Wine Label Design: Part 1 (John Cox Art)

Wine Label Design: Part 1

I've been commissioned to illustrate a wine label for a tiny private vineyard in California. I'll add an appropriate visual with it later on, but for now, I wanted to establish the look and feel for the project by nailing the Dark Horse logo first.

Posted on February 21, 2008 12:29 AM | Permalink

Comments (16)

Terwiliger:

Are you entertaining font suggestions? Try these (if you're going to use a pre-fab font):

(1) Centaur bold italic
(2) Poor Richard italic
(3) Goudy Old Style bold italic

Condense the font spacing & they won't look as generic.

Posted by Terwiliger | February 21, 2008 4:35 AM

Posted on February 21, 2008 04:35

Erica:

The bottom one...it looks very Manichewitz-y, like it would be found in an old bubbe's cupboard, no?

:-)

Posted by Erica | February 21, 2008 7:25 AM

Posted on February 21, 2008 07:25

BilgeRat:

The dictionary says "a dark horse candidate is one who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice."

I'm trying to think of what a logo would look like that I might initially ignore, but then come back to choose...

An interesting contradiction in goals - design a logo obviously intended to be noticed but one that conveys the feel of something initially overlooked.

This is why I'm an engineer instead of an artist.

Posted by BilgeRat | February 21, 2008 8:49 AM

Posted on February 21, 2008 08:49

Jason Trommetter:

I like the third design best.

Posted by Jason Trommetter | February 21, 2008 9:18 AM

Posted on February 21, 2008 09:18

GarandFan:

I'm with Jason. 3rd one begs for a horse head logo.

Posted by GarandFan | February 21, 2008 9:58 AM

Posted on February 21, 2008 09:58

Allen:

I might as well go all in and make my choice known publicly. "C" it is, it grabbed me.

The name is due to the skepticism I started with, and I actually have a dark horse.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Cheers

Posted by Allen | February 21, 2008 2:00 PM

Posted on February 21, 2008 14:00

Stormwatch:

Remove the oval from "B".

Posted by Stormwatch | February 21, 2008 6:19 PM

Posted on February 21, 2008 18:19

Doug Toney:

I would take the 3rd font and add it to the 2nd art element. If I could draw like you though, I'd probably script my own typeface.

Posted by Doug Toney | February 21, 2008 7:05 PM

Posted on February 21, 2008 19:05

Laura:

I'd go with #3 as well. Add a rearing black horse and there you go.

Posted by Laura | February 21, 2008 7:19 PM

Posted on February 21, 2008 19:19

john Cox:

HEY EVERYONE

Thanks for the input. I'll be showing the finished piece soon. There's more to this than you know.

Posted by john Cox | February 22, 2008 3:48 AM

Posted on February 22, 2008 03:48

Rutager:

I feel like doing a little Don Rickles bit. No offense intended.

ERICA

It's "Dark Horse"--not "Dark Chchchorse."

BILGERAT

"Product packaging designed to be initially overlooked..."

You're an engineer. No kidding.

Posted by Rutager | February 22, 2008 5:45 AM

Posted on February 22, 2008 05:45

Rutager:

AND TERWILIGER

Get a life!!!

Posted by Rutager | February 22, 2008 5:46 AM

Posted on February 22, 2008 05:46

GarandFan:

Hey John!
You getting paid 'in kind'?
:o)

Posted by GarandFan | February 22, 2008 6:09 PM

Posted on February 22, 2008 18:09

Kukn:

C is the way to go, imho :) The main issue I see with A and B are the font shadows - the illusion of 3D just doesn't go well with a flat bottle label. Also, the font in C helps create an atmosphere of mystery, darkness, also speed.

Posted by Kukn | February 22, 2008 6:53 PM

Posted on February 22, 2008 18:53

john Cox:

HEY G

As a matter of fact, I will be given a couple bottles plus the agreed fee.

Posted by john Cox | February 23, 2008 4:29 AM

Posted on February 23, 2008 04:29

GarandFan:

Just a 'couple'? Or a couple of 'cases'? :o) Hick!

Posted by GarandFan | February 23, 2008 7:27 PM

Posted on February 23, 2008 19:27

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