Quick Logo/Cartoon/Image *Project Over*

[sloban]

(Admin code added by 2Square - Y364691C)


Abstract: This contest is for one graphical image/cartoon for online use. Prize amount is $100. Quick turn-around desired and prompt, specific and constructive feedback will be provided.

Deliverables: One bitmap image appropriate for use in a banner, logo, etc. (exact format, dimensions and resolution are TBD) and a copy of the native file (e.g. an AI or EPS vector file or TIFF file). Only the cartoon/image is required, NO banner or logo text.

Contest Rules: All entries must be the original work of the designer. Winning design will be declared from all entries submitted no later than 3/29/04.

Description: I am looking for a recognizable, humorous, cartoon-like image to associate with the name “Drowning Chicken”. The name is derived from the tagline: “Flailing about like a drowning chicken,” which is a description for team projects (e.g. software development) where leadership and direction are a bit lacking. It will be used to build a banner for a Blog, "Drowning Chicken" and possibly for a web site, "www.drowningchicken.com".

Key Ideas/Psychology: Must be humorous (attracting, not repelling) but being a little cynical is appropriate. If the character is anthropomorphized, then tech/geek characteristics would be appropriate. Must have strong visual weight.

Colors: wide open, doesn’t have to fit with any pre-selected palette.

Questions are welcomed! I'm looking forward to seeing the submissions!

-- Scott

[Aaron]

Hi Sloban,

I'll start it out... Directionally, is this something like what you're looking for, or more stylized?

[sloban]

Thanks for kicking this off!

The water shapes are great. They set up a pretty good figure-ground relationship. But figure-ground is a little hurt by how light (emphasis-wise) the white head on the chicken is.

I think a more stylized chicken might lend itself to more expression and hence more humor, but this is a great start!

-- Scott

[Christian]

Here's a quick draft. Give me your thoughts!

[muvment]

Would you prefer this on a white background, or coloured? Obviously, if a blue background is acceptable, we won't be having the issues you were concerned with in arthouse's submission (as a white head would contrast well with a blue background).

Thanks,
-Chris

[cre8or]

"Drowning Chicken" just struck me as funny.
Please advise.
Kimber.

[Christian]

Draft2 :D

[sloban]

Chris - I'm open to something with a colored background. I'm open to chickens with colored feathers, too. :P

Christian - I love the characterization of the chicken with the tie and pocket protector! But I don't think that this composition (the water cooler) is heading down the right path. I would like to see more of an emphasis on "flailing about" and a simpler composition.

Kimber - Funny is good! I think this stylization of the chicken is heading in the right direction. It's naturally funny, and the 3-dimensional nature could lend itself to some great characterizations, such as counter-rotated eyes or whatever. This composition, like Christian's, is a little too complex. The chicken is the thing, really. :)

Thanks to all! Looking good! -- Scott

[Christian]

New draft! :D Thoughts?

[Christian]

Polished up a bit!

[Aaron]

;)

[AlexKogan]

Hi there, Scott :) Long time no see :)

HAve I heard the word "cynical"? :D

[AlexKogan]

...or this...


(Hey, Christian, you're in mass production, eh? :D :tup: Great work ;) )

[AlexKogan]

Kimber :tup: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Aaron]

Alex: :lol:
That one with the feet is hilarious.

[Christian]

Here's a more polished up version though still not at its sharpest!


Thanks Kogan! You too! I guess chicken contests bring out the best in all of us. We should petition for more chicken contests! :lol:

[sloban]

Christian - I really like your style. The broad strokes give the image a nice weight and fresh feeling. The composition of the latest entry is more focused on the chicken, too. A couple of things: the tie wouldn't work for first-time viewers. I think the only reason I recognize it is because I saw the first entry. And the image needs more humor. The darned bird is so cute that I want to rescue it! :)

Aaron - good work! This is a nice evolution of the first entry. But in my opinion, your first entry was cleaner. I feel like there may be too many visual elements now and figure-ground is actually less clear than before (you darkened the head, but also shaded the water). Try one or the other. I like what you did with the eyes - makes it much funnier.

