[Project Complete] New Logo- FREE iPOD TALK

[EcpErik]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 71V396450E)

Deadline:
Saturday, February 19th -- 12:00pm CST

We just launched a brand new discussion forum that will be named "Free iPod Talk". Currently it's named "My Free iPod Guide" (click here (http://www.myfreeipodguide.com)) but once this contest is over, it will be renamed completely to "Free iPod Talk."

Background:
You've probably already read somewhere about getting a free iPod, TV, Laptop, etc... (or probably saw someone spamming about it somewhere). We thought we'd offer a web community, unlike the dozen others online, that does it right and explains how to properly do everything (including NOT spamming boards). Yes, getting something for free is for real.. the problem is developing a site that calms the "it's a scam" attitude.

Logo Preference:
Something FUN yet bold, and with an iPod/apple feel written all over it (we have a tough audience). The logo can have a picture of an iPod (white 20Gb 4G) in it, but the logo needs to stand apart and have a strong feel on the home page and especially the community forums. I would like to have the word "talk" stand out from the rest of the logo.

Color Scheme:
I am definitely looking for shades of blue (dark blue [#003399 or the like] and light blue [#0099FF or the like] combinations), along with the white and grays of the iPod. Of course, the colors need to be a beautiful fit with each other and the site itself.

Web Site:
Our web site is located here: myfreeipodguide.com (http://www.myfreeipodguide.com). (remember, it is going to be renamed to "Free iPod Talk".

Sub-Logo:
I would also like to mention that it includes a free guide. So adding the text "+ free guide" or "& guide" (be creative) to the bottom of it would be nice. Please be flexible with me as I am not sure if I even want this or not. I just want to communicate (subtly) that there is a guide/tutorial/etc.. included. I appreciate your flexibility.

Additional Information:
- Background should be transparent.

- Make width of graphic longer than height (rectangular). See attachment of header on post 8.

Additional Information 2/16/05:
folks,

this is a fun site and it demands a fun logo. check out the site to see the template you are working with and the space you have ( click here (http://www.myfreeipodguide.com/community/index.php) ) and just make the logo as unique and with as much character as you can. Sometimes the simple design can do it, but have fun with it!

This post may be edited with additional information as it becomes available.

[EcpErik]

PS... A little something to go off of
I was browsing through the web and the following posts are some I really like (just to help). IGNORE COLOR SCHEMES DISPLAYED and please... although I have several cartoon examples, doesn't mean you need to 100% go cartoon (although im open) ... i just am trying to give you some theme. :cool:

From an iPod site (just creative):
http://www.ipodlounge.com/assets/images/logo_lg.gif

Creative Look & feel (beladonna's avatar):
http://www.ecphosting.net/doutpost/avatar.jpg

Free Web Hosting Talk (web site):
http://www.ecphosting.net/doutpost/freewebhost.gif

Mac Forums (web site):
http://www.ecphosting.net/doutpost/macforums.gif

Web Hosting Talk (web site) - a little basic... a little too basic:
http://www.ecphosting.net/doutpost/wht.gif

KCTalk (web site) - a big logo, but i like how "talk" stands out:
http://www.ecphosting.net/doutpost/kctalk.jpg

Another user (GLEEM) posted the following logos that i really liked the simplicity of (added 2/16/05):
http://gleem.com/brand/gleem_sample.jpg

[Bill]

Do we get a FREE iPod?

[EcpErik]

I like the style, but I'm not sure if I like the TALK being so powerful. The blue needs to darken a little on the "free iPod" (as it is too light for some monitors). Also, can you try some alternate looks for the iPod. The face is a nice touch, can you try some alternate designs for me (you're on the right path).

About the iPod... check out our site for that information. ;)

[AlexKogan]

Hi, Erik :)

A question for you: are you planning to use your logo on print material like business cards, letterheads, and other media like promotional items (flyers, pens, t-shirts, mouse pads etc) or are you going to use it on the web only?

Thanks in advance :)

[EcpErik]

Excellent question.

This project is for web use only.

