User Interface 9 Logo, $150

[JMSpool]

(Admin code added by Palmer - G4458600)

Hello everyone,

I'm the chairperson of the User Interface Conference. This year is our ninth year. (it's actually our 15th conference -- but that's probably more information than you need. ;) )

For the last few years, we've been using a logo affectionately known as the "baseball diamond":

<img src='http://mail.uie.com/images/UI%208%20Logo.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

This year, we'd like something different.

For background: People generally refer to the conference as "The UI Conference" or "UI9". The conference attendees are web designers, software designers, marketing folks, producers, and graphic designers.

Past presenters have included Eric Meyer, Molly Holzschlag, Lynda Weinman, Nathan Shedroff, Jeffrey Veen, and many, many other experts in the UI and Web design world. Clients include big and small companies, government, and universities. We are expecting about 400 attendees at this year's event.

We use the logo on the web site, on the printed notes, in our correspondance (email & print) with attendees, on bags, on hats, on badges, and on signage at the conference. It has to look good at 72dpi and at 2400 dpi. Sometimes it will be an inch tall. Sometimes it will be 8 feet tall.

You can see how we've used the logo in the past at http://www.uiconf.com/7west/fullday-merholz-young.htm

As you can imagine, the logo has to be really sharp and professional. We are measured by our "professional look".

This is the first part of a two-part contest. The second part will be a template for the web site. We felt we should nail the logo first, then do the template to match it.

That means we're open on colors, fonts, and shapes. However, we want the number 9 to be featured prominently and, if we decide to use the logo for next year's conference, we'll need to put a "10" in its place. So, please make the design flexible for changing the numbers.

This logo is very important to us. So, we're going to add an extra prize: A complimentary 4-day registration to the conference for the winner -- worth $3,700. (This is in addition to the $150 cash prize we've paid DesignOutpost.com. You'll be responsible for travel, lodging, and expenses. The conference is October 11-14 in Cambridge, MA.) Sound good?

The winner will get to see their work in use!

Let me know if you need anything more from us. I'm excited and looking forward to seeing you do that voodoo you do so well...

Jared Spool

p.s. We'll need the final art in vector form. We use Corel and Fireworks.

[CBaker14]

I'll be trying this one...will post tomorrow...:)

Chris

[dziner]

Hi ;)
I will jump in first. I did several versions w/ different color schemes. If you would like to see any revisions please let me know. Also, I did use the word 9 rather than the number itself... if this is a problem I will change it.

<img src='http://www.yencreative.com/ui9.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Carl]

A retro feel...

Carl...

[JMSpool]

:o I just realized that I left out something very important!!! :o

We have a theme for the conference this year: "Making It Better!" All of the topics at the conference are about improving your product, service, site, or process. Better quality, better efficiency, better profitability.

So, it would be cool if the logos could integrate that idea, somehow.



Cadii:

I think the retro feel is cool and could work for a different product or service. However, I don't think we want to give the appearance that the material covered at the conference is 'retro'. On the contrary, we want it to be 'fresh' or 'new'.


dziner:

I like the UI Nine idea. At first, I didn't realize that the "I" was a script "I". It took me a second to realize what you'd done. Is there a way to make it look more like a roman "I"?

Jared

[JMSpool]

I just wanted to remind folks that this contest comes with an added prize: A $3700 4-day conference registration to User Interface 9.

You'll get a chance to hear the world's best experts with their solutions and approaches to today's most pressing design issues. It will also a great opportunity to meet others who are doing design from some of the top companies on the web.

We're looking forward to seeing you guys unleash your great talent on this project...

Jared

[Carl]

Jared,

Here is another idea...

Carl...

[JMSpool]

Just to give you guys a little more to work with, here's a logo we sorta liked that someone proposed for last year's conference. It's understated and we could work with it.

What can you do with this little bit of additional info?

<img src='http://mail.uie.com/images/AlternativeUI8Logo.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[dziner]

Hi. I changed the I to a more standard look.. I will continue to try different things... it lost a little without the I wrapping around. ;)

Shelly

<img src='http://yencreative.com/ui9-2.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[JMSpool]

Shelly (dziner):

I agree that it lost something without the wrapping. :( Maybe it's time for a different direction?