Alex - Hi there back to you! Excellent work! Entry #1 is a gem, cracked me up! But #2 struck me as inspired ... "I'm drowning and it's all your fault and I'm pretty Pi**ed about it!" Was that by intent or serendipity (or is it just me)? No, don't tell. :) The only thing this image doesn't offer - and I'm not suggesting changing #2 - is I have a preconceived notion to focus on the "flailing about". Any ideas?

Thanks to all! Great work! -- Scott

[sloban]

Christian - I just wanted to add that I actually prefer your "first drafts." Sure, they need to be cleaned up a little bit, but the fresh, hand-drawn impression is part of what I like. -- Scott

[Chocolate]

Hi! My entry for this cool contest:

[Aaron]

Tell you what... here's both! ;)

[annia]

<!--QuoteBegin-arthouse+Mar 24 2004, 09:15 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (arthouse @ Mar 24 2004, 09:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Alex: :lol:
That one with the feet is hilarious. [/b][/quote]
:tup: :lol2: agree!!!

[CBaker14]

I'll give this one a try...

Let me know what you think...

Chris

[sloban]

Chris (CBaker14) - that entry is a really excellent illustration! But it's a "drowned chicken" not a "drowning chicken". ;) Seriously though, I'm looking for movement ("flailing about") and it should be appealing and funny, although Alex's inverted chicken was hilarious.

arthouse - I like the second of the revisions better (with the light water as background). Would you mind trying this: lose the large loose feather (maybe keep the smaller one) and put back the splashes you had in your original?

Sunil - nice, bright colors - magenta and cyan. :D I think this design has been really well expressed by arthouse and Christian. Any ideas for something new?

Thanks to all! -- Scott

[Aaron]

Something new?

[Aaron]

You mean like this?

[sloban]

arthouse - yeah, just like that. Thanks! -- Scott

[CBaker14]

I'll post a struggling chicken tomorrow..:)

Chris

[Paula23]

Here is a chicken thats learned a lesson or two!
Thanks!

[Christian]

Another direction :D Maybe could be drowning in coffee? Thoughts?

[Chocolate]

Here is a chicken drowned not in water, but in project papers!

[CBaker14]

How about this flailing chicken...

Chris

[sloban]

I want to thank everyone for the great submissions! Wonderful work on everyone's part.

After reviewing the latest entries, I'm going to go ahead and declare a winner for this contest. I think the second entry by Alex Kogan is just right for the blog and I'm declaring him the winner. I know that his design wasn't what I thought I was looking for when I started the contest, but it just resonates for me.

Alex, I'll be contacting you by email to finalize. Thanks again to everyone! -- Scott

[Christian]

:tup: Congrats Kogan! Funny stuff indeed! And thanks for a fun contest Scott! :lol2:

[Eagle]

*
Nice one, Alex....'outside the box' thinking too! :tup:

[AlexKogan]

Wow, I can't beleive it :D It was a half bad joke half midnight delirium :D
Thanks a lot, Scott ;)

Hey, I've been thinking about improving the look of it. I'll try to post it soon to see if you like it more ;)


Thanks guys :tup: Nice work, team :D

Hey, Chris (Baker), nice drawing :tup: ;)

[CBaker14]

Thanks Alex...

[AlexKogan]

...I've tried to make him to flail around, but he's so freakin' lazy that this is the least he would agree to do :rolleyes:

[sloban]

Thanks Alex,

I love what you've done with the eyes! I hate to ask, but could you do it without the sign, with just the head up? The sign doesn't work with the textual elements I'm adding in the banner. -- Scott

[AlexKogan]

No prob, Scott :)

I've made the eyelids a bit more contrasty, tell me which color do you like more.

[sloban]

#4 is great! Thank you Alex! I'll need a bitmap about 100 pixels high in the y-axis (for just the non-white part). JPG format will be fine. If this is in Illustrator, could I have a copy of the AI file, too, please? -- Scott

[AlexKogan]

I'm including the AI and an EPS (version 7) variant, just in case. I'm sending it to your MSN address. Is it still functioning?

[AlexKogan]

Files sent and received. Contest over.

[Raja]

Alex, :tup:

[AlexKogan]

Raja ;) thnks :D

[annia]

I like how you did the bubbles at the winning image :)

[AlexKogan]

These are Scatter Brushes, Annia ;) Very useful :D

[Bill]

Very nice!