Graphic Design Contests

#1 (permalink)

At this point, I'm looking at doing this request/contest in two parts:

What I really need is to revamp my site, An Animal-Friendly Life. In terms of the overall look, I'm not too unhappy with what I've done modifying a standard Blogger template. In other words, it's serviceable.

However, I know it can be better: Cleaner design, easier to find stuff, maybe even layered so that everything isn't crammed into columns and so forth. I want a really kick-***, easy, not-too-big page, but I don't even have a formal logo or header yet. I figure I can combine the header in with the template request, since the header will be on every page derived from the template.

So, step 1 is to create a scalable logo. I want to be able to use it on buttons, or any of the usual CafePress stuff, in addition to the site header, podcast art for the iTunes music store, stationery, postcards and other printed marketing materials, etc., etc.

The site is oriented toward people interested in animal topics, from wildlife/environmental concerns to animal law and animal rights. It's mainly a blog that covers daily news with commentary, occasionally highlighting specific organizations or writing something that I want to vent about. You may want to scroll down the main page to get a feel for the variety of stories covered. I don't just focus on farm animals or exotics, or even just domesticated animals, so that does pose a challenge in terms of encapsulating the range of animals. I'd like to see something other than a difficult-to-scale hodge-podge of every cute animal under the sun.

I'm fine with any color scheme, bearing in mind that it needs to translate well to black and white for photocopies or other paper uses, and that it needs to be scalable from the corner of a business card to the front of a T-shirt.

PETA's got some pretty nice web design, and I like how they get around the hodge-podge of animals by using a rotating logo in the header. Maybe that could work for me, so designers of the logo could bear that in mind, since I will probably hold the site/template redesign contest shortly after this one ends, depending on how this goes. Please remember that, if you are hoping to design the header/template with a rotating animal design, that the logo itself should at least give some hint of what An Animal-Friendly Life is about. Clearly the name of the site says a lot, which is one reason I haven't done much about a logo until now, but I'd like the logo itself on a coffee mug or bumper sticker to stand out and say something beyond the mere statement of the title.

Logos posted with a hint of the template/site to come so I can see how it will eventually fit in conceptually will have preference over stand-alone logos. It will be helpful for me to know you can execute all the way through to the end, and will ensure the logo will work with the site design.

I hope I'm not doing this bass-ackwards, and I hope that's specific enough. I feel like I wrote a lot, but I'm not sure how much I really "said!"

There is no urgent deadline for this, and I'd like to give time for thoughtful consideration and revisions, so let's call this a two-week deadline. I'd like to decide on this by the evening of Sunday, May 14, or some time early on the 15th, at the latest.

I realize a number of these requests/contests have been started and never finished, so some people have put in time for nothing. Rest assured, I will either pick the best design or, if I'm not really loving any of them, I will at least close the contest so there won't be any question that it's over.

I'm not sure what's really fair to ask for something of this nature at a place like this. I've seen prizes range all over the place. I'm wondering if it's okay to ask for price tags or quotes, or if that's verboten. I didn't see anything in the rules about that. In other words, this does pay, but perhaps your design also comes with a bid, so I can factor in cost when making a decision. If this is not kosher, I'm sure you'll let me know ASAP and I'll figure out a reasonable sum. Okay?

Let the designing begin. Based on what I've seen in other threads, I'm excited to see what some of you come up with.

#2 (permalink)

Hi, epskionline.
I have a couple of questions;
If one designed a logo and were chosen as the winner, would that person have to redesign the site?
Does the logo have to cover the whole width of the page, or does it depend on the new site design?

Thanks,
CBG.

#3 (permalink)

Thanks for the questions.

1) No. Just bear in mind that the logo has to work as a stand alone, and be easily integrated into a site.

2) No. I will want the logo to work on business cards, letterhead, coffee mugs, what have you, so it should be contained. But, bear in mind that it may be incorporated into the header of a web site.

#4 (permalink)

Should the logo be serious or can it be somewhat comical?

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#5 (permalink)

If you mean caricatured, then that's probably fine, but I don't want to have laughs at the expense of animals.

#6 (permalink)

So, I've noticed no traffic in this thread in over a week, and I'm wondering if I'm handling this wrong.

Did I give too much time before the deadline, and now I'm just waiting for people to turn in ideas right before the deadline (5/14)?

