[Project Complete] Convention Banner - $125 - Deadline: June 2nd, 2005

[Adele]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 7PF561312K+N504573U))

<b>Specs updated on 5/29 - please review.</b>

<b>The banner will be displayed in hotel lobbies for attendee arrival days, then moved to registration/information area for the duration of meetings... so we'd like it to be an eye-catcher. This is not a marketing or sales tool, rather something to call attention to our presence.

Content - Text/Graphics:</b>
<b>NOTE: Use in the following order:</b>
Welcome (In Script - like Amazone BT)
Logo <a target="_blank" href="http://www.narts.org/DO/NARTS_Logo.zip">ZIP with Logo PSD</a> <font size="2"> (We LOVE our logo - Designed here by Mark! - and would like it to be the focal point/largest element of the banner. It looks best on a pale background)
Your Professional Connection (Tagline for under logo)
We're Here to Help YOU Succeed!
Since 1984
www.narts.org

(The following 3 lines - the donor acknowledgment - need to be at the bottom of the banner.)
Banner courtesy of:
DISMAR Corporation (I've requested an EPS of their logo which I'll post. In the meantime use something similar, it's text only- see their Website)
www.dismar.com - this is last line on banner.

Graphics - elements of the Recycle symbol or Swoosh in our logo. I like a watermark of the recycle symbol.

<b>Size:</b>
Finished size = 2 ft. wide x 8 ft. high
Banner retracts into a self-contained base and is adjustable. Sometimes we will only open it to 6 ft. high (without the donor acknowledgement at the bottom showing) please design it so we have that option.

<b>Colors (Full Color):</b>
Shades of the Green & Purple from our Logo
Green = Pantone 3275
Purple = Pantone Violet
Accent of Fuchsia = Pantone Magenta
IF using a 4th color it would be Yellow (Pantone 102) ... but that may be too busy, depends upon the design.

<b>Fonts:</b>
All Sans Serif or Script - <b>IMPORTANT: NO Serif fonts</b>

<b>General Design Elements:</b>
Bright & Colorful
Clean & Contemporary - not too busy

<b>Print Specs/Deliverables:</b>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.dismar.com/pdf/prepform.pdf">Art Prep PDF from supplier</a>&nbsp; </font>
Plus fully layered PSD and 1 - Transparent GIF

<b>We've had a number of entries already and the two designs we like best are from Fran and Crazyfresh. Maybe we need something a little geometric looking - perhaps blocks of color seperated with white to contain the elements. Just a thought, don't know if it would work. I hope this helps. Any question... ask and I'll be glad to respond. Thank you, Adele</b>

[barbie]

Hi, this is my first try...



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/lauchii/banner.bmp

[Adele]

<b>Barbie:</b> Nice first try... thanks. I like your corner graphics.

Some suggested revisions:
1. We don't want any black on this... as per specs colors are shades of purple, green, fushsia and maybe a touch of yellow.
2. Looking for something more colorful - not a white background. Shades of our colors from pale to darker.
3. Try "Welcome" in script - left justified - a little smaller.
4. "Your Professional Connection" on one line.
5. "We're Here to Help YOU Succeed!" - watch which words are capped - it was correct in my specs. Also, the word Succeed is too large. The emphasis is on "YOU"
6. Move the "Sponsored by DIMAR Corp..." to below the corner graphic - you can extend the solid green to the bottom and do reverse text in white. Add: www.dismar.com below above lines. I hope this is clear... as I mentioned we won't always be displaying this part of the banner.

I look forward to seeing the revision and any other ideas you may have. Thanks again, Adele

[barbie]

Thank you Adele, I'll be working on everything you said.

[barbie]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/tripartita01/banner09.gif
still working on the 6 fts version. hope you like it!!

[Adele]

<b>Barbie:</b> I think I like "B" the best... I'll give you more feedback tomorrow when our staff gets in. There is NOT a separate 6ft. version --- guess I didn't explain myself clearly enough.

There will be ONE banner - it is retractable and adjustable. So, sometimes we'll pull it out to 8 ft. when we want the sponsor acknowledgment to show - if we don't want it to show we'll pull it up to 6ft. Is that a little clearer? Thanks, Adele

[Adele]

<b>Barbie:</b> Something happened to the link when you edited the post... went to look at it again and link doesn't work. Adele

[Fran]

:)
http://img278.echo.cx/img278/8520/conventionbanner7sg.jpg

[Adele]

<b>Fran:</b>Thanks for your entry. I especially like the "Welcome" on a curved line... nice touch. I guess no one understands what I'm looking for in the "adjustable" bottom of the banner, so I must not be explaining it right.

