[Project Complete] Software Case Cover and Insert ($200)

[bankstrong]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 2F0400760V)

Designers -

Our software package will be delivered to the customer in a DVD case (inside a cardboard box, but that's a different project). I need two pieces of paper:

- 10.625" wide X 7.25" high outside cover. This is slipped in a transparent sleeve on the outside of the box. There probabably should be text running down the spine (.5" spine, but only use .25" to allow for folding inaccuracy).

- 4.75" wide X 7.25" insert. This occupies the left side of the DVD case when opened. Tabs (to hold the paper in place) obscure 1 square inch in both the top left and bottom left corners (don't place anything important there).

The text does not have to be great, but should be helpful for a writer in revisions. Also, please be aware that there may be a couple of emails later to insert different text.

For logo, graphics, etc., please check out http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5773

Also,

"System Requirements:

Software:
Windows XP Professional
Excel 2003

Hardware and services (recommended):
VGA monitor (1024 x 768)
1 GHz processor
256 MB RAM
500 MB disk space
Email and internet access"

Good luck,
Mike

[bankstrong]

URGENT - Deadline is Thursday 11/11 midnight Eastern time. I reserve the right to extend the deadline, but it is unlikely. I will provide you with good, quick feedback as you move toward a winning design.

[martellostudio]

This is what I came up with...

DVD Cover.....

[martellostudio]

Insert.....

[QuirkDesign]

Hi - I'll try to do the insert later today if you would like me to continue. :)

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartcover3web.jpg

[bankstrong]

Victor -

Excellent design. Bold, professional, clean. Good job on avoiding problems with the inside tabs.

Comments:

1) SmartRate (on spine) should be reversed - like QuirkDesign's entry.

2) The owl graphic looks odd when faded out (at least on my monitor).

3) The Profitdesk logo is hard to see in the colors used (on the white background, on my monitor).

4) Consider the possibility that the fold will be off by .25". The SmartRate text on the spine will be ok, but the left side of the owl graphic may wind up on spine.

5) I don't want to comment on most of the text because it will need outside review. However, please change the contact info for the software from info@profitdesk.com to support@profitdesk.com.

Suggestions:

I'm not a graphic artist and I don't have a great imagination for this, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt:

1) This design might be improved by changing the white area to black or grey. Of course, the white borders between colors should remain. And the text colors would change to remain readable.

2) Add a vertical (black?) (1"?) line running down the spine. This will function as a frame on the front graphic and not be adversely affected by a bad fold.

Nice job,
Mike

[bankstrong]

QuirkDesign -

A good start.

Suggestions:

1) No blur/shadow - it makes the graphic look weaker.
2) No curved cutout - it jars against the linear nature of the rest of the graphic.
3) I'm not sure, but it looks as if the spine has a .5" black stripe. This will move partly to the front or back cover if the fold is misaligned.

Definitely continue.

Mike

[samoyloff]

http://samoyloff.com/sr_dvd1.gif

[QuirkDesign]

Revised :)

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartcover6web.jpg

[QuirkDesign]

Another layout. :)

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartcover8web.jpg

[bankstrong]

Samoyloff -

Great start. Bold, professional.

Comments:

1) Keep more to the corporate colors. Maybe change blue to grey.

2) Drop the wavy lines - I think they disrupt the linearity of your design.

3) The white shape that the company logo sits on looks a little off. I'm not sure if this is because of the white background or shape. Maybe change the color layout so the top bar is somehow black and the logo can sit directly on top.

4) I'm not sure, but it seems like a misfold could mess up the owl graphic, white area.

5) I think some vertical design elements would help. The horizontal elements are safe in the spine area, but it seems a little unbalanced.

6) Because we're selling software (not the web site), the web address should not be featured any more prominantly than the rest of the contact info.

Mike

[bankstrong]

Quirk -

Your first design is preferable. If there is a second graphic, use the secondary graphic (link in other thread).

Comments:

1) Too many corporate logos
2) The white area beneath the logo looks odd - change to black.
3) Make your entry larger so I can review it in more detail.

Mike

[QuirkDesign]

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartcover9-10web.jpg

[martellostudio]

Changes....

[martellostudio]

another one....

