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Help the Learning Round Table Choose a Logo
Last year we changed our name from CLENE (Continuing Library Education Network and Exchange) to the Learning Round Table. With the name change comes the need for a new logo. Over the past month a team of board members has been working with a graphic designer to create a new logo for the Learning Round Table. We’d like to share the two final logos for your feedback.
Tell us what you think! Which logo best represents the Learning Round Table? What impression do the logos give?
Give us your feedback by adding a comment (or comments) to this post. Let us know which logo you like the best and why. We’ll take comments through Wednesday, February 10, 2010. The final decision will be determined by a vote from the Learning Round Table board members.
Note: Why is there no color? Since a logo may be used in color as well as black and white, a best practice in logo design is to select the logo in black and white first then determine the color scheme. Once we have a decision on the logo the same team will work on choosing the colors.
About the author
Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has over 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of more than 550 employees. Lori's passion is in learning and technology. Lori and her associate Paul Signorelli are writing a book about leadership for trainers for ALA Editions that will be released in the summer of 2010. Lori serves as an intern for the American Libraries magazine Advisory Committee and serves as the chair for Communication and Marketing for the ALA Learning Round Table. Lori also blogs at Library Trainer and can be reached at reedlori[at]gmail.com and can be found on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.
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about 7 months ago
I vote for the tree logo. It makes me think of words like “growth”, “thriving” and “strength”. To me, that’s what learning is about.
about 7 months ago
Sarah, Thanks for taking the time to provide us your feedback. -Lori
about 7 months ago
I vote for the Tree logo, too. It’s much more visually appealing than the other one. And, like Sarah, it makes me think of growing, striving, and surviving. Can’t wait to see the color choices!
about 7 months ago
Thanks Jean! We really appreciate your comments! -Lori
about 7 months ago
Thanks for the feedback Sarah and Jean. I love the adjectives that the tree symbol evokes for both of you.
about 7 months ago
tree! nice metaphor and design.
there is something too corporate and cold about the second design, tho i get what you’re going for.
about 7 months ago
Thanks Julie!!!
about 7 months ago
i vote for the round table with the circles. it’s cleaner.
about 7 months ago
Thanks JP appreciate your input! -Lori
about 7 months ago
I find the second one a little more edgy and appreciate that it’s not conventional.
about 7 months ago
I’m glad to see that JP and Lisa like #2. I was feeling like the outlier for a minute there. The contemporary graphic makes me think innovation, new ideas, and community —all good aspects of learning. Love the comments so far!
about 7 months ago
It’s a hard choice? Hope that means the design team has done a good job! I think we will rock with either logo! Love hearing what everyone thinks! Please keep the comments coming!
about 7 months ago
While the tree is pretty, I prefer a sleek, simple, contemporary look and the second logo is that.
about 7 months ago
Thanks Dodie, We really appreciate your feedback! -Lori
about 7 months ago
The second logo was created to represent the community of a round table with multiple persons ( the circles) working together, in a circle of inclusiveness, teamwork, individuality and the “roundness” of common goals and interests. But maybe that doesn’t come across?? What would make it so?
about 7 months ago
I wish we could combine the two. I like the contemporary look of # 2 but I like the idea of the tree and growth and what that symbolizes.
about 7 months ago
I really like the tree. The second is sleek and contemporary but I didn’t get the circle inclusiveness, and teamwork. The tree communicates growing.
about 4 months ago
Are you the same Angel who went to NGCSU? Shot in the dark.
-paige
about 7 months ago
I prefer the 2nd one. It’s actually a ’round table’ like the name of the group. I saw it as a group of people learning together. The tree one made me think of Lending Tree, which confused me at first.
about 7 months ago
Could the oval table circle be made a little larger or more 3-D somehow to give it a table effect?
I honestly like both for different reasons. I am going to be a happy camper either way.
about 7 months ago
Janie, Thanks for your comments. At this point we can’t modify the logos. These were the final two logos selected. We may be able to address this with coloring though. -L
about 7 months ago
Logo 1: Preferred: The tree being symbolic of growth, fresh leaves, rooted, reviving capability and more. Not appealing part: the leaves over the letter ‘L’ to me symbolize ‘falling of the leaves’ which can mean ‘Fall’ instead of ‘Spring’ or ‘Bloom’.
Logo 2: I like the clean look and also the ideation occuring at the roundtable. Not appealing part: I can read the logo to mean that the ideas from the roundtable may not see ‘budding’ or ‘implementation.
I like the black&white.
about 7 months ago
Ruchi, Good feedback. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas with us! -Lori
about 7 months ago
I’d go for #2 – more professional and clean and speaks to innovative, forward and collaborative thinking.
about 7 months ago
Thanks Stephanie
about 7 months ago
I like the tree as a “we are all connected” metaphor. The contrast “i” is nice symbolism for moving forward with eLearning.
about 7 months ago
Thanks Marianne
about 7 months ago
I feel a little as if a good friend asked me – Now honestly, do these jeans make me look fat. And which pair should I buy?
