Logo Design for ambitious startup looking for a unique edge

Icebreak Events and Publications

I am a new Mom, trying to get my startup off the ground. My business is 'Icebreak Events and Publications'. At the moment I produce an annual magazine, a guide to third level education. I intend to run conferences also. My background is in politically-themed and educational events and conferences. However, I would like my business appearance to be just vague enough to allow people to think that they can approach me to run any type of event.

I'm trying to get across that I am an established professional business, more than just one person and office-based - not that I'm a mother working from home inbetween changing diapers!

I am Irish, with the business based in Ireland. The target audience is Irish. Here, during the Celtic Tiger, we Irish appear to have moved away from the twee, green, Celtic designs of old Ireland and embraced modern, minimalistic design. Despite the death of the Celtic Tiger, I would like to stick with the modern concept.

Initially I will be sticking with what I know, which is politically-themed conferences, so I need to impress government bodies. I will be aiming to attract conference attendees from the corporate world, as well as from the public sector.

I would like a modern-looking logo, no swirly traditional fonts. I would like the word Icebreak to be the main concept, with 'Events and Publications' more as a subtitle. I like wordplay, so would be interested in seeing some sort of visual play on the word Icebreak. My domain name is simply http://www.icebreak.ie

As mentioned, I want to appear professional, as an established business, but with a personal touch, personal attention to detail. I feel that some sort of clever visual play on 'Icebreak' will give me that unique edge.

I like the concept that my friend has used in her design for http://www.redharbourevents.com I like how her logo is a play on the letter E and is a visual of a harbour. I also like how she is able to use her logo in her web page template.

If you look at the work on this site http://www.emagine.ie/portfolio/branding
I really like the logos for:
Irish Council for Bioethics
Nue Blue Eriu
Rock Camp
Sense of Style
Tales from the Home Farm

I don't like the others at all.
I can't explain why - perhaps you can find something in common between the ones that I like?