Greg,

Is this a logo for you personally, or a logo for you as a freelance designer that serves as a graphic shingle to appeal to folks in the action sports industry?

If it's personal, dig deep and make it about YOU. What makes Greg tick? What arrangement of shapes or icons and/or typography describe you and only you?

If it's something that's supposed to feel "sporty"...well, I'm not sure what to tell you. I'm afraid it might be too easy to mimic sport logos for the sake of aligning yourself with that look. Again, it brings me back to the original question, as I would bet you might find more value—for you and for your potential clients—by making a personal mark that defines you.

I've been through this exercise in the last year. It's a difficult but very satisfying exercise. For what it's worth, I created a personal logo, and as I worked on it, tweaked it, scrapped it, and redrew it again and again, one of my criteria was, "Would I tattoo this on my body when I'm done?"

The tattoo happens a week from today. And here's a link to the Typophile thread that shows the mark I created. Listen, I know the clouds aren't going to part with accompanying opera music when you see this. But it was a labor of love for me, and worth the effort. Link:

http://typophile.com/node/27420

"I was trying to really reflect the shape of waves. I am an easy going type guy who loves the ocean. I also love to dance.(I also do a lot of waves in my dancing.)"

Ahh...now we're talkin'! So, with that, I like where you're going with this. Wow, suddenly I'm stoked about the possibilities of your name and how waves/water can be integrated.

Are you a sketchbook guy? Have any existing sketches you've done for this? If not, have you taken an hour or two to bust out a large sketchpad, a dull pencil, and really enjoy some gestural drawing that might help you explore how these letterforms might, er, flow into one another?

Great project, man! Keep us posted as you progress.

Dylan -- who might be more stoked about your project than you are. ;)

Loose thoughts: I like the contrast between the rectilinear forms and the wavy extensions. There's a beautiful visual connection that's happening between the extended wave form on the G and the R. And the second/last G is starting to work...I think it's a bit disconnected and a little slow to decipher right now because, unlike the other letterforms, it has no rigidity and it's completely freeflowing... I agree with you about the E. It feels forced...too tucked behind the other letters. OK...what if, as we move from the first G across, the letterforms gradually morph from rigid to wavelike? This loose train of thought might help you soften that E...mebbe take it to a lower case, which in turn will allow a more natural curve at the top of the letter.

My site, when done, will be at dylanmenges.com. Should be a few weeks until it's ready. Too many irons in the fire right now.

trying to incorporate my full name.

I think this has a great potential to become an ambigram? ever thought about that?

-mike