Alright folks, today got me thinking about what makes a logo pop, especially after seeing all the buzz about Marseille’s. So I decided to roll up my sleeves and figure it out myself. Here’s how it went down:
First, I just stared at the damn thing. What even is that Marseille logo? A weird little creature? An abstract M? Honestly, it confused me at first glance. But, I couldn’t stop looking at it either. Interesting. So I printed a bunch of different sized versions and stuck ’em on my wall. Big one, small one, grayscale one… the whole nine yards.
Then I started messing around. Tried sketching it upside down, sideways, you name it. Figured out it kinda looks like a shield or a badge if you squint. That crest-like shape? Feels solid. Heavy. Makes you think “old” but “tough”. Good combo. That’s lesson one: Grab attention even if people aren’t sure what it is.
Digging into the Details Like a Bloodhound
Next morning, coffee in hand, I hit the books (well, Google). Researched stuff like:
- How’d they draw the dang lines? Thick? Thin? Yeah, nice variation there.
- The colors: Sky blue? Deep blue? And that sorta sandy-gold thing? They feel Mediterranean, easy. That sun? Pure genius me. Simple circle says so much.
- That symbol inside? Learned it’s an ancient sailor’s star thing. Suddenly, it makes sense why it feels old-timey but fresh. Story matters.
Lesson number two slapped me in the face: Make stuff symbolic, but don’t force it. People like getting the “why” later.
The “How-To-Make-One” Part
So, naturally, I had to try making my own logo, Marseille-style. Started simple. Big ol’ shapes. Squares. Circles. Triangles. Chopped bits off. Shoved ’em together. Asked myself:
- Does this look like ANYTHING? Even a blob?
- Can I shrink it down tiny and still tell what it is?
- Are the colors shouting? Or whispering the right vibes?
Most of my attempts? Garbage. Seriously. But practice stinks before it shines. Kept at it: Strong shape first, then meaning later, then colors that fit. Bam.
Facing My Failures Head On
Made some ugly monstrosities along the way. One looked like a mutated owl. Another screamed 1990s PowerPoint clip art. Key problems I hit:
- Too many little lines and squiggles – vanished at small sizes.
- Colors that clashed so hard it hurt my eyes.
- Forced a symbol I thought was “deep” but looked like a toddler scribble.
Lesson learned the hard way? Simple isn’t stupid; it’s survival. And ditch stuff if it ain’t working. Trash it. Move on. Tough love.
My Big Takeaway Punch
After this whole messy experiment, here’s what cracked it for me about why Marseille’s logo stands out:
- It’s bold and weird enough to make you look twice.
- Looks solid as a rock.
- Tells a cool local story without needing a textbook.
- Works perfectly big on a shirt or tiny on an app.
- Feels classic, not trendy. That thing ain’t going out of style.
So yeah, Marseille nailed it. And trying to copy that magic? Painful. Eye-opening. Totally worth it. Next time I see a logo, I’m judging hard!
