(Yet Another) Personal Monogram/Logo

[NDwas]

EDIT: Updated graphics in post #8 below. Or click here to go there (opens in new window).

Greetings, all -

After many failed efforts, I believe I've finally designed a great personal monogram/logo (my initials are NED). Now, I'm just praying it hasn't been done before.

This is what I've decided on, along with a couple usage samples:

Here are some alternative versions that I decided not to use:

So...how'd I do?

[CS85]

I don't see the D anywhere, but the shape itself is cool. Personally I'd tilt it so that the center line is straight, then encircle it with an equally thick ring.

[NDwas]

I don't see the D anywhere, but the shape itself is cool. Personally I'd tilt it so that the center line is straight, then encircle it with an equally thick ring.

Here's the D:

And is this what you're suggesting?

[JPDesign]

I don't see the E.

It looks like an stylized H to me.

[NDwas]

I don't see the E.

It looks like an stylized H to me.

I'll agree to disagree on the E, but...any suggestions?

[drdougfresh]

I agree with JP. Cool shape, but I'm really not seeing NED in it. N maybe, but it's more of an H to me. The E (I'm assuming that's upper left?) and D need more attention for this to work in my opinion. They feel like afterthoughts right now.

[CS85]

I don't see the D anywhere, but the shape itself is cool. Personally I'd tilt it so that the center line is straight, then encircle it with an equally thick ring.

Here's the D:

And is this what you're suggesting?

Rotate that sucker 90 degrees and you'll have what I was thinking. Personally I'd just stick with the shape, just try to make it more of an N and not worry so much about the D, unless you're desperate to integrate it in there somewhere.

[JPDesign]

I think one of the big problems is that the N is far larger than the E and the D. That, in combination with the stylization makes it very difficult to decipher. The N is pretty stylized, but because of it's prominence, it can be pulled out. The D and the E are so small, that they appear to be flourishes on the N rather than letters themselves.

[BrandMooreArt]

its not going to read as NED to anyone. way too abstract, (JPDesign nailed it in his analysis; and with not a single clear letterform to start with it will never read as such) but it dosent matter. call it an abstract N. its a personal mark and its finely crafted, so it will work as a personal mark weather it meets your goal of looking like NED or not. if you like it, then go with it

[NDwas]

Here are several other versions I've been tooling with, all with actual visual letterforms.

First one:

Second one, and an alt version:

Third one:

And an old one, but still a favorite:

Any better? Thoughts? Suggestions?

[JPDesign]

I really like the first one.

The second one looks better without the two lines. It might be nice if the top one was cut in the middle like the second one. I could see how the D would get lost otherwise.

[NDwas]

Any of these look good?

[JPDesign]

1 and 3 look best IMO. The N is not as obvious in #1, but the diagonal adds interest.

[FooMasterX5]

maybe adding a little dimple like this to make the N more visible