Aboutfacellc.com - Prize: $40

[imageconstrux]

I've got another contest for you! (Admin code added by Palmer H762164V)

The name of the business is About Face, the website addy is www.aboutfacellc.com.

About Face is a marketing/consulting firm, targeted to reach smaller businesses. The name 'About Face' comes from the idea that this firm will take a small company's marketing effort and make it do an 'about face' getting it going in the right direction. It also means that this company's purpose is about creating the opportunity to meet 'face to face' with a customer, in a figurative sense, through print, TV, radio and web advertising and PR.

This one is for a friend of mine - she will learn about this contest soon enough, and can give better direction from there.

All the same rules apply to this contest that have applied to the others, except the timeline - with
Christmas so near, I don't want to restrict entries.

Good luck!

Jeff

[Liz]

I actually had a moment of inspiration for this one, and came up with this: (the colors can be changed, of course)

http://home.earthlink.net/~lizfulghum/aboutface.gif

[imageconstrux]

Hi Liz,

That's cool! I've chatted with my friend, and am going to defer all comments and direction to her. She'll post some feedback in the near future.

Thanks for participating in this one.

Jeff

[daisydukey]

First, to my friend Jeff at imageconstrux...THANK YOU for your work on this project...maybe someday we will become biz partners...afterall, then one of us would have the scrooge juice to make it work. :P Seriously Jeff, thanks!

Hello Designers!
About Face LLC is a consulting firm that helps new businesses (or any business who needs it) to make a face (image) B) for their company.
Sounds simple, but it is amazing how many new ventures fail due to lack of proper branding and marketing. Contrary to the movie "Field of Dreams" just because you built it (a new biz), they (customers) will NOT automatically come.

The basic principals to keep in mind are these:
We make businesses turn around - or - do an "about face" which is a military term meaning to turn 180 degrees and face the opposite way.
We also take a nameless business or those who are not well known and give them a face, or image, for customers to easily idendify with, and therefore buy from.

Some phrases that may encourage a desingers emotions may include:
making businesses come full circle
180 degrees
from nameless to notorious (well known)
clean cut image
be seen
memorable features
coming into the light

I'd like to see balance and feng shui in this logo...everything else is up to YOU to create...have a blast!!!!!!!!!

Kristen :D

[Zoe]

Hi there,

Just an idea I thought of.

http://www.demexdesign.com/aboutface.gif

[daisydukey]

To: rabbitdog...
Thanks for your logo submission! I think it's a good start. Please read my discription/suggestions above and see if you are struck by a feeling or an emotion to give you a bit of a different direction. I would suggest changing the blocky feel to something with a circle and balance. Also, our intentions are to turn a business around (180 degrees), rather than turn it up-side-down...hope that helps.

To: Demex...
I would encourage you to look at the discriptions again and try to get a FEELING of what we want to do for people and their businesses. The feeling this logo gives off is that the people in it are confused and want to jump out of buildings. It has a cartoony feel, which is not the impression or image we want to give off either. We take our business very seriously, but not ourselves. ;) I hope you will continue to try to work with this concept, and submit another logo...keep up the good work!

[AutomatikStudios]

hola...this popped into my head so i made it real quick before i forgot what i was thinking.....it'll be cleaned up a bit...but just wanted to know if you like the idea.....

http://www.digitalfiredesigns.com/sideprojects/aboutfacellc/aboutface.jpg


merry christmas!

[daisydukey]

Thanks Josh!
I like this best so far. Here's why...the partial circle gives motion and a feeling. I'd like to see some other colors. I'd also encourage you to work with the words...each of the three designs has the words About Face plunked in below the picture. We need to be WAY more creative, because our customers judge us on that! Work with this...I like it...Thanks again!

[Bishop]

Here's my go at it. All colors can easily be changed.

entry removed

[Bishop]

Here's a modified version of my previous entry. I think it look better.

entry removed

[AutomatikStudios]

logo number dos...dos is 2 for those of you who don't know french....im j/k......okay...anywho....now that my moment of dumbness has passed....here is the modified version of my other one....im not sure i like the way "about face" is....kinda looks like "face about" but i was getting frustrated so i figured i'd put this up and see what suggestions you had......also...im gonna work on the "man".....he looks too blocky to me...i'll make him a little more curvy....unless of course you like it...

http://www.digitalfiredesigns.com/sideprojects/aboutfacellc/aboutface2.jpg


thanks!!!! :ph34r:

[Zoe]

Hi Josh,

I am not sure if it is my place to make a suggestion but I thought I would anyhow. Something that I liked about your first logo more than your second was that when I saw it I thought the person was facing away from me and the position of the lines being closer to the head implied that the person would turn to face me - "making businesses come full circle- 180 degrees".

