Canopy Skirts Product/Company - Prize: $125

[toddski07]

Hello, (Admin code added by Palmer - A1950340L)

My name is Todd Pawlowski and this may appear to be a long post but I have tried to provide as much background as possible upfront.

FYI...My web consulting company is named Brightside Interactive Inc. and that is where links to various client/project files will be hosted. I'll tell you right now that no site exists for my own company...I know...how pathetic...but I guess I have a good problem...too much work to worry about my own site! My own company logo and site template could be a future project in itself! HA!

Contest: Canopy Skirts Product/Company Logo Design
Prize: $125
Deadline: April 6th, 5pm CST (Subject to change if needed)

EDITED: PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ MY POST LATER IN THIS THREAD THAT INCLUDES A PENCIL SKETCH I TRIED TO DRAW UP SHOWING THE MAIN ELEMENT WE DESIRE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LOGO. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED A QUICK FIREWORKS MOCKUP OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BOAT LIFT TO BE STYLED AFTER.

Overview: In addition to my web consulting business I am also a principal partner in a company called Pawlowski Enterprises LLC. We have developed a new product called "Canopy Skirts" for the boating/marine industry. This patent-pending product will be introduced to the marketplace this spring and we are in immediate help for creating a logo for our company/product. At this time the product name is the most important. After a logo is created it is very probable that I will start a contest for a site template and possibly need some assistance for printed material designs (business cards, letterhead, brochure) going forward.

What exactly is a Canopy Skirt? Well, it is a product that consumers can attach to an existing boat lift canopy that creates a complete enclosure around their boat. A Canopy Skirt is the product that creates the sides around the boat lift. We are not selling actual boat lifts or boat lift canopies. We are only selling the attachments to enclose it. Take a look at the product flyer to see what I am talking about.

We have created some "temporary designs" as a bandaid to meet some initial marketing needs. They are fine and look ok but I would like to put together a more complete package. Here are a few links to the files we created.

Existing Materials
Product Flyer- (Bottom photo in flyer shows a boat lift with only skirts attached. Top canopy has been removed for photo purposes.)
View at: Product Flyer - Color (http://www.brightsideinteractive.com/canopyskirts/designs/ProductFlyerGeneralColor.pdf) (713K)

Business/Infocard- Use these to handout to people at tradeshows and general public.
View at: Business / Info Card (http://www.brightsideinteractive.com/canopyskirts/designs/InfoCard.jpg) (28K)

Target Market: Selling direct to consumers who own a boat lift w/canopy located on a lake. We will also be selling it through a dealer network within the United States. These dealers will sell it to the end consumer. Our market will be boat owners who are interested in adding some protection to prevent wear and tear on their investment while it sits in a boat lift.

Company/Product Image: We are very customer oriented and committed to a high level of satisfaction. We are experienced in the boating industry and created the product ourselves in order to solve a problem. Top quality product and materials. Warm and personal but not "cartoonie." Innovative but not really "techie."

Logo Considerations:
We are looking for a logo that can be used on product packaging, web site, letter head, ads, etc. It is pretty open at this point but I do like the idea of trying to tie in boat lift / water within the logo. That way instead of having to say "Boat Lift Canopy Skirts" you might be able to drop "Boat Lift" when creating the logo.

Colors:

I have assembled information about our color requirements and desires into a single file.
View at: Color Requirements and Swatches (http://www.brightsideinteractive.com/canopyskirts/designs/ColorSwatches.gif) (54K)

EDITED - The color swatches link above is only a recommendation. I would like the primary color(s) to be in the blue tones and then some sort of an accent color like golden yellow, orange, etc. to add some pow to it. Don't worry about incorporating the beige/tan colors that are in the linked file. I think those colors tend to dull down the design too much after seeing a few submitted logos.


