Graphic Design Contests

**pincushionboy** · 11:54 PM

CONTEST ENDED $50 PRIZE AWARDED TO AXIOM27 CONGRATS!!!!

First attempt at solicitation ... unless you count my wife in an internet chat 10 years ago

Okay seriously, I have been working on a new header for our website http://www.shopwod.com. Turns out I just dont have the time. So I am offering up $40 via paypal to the person who can deliver what I'm looking for within 2 weeks. We are undergoing a total rehaul of the graphic look of the site after less than stellar results from previous members of our graphics department. Our site sells over 10,000 home furnishings retail online, as well as having 5 retail locations throughout the country and hold auction events. The header I am looking for will be used on a new entry page to our website.

What Am I Looking For?
We are looking to portray the idea that we have travelled the globe to find and present the best the world has to offer in home furnishings. I like the idea of a globe being incorporated. We want a clean look with some old time map/traveling feel. Sort of an Indiana Jones meets Rodeo Drive if that makes any sense, however I am open to all entries. Throw me for a curve and design what you think would be best for our site and who knows. You may win.

You want a tagline...heres a tagline: optional inclusion
A World of Decor For The Style Of Your Life

Color Scheme: Neutral Colors including shades of khaki & White or perhaps you will suprise me into a new direction.

Help Files:
Our logo with both white and black text can be downloaded here:
White Text: Click To Download PSD
Black Text:Click To Download PSD

Example For Ideas Only:
Test Header JPG For Ideas
This does show some of what I would like to do. The links would be the same and the locations in the top would be links to storefront pages detailing each location.

Okay ... Heres The Funstuff:
The winner to be chosen as soon as I see what I need. Start with something and I will guide all participants to try and get the best result possible for each entry. In the end I will choose from the best and select a winner and pay them $40 via paypal. This contest will remain open ended until I see what I need. If that happens tomorrow, you win. If it happens in 2 weeks you win. Obviously to the winner will come first dibs in the additional graphic needs I mentioned above. If this is successful I will also be tossing out contests for new front page images for the site as well as other graphics needs as they arise and lets put it this way....they arise more than grandad on viagra. Ouch the imagery.

What I Need In The End:
In the end I would like the original layered PSD file so we may do minor edits in the future. I work in Photoshop CS on windows XP. I know shoot me.. So please make it compatible to that.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing your entries and answering your questions. If you want to email me directly I set up a gmail account for this contest here wodgraphics@gmail.com

Kieth

**genelmx** · 03-14-2007, 01:30 AM

You didn't mention the size of your banner. Or do you want us to follow the example which is 800x151 pixels.

**Tropica** · 03-14-2007, 07:26 AM

here is an idea, i went for the old papyrus map look, feedback appreciated

**pincushionboy** · 03-14-2007, 11:41 AM

To answer Both Questions:

genelmx - I would like the banner to be sized for 1024x768 Resolution. Height Height being around 100-120 pixels.

Tropica - I like the text you've chosen. We sell upscale home furnishings so I think the pirate X may not hit our target audience correctly. The map background is pretty good. I would like to see an old globe or map of the world implemented and the Logo does not have to be so "in your face big" good start though.

Kieth

**Tropica** · 03-14-2007, 02:07 PM

thanks for the feedback

Here is an amended version

**pincushionboy** · 03-14-2007, 08:28 PM

Tropica ... We are getting there. I think the image may be taking a bit too much of Russian vibe with so much red. If its possible I would try and shrink the size of our logo. Add in the locations as indicated in my sample graphic. I like the world that added to the map. I just think the color may need to change. Do you have any alternative looks to this that you may have been working on? I am kind of bummed more entries have not been received thus far. I have seen the work on here, and some of it seemed great and thus why I was hoping for a healthy contest. Is my pricing off? I thought $40 for a header was pretty decent as I am already providing the logo to work with.... hmmphhh.

**woosh** · 10:08 PM

I made one but I redid the logo because it didn't look right on the header am happy to plonk the original on there to show you the difference, anyways this is what I came up with...

*updating*

The original psd is 1024 x 120px and i can give you the logo and the header together and separately not a prob

**genelmx** · 03-15-2007, 04:01 AM

Alright my try.
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/7...dbanneree9.gif

**Tropica** · 03-15-2007, 10:56 AM

a few amended versions, can be adjusted if needs be

**pincushionboy** · 08:57 PM

Glad to see some more entries. Here's my latest feedback to each.

