Failed Logo Design #1: Market Place and Café

A Deli Store and Its 'Unique' Looking Chef

The Market Place and Cafe's logo on their front store window.

Nestled at 901 N. Glebe Road in Arlington, Virginia, the Market Place and Café deli store has become a local favorite for its convenience and fresh food. While opinions on its culinary aspect may vary, there's one aspect that sparks unanimous conversation—the unmistakably unique logo. The logo was supposed to  represent a chef with a hat and mustache however the logo's shape has unintentionally given rise to a different interpretation. Some observant visitors can't help but notice the obvious resemblance to a male's genitalia. Despite it's failed logo design, there's no denying the logo's role in making this deli store stand out. However, to avoid negative feedback on the logo, it would be better to have a more appropriate logo that still manages to make a strong impression! 

Taking A Closer Look at the Many Design Flaws

Let's talk about the design's mistakes, four to be precise, to later fix up this design and give our chef icon the glow-up it deserves! To start off, the toque's top was drawn with only two circles. The choice is definitely a head-scratcher, especially when you consider that the norm is a trio of circles. Next, the toque's length—no need for it to stretch like a marathon. A shorter cut is not only trendy but avoids any awkward illusions. Now, the oddly shaped head, unintentionally resembling the head of a male's genitalia. The shape of the head  just accentuated the resemblance to the inappropriate imagery. To cap it off, the mustache is so much bigger than it should be, making it look extremely out of place. 

Time to Revamp the Original Logo

The revamped logo design of Market Place and Cafe's original logo.

After pinpointing all the major mistakes, I revamped the logo to amp up the store's marketing game. While the store doesn't depend on this exact design, drawing inspiration from a similar vibe can reel in potential customers. Keeping the classic white and introducing a rich brown—a cafe staple color—gave it that signature coffee shop ambience. Shape-wise, I traded the oval for a circle, taking cues from giants like Starbucks and Costa Coffee. Now, the game changer—our chef icon. I added three circles, gave it a shorter hat, a refined head, and a fixed mustache. The odd looking chef was no more, instead, it's now a proper looking chef with the potential to become iconic. This new logo design can now contribute to the welcoming feel of 'Market Place and Cafe'.