Check the main idea first
Before adding texture or flourishes, make one plain, high-contrast version of the mark. Review it at the size you expect someone to hold or read. This simple copy helps separate a legibility question from an aesthetic choice.
Keep the revision easy to compare
Save the plain version beside the detailed version and note what changed. An exploratory comparison is more useful than treating one sample as proof for every design. Browse /updates/ for more compact workflow notes.