Tropica: I think woosh hit the nail on the head as far as sizing. If you can scale yours down to 1024 x 120px like his that would assist in the comparison. The logo does have to remain as it. You may choose to emboss or add shine or ??? to the same logo, but the man upstairs chose it, so that it must be. If you can add the location cities to the header and possibly edit your background to be more neutral tan. Also I would like to see what you can do with our tagline if anything "A World of Decor For The Style Of Your Life". Thanks.

Woosh: Quite impressed. The logo does have to remain as it was designed. You may choose to emboss or add shine or ??? to the same logo, but the man upstairs chose it, so that it must be. If you can add our location cities to your header and possible shrink the size of our logo a bit. Also I would like to see what you can do with our tagline if anything "A World of Decor For The Style Of Your Life". Thanks. I would have to say your design is in the lead at this moment.

Genelmx: Your look has a kind of has a military feel to it to me. Im not trying to be harsh, but if we changed my logo with a Battlefield logo, I think we'd be on to something. If perhaps you can lighten things up and sort of glamorize the header it could work. Our target audience household income is 100+K. Also I would like to see what you can do with our tagline if anything "A World of Decor For The Style Of Your Life". Thanks. I appreciate your effort on it and hope you take my thoughts and edit your design to continue on.

All in all, good work gentleman and possible ladies. I appreciate your work on this as it's allowed me to focus on more pressing business. Its never too late to join the party if anyone else wants to give it a shot. I will narrow things down on Monday and work with the top 3 and announce a winner shortly thereafter if I feel the look is right. Thanks again.

Kieth

**woosh** · 09:37 PM

Awesome feedback!! Two options to look at...

*removed*

**NightVisioN** · 03-16-2007, 09:13 AM

i got something with your site colors..

http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=worldfp2.jpg

**Tropica** · 03-16-2007, 11:00 AM

woosh was right great feedback!!

Here is my amended version, tag in inserted, lighter background, store locations inserted, smaller logo and resized to 1024x120

**MrBrownThumb** · 03-18-2007, 12:25 AM

Thought I would give it a try.

**borzoid** · 03-18-2007, 12:14 PM

My effort on this.

**go0t** · 03-18-2007, 07:33 PM

Tried something different, heres my entry:

**pincushionboy** · 03-20-2007, 12:30 PM

Okay. Thanks to all that have entered thus far. I have narrowed the leaders down to 3 and will list them in non-specific order. Congrats to Woosh, Bozroid, & Tropica. Here is my feedback on each of your entries. I will choose a winner this Friday 3/23 so please have your edits entered by that time. Also I would like to open up the possibility to someone, to create a banner design for this contest utilizing an old traveling suitcase/trunk motif with travel stamps. That may be the golden ticket to claiming the prize, depending on how it compares to the top 3!

Okay FeedBack:

Woosh: I like the version with the tan map the best of your 2 entries. If you could make the gradient bar lighter to match the darkest color of the map. Also the text on our tagline doesnt work for me. If you could change that up somehow, to sort of work with the rest of the banner. Thanks.

Tropica: I chose your design because I liked your ability to change your design on a whim. I would like to see a bit more going on in your version. It seems a little plain copared to the others right now, and I would appreciate the additional work up. I think you have the idea as far as text and feel, however compared to Woosh & Bozroid, it feels kind of empty. Perhaps a switch up to the Traveling suitcase motif with travel stamp idea would add to your design. Thanks.

Borzoid: I like your design, minus the spyglass. It just doesn't work for me. If you can implement the text as found in Woosh & Tropica's designs I would appreciate it, you can play around with fonts to find what works best in your design. Also the sizing of the banner should be at 1024 x 120px. Thanks.

To everyone else who entered I appreciate your effort on this project. The 3 people I chose above just had designs that stood out to me as close to what I am looking for. If you wanted to try and come up with another version the contest is ending on Friday. Thanks Again for your help.

Kieth

**Tropica** · 03-20-2007, 03:24 PM

thanks for the feedback, much appreciated

Here is an amended idea, a little fuller:

and

the banner idea:

**pincushionboy** · 03-20-2007, 03:35 PM

Tropica: I have to say I really like the travel stamp version you made. Can you add in the text (perhaps a different font for this version) and edit it down to the size mentioned above. Perhaps add our logo into a stamp as well on an angle. ???? Nice work. Thanks!

Kieth

**Tropica** · 03-20-2007, 06:30 PM

thanks for the feedback, the 2nd design was for the banner not the header, but since you liked the design, i made a header using the design

A few variations, can be altered