Keywords to consider:
- Product: Canopy Skirts or Boat Lift Canopy Skirts with less emphasis on "Boat Lift" (Smaller text)
- Company: Pawlowski Enterprise, LLC.
- Tagline: "Creating A Canopy Enclosure" (Subject to change in the future...)
Note: Company Name and/or tagline do not have to be included if the design does not work. Please consider it but I know that is a lot to add to a logo. Most of the time I would only really need "Canopy Skirts" but it would be nice if I could include Company Name and/or tagline as part of the logo when appropriate. (Something like including it below the logo but looks like it is part of it...know what i mean? One logo with two versions.)

Visual Elements:
- Boat Lift with Canopy
- Canopy Valance (part that hangs down)
- Canopy Skirts (attached sides)
- Boat
- Water / waves
- Weather element(s) (Sun, Rain, Wind, etc.)
- Marine related

Competitor Logos:
At this point we really don't have any direct competitors but there are numerous companies that deal with the marine industry. They range from manufacturers of boats, boat lifts, docks, accessories, etc. to actual companies that sell the products like marinas, dealers, retail stores, etc.

I have gathered some of the logos from the main industry players in our market and put them into a single page.
View at:Competitor Logos (http://www.brightsideinteractive.com/canopyskirts/designs/CompetitorLogos.gif) (110K) I do like the little icon used by www.shore-mate.com.

Finished Output Files
I primarily use Fireworks for web site graphics but can also limp my way around Photoshop. It would be great if the final version is available in several formats (Fireworks, Photoshop, Illustrator) so that I can use it accordingly. (Web site, printing company, etc) The logo needs to be able to scale from smaller business card size to larger poster/banner size. Upon completion I would take ownership/rights of the winning graphic and it would not be reproduced within another logo or other work.

Conclusion:
I know this post is quite long. Sorry! I am really excited to see the different logos but also to see how the process works. If all goes well there will be additional contests by me. I have a few clients that need work and I "dislike" (ok...hate) racking my brain on graphic design. The initial deadline for the logo is set for April 6th at 5pm CST. If logo designs are limited at that time I will consider extending the deadline. I'd like to wrap up the logo contest and move onto a site template ASAP. We got a lot to do before the summer boating season starts!

Thanks. Any questions please shoot me an email.
Todd Pawlowski

Email: todd (at) brightsideinteractive (dot) com

[Raja]

:D <img src='http://www.webfellaz.com/4fun/canopy.gif[/img]

[Palmer]

Awesome :notworthy:

[toddski07]

ondarox (v1) -
Thank you for the first post. Wheww...the project is underway!

The v1 is a very attractive and professional looking logo but my initial thoughts when I look at it make me think of a cruise ship. The boat image looks like an ocean liner with different deck levels and the circle is a port-hole that people look out.

I can see the canopy valance and the appearance of the vertical lines to simulate the canopy skirts but they are lost in the overall design. I do like the "style" of line used for creating the boat or water. (The lines are not so rigid....I like that.)

Again, it is a sharp design but just didn't strike me the right way on first appearance.

I'm not sure about having the image be such a large part of the logo. This version is about 80% image and 20% product name. I realize it will be challenging to display all the visual elements within the image if it is smaller but I would like to see something a little more integrated with/around the product name. If some elements can't be included then we will have to live with it.

This feedback is just some initial thoughts. By all means don't let it stop your creative mind. I am open and looking forward to seeing what you guys and gals come up with!

Thanks again.
Todd

PS...Congrats on the Bushwoods design. I thought your last design with the yellow sun looked great for their needs. Boy there were a lot of great logos submitted by the designers.

[toddski07]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

If it would be possible to incorporate the image of a boat lift w/canopy into the logo that would really help drive home the initial visual connection. Of course feel free to design your own "simplified boat lift" but I thought I would give you a few links to boat lift manufacturer's web sites just to give you an idea of what different boat lifts look like.