Carl (Cadii -- Nate's dad):

Definitely a move closer, but still too 'heavy', I think. The 'steps' aren't doing anything for me.


Can we try some different approaches?

Jared

[JaysonC]

hi there

first batch of ideas

[JaysonC]

another idea. I think its good some good possibilities. If you think the same I will run with it some more tomorrow.

[JMSpool]

Jayson,

We really like where you are going with these designs. Of the set, the first two are probably closest to what we think we're looking for.

For the first, we like the crispness and how it has the theme in it.

The IX looks too much like the UI. We think people may not realize it's a roman 9. (It's more confusing because UX is a popular abbreviation for User eXperience amongst our audience.)

We'd love to see if there's a way (maybe with some lines on the tops and bottoms) to make the IX look more "roman". Also, maybe try a variant with an arabic 9?
Or possibly make the UI be sans serifed? What do you think?

Also, for the second design, could we get the theme in there?

And we're still open to other ideas. (The others you have are good, but these are the two we currently like the best.)

Jared

[Carl]

Jared,

Here's another look...

Carl...

[CBaker14]

Hi,

Here is my first attempts...let me know what you think

Chris

[JMSpool]

Hi guys,

I definitely like the progress we're making.

So far, the two designs we like the best are Chris's (CBaker14) right hand (blue & orange) bubble design and Jayson's (Fuse Design) first/top design. These are going in directions we like.

As I said before, we like the clean look of Jayson's design, particularly the bottom two lines, with Conference and Making It Better. (Sorry Jayson, I like the 'crossword' design -- very clever -- but it's not going in the direction we want.)

With Chris's we really like the color and the richness of the design. The circuit/binary pattern is cool.

We're concerned about the height. Most of the use will be in horizontal banners, so we need to ensure that the overall height doesn't work.

In the case of Chris's circle, it's basically a 1:1, which means that we'd have to make it small for many uses. A 2:1 or 3:2 (landscape/letterbox-style) design may work better for us than a 1:2 or 2:3 (portrait) aspect ratio.

Carl's (Cadii) latest also suffers from the height problem. It's also a little too boxy for our liking.

We're still favoring using a '9' versus an 'IX'. We're afraid the roman numerals will make it feel too old. Of course, there's always this:

<img src='http://www.wrestlemania.com/images/top1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

:P

We've identified a logo we sorta like, which I've included below just to give you more ideas. (It comes from The DUX 2003 Conference (http://www.dux2003.org), if you want to check it out in context.)

Let me know if I can be of any more help. Keep up the good work!

Jared

[JaysonC]

Ill have some more for you.

[CBaker14]

Cool..I'm glad you like the design...any suggestions specifically for changes? Want me to post some varying sizes for you to look at?

Chris

[JMSpool]

Chris,

What if we tried something with more of a horizontal feel? Maybe, (dare I say?) a rectangle instead of a circle, with the same UI 9 and background treatment?

Also, the Making It Better font looks more like Making Ig Begger to me. Maybe we could change the font to make it a little more readable?

That could work. Of course, if you have more brilliance in you...

Jared "There's a reason I hire this stuff out" Spool

[CBaker14]

Cool...

Will post soon...

Chris

[JaysonC]

Jared,

Here are some revisions. I will also be working on something new.


Jayson

[CBaker14]

here is a revision for you, I still kept the nuances of the original...

let me know what you think...

Chris

[Carl]

Jared,

Here is a more horizontal approach...

Carl...

[JaysonC]

something a little different

[JMSpool]

Hey everyone,

All these designs are looking good.

Now that we're seeing what you folks can do, we want to try a slight change.

The most prominent use of the logo will be on the web site and in collateral where we have multiple opportunities to say the dates and mention the conference.

So, we'd like to see variants on the designs that are just "UI9" and "Making It Better". To give you an idea what we mean, we took a scalpel to one of Chris's designs. (It needs the '9' put in and I'm sure it could be better than we've done here.)

In the end, we'll probably use both versions: the full version and the abbreviated one. (For example, the full version would be perfect for the conference bags.)

What do you think?

Jared "Don't let me start Photoshop" Spool

[JMSpool]

Carl,

We like your latest "lock and tumbler" design. (Sorry, that's just what it reminds me of. I guess I'm a geek.)