With the second one the person is already facing me.

Well that was just my personal thoughts. I personally like your concept.

[daisydukey]

Bishop: Hello and thanks for playing. Please add feeling to this design. It feels industrial to me. The person reminds me of the signs on bathroom doors indicating "Mens" or "Womens." :( The arrows may be too obvious. LLC is not important to anything with the logo...nor is the web address.

Josh: This is shaping up...please keep in mind the name of the firm is About Face...not About Body. I say this because the body is getting bigger. 2 partial circles are better than 3. The words still need work...how about something even less traditional...have fun with it!

ALL DESIGNERS: Subtleness, but effectiveness...that is the key. A logo that is interesting enough for people to take a second look and try to figure out it's meaning.
What can be done to a logo to make it look like it's coming into the light, or that it once was old and now is new? I reccommend using color to make this happen...black and white into color, or perhaps a face that was once faded and is now in focus...something along those lines.

Thanks for all your work...this is a great start...now just keep reading the description phrases and get a FEEL of what it should look like...be ONE with the Logo! :wacko:

[Bishop]

Originally posted by daisydukey@Dec 22 2002, 08:25 PM
Bishop: *The person reminds me of the signs on bathroom doors indicating "Mens" or "Womens."



:unsure: Yikes! That certainly wasn't my intention.

Anyhow I tried something a little different. It's simple like you want, but I think it looks good. What do you think?


entry removed

[daisydukey]

Hello Again Bishop: Thanks for taking another shot at it...can you see why this one reminds me of the basic picuters found perhaps in a health manual? I made mention in my comment in your first attempt that arrows are too obvious. I see them again in this design. Please look at Josh's designs, and see how his design gives a feeling of motion - the effect, without being too obvious. This design still doesn't give a feeling of any kind.

Hey Josh...I still like what you've got going...so please, continue your focus on that design and tayloring it even further.

:o HEY LIZ -- :huh: HEY ZOE--
You still out there? Are you willing/able to try something else? I hope so...if not, I understand :unsure:

HERE'S ENCOURAGEMENT IN A DEFINED DIRECTION
Consider using a sphere and build a very genaric face on both sides -
The first side would EITHER be: A bit older looking or wheathered, OR a little less happy, OR perhaps the face is out of focus, OR the color is black/white or greyscale. This is the side that signifies the place where our customer's business is stuck...the namesless, the unknown, the unsuccessful.
The opposing side (180 degrees)of the face would be the positive changed business. The opposite of whichever characteristic you choose.
It shows balance...it's a kind of Yin & Yang really more than a Feng Shui (thanks Jeff).
Perhaps that will strike up some new creativity...I hope you are all having fun with this...it is an excellent forum...I appreciate all the work I'm seeing here!!

[Zoe]

Hi, sorry I have been flat out with a few different projects, Christmas and a million other things. Here is my idea based on your thoughts.

http://www.demexdesign.com/af2.gif

[daisydukey]

Welcome back Zoe! This is pretty cool B) ...you are on the right track. Please build off this idea. Please use the shpere as the head itself, rather than a cicle around the faces. In other words, build the facial features off of the shpere, like your own head-- 3D. It is critical that the face is very nondiscript, meaning ambiguous, or unable to detect gender or race, we don't want to stereotype. I really like the big A that you formed at the base of the 2 necks. The more creative you can get with the letters, the better, and that is a GREAT start!

To All: Please keep in mind -- this is a logo that with be used primarily in TV and web ads. However, print is also a factor for sinage, letterhead, businesscards, etc. If you think it needs a touch of annimation...please run with it...

Happy Holidays to All...May you laugh often, and share many good things with those you love!!

[Dan]

How about this -

[daisydukey]

Hi Dan!
I marveled at the simplicity of this design. I like it. I'd like to see these faces flipped from side to side, rather than up to down. I like the font, but can you think of something more creative with the placement of the words? Thanks!!