Was not specifying a dollar amount and suggesting that designers offer a bid with their design a bad call?

Anything else I could do to make this request more appealing and appropriate for this site? Based on some of the great designs I've seen here, I'm eager to see what members can come up with for AAFL, but I'm concerned I'll be left with nothing come Monday the 15th, and I need your help to make sure that doesn't happen.

Many thanks!

#7 (permalink)

i got somthing for u



tell me what do u think

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#8 (permalink)

Hi epskionline,
This isn't about your logo - it's about your website and that of PETA. I just wanted to tell you that I've checked out your website, and also went to PETA's website. I checked out one of their video's and I must say it made me sick!! I just don't understand how people can be so cruel to another living thing. Those people aren't "people", and they certainly don't even deserve to be part of the human race. Those people are "monsters".

I had to go over and hug and kiss my dog after viewing that!!!

Regards,
DianeD

#9 (permalink)

Thanks, Diane. I'm sure your dog was pleasantly surprised. PETA may stir up a lot of controversy, but you can see why they want to get everyone's attention so badly. Their footage library is one of the most extensive out there.

#10 (permalink)

Thank you for posting this.

Was there a reason for the sun and the tree? I'm just not sure how it fits into the theme.

While I do like the rounded, 3D-like look of the animals, it's a bit monochromatic, and does not include animals beside domestic companion animals. I realize it's a challenge to portray variety, but it's important people don't think this site is only oriented toward pet owners. Wildlife and farm animals are very important to AAFL, too.

Finally, the font is rather too thin and plain for me. I don't think the font has to "say" animal or anything, but I'd like it to at least look better than the standard font I already have at the site.

I hope this is constructive and not critical. I gather this is how the feedback goes when trying to come to a design that everyone can be happy with.

Thanks once again for posting yours. Please feel free to submit again.

#11 (permalink)

i watched the peta movies to....sickening...

#12 (permalink)

Yup. This is why I try to spread the word. But I don't really ought not go into detail here, seeing as how it would be off-topic. Anyway, I hope you and Diane subscribe to the RSS feed for An Animal-Friendly Life, now that you've seen the horrors of animal exploitation.

#13 (permalink)

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#14 (permalink)

Here's a sample logo for your - An Animal Friendly Life - website :


Feedback welcome.

#15 (permalink)

Here's another sample logo matching your AAFL website:


feedback welcome.

#16 (permalink)

Thanks!

It's interesting work. I'm not sure I see a difference between the two samples offhand, though, except maybe the yellow?

Not sure I love yellow anyway, though I don't dislike it, per se. I do like green a lot, though maybe a little less bright, more earthy. I think the five footprints below the big one could reflect more diversity besides a paw, like a hoof (horse), a split hoof (deer), bird or chicken's talon, etc.

Also, I like the idea of a circle of animals on a wheel, with no hierarchy, but I can't tell what some of them are supposed to be. As big as this is, it will have to be shrunk down for the site, much less letterhead and business cards, and I worry it will be even more difficult to tell what we're looking at.

I think I see (clockwise) a dog, an eagle, a person, a monkey on all fours?, a lion or something?, a hyena?, an elk, a horse?, a ____?, an elephant, a whale?, a mouse or rat, a smaller bird?, a rabbit, and a cat.

Finally, it's An Animal-Friendly Life (with the hyphen). I'd like to see that part a little more centered around the words "animal" and "friendly," so not as much off-center.

#17 (permalink)

I'm not sure I understand this one. It looks like maybe a rat's tail and a monkey's head? It's fairly unclear what the meaning is. Notice the circular logo Resonant submitted. One of the thematic aspects of the design that works really well for the site is ringing all the various animals around the logo in a sort of unity without hierarchy. By including various creatures -- wild, domestic, and those used in labs -- along with humans, it is very inclusive. The green also conveys an "enviro" element that is nice.

Also, the initials are AAFL.

#18 (permalink)

it was sposed to be a monkeys tail LOL

ah well...

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#19 (permalink)

... Hope its not too cheezy!

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<mgraphic /> - I don't have a solution but I admire the problem.

#20 (permalink)

Yeah, I don't think that's going to work, but thanks.

BTW, based on your current quote, you might enjoy the following short film (it's only 13 minutes long):

The Analysts