Critical analysis of Sirens logo

The Brief:
We are required to create a logo for a sports team of our choice. The logo must reference the Ancient Greek mythological creature/hero which we were given earlier in the semester, as well as being appropriate to the sports team we select.

Sport Selection:
The sport I have selected is Women's Water Polo, since the mythological creature I was given was Sirens/Mermaids this seemed a natural choice. I propose the following logo design for the national team. Although Sirens were originally depicted as having an avian in form with the faces of beautiful women, they were gradually re-imagined as being human females from the waist up and with finned tails like fish or dolphins. What possible creature could be more suited to play the game of Water Polo than that? I felt that Sirens would be a good name for the team as the Sirens modus operandi is to use their charms to lure in prey and then slaughter them; what wonderful inspiration for a team.

The Logo:
Our class session in which the logo was developed asked us to produce brainstorming, concept sketches and developed roughs in short, measured amounts of time which I found to be a very effective way to work. The main image elements I chose to pursue were the mermaids tail and the harps which Sirens are commonly shown to be playing.
The colours I chose were an aqua blue, to represent the water in which the sport is played and mermaids thrive, combined with a complimentary gold-orange that represents the summer sun, the skin of the players, the brass of the harp strings and the gold the team will win.

First Iteration:
It quickly became apparent that the tail could be bent around to become the body for the harp (it would actually be really nice to see a harp built in this manner). One tip of the tail was then shown extended with a ball balancing on its tip, a little like a seal would manipulate a ball. Using the orange colour allowed the ball to double as the sun, as this is a summer sport. I have tried to stylise the scales of the tail and the harp elements. I liked the strong diagonal set up in this version and would carry it through to the final version. The text for the team name is applied in a curve following the line of the tail.

Second Iteration:
For this version I have tried a different approach to the depiction of the scale pattern which I ended up deciding is not as effective as my first version. The position of the ball/sun has been altered to be between the tail tips, this suggests more control of the ball than the previous version; It can also be seen to represent a globe in its stand and therefore alludes to the teams goals of world domination in their sport. The image of the tail is also now echoed in the text.
The most notable new element in this logo compared to the last is the water-drop as a container for the design; This not only brings the design into a nicer shape which is more suitable for a badge on a uniform but also places the team in their appropriate element: Water.

Third Iteration:
I feel at this point that the issue of colour is decided and so have focused on form alone beyond this point. Although the logo seems to me to be functioning well I wished to try to simplify it as much as possible, with the hope of making it a more iconic symbol. The scales have been removed entirely, as has the neck of the harp. The tail now becomes a clean loop of space, diving away from the ball and then back to it with great impact. I find now that the tail and ball suggest the body and head of a figure; Can you see the mermaid there? The logo is taking on an identity of its own, showing itself as a character, this new individual is curled around, and part of, her harp; Her mind is one with the ball.

Fourth Iteration:
The pieces have now fallen into place. All non-essential elements are stripped away. This final rendering primarily addresses the letterforms of the design; They are now used to draw the eye into the water where the Sirens play. The two tails in the text and in the image can be seen to swish back and forth; Our mermaid is alive now. The water itself is no longer a block of colour but an open expanse, simutaneously containing and setting free.

Epilogue:
It still remains to convert this image into a proper digital file; It will be executed as an Illustrator vector graphic, clean and smooth, its gentle curves flowing like water. Colour must be re-introduced. My thoughts run towards the text and the outline of the droplet in the aqua blue, showing the surrounding environment, while the image of the mermaid will be cast in the vibrant gold as she cradles her instrument and toys with the ball, her graceful yet energetic nature at the centre of everything.