Creative Bird Design with Zonya Bird

WHAT'S IN a logo?

Everything is in a logo. Since your branding is the first thing customers will see, you want to make sure you get it right. It’s the cornerstone of your company and must convey your business in the marketplace in a short moment of time.

By engaging the skills of a professional designer, those ideas will be translated into a successful business brand. Think about this yourself; a logo makes you instantly feel attracted to a service or a product, or instantly repelled. It is imperative that your brand attracts.

A great, professional logo design not only has the power to communicate what you stand for but will also make a good first impression and help you stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Here are some design styles to start the process:

LETTERMARKS (OR MONOGRAM LOGOS) Lettermark logos are a great solution if your company name is very long or hard to remember. Many businesses choose to go by their initials, like IBM, CNN or H&M. These monograms can be great for minimalist logos as initials have been turned into brand-identification marks, but they are not always ideal at expressing what your business is about.

WORDMARKS (OR LOGOTYPES) Similar to lettermarks, wordmark logos focus entirely on the business’ name, and is solely font-based – think Coca-Cola, Visa. When strong typography is mixed with a distinct and memorable name, like Google, then you have a logo that has strong brand recognition.

PICTORIAL MARKS (OR LOGO SYMBOLS)

This is what we would usually perceive as a ‘logo’. They are iconographic images that are easily recognisable and represent your brand with an image, for example, Apple, Twitter, Nike. These logos are so emblematic and well established, that the mark itself is instantly recognisable on its own.

ABSTRACT LOGO MARKS

Instead of an easily recognised symbol, abstract logo marks are geometric forms that don’t establish an immediate connection to an existing image but create something entirely unique for your brand. BP, Adidas and Pepsi are great examples of an abstract logo mark. MASCOTS

A mascot is simply an illustrated character that represents your company. Think of them as the ambassador for your business. They are a great way of incorporating personality into your brand, like KFC’s Colonel. Companies that want to create a wholesome atmosphere by appealing to families and children often use mascots as their branding solution.

COMBINATION MARKS

A combination mark is exactly that – a combination of both wordmark or lettermark and a pictorial mark, abstract mark, or mascot. The brand name is either placed next to the symbol, or is incorporated in the graphic element, like Burger King and Doritos. With a combination mark, people will begin to associate your name with your pictorial mark or mascot right away!

THE EMBLEM LOGO

Similar to combination marks, emblem logos are also often a combination of word and pictorial elements. They usually consist of text integrated in a symbol or icon, such as a badge, seal or crest. Harley Davidson and Starbucks are great examples. They tend to be more traditional in style, highly detailed, and can have a striking impact.

There is a logo type style for any business out there. Whether it’s versatility, personality or a highly unique solution, it just takes some brainstorming and creativity to create a stand-out brand for your business.

So, get in touch for a free consultation and let’s create a brand that stands out from the competition. ca

www.creativebirddesign.com

TAFE QUEENSLAND

TRAVIS FOLLOWS HIS PIPE DREAM

For most people, a broken water pipe is nothing more than an inconvenience. But for plumbing apprentice Travis Hamilton, it was this common household problem that was the inspiration behind his career choice.

“I can remember we had an issue with a busted water pipe at our house, and a family friend of ours came out to fix it,” Travis said.

“I just remember being really interested in what he was doing and wanting to know how to do it myself, so I decided to follow through with that.”

Keen to learn more and confirm whether plumbing was the right choice for him, Travis seized the opportunity to get a head-start on his career while he was in year 11 by enrolling in a Certificate II in Plumbing (52700WA) through TAFE Queensland’s TAFE at School program. The course saw Travis swap one day of school a week for a year to attend class at the Sunshine Coast Trade Training Centre in order to gain his qualification, in addition to undertaking 50 hours of work experience with industry during his school holidays.

“I liked that I was able to get experience in the field to test out whether I wanted to commit to it, while gaining a qualification that would help me enter the industry if I did like it,” Travis said.

“I did work experience in maintenance and thought that was pretty cool, but then I did work experience in residential and it opened my mind to an area I’d never really considered.”

Travis’s eagerness to learn and his commitment to the trade impressed his work experience provider, so when he came to them asking for labourer work and eventually an apprenticeship, they had no hesitation. Now, the 19-year-old is about to head into the third year of his apprenticeship with Beutel Plumbing and undertakes block training at TAFE Queensland’s Nambour campus, where he enjoys the hands-on learning opportunities.

“I love the environment – it’s so different to school in that we’re treated like adults. We just get in and do what we have to do to get the job done,” Travis said.

Travis now plans to one day start a business of his own in the industry, but for now he’s enthusiastic to complete his qualification and lay the groundwork for his career.

While Travis’s pathway into plumbing began via the TAFE at School program, the Certificate II in Plumbing (52700WA) is also available as a pre-vocational course, which provides members of the general public with the chance to gain foundational knowledge and skills they need to kick-start an apprenticeship with confidence and make themselves more appealing to employers. What’s more, the Certificate II in Plumbing (52700WA) is now free for eligible Queenslanders under JobTrainer – a Federal and State Government funding initiative.

TAFE Queensland General Manager (East Coast region) Ana Rodger said JobTrainer has made training more affordable than ever.

“In the wake of the building grants introduced to support the construction industry during COVID-19, employment opportunities in building infrastructure services like

plumbing are anticipated to grow by 8.4 per cent over the next five years,” she said.

“JobTrainer funding assists eligible school leavers and job seekers in entering high priority skills areas like construction, by enabling them to complete selected qualifications for free or low cost.”

Whether you’re in school and looking to get a head-start, or you are looking for a new career and think plumbing might be the path for you, Travis encouraged those interested to make the most of the vocational preparation courses available and sample the industry before they take the plunge.

“Gaining that experience in the field before you jump in is so important, because it gives you the chance to check it’s the right industry for you, as well as grow your confidence by building your skills,” Travis said.

“If you do that and you enjoy it, and someone offers you an apprenticeship, I’d say grab it with both hands.”

To find out more about TAFE Queensland’s TAFE at Schools program, pre-vocational courses or funding options, visit tafeqld.edu.au or call 1300 308 233.