Flash Foundry logo - $175

[renderboy]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 6247052W)

Hey, ya'll. Here's another tidbit for ya. We're looking for a logo for our Flash Foundry product. You can see it's current form here:

Flash Foundry (http://www.flashfoundry.com)

We're about to move Flash Foundry to it's own site as part of the Design Now Network and I'd like a good strong graphical icon for it. We don't need text. We're already got a basic text treatment:

<img src='http://www.eyeland.com/ff_logo.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

The graphic icon won't necessarily go with the text. We'll be using it apart from the text often. For example we might have the text on the far top left and the graphic logo on the far top right. We're looking for a strong graphic logo to represent Flash Foundry in buttons, banners, etc.

The main idea I have is a strong, almost greek-godlike, man at a forge forging a lightning bolt like....er...well...Zues, I guess. Only I don't want it to be an old man. I'm thinking more of a young strong looking figure.

I want the icon to evoke empowerment. The idea of Flash Foundry is that it's a collection of customizable Flash resources for Flash developers. We want the image to speak both empowering and creating with the idea being that YOU--the viewer--are the creator. With that in mind I'd love it if somehow the icon either was a-sexual or if it had a man and a woman in it.

That all said, I'm open to your collective creative genius. If you can come up with a concept that goes with "Flash Foundry" and evokes empowering and creating then...well...let's just say I'm not married to any one idea.

So, please have at it. One note--I'll be out of town from noon March 12 through noon March 16 which is why the deadline is so far off.

Thanks!!!!

Scott

[AlexKogan]

Hey, Scott ;) I like the Zeus idea :tup: Will try to drop something in :)

[Hypnosis]

I'll have something for you soon

[renderboy]

:cooldude: Very cool. I'm looking forward to seeing what ya'll cook up. I've been tellin' everyone who'll listen to me about this site. After this contest we'll do the same for a few of our other sites. :)

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

Well it looks like I prolly made a newbie mistake posting this contest right before I have to go out of town. Anyway, I wanted to let ya'll know I'll be scooting out of town for a few days (back 3/16). I might have wireless access where I'm going, and if I do I'll try to peek in. I'm really looking forward to what ya'll cook up.

Thanks!

Scott

[CBaker14]

Hey,

Just thought Id throw out something...let me know what you think...

Chris

[renderboy]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for having a go at it! :tup:

I like the concept. I think the solid black hand is...well...too black. I'd rather have some detail in there showing the hand and such. I think, also, I'd prefer that there was something in there that iconized the idea of creating something. I don't really get the "foundry" part of Flash in there. That may not be mission critical though. I mean I suppose it's possible that people will see the foundry aspect of the icon and think to themselves, "Ok, what the heck is that?!?!"...However, I not convinced that will be a problem at this point. I still have a mental images that the two concepts can be merged.

That all said, it's very possible this concept can be spot on if the hand and bolt weren't just black.

Thanks again!!! :D

Scott

[CBaker14]

Cool...thanks for the feedback...I'll make some revisions and repost soon...

Chris

[CBaker14]

How about this...colors can be changed...let me know what you think..

Chris

[rendrboy]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for modifying your concept. I hate to say it, though--seeing it more fleshed out--so to speak--makes me less sure about this approach. I see some basic things that I feel aren't ideal--like the color blue for the hand. Blue can suggest business and stability, but when it's on a human form it tends to connotate weakness which is a possible subconscious contradiction (don't you hate dopes like me who put too much stock in "color theory" :blink: ).

Also the fact that the lightning bolt extents so far out that the logo wouldn't be able to fit within a relatively concise area. I can see why you make the lightning bolt longer, though--it's necessary for the hand the have enough area to grag hold and then, still, have enough left of the visuals to establish the bolt.