I will retreat to my consultant role and ask a couple of marketing questions. I once owned a graphic design studio and spent a lot of time with clients and graphic designers talking (fighting) about these issues.
What do the two logos say to a stranger – aka a potential member – who is walking by a conference booth at ALA, sees the banner logo, and has to decide whether or not to stop or keep going?
And, which logo will more accurately convey what the RT does?
Sadly for creative people, customers who look at logos almost NEVER get the symbolism because they don’t know the context, and they don’t care. If you have to explain it, it is not relevant, and the truth is it is almost never relevant anyhow.
So, I am conflicted.
The tree is very pretty and has a good emotional impact, but in the library world is something I would associate with K-12 learning. I imagine lots of school and children’s librarians showing up and assuming it is for their specific needs, and some other potential members walking by because they think the same.
The abstraction is pleasant, but not memorable. The symbols look like decoration; a little retro. Not much emotional impact.
But, for the sake of lack of confusion, I would pick the abstraction.
Always, the best people to ask are potential customers who don’t know you or love you. Or, do what we did at Pattern Research – indulge ourselves with what we liked – and to heck with the customer! (grin)
Pat
about 7 months ago
Pat, as always, excellent feedback! Thanks so much! -Lori
about 7 months ago
Hats off to the design team. Both logos capture the “essence” of the Learning Roundtable.
In a close race, I like logo number 2 over logo number 1.
They are both winners.
about 7 months ago
Maurice…Thank you
about 7 months ago
I’d vote for the tree logo, I just like the feel of it over the clean look.
about 7 months ago
Thanks Andrew! -Lori
about 7 months ago
The tree is pretty, and has a friendly feel. The other one looks like an alien with 4 eyes and a scary mouth! Plus, sans serif fonts look cold and corporate. I would want to get to know the organization behind the tree logo, and the other one really turns me off.
about 7 months ago
Anonymous, Thank you for your feedback and for making me laugh so hard. I added a few years to my life from that laugh.
about 7 months ago
I vote for the tree logo. I love the metaphor of being able to teach to the various branches of the community or teaching being the “trunk” that holds all the other branches of the community together. It also feels more organic and warmer than the other.
about 7 months ago
Mary, Thank you for your feedback. -Lori
about 7 months ago
I vote for all the enthusiasm voiced in this string of comments. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the dialogue.
about 7 months ago
I 2nd that Betha!
about 7 months ago
I like the ideas associated with the tree image of growing learning, but am not so keen on the design which might be interpretted as more traditional and past oriented. So I would choose the second one which is edgier, more modern and indicates new technology approaches. But both are very good, and I like the idea of this discusssion which promotes reflection about what the group hopes to achieve.
about 7 months ago
Good points Anne, Yes the discussion here is so very important to us as we move forward with not only selecting one of these logos but also choosing the color scheme. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! -Lori
about 7 months ago
I’ve enjoyed reading the (conflicting) opinions, also, and I agree with those who say we can’t go wrong with either choice.
I love the complementary font choice for the tree logo and the effect of the “i” in white against the black background of the trunk (not exactly original, but still …). And I love the symbolism of growth.
There is also the concept of unity if you think of the leaves (or branches) as different individuals all growing together, interdependent, all part of the same “trunk” (I’m sure someone else called attention to that point but I overlooked it). For that reason (and also because it clutters the image) I don’t like the falling leaves, though.
Following Pat’s terrific point about the impression on our audience (but drawing a different conclusion), I think people would “get it.”
I like abstract, but the alternate choice looks at least as much like a crown (LearnRT–We RULE!) or birthday cake candles (LearnRT — We’re getting older! or — Come party with us!) as students around a table.
Even if you get the symbolism, though, I wonder if it conjures a too-conventional (and too limiting) image of training. (That’s ironic, I know, since everyone else seems to think it sends the “edgier”, more “innovative” message.)
Finally, I don’t have the graphics expertise of many other commenters (no doubt all too obvious), but the image in the latter logo seems too small for the stretched-out word LEARNING — out of proportion, like a too small hat perched on a big head.
about 7 months ago
Richard, thank you for the well-thought comments. It became clear to the design team in the beginning that people have very different tastes in art so I hope that everyone agrees that we can’t go wrong with either and that we can make everyone happy with the final design. Thanks again! -Lori
about 7 months ago
I feel that the tree logo (1) is successful in its details, font choice, and proportion, though it might be difficult to use in certain (e.g. horizontal, non squared) applications. Hopefully alternative proportional/modular versions exist. I feel like while it is successful as a /pleasant/ design, I am not sure if it clearly represents Learning RT, though many here support that idea. I prefer the symbology of the second logo because I feel a clear connection between brand and visual.
