Miscela Logo Crisis

I am not sure what I am doing with my logo. I am having a hard time achieving the quality that I want. I am using india ink and then I bring it into illustrator. I want a hand drawn quality, but I also want it to be professional and clean. Clean and rugged at the same time.

Miscela Identity initial sketches/materials

I went to Anchor Paper on Friday and picked up a bunch of paper samples and browsed the aisles for over an hour! If you haven't been there, definitely check it out! The staff there are amazingly helpful too.

I have focused the target of my identity system to be NEW members of the Miscela Restaurant Coop. The identity system will include a business card to be distributed via mail/or in the restaurant. It will also include a letterhead with a member card attachment at the bottom that will be perforated (Anchor Paper has a perforator blade!) so that members can take their member card and put it in their wallet. Additionally, Miscela's identity will include a container to hold all of this information. Currently I am working on the structural framework. I found tags at Anchor Paper too that I thought would be a subtle detail to add to the container. The problem that I found at Anchor Paper with their paper is that if you want to get a 11"x17" sheet of paper, it will cost $10 for the first cut (and this only works if they have the "parent" paper in stock)! Does anyone have any other great sources for paper??

I'm unsure about ordering plates for the letter press, because I am not sure how to implement the production portion of the assignment. I think I would use the letter press for Miscela's entire identity. I'm not sure how big the plates would need to be.

I looked into getting a stamp made. For a stamp that is 4"x1" it would be $21 at Anchor Paper.

Anyway, I really want the identity of Miscela to wow you all. That is the goal.

Uncertain

For now, Miscela's system identity consists of a letterhead, business card, menu, and an envelope. The purpose of the letterhead is to use it to send out letters to potential members of the coop, members of the coop, future artists, artists, future musicians, musicians, and farmers (for fresh produce), bakers (for fresh breads), and other potential vendors for other food items. I will post my sketches at a later time...

My ID Inspiration Source

I forgot to include where I found all of the identity systems that I have noted as my inspiration for the Miscela ID. All of them were drawn from the AIGA archives. 

Miscela Logo Revision....

Miscela Identity Inspiration

I like this identity because it demonstrates creative use of color and graphics. Something similar to this would work for Miscela's identity because of all of the different activities that Miscela offers to the public.

I like this for its simple application of color and type. The graphic is artistic and eye catching because of the way that each shape forms the greater shape of the monkey. I like this too because of the mosaic style, which I had envisioned for the Miscela logo during one of the stages of design.



Above is a compilation of identity systems that I found to be inspirational to the identity of Miscela. As I searched for identity systems that could inspire Miscela's identity I looked for systems that utilized color, abstract imagery, symbols, and/or patterns. The identity for Miscela needs to be playful, eclectic, artistic, and representative of the coop. Right now, imagery might play a role in Miscela's identity, but graphics will play more of an important role.

My initial thought on what I will need to create for Miscela's identity system consists of the following pieces: a menu, a website, napkins, pens, t-shirts, letterheads, envelopes, business cards, and magnets.

Stage 3 Miscela Logo Design

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to make Version 1 of my logo design work...but I do like this solution better than Version #2. I agree with Ange that perhaps the wordmark is the primary logo, while the snail becomes the supporting element to the restaurant. Does anyone think that I need to include "restaurant coop" in the wordmark, perhaps below it, so that people know what it is? Otherwise, right now it is really ambiguous. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on this. Also, for a tagline here are a few options so far:
"Miscela, The right blend. Food. Music. Art."
"Slow Your Roll."
"Stay a While"
"Our Place is Your Place."
"Together We Can Make It Better."
"The Right Mix"
"Get To Know Us."

Potential Color palettes

Colors & Logo refinements

After trying to create my logo in illustrator and not getting any satisfaction out of it, I chose to go to india ink and a brush, as well as micron pen in order to come up with a word mark that I could work from in illustrator.

Also,
Luke referred me to kuler.adobe.com to get inspiration for color for Miscela's logo. So I have been trying to come up with a warm color palette, but also something that is unique for an Italian restaurant, as most Italian restaurants have a very warm, rustic ambience.