Graphic Design Contests

**zman** · 03-15-2007, 06:54 PM

Hi all,

I'm getting ready to launch a new media, web 2.0 style, independent media site and I need a logo design and a couple of banners to go with it. We'll hold two different contests in this same thread.

Contest A: Site Logo Design :: $50.00 USD via PAYPAL ONLY
The site is "Nevada Independent", an independent, new media news/community portal. (template is located at www.nevadahq.net). You'll need to use the attached image as a background. It is important that you look at the theme so you can get a good understanding of the colors and the fact that the bottom third of the logo background gets used my the search box. So you only have the top two thirds of the logo background to work with.

I do have an image in mind, but I would encourage 100% creativity. What I have in mind is a 2.0 style icon of Nevada with a newsy looking feel in the font. Shiny and glossy is preferred if at all possible.

The title of the site is "Nevada Independent" and if there is room we would like the slogan to say "Nevada's New Media". The slogan isn't THAT important, but a big plus if possible.

This image is the logo background.

Remember, you only have the top two thirds of the background to work with. You can see the background in action here.
www.nevadahq.net

This contest expires at 8:00 PM pacific coast time on Saturday the 17th. I'll try and check in often for comments and updates.

Again, this is a PAYPAL only payout. I need files to be in PNG, PSD, and JPG.

Contest B: Banner Design :: $20.00 USD via PAYPAL ONLY

These banners are for the same site, but need to be marketing the upcoming discussion forums. Web 2.0 style preferred. Something that matches the theme of the template and focuses on community, discussion, debate, etc.

Sizes required.

1 banner that is 468X60 Standard
1 banner that is 120X60

Both banners should match and be of the same theme.

Contest ends at 8:00 PM on Saturday the 17th. Paypal only.

Thanks for the help and good luck with the contest!

-Eric

**Tropica** · 08:10 PM

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**zman** · 03-15-2007, 07:44 PM

Good start. But I'm after a more web 2.0 feel. Thicker font (not too thick) and some gloss/shine.

AND, it needs to have a news like feel. This image is is no where near matching for the site, but it gives you an idea of what I mean by "news feel".
http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_...ing%20News.jpg

Hope this helps. And thanks for jumping in.

**Tropica** · 03-15-2007, 07:49 PM

i will have a try

thaks for the feedback

**borzoid** · 03-16-2007, 02:10 PM

My entry - let me know if you would like any changes.

**abeloff** · 03-16-2007, 04:18 PM

here is my version. regards.

**Tropica** · 08:10 PM

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**zman** · 03-16-2007, 08:06 PM

borzoid:
I don't think green fits into the color scheme. I tried to picture it, but just couldn't find it in me to see how it can.

Also, most people don't know this, but a cactus like that is very rare in the Nevada desert. They can be found around Las Vegas, but the rest of the state has a completely different vegetation demographic.

You're thinking of Arizona style desert. I like the shadow in the font though. Nice touch.

abe:
Your concept is the *closest* to what I've had in mind so far. It's almost there, but the font needs some extra flavor. Maybe a slight shadow or something? Not sure.

The Nevada icon blends in perfectly though. Good job on the icon.

Trop:
That font is just not anywhere close to what I'm after. I like the concept and could see it fitting well with certain web projects, just not this one. The font needs to be wider with more glossy, web 2.0 kind if style.

Thanks for the great concepts so far!

EDIT ON DEADLINE/EXPIRATION:
I have a dinner to attend tomorrow evening so I plan on announcing the winner at midnight Pacific Coast time. This gives everyone a few more hours.

-Eric

**Tropica** · 03-16-2007, 08:12 PM

thanks for the feedback, abeloff's design is nearly the same as mine though, he used the nevada state like i did, his font was just different, ah well

**zman** · 03-16-2007, 08:15 PM

The font is what is most important to me. Plus, I did mention the Nevada icon in the original post. The color scheme is fairly straight forward so I would imagine many of the concepts will be similar. Basically this all comes down to a battle of the fonts.

**Tropica** · 03-16-2007, 08:23 PM

hows this?? you cant get any more web 2.0 than this font!! lol

**xpressions** · 03-16-2007, 10:14 PM

**TrentonD** · 03-16-2007, 11:13 PM

Here's my first design. All comments and criticism is more than welcome. I will try to offer a few more variations of this logo later tonight or tomorrow.

**abeloff** · 03-17-2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tropica

thanks for the feedback, abeloff's design is nearly the same as mine though, he used the nevada state like i did, his font was just different, ah well

no offense pal, but to call my design nearly as same as yours is a bit far. you didn't create map of Nevada did you?

**Tropica** · 03-17-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abeloff

no offense pal, but to call my design nearly as same as yours is a bit far. you didn't create map of Nevada did you?

it wasn't meant in that context man, my point was our designs were similar and i didn't what the contest holder found so different, don't stress

**abeloff** · 03-17-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman

abe:
Your concept is the *closest* to what I've had in mind so far. It's almost there, but the font needs some extra flavor. Maybe a slight shadow or something? Not sure.

The Nevada icon blends in perfectly though. Good job on the icon.

-Eric

thank you for feedback. I've tried a few more fonts and found Goud a bit more defined. Im not a fan of gloss and drop shadows in logos at all and do think that they make logos generic (something I was taught never ever do in university

) but I played around with very light shadows and this is refined version. Regards.

**zman** · 03-17-2007, 02:25 PM

Trop:
Still not what I'm looking for. Just sayin'.

xpress:
You NEVER post something that doesn't get my blood flowing. I really like what you've done here. I'm not sure yet if I could live with the black font, but I'm still thinking about it and trying to get used to the idea. VERY NICE!

Trent:
This one is HOT as well! I like that you're using a little bit of a bigger Nevada icon, and the font is almost dead on. I really like the colors blends as well. Very nice! Would it be possible to get the slogan a tad darker?

abe:
If you want some advice from a consumer who spends a LOT of time and money in this industry, ignore what you were told in college. you can call it generic if you want, but if more people pay for it then who cares what it's called? Just a thought.

I like where you're going with it. I really do. But like I said previously I'm very stern on what kind of font I want. Gloss and shine is vital. Good work though. Very good!

Thanks for the time put in so far guys/gals! Much appreciated!

(is anyone going to take a wack at the banner contest?)

Anyone else can still join. We've got until midnight tonight. About 13 hours.

-Eric

**xpressions** · 03-17-2007, 03:31 PM

Thank you so much for the kind words. I can provide you with different colors (or course), but right now I am heading out to a tradeshow and won't be back until Tuesday.

**TrentonD** · 05:25 PM

Hehe, xpressions is going to a trade show for a few days, and I'm going to a car show with my Dad (father-son time

). Unfortunately I have some plans after the car show aswell, with it being Saturday and all. I will try to find some time to make a couple of revisions before I leave. Thanks for the C&C BTW, it's really appreciated.

EDIT: Here is my last attempt with a darker slogan as you requested. If there are any other changes you would like to see made, I would appreciate to hear them very much. Hopefully our two schedules won't get in the way of me submitting a proper entry.

**abeloff** · 03-17-2007, 06:56 PM

I'd never deny client is indeed always right and at all times it doesn't matter how artist feels about his/her preferences.

By no means did I mean that if you like glossy and shadows there is something wrong with it. Anyway, here is my final stab on this one. shiny and glossy

best regards.