As the publication of our first book edges closer, one question's been stuck on my mind lately...
...does the company name need a change?
I believe a company's name is extremely important. It should effectively represent the company's image and vibe. In D.M. Cumbo's case, that would be fantasy graphic novels and other artistic works. So, shouldn't the name make you think of those works, or at least represent the way they feel?
After careful thought, I realized "D.M. Cumbo" doesn't accomplish that.
I chose D.M. Cumbo for the same reason an artist signs a finished painting. It lets you know who made it and that they were proud enough of their work to sign off on it.
But it's a bit confusing for people. What does it mean? What do the "D" and "M" stand for? Are there spaces between the letters when you're typing it out? It's hard to visualize when you hear it spoken out loud.
But, what bothers me the most of all is that the name of my company that represents what I create... is, itself, the only thing I didn't create! If I'm spending this much time making sure the work itself is custom-designed down the last, nit-picky detail, I want that work represented by a name and logo made with the same careful thought.
With that in mind, I set out to create a new name. After a lot of ideas and a lot of disappointment regarding those names' availability, I've narrowed things down to one option I feel is ideal... I've made a logo to go with it, choosing to use a key icon from Dreamside.
I think Dreamprism is a strong name. It conjures up an image of a physical location in which dreams are produced as well as a metaphor for the creative process. In Dreamside, Sarah's Dreamprism serves as a compass directing her through the fantasy world. To me, it feels just right.
This is a big change and I won't do it if people think it's a mistake. Your opinion on this is very important to me. Attached to D.M. Cumbo? Hate the new name? Thoughts on the design? I welcome all your thoughts in the comments below so please don't be shy!
I'm also posting this question to my social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so feel free to respond there instead. There's no formal poll... I'll just gauge people's thoughts based on comments.
If I do move forward with this change, it's going to mean some some changes to social media pages and the homepage here. But this is definitely the right time to do it!