Boat Lift Manufacturer's

http://www.shorestation.com

http://www.shore-mate.com

http://www.hewitt-roll-a-dock.com/index.html

http://www.shoremaster.com

Again, these are only suggestions for you all to play around with. If you have a "sweet" design without a boat lift I would still consider it.
Thanks.
Todd

[chelle]

B)

[toddski07]

Chelle -

Thanks for giving it a shot. I appreciate you taking the time.

1st Logo - I can see the canopy valance part and the potential boat outline but I think it is a little too abstract for our tastes/market. I have a feeling if I present this to a person they may not be able to figure out if it even deals with boat lifts/marine industry. Clean graphic but just not what I was looking for.

2nd Logo - I do get a little bit "lighter" feeling when looking at this one (which is good...not such a boxy feel) but without the words it appears to be a sun setting under a bridge.

Text treatment on both logos - I guess at this point I am not a real fan of boxing in the text unless it is actually part of the logo or adds some dramatic impact to the logo. Of course this could change given the design but on the two presented it just doesn't look right for my tastes. (Ondarox's design looks ok with the box because it feels like it fits with the logo....even though I am not interested in that actual design.)

Font - Obviously we can play with fonts as the design progresses but if I had to lean one way or the other I would prefer something a little more body like the first logo over the thinner letters on the second one. I certainly don't want fat jumbo bold letters that scream "LOOK AT ME" :D but at this point I am not looking for the thin ones.

Hope you take this as constructive feedback. It is hard to say to someone what you like and don't like especially if it is their personal design...but I guess that is how things go in order to reach a conclusion.

FYI... On the competitor logos I do like the little boat lift that is used for ShoreMate. www.shoremate.com That is a head on view of a boat lift and is easily recognizable. (Although it really isn't integrated with their name.) Either a head on or even a side view of a lift and it's wheel might work.

Thanks again. Look forward to seeing others.
Todd

[Liz]

hi,

here's a quick entry from me. This is an original illustration, so you'll be sure to have something completely unique. Vector format so it's resizable to any of your needs.

http://clients.snapfire.com/canopyskirts.gif

thanks for your consideration,

liz.

[toddski07]

rabbitdog (Liz) -

Thanks for posting a design. I appreciate you taking the time to enter my contest.

Initial reaction - Very nice...a step in the right direction for the type of logo I had in my head. The boat is easily recognizable and I like the weight/style of the font (or similar font families).

Because I know the product I can see the outline of the boat lift w/ canopy but I'm not sure if a customer would figure out our product deals with the Boat Lift and not the boat itself.

Let me explain:

- An actual boat can have a canopy itself and is connected/part of the boat and its frame. The boat user can put the canopy up when the weather is bad or to keep the sun out, etc. They can drive their boat around the lake with the canopy up.

- Our product does not deal with the "boat and its canopy" so it would be nice if the design would allow the user to recognize a boat lift frame/canopy and/or that a boat is inside a boat lift. The Canopy Skirt attaches to the boat lift and stays in place regardless if a boat is parked in the lift or not.

Your design is a step in the right direction. I know we could easily add the words "Boat Lift" in smaller letters within the logo but if we don't have to literally spell it out that would be the desired option.

Maybe if the boat is scaled down inside of the lift it would allow for more recognition of the lift and canopy itself. Just an idea but feel free to think of other options.

Thanks again. I really looked forward to seeing additional designs from you and any other designers.

Todd

[Raja]

:unsure: <img src='http://www.webfellaz.com/4fun/canopy2.gif[/img]

[toddski07]

ondarox (v2) -

Thanks for another entry. This one is a little closer to the "idea" in my head but not quite there yet.

For the actual canopy design/structure could you take a look at the info card I linked to in the original post. The lines/curves for the frame should be more like the design on the info card instead of just a straight peaked roof. Also the valance flaps need to be more like your first design or even more like the info card style. For the number of "flaps" most boat lift canopies probably have about 5 or 6 across the front width of the canopy.

