[Project Complete] - Logo for Playschool - $175

[jennygirl]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 4AH3285436795170X, 21V159036E5888813)

Hi everyone. I'm back - worked with you over a year ago to develop my photography logo and still love it (www.jennydrakephotography.com (http://www.jennydrakephotography.com))! I'm now looking for a logo for the playschool I am about to take over (from my Mom who is retiring after 30 years). It's called Tree House Playschool.

What text should be included in the main part of the logo?
Tree House Playschool

What type of product or service do you offer?
Preschool Classes for children aged 3-5. It is a private business but located in a school.

How long have you been in business?
30+ years

What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity?
Logo is going onto new website and letterhead. We need an identifiable logo in the community. Moving to new ownership after 30 years and needing to enter online marketing/website.

What are your long term goals?
Continue to be the cornerstone of quality preschool education in the city. There are many new programs and preschools popping up - we need to remain competitive and visible in the market.

When is the deadline for final entries before choosing a designer? March 22nd

Audience Profile:
Please describe your existing audience
Parents with young children - our community is very family-focused with a strong recreation and arts based foundation. We are not a daycare, but a preschool program.

Who would you like to add to your audience?
We have not really ever had to advertise as our reputation in the community has been excellent and registration has been great just based on alumni and word of mouth (for 30 years!) As the business transitions to new ownership (me), and our community grows, we need to be visible to new families who have not heard of Tree House before - hence the web design and logo.

Perception/Tone/Guidelines:
What type of logo would you like?
child-geared, simple, not cartoony/caricature, but based on our signature apple/apple tree

Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?)
yup! needs to include a red apple - a great primary red or a bit deeper - I would like a classic but not cliche logo.

Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo?
Apple or apple tree. Apples need to be whole - with a leaf, no seeds or slices out. I know our name is Tree House but it is the tree - and more specifically the traditional apple - that calls to me. Not the treehouse. See the next answer too.

Communication Strategy:
What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business?
Clean, contemporary, a business with heart. There is this tree that has been in the classroom for 30 years - the kids hang their "apple" with their name on it at the start of every class. It's important.

What is your tagline or slogan? Don't have one but I think of heart, home, children, family, fun, playschool.

What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience?
Quality preschool programming that has been in community for 30+ years.

Where will your new logo be used?
Letterhead, Blog (newsletters, etc), business cards, Website

Competitive Positioning:
Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos?
A couple of preschools in the community have sites and to be honest, they are really blah. They have horrible clipart images on them and do not stand out at all. Our community of young, hip parents definitely does care about appearances, but mostly cares that they have the best introductory educational experience for their kids (don't we all). I think we offer that. I want our website to stand out amongst the rest.

List competitive URLs if possible


What sets you apart from your competitors?
Our history and reputation in the community. Our heart-driven approach to quality preschool education.

Targeted Message:
State a single-minded word or phrase that will appropriately describe your company: PLAYschool, heart of the community

*** Hi Designers. I obviously would really like to see an apple. I like a traditional, red apple - but could certainly include a bit more of a retro apple styling (think retro owls and birds), or a patchwork apple, or an apple with stitching around the edge - it is important to me that it is not cheesy though. Stylish. I am open to seeing trees too but would need them to be simple, not too ornate . . . the logo needs to be landscape oriented for website and I would like the apple element to be able to isolated so I can use it almost as a stamp/button. That being said, if there is something else that you think I must see, please go for it. I am REALLY excited about this project and can't wait to see what you come up with. With my photography background, I will be able to pair the playschool website and logo with some awesome images and I have a vision that your skill will help me make happen! Thank you.


**** EDITED TO ADD **** If there is another awesome idea that you think Tree House Playschool needs to see (outside of apples or apple trees, please let us see it ;) We are very excited to find the perfect fit for us!!

[jennygirl]

Here are some shutterstock examples that caught my eye -
A. nice apple shape
B. this looks very similar to our tree in the classroom
C. love something about this, but not the swirl on the stem
D. love the leaves on this one (no apple seeds please)
E, F, G, H - like but not love
I. it's the pattern on the apple (not the inclusion that gets me excited here)
J. the collage art of karen katz - oh, how i love her collage art and vintage/retro fabric inspired design. LOVE. would LOVE to see something that looked collage-y www.karenkatz.com (http://www.karenkatz.com)
K. again, apple with vintage fabric look. adore this.
L. oh, this has so much that i like. the collage look, the stitching, the retro fabric look. love the leaves in different patterns. hmmmmmmmmmm . . . love this.