The circles logo (2) is successful in that the font is highly legible, the symbology is relevant to the idea, and I like the variance in gray to possibly relay the idea of diversity. On the negative side, I think that the proportions are maybe not quite right, that the highly legible font is perhaps not necessarily conveying equality, but rather a retro kind of corporate flavor (think Mad Men), and that the circles idea representing a table and people and equality and exchange could have gone further without getting “too busy”.
Above all, I wonder what the ten words are that the committee might come up with to describe what Learning RT is, and which logo speaks most closely to that vision.
From what I know, Learning RT is: learning, growth, equality, diversity, libraries, friends, progress, collection, connection, and technology. I’d ask: do either of these logos speak to this set of ideas? Does one work more to this end than the other?
The tree shows learning and growth and diversity, possibly collections and technology and progress. The circles show equality, diversity, maybe friends.
What would the committee say are their ten, and which logo represents that best?
about 7 months ago
John: Your insights and comments are (as always) spot on and give a good strategy for the committee a good strategy to consider in our final decision.
about 7 months ago
John, Thanks for your comments. It gives us a lot to think about! Appreciate all that you do! -Lori
about 7 months ago
I’m not a designer, but I do spend a bit of time placing images and logos within text, and as John said, the tree might be tricky to work with. And I think I like the “don’t mess with us…we’re about learning” feel of the second. But honestly, we couldn’t go wrong with the eternal symbol of growth now, could we? Thanks for the great work you’ve put into this, committee members!
about 7 months ago
Thanks Jennifer. If we go with the tree we do have a plan for a horizontal alternative. Appreciate your feedback! -Lori
about 7 months ago
Can’t think of much to add to all these great comments. I did vote for the second because I too feel it’s more innovative and makes me think of technology. As trainers we are striving to do more and more online and the second one represents that better for me.
about 7 months ago
I like the tree logo better. I agree with previous comments that the second logo looks too cold and corporate, while the tree does evoke K-12 programs. The circles logo would make me brush off the program as just another of many, but the tree symbolizes something more personal and comfortable.
about 7 months ago
I like the tree, minus the leaves falling, which look more like accent marks. I always associate trees with learning, growing, and wisdom. The other logo looks less inviting and doesn’t encourage growth, but rather teamwork in a corporate sort of way.
about 7 months ago
While I love the sleek contemporary feel of the second logo and the font of the second choice, I like the connotations of the tree: organic, growth, strong but flexible.
about 7 months ago
Although both designs are nice, I like the 2nd choice because I saw the shapes at the roundtable as unique/diverse individuals focused on learning. It is clean and simple.
about 7 months ago
The second one has really grown on me…
about 7 months ago
ba dum CH!
about 7 months ago
Tree works for me. I’m a tree hugger…
about 7 months ago
I vote for the table design – it is a fresh design and I like the rounded shapes which speak to the collaborative and cooperative spirit of the Learning Round Table.
about 7 months ago
I like design #2. I see a diverse group of people communicating and collaborating. It is simple and to the point.
Although the tree is lovely and tranquil, it doesn’t seem to represent the mission or goals of this round table. I assume “growth” was the point, but I don’t really see that because this tree is already mature……and loosing leaves.
about 7 months ago
I like Design #2. The table looks great, is simple, and expresses the group’s purpose. Hurrah!
about 7 months ago
I like both designs — – however, voting for #2!
about 7 months ago
If these are the choices I vote #1.
#2 makes me think of the 1960s and art deco, a little old for the feeling we are trying to give.
#1 is pretty and all, but the tree growing out of the word learning seems a bit stale.
Maybe I am just having a harsh moment.
-Dawn
about 7 months ago
I vote for #1. It’s just more visually interesting.
about 7 months ago
I vote #2
————-
The initial visual impact of the tree is great. Very attractive. I agree with others that it doesn’t communicate the roundtable concept as well as the second one does.
#2 feels a bit squished together for me, and the circles look a little “cliparty.” I like the idea of many types “shades” of people at the table.
We won’t go wrong with either one.
about 7 months ago
Definitely the tree. For me, it symbolizes the “Tree of Life,” as well as the “Tree of Learning.”
about 7 months ago
I agree with #33 anon and #49 Elli who say that the round table design seems colder and corporate. I prefer the tree design.
about 7 months ago
I vote for #2.
I have seen tree-like logos for other companies, but haven’t seen anything quite like #2. Seems to fit the idea of this group (round table) spot on.
about 6 months ago
I vote for #2. Trees are so passe’ and over-rated.