Not quite sure on the design of the boat. Would it be possible to see an option somewhere between your version of the boat and the one included in rabbitdog's logo? I like the look to be more of a ski boat style. Also, the boat can be a little wider in order to fill up the space under the canopy. It doesn't have to go from one side to the other but perhaps just a little wider. (I know I asked rabbitdog to reduce the boat in that logo but that was because I couldn't see the boat lift. :-)

I'd like to see a font style a little more youthful. The current style is a little too formal.

Colors- Gosh this is tough because I know I asked for something in the blue tones with other colors to accent. I still want to stay in the blue tones for the primary color(s) but perhaps we can axe the tan/beige and instead use some sort of accent color like the yellow similar to your first post. Can't tell you right now if I like the boat to be the accent or the text or the color behind the text etc. so I'll just have to wait and see other designs.

Here is the thing...I am 28yr old male and would love to have a logo and design that is aggressive, colorful (bright blues and greens), and has some pow but the problem is our market isn't necessarily the younger teen/twentysomething crowd. Not too say older(mature) people are not into colorful designs but I find it more reassuring and professional if the image was not so youthful (wakeboarder) and in-their-face. People who are going to purchase our product more than likely own a home on the lake. I'm looking to strike a balance between a clean professional design with a little bit of edge to it. I know...good challenge for you designers.

Thank you again and I do hope you continue to make an effort and present me with more designs.

Please let me know if this kind of feedback is good, bad, or indifferent. Do you need anything else? Have any questions?
Todd

[toddski07]

(Edited 3/31 - This post is more or less a mute point at this time especially since there are several good designs underway and all is well. I'll leave it up anyway for some good reading. I appreciate the private messages that were sent to me and I am pleased with everything that is happening here at DesignOutpost....an absolute great find. I will be telling others about you guys and gals.)

NOTICE TO ALL DESIGNERS! PLEASE READ...

First...thanks to the designers who have already submitted logo designs!

I'm Sorry. After re-reading my initial post and all the background information, requirements, desires, yada yada I think I may have "scared" some of you away from wanting to attack this challenge...uh...I mean contest. Certainly the last thing I wanted to do is limit your creativity and design ideas. Maybe my communications make it seem like I deal with "larger, professional, structured design companies...aka..corporate" and perhaps this translates into a difficulty to work with individual designers. I hope that is not the case. I am a one-man shop myself and independents are certainly easier to work with...that's why I am here at designoutpost!

Sure, I have an idea of what I am looking for and I know that makes it more difficult for you since you are trying to "create my vision" from only my text descriptions. Doesn't allow you to just "let ideas flow". Perhaps I am only thinking "inside the box" instead of "outside"...who knows. I think I have a pretty good feel for our audience and that is what is directing my desires.

I realized this logo contest may be more challenging than others and that is why I have offered the $125 prize...top logo prize to date of any logo contest. Of course money is not everything but I wanted to try and make it worth your time. (Plus...from the work I have seen in other contests you all deserve to be PAID MORE and hopefully this will help "bump up" the prize money for future contests. Man...some contest holders got their great logo for a steal!)

Hmmm...wish I could say more. To be honest I have a fear that since my first contest is kind of a tough one that future contests I post may initially not be received with so much fan fare. That would be a bummer. I have been looking for a place where a wide array of designers are present and can generate ideas for different design requirements I may have for projects. In addition to this contest I am currently sitting on three projects that each could require different contests in the near future to save me from design headaches!

I know the boards are pretty busy right now with several contests so perhaps I am just being overly concerned for no reason. If that is the case then all is well and I look forward to seeing what designs will follow. If that is not the case...please send me a private post and let me know your thoughts. Are there things I should do, refrain from doing, too much info, etc...I'm a pretty personable guy and would appreciate honest feedback. I am really wanting to make this experience a positive one for all involved.

FYI...If you are just truly not interested in this contest then I totally understand. Please don't view this post as a "Hey...what about me and my contest?" in hopes of trying to lure you in. If it just doesn't work for you then that is fine. No harm no foul. I just want to make sure I did not scare you away for the wrong reasons.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this post.
Todd

[chelle]

B)

[Liz]

Hi there,

here's an updated entry from me:

http://clients.snapfire.com/canopyskirts2.gif

Thanks again for your consideration, and feedback.