Btw, it's good to see you again. :)

[Unorthodox]

:d

[EcpErik]

very nice rabbit... looks very sharp.

i didn't say it in my original post but i'm looking for something that is a little more recangular in dimensions and with a white background.

I've included an attachment with what i have to work with (it's a picture of the header of the site). The logo will be going where it says "my free ipod guide." I am probably going to take one of those blue tabs away and rearange the top there, so i have a little more flexibility to work with. I can definatley move the header down some of the logo needs it (i'm very open to it).

The bottom line is that height restrictions are limited as width restrictions are very light. I like the concept of having a square logo (like your attachment).

[Unorthodox]

a very basic header sample: (can be spiced up in order to suit your demands)

[EcpErik]

i like the concept on that one, play around with how you text the logo and color varations of the graphic. I like the ".com" in there.

[AlexKogan]

Thanks for your reply, Erik :tup:

Hey, you're in hosting now! Sweet :D

[EcpErik]

(haha, i've always been in hosting)... i just help outsource a lot. :cool:

[EcpErik]

update
Although we're going for a white background, I'd like to shoot for a transparent one as well. Thanks! :D

(i updated the main post with this information)

[Aaron]

Here's how I see it... :D

[EcpErik]

Aaron, can you try some additional variations for the logo itself as well as some variations with the look and feel of the text itself. Drop the ".com" to perhaps under the text itself.

Thank you for jumping in to this, i look forward to seeing more from everyone.

[shnickerdoodle studios]

One from me...

Thanks,
Deanna

[EcpErik]

Deanna, i love how the TALK stands out... but that's about it... can you play around with the iPod logo a bit (try some alternate positions, etc..). remove the music symbols. Also play around with the look and feel of the text.

Thank you for jumping in and helping with this project. :yes:

[Tonya]

http://homepage.mac.com/tonyagoodnow/graphic_files/freeipod/freeipod1.gif

[DesignGeneral]

Hi Erik :)

[EcpErik]

i like the recent designs, but i don't think either is what we're looking for.

Tonya, i like the color scheme of the text you have, but im not sure if im fond of having it all on two lines, try the same theme on one line. I like the icon, but i'm not sure if thats what we're looking for... i'm looking for something to grab me.

DG, I apologize for not being clear in my first post, but this will be for web only (we don't need cards at all). Can you try creating a unique icon and keeping the iPod out of the text itself.

Here's what I'm feeling...
Thank you for all of your entries.. i'm really not seeing anything that really grabs me and I feel that that may in part be because I'm not communicating what I want. I really want to give each of you room to be creative without limiting you to just an iPod and text. Feel free to move around, create something fun as if it were to go on the top of your web site! I've seen some creative designs on these forums, and I want to make sure what I am asking isn't limiting any of you. I want to work with designs, but i'd like to continue to see some concept designs thrown around. Again, be creative and don't forget to have some fun.

[Unorthodox]

another entry :)

[EcpErik]

rabbit, i like how the text is standing out... can you kill the yellow and make it a shade of blue (sharp slightly dark blue) and show me what it looks like? I dont think i'm fond of the icon, but i'm open to alternatives. Is there any way you can space out the text a little?

[Unorthodox]

:weep:

[shnickerdoodle studios]

Revisions and new idea...

Thanks,
Deanna

[EcpErik]

rabbit, i like the bottom two logos. space out the text a little and try some other variations with the circle behind the iPod. have it doing something.

i like how the circle behind this logo (in a competion on these forums) makes the icon look productive:

http://www.arnetwork.net/logo_designs/bmcomments02.GIF

the main point is that it looks busy. in the same way, if your logo is simple to just an iPod, put something busy in the background as a symbol around it.




Deanna, you're in a step in the right direction with the circle in the background, but it's not grabbing me enough. enhance the look of the iPod in the first logo.. i like how you didn't use the line underneath in the first one. I also like the second concepts icon (that you used something else other than an iPod (it's not required to use an iPod). Can you try some other variations on how you make TALK stand out and get back to me?