Could we see it without "User Interface Conference" and with different fonts (maybe sans serif) for the UI and 9? Maybe a couple of different treatments, so we can see what our options are.

Jared

[JMSpool]

Jayson,

The "star" isn't doing anything for us. However, we do like the previous 2.

Is there a variant which just has "UI9" and "Making it Better"?

Jared "Asks much too much sometimes" Spool

[CBaker14]

How about these revisions...

let me know what you think...

Chris

[JMSpool]

Hi Chris,

Can we try something?

We'd like to see the hacked up art we sent you (not as hacked up, of course), with the following changes in treatment:

Can we put a 9 after the UI with the same height and baseline, and have the 9 be the same font & colors as the UI?

We like the gradient before the "making it better", so we want to keep that.

We really like the binary as an outline, as in the last example you sent. Can we try that in this treatment too?

We don't know if we'll like it, but we want to see it for contrast.

Feel free to play a few variants on that theme too, as your heart directs you.

I really appreciate this. Thanks in advance,

Jared "Sucker for a Comparison" Spool

[CBaker14]

No problem...I'll make the changes and post soon...

Chris

[CBaker14]

How do you like these?

Let me know...

Chris

[JaysonC]

I'll have something for you tomorrow.




Jayson "The Busy Beaver" Conway :lol:

[Carl]

Jared,

Here are a few treatments to look at with just "Make It Happen" in the logo.

Carl...

[Radu]

Here's my entry.
Comments welcomed.

-Ruairi

[JMSpool]

Ruari,

Nice stuff.

Could you try a variant of the top image without the lightning bolts?

Also, we've become enamored with the palette used in these banners:
The DUX 2003 Conference Home Page (http://www.dux2003.org/index.html) (We like the shades of tan/orange/beige/yellow)
The DUX 2003 CFP Basics Page (http://www.dux2003.org/cfp/index.html) (We like the shades of blue/purple)

Could you do a couple of variants with different color treatments using these palettes?

Thanks,

Jared

[JMSpool]

Chris,

We're doing good here. So far, you're in the lead!

A couple more changes to the top image of the latest batch:

1) Could you make the UI9 be 50% above the box? (Right now it's about 30% above.)

2) In the first box treatment you did, the 'circuitry' appears in the white letters of the UI. Can we put that imagery back in the UI9?

3) We like the solid 1's & 0's from the first treatments. (They got stretched in later treatments.) Can we put them back?

4) As I said to Ruari, we've been looking around and are interested in seeing what you can do with the two color palettes we like.

Things are moving along nicely and it's likely we'll end sooner than expected.

Keep up the excellent work,

Jared "I promise -- this will end soon" Spool

[JMSpool]

Carl,

Sorry, but right now these aren't clicking with us. Thanks for trying though.

If you want to try some alternatives, we'll definitely give them a look.

Jared

[CBaker14]

no problem...

I'll make the changes and post soon...

Chris

[CBaker14]

how about these...

Chris

[JMSpool]

Chris,

Very, very close. I promise.

We'd like to see 4 more treatments with exactly the same imagery, just different color combinations. Let's see if I can explain this coherently: :D

#1) Top: Dark blue top from the 3rd logo
Bottom: Dark-centered gradient bottom of the 1st logo.

#2) Top: A top using the edge purple from the 2nd logo (#BEACD2 is what I get)
Bottom: Dark-centered gradient bottom of the 1st logo.

#3) Top: A top using the edge purple from the 2nd logo (#BEACD2 is what I get)
Bottom: A similar gradient with a pink (#F7CAA5) in the center. (I'll leave your judgement what the outside color should be.

#4) Top: Dark blue top from the 3rd logo
Bottom: Same pink-centered gradient as the last one.

I appreciate your patience while we fine tune our color choices.

Jared "#F0242E" Spool

[CBaker14]

Here you go, I believe I got the revisions correct... :D

Let me know what you think...

Chris

[dziner]

One more whirl

Shelly

<img src='http://www.yencreative.com/ui9-3.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Raja]

hi, a little play on 'u' and 'I'

[JMSpool]

Chris,

I definitely didn't get my instructions coherent. I apologize.

Let me try again:

For #1, We got the top right, but I want to use the bottom that was on the first logo of the batch posted on Mar 18 2004, 03:06 PM. (I've copied that bottom and attached it below.)

