^ This. Part of your job as the designer is that you have be very specific with you questions so you can narrow down the field of possible idea and give the client exact what they want.

You could also ask what competitors he's/she's in the market with, to stem of their pre-existing logos. <- Incentive to create a better one. Also to see what has and has not been done.

Ask him/her if there are certain elements he would like to keep or incorporate etc etc.

I know he/she said to make it fresh and clean but that can have infinite combinations. Maybe pick out some colour schemes that you find contemporary and present to the client at least this way it can help direct you where to head with it.

I would hope that the client has as much participation in this process as you (the designer) does. This will ensure if chances are needed they will be tweaked as you process your work, rather then you giving him/her a final product and them say No thank you.

This post was edited by Hanley on Mar 14 2013 12:18pm

thank you and thanks guise

Ill wait until the followup email hopefully coming today or tomorrow. I had already tried to narrow down some ideas with them on what they had in mind, but they said they honestly had no clue and no creative idea for the logo.

Sounds like they are a pretty laid back person and they will be happy with anything you will produce for them.

You're work's really nice I'm sure you're not going to have any problems what so ever.

Also, I have no idea on how to go about pricing this.... Its for there huge like 30 ft sign in front of their company on a pretty big highway. Also the design will be the banner on their website. I wont have to deal with any of the printing and sign making itself, as they have a guy who does that for them ( their current designer who they arent that satisfied with ). Any recommendations on how to go about pricing something like this? Hourly? starting rate?

if they are unsure of what they want, hourly for sure.

just so you guys get a feel, THIS IS NOT MY DESIGN!!!!

this is his previous designer.... the guy who makes the actual sign. this is the design he came up with...... and my client wasnt very satisfied with it....

but this is the competition....He went to a legit signing business and this is what they gave him:

I whited out the contact info

Hello Microsoft paint!!

I'm pretty sure your client will be satisfied with anything you provide him if this is your competition.

Honestly Get on Illustrator spend like 2 hours making some quick designs send them the clients way and ask if he likes the direction you're heading with.

And damn that's so painful to look at. If i owned my own business and someone said this should be your new sign i'd be asking what rubbish is this.

Hahahahahaha. Seriously, thats just.. WHAT THA FUCK?
They do that for a living?

Ya I straight up told my client..... are you serious? I told him this is a 5 minute job.. and he told me they want to charge 8000$ for the design + printing and putting it on his sign

rofl. I hope I get a dece chunk of change for a good design.

What $8000?
A kid of 10 could pull of a better design than that.

But, 8000? I am reali laughing my ass of.