The logo will probably appear amidst several others that represent our other products--sort of like guistuff.com--so we need for the graphic logos to be someone self-contained--if that makes sense. :unsure:

I'm not sure what, exactly, to suggest to alter it. I'm tempted to say that seeing this version makes me think that this approach deviates too far from my hope of wanting something that suggests empowerment and creating or creativity. It displays plenty of the former, but I--at least--don't see much of the latter. I thought, perhaps, if the visual was stronger my reservations would evaporate. I'm afraid, however, that they are, if anything, increased.

I say, "I'm tempted" because it could just be that my initial points (about the color and the size) might alter my opinion if "fixed". However, I don't want to send you on a wild goose chase. If I had my back against the wall I'd say it's probably best to not waste your valuable time trying to force this concept to work. I'd rather not suggest a bunch of things only to come to the conclusion that my original reservations overide everything else. However, if you have an idea that might address my underlying concern about the fact that I'd like the logo to iconize a blend of empowerment and creating or creativity--then I wouldn't want to discourage you from doing it.

I'm always at a bit of a quandry with these things. I respect what you all do because I once did it myself. I can appreciate what it takes to implement these things. However, if you have a vision please, by all means, go for it. In any event, I really appreciate your efforts. Good golly--can you TELL I was once a book author?!?!? :blush:

Thanks,

Scott

[CBaker14]

no problem, just something I was playing with, I'll try a new approach...


chris

[AlexKogan]

..a hommage to Saul Bass. For a start :)

[renderboy]

Hi Alex,

That's a very cool logo. The concept is there, I think, but I'd prefer something that has some color please. Also I really only need the graphic logo. I mean it when I say that is cool, honestly--it's just not the right direction, I think, for what we intend to use it for.

Thanks,

Scott

[CBaker14]

Hey, try this one..I know it is a very simple design, but I have an idea to incorporate the name if this is a direction you would like to go in.
Let me know what you think...

Thanks,
Chris

[renderboy]

Hi Chris,

Gee, I really hate to be such a naysayer so far, but I think that's a bit too much in the industrial, non-personal direction. I mean to a blue collar worker, that might definately be a visual that would be empowering, but I think the average netizen wouldn't be attracted to that.

I'll see if I can spend some time finding some examples of something closer to what I'm looking for.

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

I did a quick search and this image at clipart.com is the best I could find quickly that is along the lines of what I had in mind:

Foundry sample (http://www.clipart.com/en/close-up?o=418875&memlevel=C&a=c&q=foundry&s=1&e=30&show=&c=&cid=&findincat=&g=&cc=&page=)

However, that sample--of course, is anything but cool and inspiring. Also I saw the product being a lightning bolt rather than a horseshoe or whatever.

Thanks,

Scott

[CBaker14]

no problem...I'll reework somethings...try some others, post tomorrow

[renderboy]

Hi ya'll,

Well I'm back from being out of town. I wonder, did I someone discourage people from giving this contest a go? I notice that while this contest has one of the higher dollar rewards, it doesn't seem to be as active as many of the others. This is only my second contest. Did I do something wrong? :blink: :help:

Well, anyway, there's six days left. Hopefully ya'll will be able to squeeze me in on this one.

Thanks,

Scott

[Michael]

You know what they say 'While the cats away the mice will play' ;) If I get time I will enter :)

[renderboy]

Thanks 2square,

If necessary, I can extend the deadline.

Hopefully more folks will kick in.

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

Hey, ya'll, what's up? Do I stink or something? Looks like the majority of the logo hotshots are steering clear of this one while contests with smaller prizes are getting tons of response. I want to do more logos after this one, but I'll have to think twice if this one is a flop. What am I doing wrong?

Scott

[Tyler]

I'll try and have something cooked up for the weekend.

:ph34r:

[DesignGeneral]

working at it.
I'll be back later :)

[renderboy]

Whew! Thanks!! :tup:

[Tyler]

Here is an initial idea. Sorta industrial with a merging/blending core.