- liz.

[toddski07]

Chelle-

I like the canopy but overall it just isn't quite there yet. I really appreciate you submitting another design. Take a look at my comments and included sketch on the next post and perhaps they give you some additional ideas/insight.

Rabbitdog -

Personally I like the feel and style of your second version. It has a smooth look to it and comes across clean. It would reproduce well in black and white or in color. I can recognize that the boat is sitting on something in this design but still have trouble identifying the canopy part.

I have shown all submitted designs to a few key people and quite a few of the comments centered around being able to tell what is a Canopy Skirt. They asked me if I could see the canopy skirt product in any of the designs...to which I stated "The concept is present in some but not very clear at this point". So with that being said I have a clarification/direction request. Please see my next post for more details. (If you could incorporate the side angle view of the boat lift in place of the head on boat view that would be great. I hope you give it another shot cuz I like what you have done so far.)

Todd

[toddski07]

Request...

After talking with a few people involved in my company I have a request for future designs. I tried to do a "quick and dirty" pencil sketch of what we are hoping could be included in future logo designs. (Main item is the boat lift)

http://www.brightsideinteractive.com/canopyskirts/designs/PencilSketchIdea.gif

Instead of the head-on view of a boat in a lift would it be possible to see some logos that include a boat lift w/canopy and skirts attached similar to the one in the pencil drawing above? It could be at the angle shown or if it makes sense feel free to flip it 180 degrees. It doesn't have to have a great amount of detail/lines etc. but I would like to be able to make out the following key elements:

- Boat lift frame with top canopy
- Canopy skirts outline
- Wheel on boat lift side

Optional items: (do not have to be included unless it fits your design)
- dock
- boat
- shoreline
- water

Since we are looking for the boat lift to be enclosed in the canopy skirts there will not be a need to show a boat. (cuz it wouldn't be viewable inside if lift was covered at this angle)

I hope this can provide some additional ideas for your creative minds. (Uh...I realize I am somewhat handicapping your creativity but there is room for design and style in how to present the boat lift at an angle.) Bottomline is that I have been told that the design needs to show the skirt enclosure part/concept of the product. Again the boat lift view with skirts is the focal point.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW WE WILL GET TO A DESIGN THAT WILL EXCEED MY INITIAL HOPES!

Todd

[Juvanescence]

A more illustrative approach.

[toddski07]

j-design -

Very nice...I like the style and feel of the design you posted. YES YES YES! I can recognize the boat lift and canopy top, dock, a little bit of a boat. With all that said the one thing I know I am going to hear from "my reviewers" is that they cannot see the canopy skirt element. Urrgghh....to them since I do like it though. :-) Overall I do like this design...at this point let's file this one in "my back pocket" while I ask you and the other designers to consider the following.


Last night I tried to do a "general mockup" of what the "reviewers" are looking for in the logo design. MINE IS STRICTLY A STRAIGHT LINE AND NO FRILLS MOCK-UP! If any of you could incorporate something similar to the graphic below that would go miles with impressing them.

Include an image something like this:

http://www.brightsideinteractive.com/canopyskirts/designs/BoatLiftOutlineSample.gif

Some may wonder why the heck am I at DesignOutpost if I can already "mock-up" this type of an image. Well...that is exactly the reason I am here...I can only "mock-up" a general idea and lack the knowledge and TALENT to add a creative/stylistic approach to the raw image. You (the designers) have a talent of including just the right style of lines, edges, shading, colors, etc. that adds so much more than I can bring to the table or even think of.

After seeing the last two designs (rabbitdog and j-design) I am pleased with the direction the style is heading. Certainly nothing at all wrong with the others it is just that I'd like to see the overall style for any future designs similar to these. We are getting there!

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH!
Todd

[Liz]

Hi...

