This is a repost, i guess my old one got lost somewhere in all the changes on the site. So far, i got "too many flourishes" and the the ""more complimentary fonts."

FYI: this is a personal logo and I decided to stick with my last name. I work full-time at a newspaper laying out ads and hope to have some kids (well maybe just one) in the next few years and would like to work p/t graphic design from home.
Target audience is a mesh of medium-sized businesses in my area including salons, retail clothing, contractors, gyms, that type of thing. I don't currently do web design. Usually fliers, ad layout, logos, bus cards, anything print.
My personal style is vintage/earthy, and I am drawn to clean designs using white/negative space.

I would appreciate your opinion. Thanks in advance.

to me it looks like a fashion label marketed towards tweens. I think it's ok, but I also think you could do better. Doesn't hit me as designer.

I like everything except the A. Would like to see the A have it's cross stroke, so it doesn't look like an upside down V. I also think the swirls emitting from the A is too large and busy. I do like the smaller swirls next to "design".

Meridith, alot of the post seem to have dissapeared with the forum upgrade, so i'll repost what i had said previously.

For the target audience you are after, the logo is not versatile enough.

You also said your personal style is earthy/vintage, yet you like Simple, and clean. When i think earthy/vintage i think grunge, which is far from simple or clean. SO what is your actual personal style?

Also the name albert reminds me of Fat Albert. It doesnt ring as a design studio to me, even with the word 'design' right under it. There is nothing wrong with the name, i know it's your last name, but for a design studio, i just dont think it works very well, it'll be incredibly difficult to brand the business properly with that name.

I'm sure i said a few other things but i've forgotten so i hope what i remembered is sufficient for now

Yeah, I posted an indecisive post on this one...I do agree with Shade if you are going for vintange/earthy what comes to my mind is scripted fonts for vintage, and grunge or deconstructed fonts for earthy. Clean look implies to me more sans serif modern fonts...but again everyone has their own interpration of it.

The main thing I think is still a distraction is so many of the flourishes steming off the A, you have lots of contrast in your font choices, but not something to compliment and tie them together better. when I look at it, my eye goes directly to all the flourish detail,before reading your wordmark.

I also agree with RoninNYC, it isn't saying "graphic design" I think more of maybe a restaurant or fashion label as well, when I look at it.

Mabye I should rephrase, when I say "earthy" i think...natural tones, simplicity, organic. Even though thats my "personal style" i still want it to look professional. to me grunge is messy, splotchy, edgy, but again that kind of thing is all up for interpretation.

I agree with the clothing label tween comment, i can totally see that. thats why i'm posting, i don't have anyone else to bounce ideas off of. (anyone that knows anything)

Thats funny that one of you thought of fat albert, i thought that when i first met my husband. (no he's not fat)

Time to do some brainstorming. Thanks for the input guys. I'll repost when i come up with something.

O.K. Here is something else I came up with using Initials,
this way i can stick with my name but take Fat Albert
out of the forefront.

What do ya think?

muuuuch better. still needs a little something im not sure, but the top left is my fave

major improvements with new new set of logos! i really like the 3rd one.

very nice. I like the top left also

Yes, YES! Top left. Beautiful!

Top left, much better than your original approach. There are still improvements that can be made, but that's deffinantly a foot in the right direction.

The first one is awesome - these are so much better!

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it.
Will probably post a business card in a bit.

I love the new designs. I really like the two on the left. I think I prefer the top left one the best. Nice work!

Marci