[Titania]

i'm in! i'll post asap! :yes:

[jennygirl]

Some more inspiration - from a childrens book illustrated by Jillian Phillips - In the Garden -- :yes:

Can't wait . . .

[tini1]

thanks:-)

[tini1]

:)

[tini1]

:)

[jennygirl]

yay! thanks tini for starting us off, so fun!!

some feedback: i like the apple in version 3 the most! i like a more solid apple, not partial to seeds or the face. but the heart is very sweet. i also like the two green leaves on the top of version 2 but would like to see a version with two green leaves more the shape of the leaves in 1 or 3 but on a "filled in/solid" apple 3 with the heart in white. i know that's getting pretty specific, but that means that there is much that i like!

i am quite partial as well to the font which is something i would have not normally picked but it is child-like without being too cutesy. nice.

thank you!

[tini1]

:)thank you for your feedback....
here is a revision:)

[im3d]

my entry

[jennygirl]

hi everyone! i'm so excited that another designer has hopped on - it seems to be a busy time here at do, but we put up a longer completion date to ensure that we have lots of entries . . .

tini - i like that version so it is going into consideration. thank you! would love to see any thing else you might come up with too - a more collagey apple, a tree even . . .

nhr - hello! okay, you followed my requests to the tee, thanks! i like the apple but would like to see a bump in the bottom of it, and a different leaf shape. would also love to see another font and some different vintage patterns on your design . . . - maybe smaller or something, it seems a bit busy. but yes, this is going in the right direction!!

all designers - please jump on ;) we are still into apples and apple trees but if there is a design you think we simply must see, we know you are the creative ones, go for it!

thanks - jenny

[im3d]

nhr - hello! okay, you followed my requests to the tee, thanks! i like the apple but would like to see a bump in the bottom of it, and a different leaf shape. would also love to see another font and some different vintage patterns on your design . . . - maybe smaller or something, it seems a bit busy. but yes, this is going in the right direction!!



is this feedback for me?i didn't see nhr post in here

btw here is my revision

[jennygirl]

yes, im3d that was for you, my apologies! i LIKE the bump in the bottom of the apple but still not loving the pattern inside . . . more vintage-y? that may not be the most helpful description . . . maybe it's that the print inside the apple is flowers, which i don't love. and the font is not doing it for me here . . . something else? thank you!

[Titania]

here's my proposal for this! hope you like it! :yes:

[jennygirl]

oohh titania, we love the tree. wondering if you could put a different fonts with it - something in print, not script. We would like to see the text be closer to the height of the tree, perhaps with the Tree House on top and Playschool underneath? would love to see any other designs you might suggest. thanks :yes:

[tini1]

jennygirl....I will work on a tree concept....thank you for your feedback!

[Titania]

oohh titania, we love the tree. wondering if you could put a different fonts with it - something in print, not script. We would like to see the text be closer to the height of the tree, perhaps with the Tree House on top and Playschool underneath? would love to see any other designs you might suggest. thanks :yes:

thanks for the feedback jennygirl, i'm working on another font sample. i'll post again asap!
i took my first sample out cause the little heart concept was tini's, i'll repost with a little apple instead. :)

[Titania]

here it is, hope you like it! :D

[Titania]

as suggested, Tree House on top and Playschool underneath... hope it suits you! :D

[jennygirl]

hi designers. thanks titania for your additional designs - a question though, about removing version 1 - the one with the heart - we really liked that and would have put it into consideration . . . perhaps i don't know the rules, but seeing as i repeatedly mentioned that we were a playschool with "heart", it wouldn't be that a heart concept could only appear in one offering? the same as many different takes on an apple or apple tree wouldn't be a conflict as it is what i requested . . . hmmmmm. i'll make sure i ask this question to a moderator too as as much as we want to be politically correct, we would like to see several designers work on (likely) very similar concepts. i recall seeing a recent competition with a coffee scoop in it that had many different "scoops" . . . .

we are really looking forward to seeing more designs!

[tini1]

:)tree.....

[tini1]

:)tree.....