For #2, we want the top to use the purple swatch from below. (Talking about color is like doing interpretive dance about architecture.) For the bottom, we want the same bottom as #1.

For #3, same purple top as #2 with a bottom that is a subtle gradient, using the tannish-pink swatch from below as the center. (We have an internal disagreement as to whether this is a pink or a tan. You'll have to excuse our ignorance of color. I think Crayola used to call it "flesh".) We don't know what a good outside edge color would be if you use this as the center. What do you think?

For #3, the dark blue top from #1, with the bottom you created for #3.

That should give us what we want.

Jared "Take His Photoshop Disks Away!" Spool

Oops! I forgot to include the pics! You must think I'm nuts.

[beatz]

Hi,

here is a suggestion from me, feedback is appreciated :)

Thanks,

Frank

[beatz]

With slogan..

[JMSpool]

Chris, I'm sorry. I forgot to include the images the first time around. I fixed the message.

Jared "That Man is Nuts!" Spool

[JaysonC]

another idea

[CBaker14]

Hey,

Hopefully I got this right this time...(the second feedback post was tons clearer, thanks) Let me know what you think...Hopefully we got it this time... :tup:

Chris

[CBaker14]

I just noticed that after I posted the "flesh" and the "periwinkle blue" are a tad darker on here than on my cocmputer screen. I can lighten it up if you want...

Chris

[JMSpool]

Shelly (Dziner):

We love the new design. It's extremely clever. We like how the dots morph themselves until one is finally settled over the 'I'. Very cool.

We'd like to see three things: (As you may have noticed, I'm really quite demanding!)

1) The theme is 'Making It Better' (you have 'Make It Happen'). We'd like to see it with that treatment.

2) We'd like to see it with the colors from the palette below. Could you try it with these colors? (We'd like to see the same logo four times, each using one of the colors below.)

3) Could you do a "full version" which includes the following text?
UI9
Making It Better
User Interface Conference
October 11-14, 2003
(The "full version" will go on bags and other collateral.)

Thanks for your efforts,

Jared

[JMSpool]

Status update for everyone:

First, I want to thank everyone who has contributed so far. You guys are amazing!
Once again, I'm reminded of what someone with a real talent is capable of (and what I'm not :) ).

Now, our first two choices at this point are Shelly (Dziner)'s latest and Chris (CBaker14)'s. We like Shelly's lyrical treament of the UI -- it's a fun design.

We like Chris's technical feel (the circuitry and binary) and his use of fonts and color (after much tweaking and miscommunication on my part).

Everybody else's designs are really good. Honorable mentions go to Raja's 3D design and Fuse's latest. Both excellent contributions.

At this point, since we feel we're really close, we're going shorten the contest and end it in about 48 hours from now.

We wanted to give y'all a last chance to come up with something that will knock our socks off.

As soon as we're done with this contest, we plan to launch one to design the template for the conference site. Keep an eye out for that.

Let me know if you have any more ideas or questions.

Jared "The Only Thing I Can Draw Is Blood" Spool

[AlexKogan]

Thought I'd drop in as well. A hommage to Raja and Takenobu Igarashi :D

[CBaker14]

JMSpool...

should I include the additional info on my designs for you to look at?

Chris

[JMSpool]

Chris,

Yes, please do. I meant to ask you for that. Thanks for reminding me.

Jared

[CBaker14]

JMSpool,

Cool, just checking...I'll be posting later this evening, I'm not at my computer....hope thats cool.

Thanks,

Chris

[dziner]

Jared,
I have made the revisions but I wasn't quite sure if you wanted the complete logo to be one color. (which I did, and which turned out really good I think) If you do want to see more of a contrast in colors, or I misread your instructions, please just let me know and I will be happy to adjust or make any other revisions.

Thank you! Shelly

<img src='http://www.yencreative.com/ui9-4.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[DesignGeneral]

here is my entry ;)

[DesignGeneral]

new ideas ;)

The star shape can be replaced with other basic shape like (circle, square...)

if u want revisions. I'll be happy to do them.

Thanks

[DesignGeneral]

my favorite is this one :)

[CBaker14]

Here you go...let me know what you think...

Chris

[JMSpool]

Shelly:
That's exactly what we were looking for. We love all the colors. We may use them all! Out of curiousity, what font are you using?