[Bishop]

Hi Kristen,

Here are a few variations based on your request. Hopefully one of these are more in the right direction as opposed to my last couple entries.

[daisydukey]

Bishop...this is really taking shape, :rolleyes: thank you! Of the 4...I like the one on the bottom the best. I'd like to see the heads pushed together even further so it looks like one head with 2 faces. Please also make the black colored fill in the head much more transperant, maybe no fill at all, and perhaps offer different colors for the fill.

[Bishop]

Kristen,

I tried out each of your suggestions. The first is not filled at all as you can see, and looks to have one head.

The second logo I added color. It's a little difficult to make the heads different colors and have it appear as one head.

Personally I like the second one far better despite the seperation, but your the boss ;)

[daisydukey]

Bishop,
You are doing well with what I am giving you to go on.
Here are some additional thoughts...The swoop that shows the motion of turning 180 degrees is beginning to look like a visor on the persons head. Please remove it...but, is there any other way you can think of to show a bit of motion?
Also, I just can't get used to the features on the face, they are too realistic for my taste. Please take a peek at the simplicity of Dans design and work with the facial features.
The solid fill of color is still too much, I'd like to see it semi-transperent.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED HARD WORK :rolleyes: !!!

[Zoe]

Here is another idea - I drew this by hand in photoshop though would be able to replicated it in Corel Draw.

http://www.demexdesign.com/af3.gif

[daisydukey]

Welcome Back Zoe! :P
You are getting it! Thanks for this entry!
Please show me a round head (instead of the oval or football shape).
Please move the swoosh and the text down to where the neck area would be.
Please work on the facial expressions...I have deceided against the happy/sad, it doesn't come off well. Take a peek at Dan's logo. The face can be that simple.
Please try some other colors. Perhaps something more subtle/proffessional.

[Zoe]

Ok here is my last entry... : )

[Bishop]

Hi Kristen,

Unfortunately, I will not be able to submit any more entries. I have a few other projects that need my attention and I can't afford to continue.

Good luck with your contest and to those who enter. :)

[daisydukey]

Bishop, :( Sorry to hear you have to take a bereak, but projects are important. Again, I very much appreciate all the time and effort you have put in...good luck to you!

[daisydukey]

Hi Zoe!
Even though the changes were different from what I suggessted...I like it very much! You mentioned this is your last entry, and I respect that and appreciate all the time and attention you've given! I hold this entry as one of the top entries that I have seen thus far...so check back on January 16th to see if you won! Thanks Again!

[daisydukey]

Attention All Designers: The deadline for this contest is Midnight, January 15th.
<span style='color:orange'>Thank You, and Good Luck!</span>

[imageconstrux]

Midnight where? Australia or US? CST, EST, GMT?


(Sorry - had to mess with you :blink: )


Jeff

[daisydukey]

OK Desingers...Midnight - ISH...I forget how big this world is! Thanks Pal Jeff, you always keep me on my toes :P Truthfully, I will not make a final decision until sometime Thursday evening 1/16/03 Central Time, USA. How's that?! Up until then...anything goes. :o

[sparkie]

Hope I'm not too late! :)

[imageconstrux]

Hello Sparkie -

Though this isn't my contest, I did set this one up for my neighbor, so I feel confident she won't mind when I ask -

What exactly is protruding from the men's waists?

[SideFX]

Sorry i had to laugh but i believe its his hand :D :D :D

[Palmer]

As usual, Sparkie makes a grand entrance :rolleyes: :P

Palmer

[daisydukey]

Wow! Sparkie! You know how to spark up some conversation in this contest! :o

I'm VERY happy to see a new entry! I like the sense of motion you created. I would perfer to see a very genaric face rather than a whole body. What can you do to revise your entry using that suggestion?

The contest is open until January 15th.

Thanks! ;)

[sparkie]

*ROFL* ... I knew I'd get this response when a bunch of guys run the forums ;)

That is indeed his hand. :D

And here is another entry as you requested, daiseydukey.

[daisydukey]

Hey Sparkster!
Thanks for the modifications...If possible, I'd like you to take this a step further:
1) Work with just an outline of a face, this one still shows from chest up.
2) Make that face outline genderless to avoid stereotypes.
3) Please delete the slogan and the LLC to keep it simple.
4) Try some other colors, like grey and green.
I'm looking forward to seeing one more entry from you... :D THANKS!!!