:ph34r:

[renderboy]

Hi RadicalSEED,

I'm so happy to see someone post *anything* that I truly hate to say this.....uh....I don't get it. :nerd:

I don't see how this goes with the Flash Foundry idea. It's possible that ya'll are looking up Foundry and see industrial pics of like molton metal being poured into molds or something. That's the wrong kind of foundry. I'm looking for something more like an older "foundry" -- like a blacksmith working a lightning bolt in a firepit or something.

I keep looking at this and I'm either brutally dimwitted and I can't see what it is or it's just not in line with what we need.

Thanks VERY MUCH though for having a go at it.

Scott

[Tyler]

Yah I understood the concept. But I was just getting the juices flowing.

:ph34r:

[beatz]

Hi,

here are 2 suggestions - note I added the text only for illustration purposes so you can get an idea how it could look like as a whole.

Thanks,

Frank

[Bill]

Here's my entry...

[Mark]

Here's my entry :)

[renderboy]

Thanks markbeaudry, pennyln, and beatz for your entries.

Unforutunately I'm not seeing anything that is along the lines of was hoping for. I think the problem is that I'm asking for something that's too hard to combine into an icon. I think the word "foundry" is throwing most people. We're getting too much industrial and not enough Flash and creativity. So, I'd like to try a different approach. First let's change the deadline to March 27th. Second let's just go for something that is a creative implementation of a lightning bolt to go with "Flash" and then for "Foundry" basically I'd like to get something that is creative.

So what I'm looking for is a creative/cool implentation of a lightning bolt. Here's some ideas:

1. A lightning bolt over an anvil in some creative way.
2. A lightning bold shattering an anvil
3. A lightning bold over a cool/creative design of some kind
4. A lightning bold being molded or held in some creative or cool way by a hand.

In terms of the lightning bold I'm thinking of something that's fairly simple and bold. Something that will be easy to see if the logo is small -- not some skinny mamby pamby lightning bolt. :P

I'd like the logo to be fairly self-contained. For example, I thought markbeaudry's entry was really cool and creative, but the problem is that it's so wide and it would be hard to fit without a small amount of space. We'll need to fit this logo in with several others, so I need it to be roughly withing a square area.

That's about it. Hopefully that will be much easier for ya'll to work with. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Scott

[Bill]

Scott,

I'm sure the additional information you have given us will help. I have to say though, that the entries that have been posted are what you had been asking for. You even posted a link for us to see of a foundry worker. That is why we were working with that concept. We all try to satisfy the contest holder and when a contest holder gives us an example to follow, we usually do that. I am writing this to you in hopes that you are not frustrated with the designers as they were doing what they thought you wanted. If there is any additional information you can give, it would be helpful so we don't spin our wheels and waste time working on logo designs that you will not be happy with. Thanks.

I'm still not 100% clear if you want the words "FLASH FOUNDRY" or just a mark and what size you will be neding the mark to be... please let us know.

[Palmer]

Designers, the amount offered now is $175. Best of luck :)

[Mark]

Here's an idea. :)

[Christian]

I'll have something for this soon. :lol2:

[Christian]

Here's the draft! Give me your thoughts! :D

[renderboy]

Hi pennyln,

I have to say though, that the entries that have been posted are what you had been asking for. You even posted a link for us to see of a foundry worker.

Fair enough. I am happy to admit that my original directions probably weren't clear enough in explaining what I was looking for. The sample graphic I gave was an attempt to show that I was specifically *not* looking for a "foundry" image that was like a bucket of molton metal as in CBaker14's second entry. I probably didn't make it clear that the image I pointed wasn't exactly what I was looking for it was just more in the direction I was looking for.

In any event, to answer your question--no, I'm not looking for something that uses the words "Flash Foundry" in the logo. I'd still like a standalone icon please.

Also, please don't think I'm frustrated with you or anyone else. I just felt it wasn't gelling, so I wanted to redefine it in a direction that I felt would have more chance of generating a great logo for our product.

