River City Pet Watch - sign/poster *Project Over*

[Memphis]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 4517415T)

Hi guys!

I've got a logo, stationary, a character mark, and an ad.

Next on my DO wishlist ~ a sign or poster. :)

I'm looking for a nicely done poster (8.5 x 11) to advertise my pet sitting business.

The poster will be displayed in some art studios, cafes, apartment buildings, a flower shop, small grocery, etc. Since I only need about 50 copies, I am just going to have the poster "copied" at Kinkos rather than having it printed. A JPEG file will be fine, but I would also like to have the "live" file, if possible, so that I have the option of having it printed down the road. I have Photoshop and Illustrator for PC (I'm totally intimidated by Illustrator, though).

You can make it full color and have bleeds but keep in mind that there will be a white border all around the poster (according to Kinko's).

What I would like included:

- my logo

- my character mark (Christian has provided a temporary place holder file)

- a few association logos - NAPPS, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Neighborhood Association (I've included in zip file but will try to get better files if needed)

- website url (www.rivercitypetwatch.com), phone number, my name (Kristyn Giles)

- some tie-in to Downtown Memphis [My strategy was to exclusively target our downtown area and hopefully get some help from some downtown "movers and shakers". It worked! A major downtown developer has taken me under their wing and are helping to promote me.] Tie-in could be anything from a statement such as, "Serving Downtown Memphis" or "A Memphis pet sitting service offering quality care for downtown pets", to a picture of a downtown icon like the Mississippi River Bridge (see next post). You have free "creative reign" here. I have never been able to come up with a tag line and just use one of the former, so feel free to use what you like.

- of course it will need to include what I do ~ pet sitting, dog walking...use whatever angle you come up with. As an example I'm uploading a flyer that I did. I don't want you to include everything ~ I'm just using it as an example of an "angle" (Does Max have a walking buddy?...).

[Memphis]

Here is some information I posted in my logo contest about downtown...

"Downtown Memphis is built on the bluffs of the Mississippi River and has been experiencing an ongoing renaissance for the last 20 years. We have many different neighborhoods including the South Main Arts District with lots of art studios, shops and converted warehouses, a very upscale island community (Harbor Town), several ritzy neighborhoods overlooking the river and lots of highrise condos and apartments. Some major identifiers of downtown include the river, our bridge, trolley cars, horse drawn carriages, and the skyline. Here is a link to some pictures (http://community.webshots.com/album/58371772qXtSQW) if you are interested. Or, these (http://community.webshots.com/album/64619438oLvpkz)."

Just a fun side note: On the last Friday of every month, there is a Champaign Trolley Tour. You can ride the trolley to South Main, drink free champaign and visit all the art studios, shops and cafes. :D

[Memphis]

I'm sending the zip file to Palmer...

[Memphis]

I give up. How do I send this file in?

[Palmer]

Here are some files for this project...

[Memphis]

:unsure: :flowers:

[MOZ]

Hi Kristyn
MOZ here. I'm currently working on a flyer for you.
Just got to get all my ducks in a row, make sure I get all you ask for.

It will include:
1. you LOGO
2. Character mark
3. requested logos
4. web address
5. your name & phone
6. Memphis icon/reference

I was thinking of the theme,song "Walking in Memphis"

Missing anything? do you like?

MOZ

[Memphis]

Hi Moz! :)

I do like!

I never thought of "Walking in Memphis" ~ very cute/clever. Plus, I like to emphasize daily dog walking since that is my bread and butter.

See, that's another reason I like DO so much! You guys always exceed my expectations. :D

[MOZ]

Here it comes...ready or not

please let me know what changes you might want.

Art on bottom is the one you commented on from HSH contest
she didn't use it but you could! I can make it color, but kinda looks cool black & white.
Makes it so future clients can picture themselves.

NOTE: the art would also make a wonderful coloring contest you could drop off at preschools, schools, anywhere with kids! Put all of your info(like a card) and make it so that the parents have to return it for the kid to win (make it a cool prize - gameboy, bike, savingsbond???) also maybe enclose a coupon of some kind???

[MOZ]

Here's a larger version

[Memphis]

Wow Moz!

-I love that picture of downtown in the background and I love the slogan "walking in Memphis."

- I do like the dog-walker graphic and how she is kind of walking out of the picture. Also goes really great with the slogan. My only hesitation is that I was hoping to use my new sheltie character mark in a more prominent way. I need to think about this (great idea about coloring contest, too :) ).