[jennygirl]

hi tini! thank you so much for keeping it going . . . . the first tree version (in post 21) is not doing it for me, although i do like the outline shape. was there supposed to be a second tree in post #22? take care-- j

[jennygirl]

hi designers - checking in. really would like to see some more designs . . . glyphica? pracus? blue cherry? expressions? nuts? bruno? everyone ? ;)

i still really would like to see a try at a retro/collage looking apple (see examples I through L in the start for inspiration) . . . titania, you were rocking the retro collage look in the tree, want to try something else?

so far we're liking the font used by tini - a nice, clear, stylish, print versus script or cursive. would like to see some more font selections too.

we would love to see tree concepts, apple concepts, heart concepts, or a combination of the above. these are our starting points but please feel free to create . . .

and thank you ;)

[Titania]

working on another sample! i'll post asap! :yes:

[tini1]

a different tree from me....::)

[Titania]

hi again, sorry for taking so long.
just one comment about the heart issue: it is not about "not using" a heart now that tini used one... it is about using it in the same way she did. a heart is common element and you did mention you were a playschool with "heart"; but tini put it inside the apple, so it is not fair that i use it inside a tree, cause I'd be borrowing her concept. hope the explanation suits you. :D
now, my new proposal, hope you like it! :yes:

[jennygirl]

hi designers! thank you for the additional posts - we will discuss and post feedback later today. titania (& tini1), thanks for the explanation about concept cross over - i absolutely understand respecting others work - for sure. i am a bit worried, though, that because we asked for such a narrow scope of design, this is limiting our competition submissions :( i am going to extend the deadline until march 24th if i can . . . we'll figure it out!!

more feedback later today -- thank you!

[jennygirl]

okay, some feedback!

titania - yes, we are heading in the right direction for sure :yes:. i really like you collage apple. not loving the font still, could we see another? i would like to see a version where the hill is taken out, a different font, and an apple(s) maybe one in a tree, one on the ground-ish? could i also see a more linear total look for this (landscape orientation) - also, could i see a different look where Tree House Playschool is all in one line and the trees, an apple, and a heart are incorporated into the words? (ie an apple or heart in place of an o or something?) thank you!!

tini1 - still loving the font, could we see something more linear - getting there, but something is not quite hitting yet for the tree . . .

thank you!

[tini1]

Hi...I feel 'tree'd out':eek::eek:..........I will try to resubmit if time allows.......

[jennygirl]

tini1 - thanks for the honesty;) would love to see anything else you had in there !

[Palmer]

Designers, a quick note that the deadline has been extended to March 27th and the amount offered has been raised to $175 to encourage more participation and additional ideas.

Thank you :)

[Titania]

working on your requests, i'll post asap! :yes:

[Bill]

Here's my entry...

[plum74]

Hello,

Here is my design for your logo. Eager to know your thoughts. Thank you.

Lala

[jennygirl]

Hi designers! Some feedback . . . .

Bill, thank you for your submission! A quick start - it's Tree House Playschool ;) We like the font, but it's a bit swirly for the treehouse font - for sure headed in the right direction! Could you make the tree less busy? A simpler concept still keeping the feel you have started with . . .

Lala - hi! Thank you so much for joining in! We love that you incorporated the apple into the words, and the roof on the H -- could we see the tree without the child? And could the green of the tree be solid? Overall, we like how it translates into b&w -- would love to see more too, thank you!!

I'll look back often and please ask me any questions you might have!

J

[shnickerdoodle studios]

Hi, One from me... Thanks, Deanna

[shnickerdoodle studios]

A variation....Thanks:D

[Artemii]

Hello! :)

[Titania]

as requested, hope you like this! :yes:

[Titania]

and as suggested... :D

[glyphica]

:)

[jennygirl]

good morning! we are so thrilled to be seeing such awesome submissions, thank you!

hi deanna! we loved the idea of making the apple like the "treehouse" - could we see a version with that expanded upon? ie. door bigger? we also liked the brighter color palette of version two! the green tree top is not working for us though. thanks so much.

artemii - hi! thank you for your submission! we are finding it a little cold/crisp for what we are looking for. anything else?

titania - we are still loving the versions that are coming! really like the addition of the yellow, but not the purple. thank you for trying out the name with the design elements included - the font is still not working for us though. could we see a version where the trees/apples are still in the words but more weighted on the left hand side? awesome.

hi stephanie!! thanks so much for joining in. we like the font - the circle element around the apple is not quite working for us, though. a different version?

thanks all for your hard work. we will be wrapping this up this week so appreciate all the choices! :yes:

[shnickerdoodle studios]

Thanks for the feedback... Here are a couple of revisions for you...Thanks, D

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:d

[jennygirl]

good morning designers! we are heading into the last two days here for our competition and we would love to see any last revisions or concepts from all of you!! :)

we will be choosing our designer this weekend. super excited.

happy friday!!

