Hi all, I'm gearing up to move ConservaBlogs.com to WordpressMU and a completely new website. With this will come a new design and setup, meaning I need a new brandable image. We're a non-profit, so money isn't in abundance, but I've managed to scrape together $30.00 for this one, and I'll be having a few contests in relation to this site over the next week or so. This first one is for the logo/header. PRIZE: $30.00 USD via PAYPAL ONLY :: In addition to the cash prize, we're gearing up to launch a web banner ad network on all of our blogs (300,000 + views per month) and we'll give you 25,000 page views for free when it goes live. It's estimated to be ready in about a week. Deadline: Tuesday, August 14th @ 6:00 PM Pacific Coast Time (West Coast USA) OK, let's get started. The URL where the theme is located is www.blogaught.com. The theme that is currently there is going through a HEAVY modification, however, the header and logo area will remain the same. As you can see, I've put a generic image there where the winning design will be located. The size, as you can see, as 500X100. I have a general vision of what I would like to see, but I don't want to limit your imaginations, so please feel free to tweak my idea as you see fit. What I have in mind is to the far left of the image, there needs to be the two main words of the site title... BLOG AUGHT. I'm looking for some "web 2.0" style fonts in this image, so keep that in mind as you design concepts. Then, to the far right I would like to see some server racks or server machines, but keep the size they take up to a minimum because there is other stuff to go between the servers and the title (middle of the image). Now, in the center I would like to see the phrase "Conservative/Libertarian Blogger Community". And if possible, I would like to see some icons of some sort that represent community. Two faces talking to each other, talk bubbles, or something to that effect. And if you get all of that in and still have some room, a tilted thumbnail of a blog would be a great added touch. Example: (this is FAR too big, but it gives the idea of what I mean when I say "tilted") The colors I wish to see used are the same colors you see at the top of the site now. The header bar, the title, and the catch phrase. The colors are the blue you see at the top, and the green that you see in the "About" title on this page. http://blogaught.com/about/ That green will appear a lot more on the homepage when it is complete so I would like to see it incorporated into the logo. You can use the blue at the top as the background if you want. Or, you can use white, but if you use white please include a border that matches the blue. I want this image/logo/header to be separate from the rest of the page, so if it is to have a white background there needs to be a thin border around it. This is the blue that appears at the top... I may be asking for WAY too much here, and if I am please let me know. I'll try to check in on this thread often, but I can't be here 24/7. We've got about 3 days for this contest so let the designs begin! And thanks to all who participate!
Not too complex... it's just a lot of stuff to fit into that little box To me, everything seems like it would be really cramped if all of your suggestions were included, either that or just really small and hard to see, but that was just my thought as I read everything, I didn't actually try to put anything together. I'm going to try though and see what I can do with it
I concur, it is a lot. Use your imagination and see if you can convey the message I want to convey with this image without using that much "stuff". I know I asked for a lot to be there, so I understand if you need to edit my request a bit. I'm pretty easy going.
Ok so here is what I came up with using all your ideas before I saw that you said that you didn't mind if some things weren't there. Tell me what you think of this, and I'll also work on another one with a few things edited and the whole page with this banner:
I have a picture of a server. Not a server rack. If I'm headed in the right direction, I will certainly change it.
Actually, that's pretty damn close to what I had in mind. The colors are spot on. But, it still has a way to go to get that clean look I'm picturing. Couple suggestions... 1) The Servers I suppose I could have been a little more straightforward on this, my bad. Please DO NOT use these images as they are someone elses, but they give you an idea of what I think of when I picture the way I want it to look. Sample one, two, three. 2) The "slogan test" in the center It's way to big. In can be small enough to go across the bottom from left to right. Maybe starting under the main "blog aught and then stretching across to where the server/s would be? 3) The tilted blog icon I didn't mean to actually see that one used. It isn't mine. Was pitching that as an example. I would rather see a screenshot of the current homepage of BlogAught.com dropped down to an icon and used for it. 4) The font in the "Blog Aught" It's missing something. I like the shadow, but the font is not there yet. 5) The talk bubble This looks pretty cool, but maybe two of them in position as if it was a back and forth conversation? Good start! And thanks for jumping in! -Eric
OK, I posted my last post before seeing this, so I think you understood what I was getting at. The placement of the slogan is exactly what I had in mind. And the server is a little closer to what I imagined as well. Talk bubbles are fairly nice as well. And the font in the main title is *close*, but still not quite there. Oh... and as you already mentioned... needs to have green instead of orange. Great first try though!
Damn. Not bad. Not bad at all. The title "Blog Aught" font looks great! Any way you can incorporate something "community" driven into the upper right? These are examples of what I mean. One, two, three, four. I know we still have plenty of time for this content, but so far, that one is looking closest to "wow" for me. P.S. I would still like to see the word Libertarian fit in there somewhere, but I'm not married to it so if it doesn't work I can live.
BONUS! I will give everyone who participates in this contest 5,000 banner impressions on an existing network that I already have in place.
Here's my next try Just seeing if you like where it's headed, I'm thinking of making the thumbnail of the site a little bigger and the speech bubbles bigger as well to fill some of that empty blue space... Unless you think its fine as is Also let me know if this font is any better. Thanks!
The title font is indeed better. Grungemedia has, however, persuaded me to drop the idea of the thumbnail. I was on for the idea at first, but his concept sold me on a simpler, cleaner design. So, let's try it without the thumbnail. Also, as you can see on GM's design, it looks a little cleaner without the "slogan" being so big and intrusive. I would like the server/s to be a bit bigger. I like the idea of not having the slogan run under it. Hope this helps.