Incidentally, CBaker14--if you're reading this, your first entry is more in like with what I'm looking for now. I would still go for something like AlexKogan's first attempt if it would more slick and not so much of a sillhoute but more colorful and fit within a roughly square area. AlexKogan's first attempt was roughly in the right concept I was looking for--it was just in a style that didn't appeal to me (or more accurately in a style I didn't think would be a good fit for the site.

I hope that's not as clear as mud.

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

Hi markbeaudry,

I like this latest one. :tup:

It's in a direction I would not have asked for, but its simplicity appeals to me. and I think it could definately work. I like the version with the red and yellow better, but I think the white F might not be ideal. Can you try different colors--maybe even the black. Also, can you give it some dimension somehow? I suspect that a dimensional gelled look to everything might really come off well. This would work well because we'd like it to be something we can turn into a button on our portal site (www.designnow.com) kind of like what guistuff.com does.

Thanks!!!

Scott

[Michael]

Hi not sure if this is the sort of thing your are looking for, the font is just a holder I thought I read earlier that you already have a font in mind :)


<img src='http://www.2square.co.uk/contests/flashfoundry.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />


Michael

[renderboy]

Hi ChristianSanfiel,

Wow, yeah, that's very cool. Can you tighten it up, flesh it out or whatever? I would love to see more than just the black and red and also some dimensionality if possible. The basic concept looks very promising. :tup:

Thanks!!!

Scott

[Mark]

Here's some color alternatives. :)

[CBaker14]

I'll see about making some revisions to my original design,

Thanks...

Chris

[Eagle]

*
CorelDRAW...

...good for you... ;)

[renderboy]

Hi markbeaudry,

I really like the more dimensional look to the logo--particularly the bottom one. I think, though, that the dimensional look looks more photoshop-ish than Flash-ish. Could you make the dimensionality be more gel-like than bevelled?

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

Hi 2square,

I like the basic idea of someone holding a lightning bolt in a creative/cool way, but the silhoutte thing doesn't appeal to me. I think we need a more colorful and eye grabbing logo. This logo is very sophisticated and I think it would appeal more to professional designers and less to average people. I think the silhoutte approach, in general, tends to do that.

The lightning bolt--which is one of the cooler parts of the logo and the main element that ties it into "Flash Foundry" is also sort of apart from the rest of the logo which could cause problems for us. Again, we're looking for something that can fit roughly within a square area.

Thank you!

Scott

[Christian]

I'm working on the polished up version but wanted to toss an idea in to see if you liked it better than the previous one. Instead of the lightning bolt being printed on the anvil, the hammer could crack the anvil, and the crack could be in the shape of the lightning bolt. :D Give me your thoughts!

[renderboy]

Hi ChristianSanfiel,

:woot:

That sounds like a VERY cool idea. I'd love to see it. Thanks!!

Scott

[renderboy]

Hi Eagle,

I tried to respond earlier, but I kept getting some message about "flood control". Anyway, it's cool to see someone using CorelDRAW. I'm a longtime fan of CorelDRAW--it's where I got my stupid nickname "rendrboy".

Unfortunately I think we're moving away from the industrial look and concept. I like the colors but I think I'm definately leaning towards something that's more "Flash" and less "Foundry". I'm still seeing some ideas like ChristianSanfiel's idea that might still manage to keep the "Foundry" but still lean heavily on the "Flash".

I think one thing for sure is I'd rather not use the letters in the logo. We haven't changed the name of "Flash Foundry" in almost 5 years, but you never know. Thanks for having a go at it. I'm really glad to see that there are still some CorelDRAW users out there.

Thanks,

Scott

[Christian]

I was going to keep on working on the other one(which if you like better than this, still am) when I thought of doing something a bit unique. Tell me what you think and which one you like better so I can polish up your fav. :D



*this one still needs some tweaking, even in its draft form, I'll post the tweaked one soon unless you absolutely don't like this one! ;)

[Christian]

Next!

