Label design

[Wayde Christie]

Hey folks,

Had a fiddle with a design for my guitar label over the weekend, and I'm pretty pleased with what I came up with.

What does everyone think?

Wayde.

[charangohabsburg]

Looks clean and classy!

I like those lables that are not cluttered with useful and/or useless information. Once I have seen a label with even the luthier's bank account number on it!

[Allen]

Me like a lot.

[Jeremy D]

Very classy. Looking at it from the perspective of a potential buyer I think it would help bring that professional, high end feel to your instruments.

[demonx]

The "Malu" doesn't do anything for me, I think its the difference in styling between that and the rest.

The whole bottom looks very classy. I really like the scrolls. They pull it all together.

[Wayde Christie]

Thanks for the feedback folks

The "Malu" doesn't do anything for me, I think its the difference in styling between that and the rest.

The whole bottom looks very classy. I really like the scrolls. They pull it all together.

I struggled with that myself Allan. "Malu" is a shortened version of the aboriginal name for Newcastle, and I'm trying very hard to get that cultural vibe in there but retain the classic traditional elements of guitar design.

So I decided to make the "Malu" logo-mark cursive and friendly (and also easy to inlay), and to surround it with a combo of traditional and cultural design.

I found myself stripping out the cultural stuff though, because I'd rather move the cultural design to the guitar itself - probably in the use of timbers, and the rosette and colours.

The big challenge for me has been "how do I make this guitar embody the culture of its namesake, without alienating traditionalists (me included)?".

Dunno if I'm there yet

[demonx]

Thanks for the feedback folks
I struggled with that myself Allan.....

Dunno if I'm there yet

It's not that the Malu looks bad, as on it's own it'd look fine. I just think the lower part is a different style and they don't work together - BUT - I'm not a customer, so take it with a grain of Salt.

I worked for a short time as a phototypesetter during the 1990's. I remember they had reference posters in the type room of compatible fonts, as not all fonts work with each other. The guy that was training me had rules he used to tell me all the time. No more that three different fonts. Never use this with that and so forth. I forget it all these days, however when you look at things and it stands out I just remember that room and the charts.

[Kev3]

Agree with all
Nice, uncluttered and stylish concept - stick with that theme. The grey colour to the font, scrolls etc is great too.
Have to agree with Allan though, the Malu font is a bit too "happy" for me sitting on top of the more classic cursive script. - feels like it'd be better for tropical themed surfboards and the like.
... But that's just me ... and Allan .....

[needsmorecowbel]

It kind of reminds me of KALA ukuleles...mainly because the "u" from malu and the "a" from kala are quite a similar shape when written in cursive. It definitely reminds me of a uke brand I saw recently but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Regardless it's looking good, keep it up!

Stu

[simso]

I would concur with all the honest responses above, it is clean and tidy, but the malu script looks out of character to the rest of the label. It definitely gives that uke feeling about it

Steve

[dshaker]

The font used for the detail information and the decorative flourishes both have line weights that vary significantly and do not have a drop shadow. I would want to see what it would look like with the "Malu" in a font that had varying weights depending on line direction. I don't know if it would look better, but I would want to have a look.

[Kamusur]

Great work Wayde. Looked and looked at it again and read what the others have said. I really like the Malu script and find it fits well with the scroll underneath but find letters M & u a bit distracting. Only a suggestion but is there/could you hotrod only those letters so they become stronger and easier to read.
If it were mine i would chop the scroll/flourish at the bottom of the M (sometimes i see/read almost the letter N sometimes just the flourish) and the end of the letter u, hope that makes sense.

Steve

[DarwinStrings]

Aboriginal themes caught my attention Wayde so here are some bits I have been working on for a guitar called "Blackfella Whitefella". Bit of a nod to Warumpi Band and their achievement.

End graft

end graft.jpg (64.14 KiB) Viewed 15574 times

North East Arnhem Land Rarrk style Headstock.

Rarrk.jpg (78.68 KiB) Viewed 15574 times

Jim

[Dave]

Jim

I really like your end graft and your head plate, really nice design

Dave

[kiwigeo]

Yeah thats nice work Jim...

[DarwinStrings]

Thanks guys, will post the finished guitar when I finally finish it, have been caught up in building a extension at the moment and have put guitars on hold.

Jim

[Wayde Christie]

Wow! Thanks for the excellent feedback guys. Gave me lots to think about.

It's funny how you often think you're close to being done but you're really just beginning

Aboriginal themes caught my attention Wayde so here are some bits I have been working on for a guitar called "Blackfella Whitefella". Bit of a nod to Warumpi Band and their achievement.

Jim

Good stuff Jim. I grew up in Taree so there have been a lot of aboriginal people in my life, including my new nephew

I'm keen to source some traditional art from the Newcastle area if it exists, and somehow incorporate it into my guitars. I'm thinking the rosette is where I'll have the most scope for creativity.

Thanks again everyone!