- Also, I think I may have given you too much stuff to put on there. :lol: I think I am going to just leave off the NAPPS logo, since it is probably meaningless to most people, and just use the Chamber logo and DNA logo.

- What if you just removed the sheltie and the NAPPS logo for now, and moved my logo to the bottom? I changed logo for flyer but it is actually more square. See below.

This really is an attention getter! Thanks for entering!! :)

[MOZ]

Haven't forgot !
Will post something this evening!!!
MOZ

[MOZ]

And now for something completly different

sort of kind of followed your request :rolleyes:

[Memphis]

Hi moz!

I like it. I like it. :)

I may change my mind about some of the stuff that's on there. Thinking maybe I need to put "Licensed & Fully Insured" since it is such a "trust-based" business. I don't want it to be too cluttered, though.... Just thinking out loud.

Hey, where did you find the pic? I thought it was from one of the links I posted but I don't see it there. It's perfect! :yes:

I'll be back soon.

kristyn

[MOZ]

Glad you like it!

as for the picture I got my sources :tup: (googled it)

please let me know if need me to add /delete anything

[Memphis]

Hi Moz!

Is this a one man competition? :)

If there is a certain reason why you did something, tell me. I'm sure you have a lot of ad experience. So here are some of my thoughts...

- I'm thinking still remove the NAPPS logo

- Rather than serving the downtown core, etc., what about just "serving downtown Memphis"

- Might be wise to leave off "Pet Taxi Service". I do offer it on a limited basis, but currently have only a two-seater car. :lol:

- Lastly, I know this is really a design contest and not an ad contest, but I need some help here. Is it clear what I do? Will people want to call? Does something draw them in? Ok, I'm not sure what I'm asking, but the idea of a billboard keeps popping in my head. If you've got a few seconds to make it memorable, what will do it? What about something repeating the "walking in Memphis" line. Let us walk 'em?????

[MOZ]

Hey Memphis
Crazy day I'll have your rev later today! Will fix all the concerns and will reflect "ad/billboard" changes. This really is an ad contest to me, and that's great! I need to get you something that stops them. remember you can never make a second first impression! I'll work it out for you

MOZ

[MOZ]

Hi Kristyn
I can't go to bed without posting this for your morning coffee.
I think we may be getting closer to what you want.

NOTE We'll WALK your dogs world is a play on Rock your world you know the whole music thingy!

I'm here if you need more...Just Ask :tup:

MOZ

[Memphis]

Moz, thanks very much for your great work!

I like this last version without all the stuff I gave you at first. :rolleyes: What do you think?

I think I like just "walking in Memphis" rather than "pet walking in Memphis". Or maybe even "dog walking in Memphis". I don't mind emphasizing the dog walking aspect of my business. No need to change anything yet. I'm still looking at it.

Thanks again ~ looks great! :D

kristyn

[MOZ]

Kristyn

Here's another one :rolleyes:

It has some of the elements you're thinking about and a Twist ;)

[ElKootcho]

Welcome back to DO. Can't let Moz just walk away with the prize! I decided to take a very professional approach with a look that you'd be likely to see in a magazine. My approach is to educate your potential customers as to why they should use your services; why their pet needs it.

BTW - The main image is obviously low res. I can get the high res version to drop in if this design interests you.

<img src='http://www.smallbusinessstyle.com/DesignOutpost/RiverCityPoster_01.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[ElKootcho]

New dog, new color.

<img src='http://www.smallbusinessstyle.com/DesignOutpost/RiverCityPoster_02.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Memphis]

:blink: Wow!

Mike, that's great! Nice and clean, but wow!!

:unsure: My new character mark.... unused. :crying:

[Memphis]

Moz, I like the one before better. What if you just put "Walking in Memphis" and leave off the dogprints?

[Memphis]

Mike, I love what you did. Gosh, I think I like the first one the best, but I'm not sure if that's because I saw it first or not. Thinking...

Like the "tough guy" pup also.

[MOZ]

Here you go!

[ElKootcho]

<!--QuoteBegin-Memphis+Apr 21 2004, 06:38 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Memphis @ Apr 21 2004, 06:38 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> :unsure: My new character mark.... unused. :crying: [/b][/quote]
Here ya go...I added her in.

<img src='http://www.smallbusinessstyle.com/DesignOutpost/RiverCityPoster_03.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Memphis]

Thanks Moz. :D

[Memphis]

Mike ~ I like it better without. That's why I was crying. :rolleyes:

[MOZ]

Just curious
would you like to see one from me without all the Memphis theme?