Chris:
We like the top one of the four. Also, what font are *you* using?

DesignGeneral:
Nice design. Looks very patriotic to us. Appropriate, being that our event is right on the heels of the upcoming Democratic convention here in Boston. However, it isn't our favorite. Thanks for trying, though.

Alex:
Very cool. I had to look up who Takenobu Igarashi was. He's done some very neat stuff and I see exactly where you were coming from. Thanks for submitting. We'll think about it.

Everyone:
We're going to make our decision around noon EST on Sunday. Time to pass any last minute brain stones.

Thanks and good luck to everyone.

Jared

[dziner]

Jared,

"Making it Happen" (font: Rondalo) also, sorry for the goof in a previous version!

"9" (font: CG Times)

The u and the I were derived from shapes, not fonts.


Thanks! Shelly

[JMSpool]

Shelly,

I looked up Rondalo and I can only find it as a true type font. Do you know if a Mac font is available?

Can you try some alternatives with fonts you like that we can easily get in both PC & Mac formats?

Thanks,

Jared

[dziner]

I will see what I can find and post examples... but it might be later tonite, tomorrow morning if that is ok?

Shelly

[DesignGeneral]

new ideas ;)

making IT better

[CBaker14]

JMSpool...

I'm using "IMPACT" font...but I am altering it slightly...compressing and stretching it...

Chris

[CBaker14]

JMSpool...

sorry I took so long to get back to you, been out all day. Care for any other revisions or anything before tomorrow?

Chris

[JMSpool]

Chris,

Impact is great. We can get that for the Mac and already have it for the PC. (Fonts.com has it.)

I think we're all set at this point, in terms of revisions. Thanks for now.

You'll be hearing from us soon.

Jared "The End is Near" Spool

[dziner]

Jared,
Here are some examples with different fonts. I will also keep looking. Let me know of any more revisions :D

Shelly

<img src='http://www.yencreative.com/ui9-5.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[JMSpool]

Well, it is time for us to declare the winner:

We choose Dziner for her most recent designs. I'll let Palmer know to get her the $150 and she'll be our guest at the conference.

You all did a fabulous job. I want to encourage all of you to look for our template contest, which we are preparing to launch in the next couple of days.

This was our first time using Design Outpost. Because of the excellent work you guys did, I can tell you that it will not be our last, by a long shot. We've already started talking about the other designs we need done and when we'll want to be running contests.

This has been a lot of fun for me. I hope it's been the same for each of you.

Jared "Time to move on" Spool

[JMSpool]

Shelly,

We still like Rondalo the best. I'm going to have to talk with Josh (our token Mac user) , who handles our designs and find out how much of a problem not having a Mac variant will be. Maybe we can work around it.

Congratz,

Jared

[DesignGeneral]

Congrats Dziner :tup:

Jared I worked at this before u declared the winner.

I know is too late , but here is it ...

[CBaker14]

Congrats dziner... :tup:

[AlexKogan]

Congrats, Shelly :tup:

I'm moving the thread to the Revisions Forum.

[dziner]

Thank you all :D

Thank you Jared! I am in the process of looking for a font that resembles the Rondalo more. Let me know if you find anything out on your end and I will adjust on my end and send your way. Thank you again.
Shelly

[JMSpool]

Shelly,

Look no further. Despite the warnings on BuyFonts.com, the $2 (!!) Rondalo font works just great on OSX on the Mac.

We're good to go.

What format are your files in?

Jared

[dziner]

:notworthy: Good deal!
Currently the files are in the .png format. I can convert to pretty much any format that you will need. I will also include the native png file with any others that I send.

Just let me know. You do want all of the colors correct?

Shelly

[JMSpool]

We'd like the files in a scaleable vector format. We use Corel 11 and Fireworks in house. EPS or AI files work.

You are right, we'd like all the colors.

You can send them to me at jspool at uie.com.

Jared

[dziner]

Sending them in the next five minutes or so.
Shelly

[JMSpool]

No pressure, but I haven't received them yet.

We've had some bizarre email issues over the past few weeks and I'm wondering if you've sent them. If so, I'll try to track them down.

Jared

[dziner]

Files sent.

[JMSpool]

We are completely set here. You can move this to the archives.

Jared "Another Satisfied Customer" Spool