ebook cover banner 100x140 - $65 by Feb 4

[flexsuccesscoach]

(Admin code added by Palmer - R1139026)

This project is for a 2-D (flat-look) ebook cover design, 100x140, which complements the colors found at WorkOptions.com. http://workoptions.com

A few of those colors are:
Blue: #336699 = 51:102:153
Maroon: #990000 = 153:0:0
another blue (the right border?) #9FC1CF;

ebook title: Flex Success Proposal Template
Author: Pat Katepoo

Preferences: a (royalty-free) photo-based design which features a friendly 30-something businesswoman. Warm colors.

Audience: The Flex Success ebook has a seven-year history of sales at WorkOptions.com and my main buyer is a married professional-level career woman, in her 30's, who recently had a baby or has young children. This is a fairly sophisticated (and friendly) audience who seems delighted to pay $29.95-$59.95 for Flex Success in order to help her negotiate a flexible work arrangement at her current job.

Appeal: I ran across this tidbit--"Warmer graphics matter. Images that have color and pop off the page lead to higher click-through rates. E.g., a picture of sunglasses with a warm glint on the lens would win over a picture of sunglasses with flat black lenses." If you can incorporate that pop-off-the-page concept in the cover, that would be neat.

I look forward to seeing entries. THANK YOU.
Pat K.

[pickadesign]

Hi,

Here's my version of the ebook, any adjustments or changes please let me know. It's not scaled down to your size format yet though.

Thanks

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[flexsuccesscoach]

Thank you for taking a stab at it. Besides the size adjustment you mentioned, I'm wondering if you'd try again, keeping in mind the other specs that were listed:

* flat, 2-D look vs "3-D" (see an example at http://www.wilsonweb.com)
* warm colors preferred (vs. mostly blue); it's okay to use hints of other (warm) colors not on the site as long as they complement the tone of the others
* "Images that...pop off the page lead to higher click-through rates." Please reference example noted.

Regarding photo choice: I prefer a four-color photo vs. two-color one; the woman has a matronly look IMO that won't resonate with the profile of my buyers.

[pickadesign]

http://www.wilsonweb.com/affiliate/banner/local_100x140.gif

Is the above the flat look you are talking about? If so, then I'll make a revision keeping that in mind.

Thanks

[flexsuccesscoach]

The flat look is like a piece of paper, straight in front. (Can't see binding edge, pages, etc.)

Again, the example at the top right of http://www.wilsonweb.com/ is a better way for me to convey it. Thanks.

[pickadesign]

The image I linked to is the image on the top right, I got that from the same page you are sending me to.

Thanks

[flexsuccesscoach]

Ooops. Sorry, my oversite this time...I didn't clue in on the link (thought you meant your first design!). Yes, that's the 2-D flat look I'm aiming for.

[pickadesign]

Hi,

Here are some new samples...

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[flexsuccesscoach]

Getting much closer! Good! Nice color matches to web site. I wasn't planning on the 40-something (me) on the cover, but I think we can work with that. Let's start with your 4th sample for making changes.

Same top third blue background color. Same Flex Success letter colors, but would you match the font for the words "Flex Success" to the font of the WorkOptions.com logo? Then, would you put a "warm glint" right on the top right of the second S.

The two words Proposal and Template need to be cohesive, i.e., they must have the same look. Please try white on blue below Flex Success, but in lower case letters (except beginning caps), and smaller-sized letters so the two words are all in one line (preferred) or (if too crowded) two lines. (May I see it both ways?)

My photo to be placed on the right side.

We need to work on the background of the lower 2/3s...the splash of yellow color is nice but flowers and butterflies are not a part of what WorkOptions.com is about, so there's a disconnect there.

Let's try the light blue for the background.

To the left of the photo, place a yellow "starburst" with the words "Instant download" inside and on an left-tilting angle; let's try in black letters. The starburst will likely need an ultra-thing black or dark maroon border. Let me know if you need clarification on this "starburst".

Instead of "Author: Pat Katepoo", please use same white on maroon on the bottom as follows: WorkOptions ~ Pat Katepoo but replace the ~ with a small, centered circle/bullet.

Please place a ultra-thin black line around the whole book border.

Thank you.

[pickadesign]

No problem, working on the revisions.

Thanks

[pickadesign]

Hi,

Updated version, let me know, I tried to follow most of your points.

Thanks

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[flexsuccesscoach]

Hi. We're about 85% there! Thank you for your quick turnaround.

I'd like to combine some elements of the most recent "version3" with the 2DFlat3 version. Okay, from the top:

Top 1/3 (or at most, 2/5) is the same blue background.
"Flex Success" is 2DFlat3 version in its colors and font type but a bit thinner font to make the letters a little LESS scrunched together.