[EcpErik]

folks,

this is a fun site and it demands a fun logo. check out the site to see the template you are working with and the space you have ( click here (http://www.myfreeipodguide.com/community/index.php) ) and just make the logo as unique and with as much character as you can. Sometimes the simple design can do it, but have fun with it!

[Unorthodox]

is this better? :huh:

[EcpErik]

rabbit, i like where it's going... can you space out the letters of "free ipods" and move the icon slightly left.

regarding the icon itself, can you add a little more color to it and not make it so symetric... something a little creative.

[EcpErik]

i was checking out some other posts and user GLEEM (also having a contest out) pitched some logos that i really liked the simplicity of. I added these to post #2 for your review. simple.

ALSO...
For every logo you submit, I am comparring it with how it will look with my header of my site... please check out my header and replace where it says "my free ipod guide" with your logo so you can see how it matches the look and feel of the site.

[EcpErik]

I thought I should attach a picture of the header (as mentioned from my previous post). This is where the logo will be placed... please be very mindful of the other colors on this page.

[Mark]

:)

[EcpErik]

welcome mark, glad to have you with us...

thank you for posting your logo along with the screenshot of the site... it helps me out as i dont have to manually paste the logo to see myself.

I like the concept of your design, just the creativity i was looking for, but not the type of design we're looking for. can you continue to play around with it and show an alternate design? I like what you did with the iPod itself, however make the colors a little bit lighter (the ipods for free are white) and pull the "+ free guide" to the bottom of the logo, if you continue to use it. Don't worry about height limitations, we can always push things down. Simple and clean is our goal.

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:)

[EcpErik]

can you try concept 5 again and get rid of the gray (looks old) and orange (use the free ipod talk text from concept 6). let me see what that looks like. (have fun with blues)

[Paula23]

Here's my entry. :)

Thanks,Paula

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:)

[EcpErik]

paula, i like where you are going with your logo. kill the red and yellow (try something else than those colors). also, make iPod read "iPod" not "Ipod". Also, space out the characters a little and do not put purple on the gradient on the second design. don't let me limitations stop you, keep them coming!

deanna, thank you for revising your designs, however its not grabbing me as I thought it would. would you be so kind to try some alternate designs?

[Mark]

:)

[EcpErik]

mark, im still thinking about your green, but i'd like you to try something else other than purple.

also, try working the whole logo with lower case, including "talk" but leave the only capital letter the "P" in "iPod"

[Unorthodox]

:confused:

[Mark]

:d

[EcpErik]

ok can you try moving the color for "iPod" to "free

move the color of free to "iPod"

and try some variations other than green in the mix. (also on alternate variations other than the request above, try some logos with variations on all 3 colors / alternate colors / as well... try colors that you feel are appropriate)

thanks

[EcpErik]

rabbit, your logos look much better... is it possible for you to add them all as an attachment. on the first two logos you have "ipods" plural (change that to singlular). Thanks!

[Mark]

ok can you try moving the color for "iPod" to "free

move the color of free to "iPod"

and try some variations other than green in the mix. (also on alternate variations other than the request above, try some logos with variations on all 3 colors / alternate colors / as well... try colors that you feel are appropriate)

thanks


I would suggest keeping the colors for iPod the same because they we're taken from the iPod window. :rolleyes: But that's up to you :)

I would like to mention though that these kind of changes can be done after you've selected the winner. You should concentrate on the "look" you would like to go with first then have the artist tweak the design in the revisions forum after they have been chosen. :D

[EcpErik]

I would suggest keeping the colors for iPod the same because they we're taken from the iPod window. :rolleyes: But that's up to you :)

I would like to mention though that these kind of changes can be done after you've selected the winner. You should concentrate on the "look" you would like to go with first then have the artist tweak the design in the revisions forum after they have been chosen. :D

No problem... i'll be in touch if i need any significant changes.

[Unorthodox]

:)

[davegk]

Here's one...
-David

[EcpErik]

mark, can you do something for me? can you take the "talk" and make it the same color as the "free". Give me three versions:

1) with the "talk" as the same color as "free"

2) same as above AND having "talk" with a green 1px outline (filling as that blue) *** this i really would like to see... i tried to fill it myself and the green line around the edges remained and it looked sharp.