[Memphis]

Yes, yes! Please do. :)

You can even do one without the character mark. Show me what you think looks good and I am likely to change my mind about what I wanted originally (I think that is my perogative as a woman? :rolleyes: ).

[Anne]

Here is an entry from me

[Anne]

and

[ElKootcho]

Another great looking dog. As with the others: free to use.

<img src='http://www.smallbusinessstyle.com/DesignOutpost/RiverCityPoster_04.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Memphis]

:woot: Nice!

As usual you all have really come through for me! :D

I had been thinking today that I hadn't been very communicative with this contest, and that I needed to give you more feedback. :P

Really, though, I knew that you guys would use your creativity and come up with something that looked great and that I never would have thought of. That's why I keep coming here. :)

Thanks very much for entering MOZ, Mike and Anne, and here's a little feedback....

[Memphis]

MOZ ~ You were careful to include everything I asked for in your submission. :)

My original plan was to have the "doggie" character mark done and use it as part of my identity, and you did. Only thing is, I don't think I like the "doggie" with your entry. I like the Memphis scene, but not my character mark with it. :eek: Which of course is exactly what I asked for. But, you are the designer and I'm not, so feel free to try anything or any combination that you would like and that you think will look good.

Also, I do like the "dog walking" graphic you used; however, I think it conveys that I walk the dogs in a big group, which I don't. I don't think Memphis is ready for group dog walking. :rolleyes:

Thanks for being the first to enter and for giving me lots of entries. :)

[Memphis]

Mike ~

I like your professional approach, plus I like that clean, simple look. I like how the ad emphasizes the mid-day dog walking more than pet sitting. Most of my business is daily dog walking and I'm thinking more and more that I want to keep emphasizing that aspect of the business. I like how you "educated" my potential customers. :) Nice copy!

My favorite is the first one with the cocker. Those eyes just seem to be saying "please". I also like the yellow. All looks good with my very nice logo. ;)

I have a question for you. I am going to need a small color ad whch I will post a contest for in a few days (it is fairly small, though), and I am also planning on doing a door hanger. Would your entry work for either of those? I'm not asking you to show me now, I'm just asking if you would use your entry for either. You got me thinking when you said that it would be something you would see in a magazine. I'm pretty sure, though, that my ad space is way to small.

Just trying to decide how many of the entries I want. :P

Thanks for your work!

[Memphis]

Anne ~ Very soft and pretty!

My favorite is the first one with the two shades of yellow.

I'm wondering if you could find a different picture. Maybe one of the Mississippi River and Bridge? I live here and don't recognize those buildings. :lol2: Let me know if you need any help.

Thanks for your entry! :)

[MOZ]

Kristyn
Thank you for your kind post but alas it lingers with the kiss of death :(
I feel that it would be futile now for me to offer yet another version. Sometimes being the first entry isn't all that good. It's true that I did offer you all that you asked for ("walking" out the bugs if you will) and I appreciate the opportunity. It's just time for me to move on. Anything that I could do would overlap the other entries and that would not be fair to them. It was fun and if in the future you need MOZ you'll know where I'm at :tup:

Please consider the earlier entries when making your final decision. An anything that I have done can be manipulated in size, color or application

Get them dogs a walkin!
Good Luck & God Bless
MOZ

[ElKootcho]

I have a question for you. I am going to need a small color ad whch I will post a contest for in a few days (it is fairly small, though), and I am also planning on doing a door hanger. Would your entry work for either of those? I'm not asking you to show me now, I'm just asking if you would use your entry for either.

It's always best to try to match your advertising materials and the elements used in this ad can easily be modified for other uses. The dogs and colored backgrounds are two separate pieces of art so the glow and dimensions can be modified in any way needed to work in different shaped ads. Likely the same story with Moz or Anne's entries as well.

I think all 3 dogs have merit and would work. They each evoke different feelings: cocker spaniel looks pleading (almost guilting someone to take him for a walk), the panting mutt (not sure what kind of dog) looks like he's ready for a good time and possibly a little trouble, and the puppy is just plain cute.

[Anne]

Here is one with a picure of the river/bridge (the other picure was of towntown memphis)

[MOZ]

<!--QuoteBegin-Memphis+Apr 22 2004, 05:18 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Memphis @ Apr 22 2004, 05:18 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I am likely to change my mind about what I wanted originally (I think that is my perogative as a woman? :rolleyes: ). [/b][/quote]
Kristyn

Here's MOZ's feeble attempt to sway you into his camp :rolleyes:

I've always felt that your first impression of what you want could be your true feelings


Dr. MOZ is finished now ;)


:ph34r: will be watching

MOZ

[ElKootcho]

Here's your favorite spaniel shown with a few color options.