[bankstrong]

General Note:

These designs bleed to edge (good, I think they look swell). However, they should be designed with an extra 1/8" on every side so the printer can chop them down. Also, design the graphic so that a cut off by 1/8" doesn't interfere with the quality of the design.

[bankstrong]

Quirk -

I like the first design better (with copper strip).

1) Some elements are too close to the top and bottom (see above note).
2) Owl graphic must be framed on top and right - It doesn't have any spare room in case it is accidentally cut off.
3) Is the half page meant to go inside the case?

Mike

[bankstrong]

Victor -

I like the second design better.

1) Wording on spine is pointed up.
2) Colors of profitdesk logo on white background are unreadable.
3) Black background on "SmartRate" is slightly grey.
4) Upper right design element on white area looks like a tab on a file folder. Delete the element, make area into a white box.

Mike

[martellostudio]

Here are the changes..

Also... Just to make sure were seeing the same thing in terms of color (because of monitor calibration settings) I am going to describe the color used to you.

Background is a pure 100% black.
Stripe running across front and back is a deep gold/rust orange color, color taken from the logo.

Is this what you are seeing? Thanks!

[samoyloff]

http://samoyloff.com/sr_dvd2.gif

[QuirkDesign]

The half page is the front cover. Just showing it separately so it's easier to visualize. My entries are shown without the bleed but I do have a bleed. Will make the changes you requested and I'll submit an insert for inside the cover soon.

[bankstrong]

Victor -

Definite improvement. It's looking pretty sweet.

The colors are good. I was reacting to the color behind "SmartRate" in previous graphic. That's fine in this version.

Comments:
1) The black strip in upper left is too thin. In last graphic, rather than changing black area to white, change white area to black.
2) Have you addressed the bleed issue?

I'm pretty happy with the design. I'd like you to tackle the inside graphic.

Mike

[QuirkDesign]

Revised. Bleed not shown. Will try to post inside insert today.

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartcover11web.jpg

[bankstrong]

Samoyloff -

Comments:
1) A misfold looks like it can affect
a) The white area on left
b) The white area behind the logo on spine

2) An imprecise cut of the bleed looks like it can affect all four edges

Mike

[QuirkDesign]

Inside insert.

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartinsert1web.jpg

[bankstrong]

Quirk -

This is coming along nicely. Please show the bleed and fold (as dotted lines like Victor?).

Mike

[martellostudio]

Hello,

I will make changes when I get home tonight. I do have a concern... the "SmartRate" and "Deposit Pricing Software" that I used in my design was taken from the graphics provided and is a picture and is not "text" or vector artwork. Would it be possbile to get these as vector artwork? as I can't seem to find this font.

Thanks!

[QuirkDesign]

I have the same concern as Victor, and would also like to get them as vectors if possible. Will post bleeds soon. Thanks. :)

[QuirkDesign]

Cover bleed and fold ... bleed is currently 1/4" but I could easily change it to 1/8" if needed.



http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartcover11bleedweb.jpg

[QuirkDesign]

Insert bleed.

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartinsert1bleedweb.jpg

[samoyloff]

Originally posted by bankstrong
Samoyloff -

Comments:
1) A misfold looks like it can affect
a) The white area on left
b) The white area behind the logo on spine

2) An imprecise cut of the bleed looks like it can affect all four edges

Mike

1.a. No, it's too far.
1.b. No, it's too small.
2. No, I don't think so.

:) I'll make sure the bleed issue won't ruin the graphic.

[bankstrong]

Victor -

I never got the original source file from the artist and now I'm having some trouble getting it. It's probably a misunderstanding - I should have it pretty soon.

Mike

[bankstrong]

Quirk -

The bleed looks great.

You have a beautiful design. I don't think any more changes are needed. Let's see where everyone else lands. When I pick a winner, I'll have some text changes to make.

Mike

[Marcusfizner]

Hi Mike. All the colors were pulled from the logo. Here is what I came up with. This one is displayed here without any bleeds so you can have an unobstructed view of the design.

[Marcusfizner]

I'm not sure why the image didn't post but here it is again.