3) same as #2 and have the line underneath match that blue

(i know that this should be saved for last minute, but i really would like to see those combinations)

[EcpErik]

rabbit, take the third logo you have from the top and move the ipod to the left... also space out the text "free ipod". can you try giving me some action around the "talk" and send some variations... and rabbit... thank you so much for taking the time to do this.

[EcpErik]

david, welcome and thank you for coming over. i think im steering away from all caps, can you drop to a lowercase theme leaving the only capital as the P in "iPod". can you also lighten up the iPod and try another brighter color other than grey. Have the iPod do something else than standing in as the "o" and try another font with "talk" (remember to make it lowercase). Have the comment box stand out a little more as well (not too much, but a nice clean stand out). Thank you for your time here, as I know I'm asking a big revision, but it will steer you in the right direction.

[Unorthodox]

:)
edit:
whoops i noticed i left the "s" in ipods....

[Paula23]

Hi,
Thanks for the feedback!
Here are some revisions.
I'll be happy to make any other
revisions if needed. :)

Thanks,Paula

[Mark]

Here you go Erik :)

[EcpErik]

rabbit, i think i didnt communicate to you what i was looking for very well. When I said to space out "free ipods", i meant the space between each character.

paula, take the blue background behind each one away (leave the effects) and modify the color white to the blue on those that are needed, and i think we'll be in buisness.

mark, thank was just what i was looking for and its a big help that you combined it with our header... that's all for now.

[Paula23]

Here you go!
:)
Thanks,Paula

[Unorthodox]

here you go :P sorry for that :blush:

[EcpErik]

paula, very nice, that is what we were looking for.

rabiit, i like the second logo, but take out the "s" from the ipods and play around with position of the "talk" if you have time. I think that will be the final variations we will need from you.

everyone: you may continue to post alternate designs if you'd like, as by tomorrow, we should have a healthy amount to choose from at this point.

[Unorthodox]

I keep adding the "s" for some strange reason :P sorry! :blush:

[Mark]

One more alteration :D

[EcpErik]

rabbit, that is what we were looking for... thanks!

mark, i know this is asking a lot, but can you try something else other than the green? The line works, but I dont know how limited we are to this particular color. try using the color of the original color you used for "Free". Maybe its a blue overkill, and if you think it is, can you see about another color? Mark, I wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't that picky (and I know we can make edits later if we decide on this).

[Mark]

Here's a few more :)

[EcpErik]

Mark, i played around with your logo a bit and came up with the following attachment to submit as your final. If you could tweak your logo on your spare time, that would be great!

[Mark]

No problem. Here you go.

[Unorthodox]

ill try submit an additional design tomorrow if possible :P

[EcpErik]

Thanks Rabbit... deadline is 12:00pm CST

[EcpErik]

Less than 2 hours until the deadline. We will be active during this time to accept final submissions

[Paula23]

One more from me :)

[EcpErik]

3 minutes late, but we'll keep you in the loop...

TO ALL: we will review the graphics and be back in touch with all of you soon.

[Unorthodox]

My apologies, I think I won't make it... I'm still stuck at work :(

[EcpErik]

a friend of mine and I spent some time looking through all the logos and finally came down to mark being the winner. Thank you to everyone who participated and put the extra time in finalizing all the designs for us. It was a tough call and we actually had to strongly debate between three designs from each of you, changing the winner often, but finally resting on mark's design.

Help: for those that didn't win, we need icons for "new post" and "no new post" and "closed for posting" icons (for the forum home page). If you can use the icons that you already designed for this and throw me a price you would want for these, I'll see that we can compensate you. This contest is closed, so feel free to PM me with any icons you may have. All three icons must be 30x30 pixels each. I'm not sure if any of you would help me with this, but we would be grateful.

Thank you all again! :D

[Mark]

Thanks Eric :D

Let me know if you have any more revisions.

Mods, please move this to the revisions forum.

[EcpErik]

mark, i think we should be ok... if you can send over the files, that would be great start.

[Mark]

Erik, I've sent you a private message with a link to your files. :)