Logo initial ideas + primary research

Now that a sufficient amount of research had been undertaken, it was time to produce some initial ideas for my logo. For the sake of time, I decided to take the old-school route by taking out a piece of A3 paper and a HB pencil to put down these ideas as they germinated within my imagination. At this point it was important that the influence from my previous research on graphic design companies and existing corporate symbols be made evident within these designs, if only using the most subtle of cues; however, it was not imperative that I remained within these boundaries as some of the symbols within the research, e.g. that of Westfield and Telegraph, were not relevant for the disposition and feel of my envisioned logo. 

The logo research and analysis influenced the initial ideas the most as had I carefully selected these examples for the kind of visual style that I would like my logo to feature. I only looked to the logos that came from the graphic design companies after the inspiration from this had been exhausted. Rather than create 10+ similar initial ideas, I produced 7 unique examples overall and chose to develop most of these instead. Development entailed making the ideas clearer, more pronounced, but most importantly, allowing them to substantially depart from the existing logos that inspired them.

To aid me in my next steps in further refining and then realising a selection of these ideas in traditional and digital techniques, I have also collected a multitude of logos and textures as primary research:

This high-visibility arm band provides a unique shiny, plastic texture.

This phone provides two-for-one textures: rough, leather-like on one end, and smooth metallic on the other. 

This button provides a rounded shape, and gives a reference of how the light falls on such a shape. Potentially useful for a round logo.

This phone shows the iconic Apple logo in use. Provides an indication of metallic tone.

This laptop provides both a metallic texture, as well as an example of typography and arrangement within a logo.

This game controller provides a dark, grainy texture of the main body, as well as the Xbox logo in use and how the light falls on the plastic surface.

This instructional book features the AA logo, a simple yet recognizable logo, which is the kind of logo I aim to produce.

This velvet case provides a soft texture that is accented by a metallic strips. 

Another, top-down view of the velvet case.

This paintbrush is an element that could be used for one of the initial ideas above by itself...

...or in combination with a pencil.

A selection of logos on a smooth, undulating plastic surface. Another reference for tone.

A logo on a smooth, leather-like surface.

A logo in use on a plastic surface .

This intricate metallic logo is an indicator of tone for a logo of this type.