Taking into consideration your previous post, I've modified my logo to include a version of the canopy skirt illustration you attached. Hopefully this will satisfy both you and your "reviewers".

best,
Liz.

http://clients.snapfire.com/canopyskirts3.gif

[toddski07]

rabbitdog (Liz)-

Wow...appreciate the quick turnaround time and your efforts to satisfy "the reviewers" needs. :D I think your most recent design will show them the light in that it can be done and that our logo does not need to be an actual REAL photo of the item! Real photos are for including in collateral materials and on the web site etc....the logo needs to have a little bit of fun/style to it.

In regards to the most recent design...I can think of a couple small requests but I am going to wait until after talking it over with a few "reviewers". No need to make you change things more than you have too. I just wanted to give you my initial feedback and say that I do like this type of a design. Good job so far.

I'll get back to you about the possible changes later this evening.

(ADDED...Ok I have shown them the design and they like it as one of the options to consider. Please make a few changes to define the bottom edge of the skirt. Possibly add a horizontal line parallel to the top. Please add the valance flaps around the top edge. PS...I have sent you a message explaining these changes in greater detail but I thought I would also post them here so other designers could see what I have requested.)

Thanks again.
Todd

FYI...To the other designers checking out this contest...hopefully rabbitdog's latest design can inspire you to continue coming up with a few competing logos. What would a contest be without some good ol' competition! ;)

[Liz]

Hi there.

Per your requests, I've created 3 updated versions of the logo:

http://clients.snapfire.com/canopyskirts4.gif

[TwistedNewMedia]

Hey there,

Ill have my entry in within the next few days. I was wondering, are you still open to the idea of water or a shoreline as the logo or did you for sure want to see the boat/canopy skirt idea?

[toddski07]

Originally posted by rabbitdog@Apr 1 2003, 11:45 AM
Hi there.

Per your requests, I've created 3 updated versions of the logo:

http://clients.snapfire.com/canopyskirts4.gif
liz-

The updated versions look very good. Thank you for implementing the requested changes. If your design is picked as the winner we may ask to see it with a few similar fonts and/or another slight alteration but there is no need to make anymore changes at this time. Don't want to eat up more of your time than required. ;)

Thanks for participating!
Todd

[toddski07]

Originally posted by ubergerlgeek@Apr 1 2003, 12:15 PM
Hey there,

Ill have my entry in within the next few days. I was wondering, are you still open to the idea of water or a shoreline as the logo or did you for sure want to see the boat/canopy skirt idea?
ubergerlgeek -

Looking forward to seeing your design(s) in a few days. I am pretty sure that we are going to want to see the boat lift w/ canopy skirts as part of the logo. I realize it kind of limits the range of creativity but it is important in order to visually drive home the point.

However, as soon as the logo contest is wrapped up and final alterations completed I am going to post a Site Template contest for the product. This contest will be quite a bit more open for creativity and might allow you to work in the water/shoreline ideas. There will be some general guidelines but the graphic/creative part I have no pre-conceived idea in my head at this point. So I will be looking forward to checking out the various designs.

Thanks again.
Todd

[toddski07]

We have decided to end the contest earlier than the stated deadline...but for good reason. Rabbitdog's last design has been chosen as the winner because frankly the "reviewers" liked it and our timeline is getting tight for launching our product. We are still working with Liz on a few alterations/options but all should be good.

Here is the winning design (prior to final alterations):
http://www.brightsideinteractive.com/canopyskirts/designs/CanopySkirtsLogoWinner.gif


I want to thank the designers who participated in this contest. I know your creativity freedom might have been slightly handicapped but we really do appreciate you trying.

Ending the contest early was a choice we made in order to now post a Site Template contest with a $200 prize. Please check it out. Our product launch schedule has been sped up so I need to get our website ready ASAP. I am posting the Site Template contest now so that all designers have two solid weekends and a full week to come up with some designs. I really hope we are able to see 3 or 4 good options for the site templates.

Thanks again.
Todd