Logo Critique please

Hi everyone. I have been designing for several years now for personal use and am now trying to take it a little further. In order to do that, I need to build aportfolio. Here recently, I've done some light designs for a few small businesses on a cheap budget but still need more stuff to add to my portfolio. I've never created a logo before and thought maybe my first one should be my own! I created it in Illustrator. I read as many tips as I could find on logo creation and tried to keep all of it in mind while creating it.

 

It's kind of confusing on what you want to portray here. is its nicole or nicol3 which might have some meaning. or make the logo more something to do with designing besides the brush

good luck!

 

Letter "I" is looking strange to my mind. If I were you i'll make it's size and style the same to letter "L".

 

I agree, The Letter "I" is not match with the design, maybe you should change the "I" to something more elegant? or add some light effect?
oh, as Lincherry said, "make it's size and style the same to letter "L".

 

Personally, I think the brush for the I is perfect for you, since it represent the fact that you're designing, the logo gives some insight into your own type of brand, know what I mean? However, I would shorten it, it seems to take out the from the logo its self, but the style of the I is, to me, great, and a good way for your first logo to begin. I think you should experiment a bit more, with what the others said above, and see which out of the two (or more you make) look better and choose that way, but for a first logo I think it's great, not bad at all.

 

Digital Cow - it's supposed to be nicole, though the 3 is there for meaning - personal meaning. Bad idea? I was wondering if maybe I should at least resize it to match the size of the other letters but then the it wouldn't seem symmetrical to me. This is my first logo ever though, so feel free to tell me otherwise.

Lincherry & Red Shield - I think I see what you're talking about. I changed it accordingly.

 

Thanks michandney, It's really nice to hear that. I tried to do my homework on creating logos (less is more, design first in b&w, avoid styles and too many colors, etc.) and really put a lot of effort into this. It's also my first time ever using Illustrator. I've played in Photoshop forever but realize that if ever actually want the title of being a graphic designer, I have to know how to use Illustrator.

 

I like it. Pretty nice for a beginner.

 

I like it. Jazz it up a bit and it'll look great. Add some shadows and highlights.

 

Okay, I've tweaked it a little more. Let me know what you think. Thanks

 

IMO the last logo (lower right) is more appealing to the designers' eyes.

 

I agree, simple and sweet