning about color harmony was quite an adventure. Figuring out which hues play nicely together takes time and practice. But I won’t dive into that topic here – I’ve got another article you can check out!
Anyhow, who would’ve thought that colors and fonts could tell such captivating stories? It’s kind of mind-blowing, really. What I absolutely love about the ’70s and ’80s is the explosion of vibrant and refreshing colors. It’s like that magical moment in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy steps from black and white into a kaleidoscope of technicolor – a breath of fresh air and whimsy. That, my friends, is the power of color.
To amp up the vintage charm of my logo, I picked a scrumptious color palette of white [#ffffff], pink [#efcccc], and a zesty reddish-orange [#e95139]. These colors work in harmony, creating an atmosphere that’s as warm and cheerful as a summer’s day.
And just for a little extra retro flair in the background, I turned to the iconic avocado greens, pinks, oranges, and yellows of the ’70s. These colors don’t just capture the spirit of the era; they also blend together like a dream, adding even more pizzazz to my design.
Adding Depth and Dimension: Shadows and Angles
Oh, the joys of learning graphic design! With Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, you’ve got a treasure trove of nifty effects at your fingertips. But remember, just because they’re there, doesn’t mean you have to use them all. It’s like when you first discover PowerPoint and go wild with all the bells and whistles, only to end up with something that looks, well, a bit tacky and overwhelming.
As with everything, mastering when to use these tools takes practice. And while I’m forever learning (and relearning) the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator, I’ve come to understand the importance of using its features with a gentle touch. This is where doing your research really shines – not to copy the work of others, but to be inspired and guided by it.
For my logo, I wanted it to pop, so I added a retro, elongated shadow to the font and playfully angled the words “Bee Happi” in Vintage Queens. “Vintage Press” is written in the sleek Gopher Regular to keep things balanced and harmonious. Voilà, a design that’s as eye-catching as it is charming!
A Touch of Grunge: Printer Error Textures and Bits
Oh, the sweet nostalgia of printing errors! As I mentioned earlier, there’s something about those charming little imperfections that many of us still adore and try to recreate on purpose. Adding textures to your designs is like putting the cherry on top of a sundae – it ties everything together in a delightful, vintage-inspired package.
Nothing says “vintage chic,” quite like a printer error or some grungy bits sprinkled into your design. These little touches add depth, dimension, and, of course, a healthy dose of nostalgia. To give my logo that authentic vintage vibe, I sprinkled in some printer error textures and a dash of grungy bits for good measure. These subtle imperfections make the design feel like a well-loved, time-traveling treasure from a bygone era.
And there you have it, folks – a whirlwind tour of my creative process! Of course, there’s so much more I could share, but I’ll save those juicy tidbits for another time and another blog post. In the meantime, I hope I’ve sparked a creative fire within you to dive deep into your own artistic journey.
By combining all these elements, I whipped up a fabulous poster to showcase in my antique mall booth. A quick trip to Office Depot and just $7.00 later (talk about a bargain!), I had a snazzy 17×11 print mounted on foam board, ready to make a splash. Now, my booth is graced with a unique and eye-catching brand that truly embodies the spirit of my brand. And that, my dear friends, is the story of how my vintage-inspired logo came to life!
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Maribel Valls
Hey there, I’m Maribel Garcia Valls, MPH. Vintage curation, room design, writing, graphic design, drawing, yoga, and meditation are just a few of my passions, and I’m constantly exploring and expanding my skills with each new project. You can find my vintage booth at the Antique Gallery Round Rock: Booth C-22.