[Dan]

DaisyDukey - sorry for the late modification I made it this morning before receiving your email but wasn't able to access DesignOutpost. But luckily its not to late!

[sparkie]

Ok, I'll make the requested changes soon :)

[daisydukey]

Hi Dan!
Thanks for your entry...I have more modification ideas....
1) Change the grey face's frown to a more neutral postion.
2) Add a base under the faces. The base should be circular, and show motion...like a frisbee cirling through the air. It does not need to be a solid base, and it does not have to be connected to the bottom of the faces.
3) Have the words About Face under the base, but they need to bend around the base in more of a 3D fasion instead of the flat straight on 2D way it appears now. Perhaps the font could be bolder?
I hope these are clear instructions, and easy enough for you to do...I like what I see here :rolleyes: ...let's work with it...THANKS!!!!!

[Dan]

DaisyDukey, I've made those changes, Let me know if you need further tweeking!

[sparkie]

Here are my revisions :)

[daisydukey]

This contest is still OPEN
first design preference is Dan's (most recent)
second preference is Zoe's (final)
If anyone else wants to submit thier thoughts, please do so soon... ;)

:D Dan,
Good....good. I like how this is shaping up.
Please revise the grey face's neutral mouth to a slight smile and the green face to have a bigger smile.
I like the font, can it be more bold? Perhaps the word 'Face' could be even more bold than the word 'About'?
I'm wondering if the edges and angles on the faces could be softened up? The back of the heads and the noses are at 90 degrees now, but how does it look if they were a bit rounder? I think I'd like to see that option if possible. Everything else is looking great...THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK!

:unsure: Sparkie,
This still isn't clicking for me...can you try something different?

[Dan]

daisydukey, I've posted here the rounded edges but I don't think I looks as effective as the straight lines.

Let me know what you think,

[TwistedNewMedia]

Heres my try...

[Radu]

Here is mine:
http://www.wwwzone.net/demo/do/logo-aboutface.gif

[daisydukey]

Dan,
Thank you...I need some time to really think about this...at this point, you are my top pick...please stay tuned...if you win, I may have some tiny tweeks to add...THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!! :D

Ubergerlgeek,
Thanks for your design...my feeling is that a logo should tell a tiny story of what the business, (or an aspect of the business) is about. I don't see that with this logo design. Can you come up with something else?

Wwwzone,
These are different from what I've been thinking about, but there is something I like about all 3:
1st design includes the circular feel that I like, as well as the "F" that flips and makes an easily idendifiable icon, in both the graphic and the words. The feeling it throws may be too harsh.
The 2nd is softer, and the graphic is like a modern day Yin-Yang symbol. I also like the mirror image reflected below the words.
The 3rd introduces an interesting font, and the graphic looks almost like a flower, which signifies the growth of something beautiful (which is what we do for our clients).
You've got me thinking in a different direction, which is GREAT! Is there something you can come up with that encompasses the positive elements that I've pointed out? Think outside the normal design guidelines. ;)

[Radu]

Daisydukey,
thank you for your comments.

Is there something you can come up with that encompasses the positive elements that I've pointed out? Think outside the normal design guidelines.
I will think about a way to incorporate the things you liked in one logo but I hope to come up with more than one variation.

-Ruairi

[TwistedNewMedia]

Hmm I guess what my logo symbolizes was a bit complicated, I was thinking like see how the font at the bottom is light and it gets darker as it gets closer to the top, I was thinking that symbolizes a company and after dealing with About Face they are like the font becoming darker, and more well defined.. sorry If that wasnt clear, I might add another entry soon...

[Radu]

Daisydukey,
here are some more variations. Let me know what you think.
http://www.wwwzone.net/demo/do/logo-aboutface2.gif

[daisydukey]

WWWZONE,
THANK YOU FOR THE NEW VARIATIONS, YOU TAKE DIRECTION WELL B) !
THINGS ARE VERY BUSY FOR ME RIGHT NOW...I WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO REALLY LOOK THESE OVER...YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB! I'LL POST MY THOUGHTS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS....

[Radu]

Hello Daisydukey,
Thank you for your reply. It is good to know you like the direction I followed. :)
I always think of a logo as something abstract (well, not in all cases, but mostly) that should create a strong impression.
Probably the most important thing in a web page (or any business document - my opinion).
This is what I try to do with all the logos I do.