[Marcusfizner]

And here it is represented with full bleed. If you like the way my design looks let me know, I would like to continue with the insert. Feel free to ask any questions or post any comments. Thanks.

[bankstrong]

Aaron -

Very good design.

Comments:

1) "Deposit Pricing Software" on spine should be deleted. It's too small.

2) The owl graphic abuts the spine and can wind up on the spine.

3) The horizontal stripes make the overlaid text tough to read.

[bankstrong]

Guys -

Does this file help with the vector question?

Mike

[Marcusfizner]

Thanks for the input. I will post changes and the insert design tommorow morning.

[martellostudio]

The file you supplied is perfect. The text should now look great when printed.

Here are the changes....

[martellostudio]

Here is the insert....

[martellostudio]

Here is a quick render of what the product and insert may look like...

[Marcusfizner]

Here are my revisions per your instructions. I pulled the image away from the spine edge and removed the extra type from the spine. The only thing I didn't modify is the type that you thought may be lost. I assure you that the final print will be easily readable. The problem is I am posting a low resolution jpeg image which causes the type to look weaker, but the final will be high quailty. Thanks.

[Marcusfizner]

The document with bleeds.

[Marcusfizner]

And finally, the insert displayed with bleed and without.

[QuirkDesign]

Mock-ups ...

http://www.quirk-design.com/DesignOutpost/smartmockupweb.jpg

[bankstrong]

Victor -

Looks swell.

Gotta say, I'm very glad that you posted the render. In my imagination, the design did not look anywhere near as good folded up as it does in reality. Great job.

Mike

[bankstrong]

Aaron -

1) You still have the issue with the owl graphic. It's too close to the spine and can get partially folded on to it.

2) Can you post a higher res version so that I can see that there is no problem with illegible text?

3) Can you render the package so I can picture it better?

Mike

[bankstrong]

Quirk -

Thanks for the render. It wasn't needed - I could picture that one already.

Beautiful job.

Mike

[Marcusfizner]

Here is an enlargement of the corner in question @ 100% - 300dpi.

[bankstrong]

Aaron -

What's the enlargement? I'll shrink it down and print.

Mike

[Marcusfizner]

Product Render.

[bankstrong]

Aaron -

All three pictures seem to have legibility problems in that area.

Mike

[Marcusfizner]

If space allows I can move the address up underneath product description. (See example) Space for type can be added by enlarging the white area on the back cover if necessary.

[Marcusfizner]

Oops.

[bankstrong]

Aaron -

You definitely improved the graphic. I would suggest enlarging the white are so there's enough room for type.

Mike

[Marcusfizner]

I enlarged the white space to allow addition of more type.

[bankstrong]

Aaron -

Looks much better.

I'm still concerned about the owl being too close to the fold. Can you display a version with dotted lines?

Can you render the graphic? I suspect that it looks much better folded up.

Mike

[Marcusfizner]

Here is the product rendering. I don't think the owl image is going to be a problem because there is plenty of space separating it from the fold. I will post the design with bleeds again just to make sure you agree.

[Marcusfizner]

Design with full bleed.

[bankstrong]

Quirk -

Beautiful, elegant box. The judges were unanamous.

I'm thrilled to use this design.

Everyone else: Quirk won, but every box was well designed and any one of them would have left me very happy.

Mike

[bankstrong]

Quirk -

I need to work on text changes with you.

But it's possible that my software (and miniscule knowledge) can make the edits. Can you send the source over and I'll see if I can edit?

Thanks,
Mike

[QuirkDesign]

Thanks Mike. Let me insert the SmartRate vectors that you sent and I'll send the files shortly. I did this with Adobe InDesign, would you like the native InDesign files? Or I can send PDF or PostScript files. I'd also be more than happy to make the text changes that you need, just let me know. Thanks again. Jeff

[Palmer]

I'm going to move this to the Revisions forum so Jeff can post the link for you to download the files.

[QuirkDesign]

Mike - Zip file can be found at the link below. I've included the native InDesign files as well as PDFs ready for print. If you need me to work on text changes, just let me know. If you need anything else or there are any problems, don't hesitate to contact me.

Thanks again.
Jeff

SmartRate (http://www.quirk-design.com/files/smartrate.zip)