<img src='http://www.smallbusinessstyle.com/DesignOutpost/RiverCityPoster_05.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Michael]

<!--QuoteBegin-MOZ+Apr 25 2004, 03:59 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MOZ @ Apr 25 2004, 03:59 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Kristyn

Here's MOZ's feeble attempt to sway you into his camp :rolleyes:

I've always felt that your first impression of what you want could be your true feelings


Dr. MOZ is finished now ;)


:ph34r: will be watching

MOZ [/b][/quote]
No bribing MOZ ;)

[MOZ]

I was just stating a known fact :rolleyes:

:ph34r: MOZ is now standing in the corner

[ElKootcho]

<!--QuoteBegin-MOZ+Apr 25 2004, 12:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MOZ @ Apr 25 2004, 12:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I was just stating a known fact :rolleyes:

:ph34r: MOZ is now standing in the corner [/b][/quote]
Actually, I think that only works when taking multiple choice tests. Remember the SATs? :lol:

[MOZ]

Way too old for the SATs...never had to take them :tup:

[Memphis]

Hi guys!

Sorry for the delay.

Actually Moz, I was going to tell you that it wasn't the "kiss of death" and that you were still in the running. :lol2:

I was actually thinking about choosing a design from more than one designer and doing kind of a "test" market to see which one got the most attention. Another thought was to use Kootch's for door hanger and another design entry for poster, but Kootch got me thinking when he said it was good to "match" the ads. :unsure:

So.....all that to say that I have not made a decision yet. I want to show them to a couple of people and will try to post my decision tonight or tomorrow morning. I know you guys generally like a fast pace on this board, so sorry for being a slow-poke. This is, after all, the south. ;)

I will be posting a few more contests, so you guys please be sure and enter. :tup:

Thanks so much,

kristyn

[ElKootcho]

Hi Kristyn,

So glad we could confuse you :blink: . That means we're doing our jobs of giving you something to think about :D

Here's a watermarked, high resolution PDF that you can download and print to help give you a better idea of how it will look at full size, stuck to a wall.

RiverCity Poster PDF (http://www.smallbusinessstyle.com/DesignOutpost/RiverCity_Yellow.pdf)

[Memphis]

So much for my deadline.

I've not made a decision yet. Actually, what I want is one design from each of you, but I don't have $300.00. :lol2: So....I'm still trying to narrow it down.

Be back soon.

k

[Memphis]

Mike ~ I'm wondering if you would humor me and plop my sheltie in place of the cocker in the yellow sign.

Or......put a picture of a sheltie in place of the cocker???

Oh, and thanks for the high res sample. That looked great!

[Memphis]

Moz ~ If you've "hung up your hat", no problem. However, if you are still up for changes this is what I would like to see.

On your last entry, I'm wondering if you could just make the sheltie a little smaller, the "walking in Memphis" phrase a little smaller, and all of the other logos smaller.

I love the Memphis picture in the background and I love "walking in Memphis", but think I would like for my logo and name to show up a little more.

:) Thanks!

[MOZ]

will do!

[Memphis]

:clap: yea!

[MOZ]

Hear you go

[ElKootcho]

Here ya go...

<img src='http://www.smallbusinessstyle.com/DesignOutpost/RiverCityPoster_06.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Memphis]

Thanks guys. I'm trying to make a decision. :D

[Memphis]

Like I said in an earlier post, I wish that I could pick one from each of you. They were all fantastic.

Anne ~ I loved your entry! It was beautiful. I decided in the end, though, that it would be better as something "in hand" like a flyer, rather than hanging on a wall. I will certainly keep it in mind for the future when I need a flyer. Thank you very much for submitting your design.

Mark ~ This was really a tough decision. I still love your "Memphis" entry and I am hoping to come back for it. :) I just have to make a little more money first. ;) Thank you sooo.... much for the great entry. You really were in it 'til the end.

Mike ~ OK, I'm picking your design with the sheltie. I kept going back and forth between the sheltie and the cocker but when enough people said they liked the one with the sheltie, I decided to run with it. Also, you kinda nailed it when you showed me the matching ads. :)

I love this place! If it wasn't for DO I would not be able to afford this caliber of work. You all have pretty much developed my companies entire identity and I am very grateful! :D And, even though some people have no problem picking a winner, I think that is the hardest part. It doesn't get easier for smaller contests either. :P

Thanks so very much everyone! I really appreciate all of you!

kristyn

[Anne]

Congratulation Mike, greate entry :tup: