I think it’s one thing when a client doesn’t offer a proper direction or brief, as most clients wouldn’t know the process and that’s understable .. however it’s a whole other thing when designers don’t ask questions in order to find the information that will lead them to the best possible answer.

I’m not sure if the people submitting the logos are designers or graphic artists, but professional and experienced designers, graphic artists or any other experienced person should know better.

Imagine if you went to a carpenter or a boat builder and commissioned a cabinet or a boat to be made and said to them: The brief was ” I don’t like those modern type looking boats” or “I like funky looking boats”. …. and then the boat guy just goes off and makes you a boat with that in mind. Result: you get this really cool, well crafted, super uber one of kind thing that’s massive and encrusted in diamonds and laid in gold, with purple velvet walls and mirrored ceilings and rotating beds (getting carried away here). however, funky right? (funky expensive too) But the point is that the skies the limit when that’s the only direction you provide (if you call it a direction). The artist can practically do anything. But is that what your business is? Is your business is anything as long as it follows that one vague suggestion of your personal style preference?

Furthermore, would you except a solution or advice from a lawyer, solicitor, accountant, business consultant, chiropractor, doctor, friend or whomever if they didn’t ask you what the basis or direction was and accepted their advice without them knowing what you needed the advice for?

Sure, the final results of a logo needs to be stylised, but a logo is not a clothing or fashion item that you can simply buy as though you were in a fashion store. So why do some people purchase or request logos as if they were? Your business can’t just change logos like you change your t-shirt everyday.

You can’t ask for a logo and say the brief is: “I like word based logos”. It’s not about you. It’s a about your business. Your business is not YOU! Your business will outlive you if you direct it properly.

I can say that I hate all the logos coz I don’t like green, or word based logos or whatever I personally like or dislike, but that’s wrong as none of these points can truly mean anything as there is nothing in which to judge these logos against (like say a proper brief!).

The true answer lies in the fact that none of the submitted logos have direction or meet a desired business need, as their was no brief to determine the needs, and therefore should be forfeited.

That said, number 3 with a little tweeking around the “P” could be nice and 4 is also ok.

I definitely wouldn’t change from what you have to any of these.