Well, I need to get going.. :)
I'm waiting for your reply & comments.

-Ruairi

[daisydukey]

Hello Ruairi,
I like the the first of the 4 new ones the best.
Can the shadow from the symbol in the middle be taken out? I think it crowds the shadow from the "F" and loses some effect.
Can you show me softer, yet still professional fonts with this design?
I also still like the second design from your first set. ;)
I hope you'll have a bit more time to work with these suggestions...
Thanks VERY much for your contributions!

[Radu]

Hello Daisydukey,
Thank you for your comments.
I will work on the logos you like later today and come with some variations.
Hopefully you will have a preview later today or by tomorow morning.

-Ruairi

[Radu]

Here they are...
Let me know what you think.

[synax]

Jeff, here is my attempt. Colors & fonts may be changed with ease.

Thank you for your consideration,
Jon Drew
Synax Design

[Palmer]

Ok, I think we need to decide a winner on this one. There's 36 different logos. One of them ought to be worth the $40 prize :P

Palmer

[daisydukey]

What a crazy week it's been on my end...I apologize for taking so long to post resonces! As Palmer requested (and I agree) we should wrap this one up...

Ruairi,
You have made this a challenging decision, thank you. If I do choose you, I will have an additional tweek.

Jon,
Welcome, and thank you...I like the symbolism of the night and day very much. It fits well with our philosophy here. I like the concept and the font...what can you do to show less detail in the faces? Right now the design may be too busy to be practical as a logo. Please show me a revision with less detail and I will seriously consider it. ;)

A DECISION WILL BE MADE SOON! THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY!!!!!

[synax]

Well I just happened to be on when you requested the changes so here they are.

[Radu]

Ruairi,
You have made this a challenging decision, thank you. If I do choose you, I will have an additional tweek.
That's understandable... No problem.

[daisydukey]

Jon,
By less detail, I was referring to the lines, not the shadowing. ;)
Take a peek at any of Dan's designs he submitted to see how simple the lines can be. If you'd like to try again, please give it a shot.

Ruairi,
If another redesign based on what you've already submitted is not too time consuming, please try the this:
Using your most rececent design group, take the 2nd one and keep the font exactly how it is.
Remove the entire circle from between the words.
Go back to your first submission.
Take the circle from the 2nd design.
Insert this circle between this new set of words.
Please be sure the shadow from the circle does not interfere with the "F" from the word "Face."
If you have any questions, please shoot me an email.

THANKS DESIGNERS!! B)

[cre8or]

I'm hoping I'm not too late!
I was just sitting here when some inspiration hit me.
(It hurt, too.)

[Radu]

Daisydukey,
here's the logo with the required changes. :)

[daisydukey]

Cre8or,
This is very interesting! I hope it didn't hurt too much :P
The meaning of "About Face" is to turn something around, like flipping it from one side to the other. Your design shows images turned upsidedown. Does anything else come to your mind? I'd like to see what you can do with this concept after considering that bit of info...

Ruairi,
Thank you...that is what I wanted...you really follow direction well...I'll be making a choice by the end of the week. Thanks for your attention to detail! ;)

[cre8or]

Daisydukey,
Thanks for the feedback...
I'm going to have to give it more thought. The concept I was trying to convey was a day/night,
turn-around partnership (handshaking) in the form of the letter "A".
Gotta think some more...
Thinking...
I think I smell something burning... :blink:

[Palmer]

Originally posted by daisydukey@Feb 4 2003, 08:40 PM
I'll be making a choice by the end of the week.
It's the end of the week.

[daisydukey]

AND THE WINNER IS............................

Congratulations DAN!
We like your third design the best, but will need 2 minor modifications.
1) Please be sure the 2 heads are symetrical, and the noses slightly rounded, like the foreheads.
2) Please make the word "About" bolded, and in the color of the grey head.

After those changes are made, I'd like to see that entry in a vector format in a .jpeg file extension.

[Dan]

Excellent my First Design Outpost win! :D

daisydukey, I'll send you the modified design shortly.

[Palmer]

Congrats Dan (we need a nanaman) :) I'll get your paypal info tonight. I'm at a different computer now.

Thanks Daisy :D

Palmer