[Christian]

Tad different

[Tonya]

<img src='http://www.frobo.com/graphic_work/flash/flash1.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Christian]

another variation

[Christian]

another

[renderboy]

Hi ChristianSanfiel,

I hate to say this--especially after you generated several versions--but I definately prefer the original direction with the guy hammering down on the anvil and the idea of it breaking into a lightning bolt shape. The new approach uses the metal plate which is really not very interesting and a bit too static and industrial. The other appoach is much more exciting and dynamic.

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

Hi dynagirl,

The simplicity of your design appeals to me on one level, but I think the anvil is relatively unadorned and unexciting and while I like the lighting bolts in either color the anvil ultimately drags it down. As much as the anvil helps go with "Foundry" I think the thing to do it lose it in this case and go for something that augments the lightning bolt more. Circle elemtents, starbusts, perhaps some cool geometric shape that kind of suggests "cool design"--I'm not sure. I just think in this case the anvil is just too dull. Maybe that just happens because it's next to the relatively cool lightning bolt. I don't know. It just doesn't work for me, I guess.

Thanks,

Scott

[Christian]

Was working on the polished up version and just wanted to show you how it's going. :D Was trying to work the guy in nicely but something wasn't coming out right so just decided to do a guyless one in the meantime. Give me your thoughts!

[renderboy]

Hi ChristianSanfiel,

I think the fleshing out of this concept looks very promising. The bottom version looks better. I think that there is some competition between the lightning bolt on the hammer and the lightning bolt in the anvil shape. I can see a possible solution by making the lightning-shaped crack much bolder and wider. I think you could open it up on the top--under the hammer -- even as wide as the hammer or, perhaps, just a little bit less wide than the hammer to help establish the relationship (I.e. the hammer has created the crack).

I think, though, going guyless is a problem. The hammer suddenly makes no sense. it no longer looks like a hammer. I think we need the guy in there or it becomes a mere curiosity to anyone other than those who have been told, "oh, well that's a hammer". :P

Finally, I'm unsure about the flat black are of the anvil. I think, though, that is possible the it will be fine with all the other color elelements. I'm just concerned that too much straight black will be dull. On the other hand, one of the other entries has a anvil with gray gradients and such and I definately didn't like that. Perhaps there's a way to give a little something withough making it overly dull. I think black looks more like a typical anvil then light gray gradients. Maybe that was my problem with the other anvil. I don't know. Anyway, that's my take so far.

Again, though, it looks very promising.
Thanks!!!

Scott

[Mark]

Here's another go... :)

[Christian]

The trouble I was having was indeed with the focal point of the image. After trying a few things I figured this was the best way to go. :D It's your choice, of course, so give me your thoughts!

[Christian]

cracked*

[renderboy]

Hi markbeaudry,

Whoa! What a transformation! :tup:

Ok, yeah, this is much nicer. I think now the only thing I would love to see is richer--less flat color for the blue F and possibly the lightning bold. I think the base is fine, but enriching it might be cool, to. The inner highlight, I realize, is probably an attempt at appearing to be influenced by the coloring of the bolt, but the color ends up being a little sickish green I think. Do you think you can do something about that and give the colors more vibrancy?

It's a major improvement!!

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

Hi ChristianSanfiel,

I think the guy needs to be there for sure. The cracked version is better. I have an idea looking at the cracked version. What if the crack is both in the hammer *and* through to the anvil? So, up in the hammer it starts off small and ends up getting MUCH wider and it goes down into the anvil--the transition could be seamless from the hammer to the anvil to it's like the Lighting bolt-shaped crack could be both in the hammer and the anvil.

I'm thinking of a much bolder lightning bolt. The crack in your last version is a bit anemic and irregular.

Thanks!!!

