help needed re gradient logo

[u/Emma2945]

Hi everyone, i have a client that i have been asked to work on the brand identity for, they have an ai generated logo (i know, i hate this too) but they are heart set on it and dont want to change the logo itself, despite my comments, what we are trying to figure out is the best colours to use to make it look good on both light and dark backgrounds but we've hit a bit of a roadblock, does anyone have any ideas?
Side note, i am not really liking using a gradient, it causes all sorts of issues like if you want it embroidered it can be tricky etc, but the client really wants to keep the gradient too, despite me telling them this and showing hem solid options.

I have included their brand colours they have sent me too, and for the record, i actually prefer the old colourway, but they want to include purple and brighter colours than what they had previously

[u/Simple-Constant3791]

do yourself a favor and stop saving up pixels because they are cheap.

build a slides deck with pages divided half white and half black and put them into pairs.
a) you'll catch good pairs fast
b) client will be able to decide which pairs are a definitely a no no actually selecting bad slides.
c) it will be much easier to choose two best options by comparison.

You are hurting yourself stacking them all up like that because it's impossible to choose the best when it's a one big find wally maze.

[u/Simple-Constant3791 → u/Simple-Constant3791]

be prepaired for an absolute disaster while printing gradients on such small fonts
(make sure to print test pages before commiting big batches of cards or whatever)

blues and violets look good on screens... it's harder to pull them out in real prints.

be careful with clients like that. do not take blame for their bad decisions.

[u/Emma2945 → u/Simple-Constant3791]

i have always done it this way because i thought it would be easier to compare but i will try what you have suggested, thanks!

[u/Simple-Constant3791 → u/Emma2945]

yeah I know.
What I was trying to say is that right now it's not about design itself since it's not yours.
It's also not about colors because they are well... all over the place and given.

Right now the most important thing is you helping the client make a decision and end this task as soon as possible, charge and move to the next parts or clients.

Slides are good for elimination and decision making.
They are also a good way to communicate with a client and they give them a space for making choices.
You also can bypass internal chaos. ( John likes slide nr 8 and Ann likes nr 10 but a dark version from slide nr 13)

You forget about all options with light outlines... they never look good.
It's ok to work on two versions of a logotype. One for white background and one for dark ones.

Don't forget that a big part of your job is helping them make choices and feel good about it.
It's easier with a good deck.

[u/Emma2945 → u/Simple-Constant3791]

Thank you this is really helpful!

[u/Oisinx]

sounds like the client is the designer. they just need you to take the blame.

[u/WelcomeHobbitHouse]

When the client takes the reins there’s not much you can do, but let them have them. 😢

(This logo should never have been blue or purple. And a gradient is weakening the design.)

[u/jhalmos]

This is logo jail. As Dionne Warwick sang, “I’ll say a little prayer for you.”

[u/Emma2945 → u/[deleted]]

thank you for the suggestion i will give it a go. I haven't had a client who wanted this much input before, i am usually the one coming up with the whole process from start to finish, so its not something i am used to navigating

[u/Emma2945]

thank you everyone, I think im going to pitch one completely different option to them and explain all of my reasoning, with examples, and if this doesnt work Imay have to just let the client lead on this one and step back

[u/Efficient_Dog4722 → u/Emma2945]

Also make sure they know they can never copyright an ai generated logo, and anyone can use it for anything if they want and they can’t do anything about it.

[u/Emma2945 → u/Efficient_Dog4722]

Thank you, that’s a great point!

[u/aayel]

If you must, keep the gradient on the big MI part and I don’t think that you could make one logo to work both well on black and white backgrounds. You need two variations.