[Titania]

hope you like this! :D

[jennygirl]

just wanted to say that we are still here and are just putting some thoughts and ideas together while making our decision - looking at the feel of the logos on our website, letterhead, etc, etc. thank you so much for your patience designers!

[jennygirl]

hi everyone! it was HARD to choose as there were such strong elements in several designs, but we have chosen to go with titania as our designer! thank you everyone for their submissions. so much.

titania - there are a few revision options i would like to see - do we need to head to the revision forum to do that? i'll check back soon . . .

[Paula23]

This project is now in the 'Revisions" forum.
Let us know when the files have been sent/received.
Thanks!

[Titania]

thanks Paula, and thanks jennygirl for choosing my work! :D
please let me know what revisions you want to see and I'll prepare them asap... :yes:

[jennygirl]

titania! so sorry i disappeared - a family emergency this week and i was simply away. but let's keep going. there are definitely some revisions i would like to see - i keep coming back to your designs as the ones with the "right" feel but just need to find the right composition and font yet. please bear with me ;) i do so love the retro collagey feel . . .

i like the grouping of the trees the most in version #5. i also quite like version #7 too but have decided that incorporating the images in the words is too much (you probably already knew that, but thank you so much for going with my suggestion). version #7 has a font that is closest so far, but still not right.

i really like the font that tini1 used her designs - is it possible to try that one out?

so - this is what i would like to see, but please feel free to show me/tell me different variations as something might catch my eye.

1) the tree grouping from version 5 with the words beside it (not underneath) in a different (tinis if possible) font. i also like how the words are arranged that way - with the tree house larger on top, playschool capitalized smaller, spaced, underneath.

2) the tree grouping from version 5 but with the trees staggered like in version 4 with the words, again, beside - and only one of the o's in school as an apple please.

and finally a question - when i get the files, will i also get a layered psd? i am wondering specifically as i would like to be able to isolate layers of your design (for example one apple or one tree) to use on it's own (like on a button or on the other side of our business card, etc).

THANK YOU so much for your patience. again, so sorry i had to be gone.

[Titania]

working on your requests, i'll post asap! :yes:

[Titania]

Hi again!
hope everything is ok with your family! don't worry about the time, take as much as you need...
here are 2 new samples, let me know if any ot them suit you...
i tried the most similar font i have.
and yes, i can prepare psd files for everything you need :yes:
i'll wait for feedback :D

[jennygirl]

thanks for your thoughts titania.

okay, so really pleased with the new versions -- i like the first one better - a couple of requests.

1) could i see one with the pink apple on the ground changed to the same red as in the tree please. and i like the font! could i see the treehouse slightly larger with T and H capitalized - and then the PLAYSCHOOL subsequently spaced out a bit more under the treehouse. thanks.

2) could i see one with the green tree slightly smaller than the blue please. and with the apple on the blue tree also slightly smaller. and with a different color suggestion for the fonts? with the apple in the second o of school?

:blush: i know, a little specific. but still so pleased with your designs, thank you! have a great day.

[Titania]

it makes me really happy that you are pleased with the design... ask for all the revisions you need, i want it to be perfect for you! :yes:
hope you like this!

[jennygirl]

Good morning Titania! So of version 9, I like the first one better (meaning the trees the same size) - but the capital T and H are too 'pointy' for me. Hmmm. Do you have another font suggestion? If so, could I see it? I would maybe like to see the font from version 7 again in the blue and green with the spaced out playschool (in a different font) underneath. And I think I need the apple on the blue tree to be somewhere in the middle of that little and big == same size as the ones on the ground? I'm partial to the blue and green wording but am thinking on that a little.

We are getting very close ;) Looking forward to seeing more . . . take care.