Scott

[Christian]

I think this idea definitely works too. ;)

[renderboy]

Hi ChristianSanfiel,

Yes, this is definately looking great. I think this is more or less the right direction with this concept. Can you tighten up now? I mean the anvil and the guy, look pretty rough right now. Everything looks fairly flat and the guy looks unfinished and such. Is this still a rough?....or were you thinking the rough look was *the* look?

Thanks,

Scott

[renderboy]

Well we're coming up on the end here. The 27th is the deadline. Anyone else going to have it it?

Thanks,

Scott

[Tonya]

<img src='http://www.frobo.com/graphic_work/flash/flash2.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[renderboy]

Hi Dynagirl,

Thanks very much for working up another one. I might be wrong, but I think this one looks like the old emblem or whatever for the old comic book superhero -- Flash!. :D

Thanks!!

Scott

[Tonya]

It's similar, yes (circle and lightning bolt). But it's really not that close:

<img src='http://www.frobo.com/graphic_work/flash/flash.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[renderboy]

Well the so called deadline has arrived and I don't know what to do. I'm afraid there's nothing I feel I can use as a logo. There were a few that were promising--particulalry from markbeaudry and ChristianSanfiel but there hasn't been something from either of them in a few days. We need to launch this site and I can't use any of these. I really appreciate the attempts, but I can't use any of them. I e-mailed Palmer asking what happens in this case.

If I had to make a choice, I would say I'd want to go with ChristianSanfiel's but it would need to be developed more. The last version is very rough and I couldn't use it as it is now.

Please let me know what happens now.

Thanks,

Scott

[Christian]

Really sorry for the delay, I can have the next step in polishing and added detail by tomorrow. ;) And will have plenty of time to work on revisions in the next couple of days.

[Mark]

I've been going crazy lately and apologize for missing the deadline. Hope this makes ammends.

[Christian]

removed*

[Christian]

*removed

[Christian]

Progress Report! Thoughts? :D

Note: Still hasn't been vectored so there may be a jaggie here or there but will vector as soon as designing phase has been completed.

[Mark]

Just playing around with it. ;) :)

[Christian]

Still open to tweaking, of course. :D (not yet vectored)

[renderboy]

Hi ChristianSanfiel,

The latest version looks much nicer. The base of the anvil is particularly nice because it make it look like it has some dimension and it does so in a way that is, I think, very nice and cool. The top gradient, I think, isn't quite as realistic as the bottom. It wouldn't say it looks bad--it just seems conconsistent with the bottom

Also could you add some slight dimension to the cracks in both the hammer and the anvil where the lightning bolt is to make it look less flat. The dimension that you added along the bottom is subtle, but I think it really makes it look MUCH nicer. I'm thinking that if the anvil and hammer both look like there's some dimension to them within the cracks--even just a little, it would make it look cooler and more consistent with the 3D base.

I think we might want to play with coloring, although you've used the colors that we have in our logo, so maybe not. I'm just not sure. The impact or starburst might usually be yellow or something, but it might not look any better..but I'd love to play either way after we get the files.

Other than that I'd say it's looking very nice indeed.

Thank you!

Scott

[Aaron]

If this contest has been decided, I apologize for submitting late, but I thought the deadline was further out.

Chris, very nice. B)

[Christian]

I'll get on adding dimension to the cracks right away. The top gradient is a little brighter because of the blue flash ;) but can be tweaked if you want. So... did I win this? :huh:

[renderboy]

Hello ChristianSanfiel,

Yes, sorry, I hereby state that ChristianSanfiel has won this contest. Thank you to everyone else who entered. ChristianSanfiel if you can make those few adjustments and provide the logo in some sort of vector file I think we're good. Thanks again everyone!!!!

Scott

[Christian]

Still need to work with the colors, tweak the guy a bit, and do the revisions you asked for but just wanted to show you how the vector was coming along! :D

[Michael]

Congrats Christian :tup:


*Moved to the Revisions forum

[Hypnosis]

Congrats Christian!!!!
nice job ;)

hyp!

[renderboy]

Any progress?