"Proposal" and "Template" look like "Proposal" found in 2DFlat3 (same font, white, caps) BUT on two lines, centered underneath Flex Success AND smaller font size so that it all fits in (along with Flex Success) in the top 1/3 (or 2/5, if more space needed) blue background (without crowding).

The starburst didn't match my vision, so let's scrap that.
Yet, I like the rich tone of the yellow/gold flower and black in the flower photo, it's just that a flower itself doesn't "go". In what abstract way can we incorporate those colors in the background behind my photo?

If we can do that successfully, I'd like to use the same yellow/gold color for the "glint" (no lines extending, though that did look cool) on the second S in Success, or if that doesn't work, just a glow in the corner behind that S.

Please vertically-center (lower) the bullet between WorkOptions and Pat Katepoo.

Space between my head and top background blue looks just right in 2DFlat3, but too big a gap in version 3. Here's (below) the original photo in case you have to "raise up" the photo without making it bigger. Thanks.

PKphoto (http://workoptions.com/patphoto.htm)

[pickadesign]

Hi,

Got the changes, working on it, will get back to you soon with an update.

Thanks

[pickadesign]

Hi,

Followed most of your guidelines. I should mention that with such a small graphic certain effects won't work so great, tried the glow effect and it didn't turn out that good, so I scraped that. I basically combined the colors used in the flower to create a gradient contrast, so it has the colors but without the flower.

With such a small image it's easy for it to get crowded, but I think the spacing on this one is okay, if too much more is added it may start to look too busy.

Thanks

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[flexsuccesscoach]

I appreciate your design comments. We're more than 90% there. I think you may have missed the specs in the last message as follows:

"Flex Success" is 2DFlat3 version in its colors [THAT WOULD BE THE MAROON TONE/WHITE BACKGROUND] and font type but a bit thinner font to make the letters a little LESS scrunched together.

"Proposal" and "Template" look like "Proposal" found in 2DFlat3 (same font, white, caps) BUT on two lines, centered underneath Flex Success AND smaller font size so that it all fits in (along with Flex Success) in the top 1/3 (or 2/5, if more space needed) blue background (without crowding). IT APPEARED THE FONT WAS NOT A SMALLER SIZE...IT SEEMS SO BIG.

<<I basically combined the colors used in the flower to create a gradient contrast, so it has the colors but without the flower.>>

In concept, this is okay. May a more gradual gradient and tone down the orange. Gotta go.

[pickadesign]

I'll revise again making sure the font is smaller and the other one thinner, and easing the gradient in terms of the color fade, so it appears less bright.

Thanks

[pickadesign]

Hi,

Font is smaller, removed orange from being part of the gradient, and changed the color to maroon. Let me know if this is okay.

Thanks

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[flexsuccesscoach]

Looking good. Allow me to have some other eyes critique it tomorrow (Saturday) and I'll get back to you. Thanks for quick turnaround (do you sleep?).

Also, since you were the only "entry" and it looks like we'll be wrapping this up before the 2/4/05 deadline, do you know if I'm allowed to close it before that date?

[pickadesign]

No problem. Also, once you are satisfied with the work done which is the most important thing, you can close a contest if you wish, once you are satisfied and ready to proceed to use the end product. On a final note, I do sleep, but usually try to crank things out while it's still fresh in my head, rather than wait :)

Thanks

[flexsuccesscoach]

Hello again. Feedback I received: Top title part is thumbs up; the challenge is with the middle. (Bottom line fine).

"Something's missing." "Too plain." "The glow has to go." "Your picture is on every web page header...the book, too?" I have a plain header to use, but it's one viewpoint to consider.

<<...once you are satisfied with the work done, which is the most important thing>> I appreciate your patience!

Two ideas come to mind: Do you have any appropriate stock photos that are appropriate to go behind my head shot photo? A clock, a calendar? A (warm wood) office setting?

But, more to my liking, (I think!) is try WITHOUT my head shot photo and put instead a photo of a warm-colored open, daytimer-type calendar page(s) with "handwritten" (script letters) entries such as "telecommuting day" on Thursday and "Day off!" on Friday (shows benefit of using Flex Success). Is that something you could do?

I was able to find these examples on the web: calendar looks (http://workoptions.com/patphoto.htm) These are just EXAMPLES of warm color and types of calendars, not for actual use. If you have royalty-free photos that show a complete two days and that can be manipulated as described above...perhaps that would work. Your thoughts?

[pickadesign]

Hello,

I'll work on the suggestions and reply back with an update later today or maybe tomorrow depending on how things go for the rest of today.

Thanks

[flexsuccesscoach]

Okay, thanks. (On Sundays, I'm not at my computer as much, so I may not respond as quickly.)

[pickadesign]

Revised version.

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[KiT10]

Here are some concepts from me :)

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[Palmer]

Project closed, client has asked for a refund due to less than 3 designers participating. Sorry Delano and Cristina. :(