[Titania]

working on your requests, i'll post asap! :yes:

[Titania]

here they are, i tried the other font, but also tried to make this one you liked a little less "pointy"...
hope it suits you! :D

[jennygirl]

Hey Titania -- so I'm stuck on not loving the font. Could you show me a whack of choices? I'm wondering if the font needs to be more retro to compliment the design? I still like the way it is laid out - with the treehouse/Tree House on top and playschool underneath but need more choices. Sorry this is taking so long! Life is getting in the way . . . . but I'm determined to finish this up!

Thank you & Take care.

[jennygirl]

do you have a cursive stitch font maybe for the playschool underneath? and something else on top . . . .

[Titania]

any of these work? :D

[Titania]

do you have a cursive stitch font maybe for the playschool underneath? and something else on top . . . .

sorry! just read this after posting my last samples, please let me know what you think of the four samples in version 11 first...
:D

[jennygirl]

I definitely lean towards the first one in version 11 with the cursive font . . . would like to see that with capitals for the T and H and also with treehouse squished together with no capitals . could you show me a few more that are more in this style (maybe with a stitch cursive in there) and showing one with the cursive on top, one on bottom? it's seeming to fit more with the logo - see, you knew what i was thinking (about the cursive) before i even asked . . . thanks!!

[Titania]

i can still prepare samples with your last requests... but i wanted to show you this first. Tini allowed me to use the font you loved from the beginning! :D
let me know if it suits you...

[jennygirl]

oh, that was awesome of her ;) i like it very much but now do need to see the other samples, please, as i was also very drawn to the cursive options! thank you!

[Titania]

let me know what you think about this! :D

[jennygirl]

thanks titania! nope, it's definitely version 12 that i want. one more little picky thing - are you able to change the circle end on the "r" on the treehouse to make it resemble the other letters please? i know, uber-picky :blush:

and could you just confirm with me that the apples in the logo are all the same size? i think they likely are but the apple in the tree looks slightly smaller but it may be a visual trick. we are almost there!! thank you for sticking with me . . . i love it.

[jennygirl]

and one more request - could you shorten the left-hand branch on the green tree just a smidge so that it is not touching the outline of the blue tree? but so it still looks long like that? thanks.

[jennygirl]

oh, good lord. one more - could you also let me see one with a pattern on the red apple on the ground? i think i like the uniformity of the apples as is, but just need to check. i'm going to bed now. ;)

[Titania]

"r" changed, red apples are the same size, the yellow one is a little bit bigger... :yes:
branch changed too.
stripes added to the one in the floor...
let me know that you think about it! :D

[jennygirl]

titania hi! okay, we are soooooo close, thank you for putting up with all of my requests. okay, feedback:

i like the red apple on the ground plain. so we'll go with plain.
thank you for fixing the branch (neurotic)
the r looks betterfor me but now wondering if you could either put a cross piece/tick on it like on the s or make the top curve a little thicker
and could i see a version where the words are slightly larger (maybe even just the treehouse larger and the playschool more spread out. and then we will be done. and i love it already.

[Titania]

:d

[jennygirl]

hi titania! okay! i think i've finally made all of my choices . . . . drumroll . . . version 15 tree and apples please. i also like the wording and font on that one - please move all of the wording over a bit and put a teeny bit more space between the r and the first e in treehouse and i think we have it!!

wondering if you could let me know the name of the font . . .

thank you so much for all of your patience!! i can't wait to put it into action . . . i'll keep my eye out for the next version to give the thumbs up and then we can finish this ;)

[Titania]

here it is, last changes requested :D
plus, i sent you a private message with a link to the files, you can find it in your inbox:
http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/private.php?
After you click the link in my message choose "Save" to save the files to your computer, locate the files you just saved to your computer and then double click the .zip file to extract all the files to your computer. Please contact me if you have any problems. you'll find the font with the final files.
let me know if you need anything else! :yes:

[jennygirl]

thank you so much titania, i absolutely love it. it's just perfect. cheers!

[jennygirl]

question though - is there a layered psd file that i can get from you so i can isolate the elements of the logo? or would that be a layered illustrator file? that would be so helpful . . . for example, if i wanted just the green tree out of the design . . . or wanted the layer with the red apples, etc.

[Titania]

you can find a .psd and a .ai file in the .zip
let me know if you need help isolating the parts of the logo... :D

[BlueCherryGraphics]

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