What is showing would have to fit in the top 6 ft. --- then the solid green on the bottom would continue with the sponsor acknowledgement moved on to that solid bottom. So.. when it was rolled up only 6 ft. it wouldn't look like anything was cut off. Gee, this is difficult to explain!

I'd like to see:
"Welcome" in script.

Center text is supposed to be - We're Here to Help YOU Succeed! - with that exact punctuation and caps on every word except "to" -- try it in fuchsia.

Yellow brighter - not so gold.

"Swoops" in border could be a little narrower.

Thanks, Adele

[Fran]

Hello Adele, this is my revision. (I put a line to show 6 ft)
Regards
Fran
http://img224.echo.cx/img224/341/conventionbannerrev3sn.jpg

[Adele]

<b>Fran:</b> Much better... you GOT what I meant about the bottom!

There are only a few things I'd like to see revised:

Move the logo up so it's closer to the Swoosh as on your first revision.
Right justify "Since 1984"
Left justify "Banner courtesy of" - and add a colon at the end
Center the next two lines
"Corporation" needs to be white so it shows as well as the URL
I don't like the "We're Here..." lines. Maybe they'd look better all centered. Anyway to make the text look more interesting?

Great work... Thanks, Adele

[Adele]

<b>Barbie:</b> We stll like Version 'B' the best but you changed some of the text to Serifs... I HATE Serif fonts. Center text needs to have caps on all words except "to" as per my specs. I think the word "YOU" is too large.

I'm open to any new ideas you may have. Thanks, Adele

[Fran]

Hi Adele, here are 3 updates
http://img261.echo.cx/img261/9822/conventionbannerrev27jx.jpg

[Jsanqunetti]

I am going to try and have something this afternoon

[barbie]

Hi, another try..

<img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/lauchii/banner09.bmp" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

[Adele]

<b>Fran:</b> I like the one on the right the best. Any changes would be minor and I can visualize them so no further revisions needed at this time... I can easily make a decision from what I see. Thanks!

<b>Jsanqunetti:</b> Looking forward to seeing your design!

[Adele]

<b>Barbie:</b> Looks better...I can see enough to make a decision. No further revisions on this design needed. Thanks, Adele

<b>All Designers: We are accepting entries through Monday night and will choose a winner on Tuesday morning.</b>

[Jsanqunetti]

Here is my entry...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/jsanqunetti/banner.png

[Adele]

<b>Jsanqunetti:</b> Nice... a definite contender. Love the font you used for "Welcome" and glad to see the recycle symbol. I can see a few things I'd like changed to simplify it a bit but I can visualize what it would look like. Thanks for entering! Adele

[Adele]

<b>Any other entries?</b>

While all these designs are very good... we don't see exactly what we're looking for. Not that I can tell you exactly what we had in mind. However, all these entries have matching/contrasting top and bottom borders. Not something that is necessary. We're looking for clean, simple and contemporary... not too busy!

Thank you for your patience, Adele

[crazyfresh]

Hi Adele,

My entry on the left is the full 8 ft tall version.
The one on the right is the 6 ft version (when not unrolled all the way).

Sincerely,
Crazyfresh

[Jsanqunetti]

here is another version.. made a little more simple

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/jsanqunetti/bannerrev.png

[crazyfresh]

Hi again,

I made another version of my first entry with some small changes and a different color scheme.

Sincerely,
Crazyfresh

[crazyfresh]

Hi Adele,

I just realized I left off the web address for Dismar Corporation. I have added it in the below image.

Sincerely,
Crazyfresh

[barbie]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/tripartita01/banner10.gif

[barbie]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/tripartita01/banner12.gif

[Adele]

Thanks for ALL the new entries and revisions... sorry I didn't respond sooner, we were busy finishing up our Book Cover contest. I'll give all of you feedback as soon as our staff takes a look in the morning. Thank you for your patience! Adele

[crazyfresh]

Hi,

I uploaded a new complete purple version. (As you probably noticed, I left an old layer on when I was making my jpg.)
Just wanted you to have a clean version to review.

Sincerely,
Crazyfresh

[Adele]

<b>Crazyfresh:</b> You've been busy! This is a fresh, clean approach. REALLY like the watermark of the recycle symbol. Like the purple version best. A few changes I'd like to see if you're willing:

1. "Welcome" in script - I like Amazone BT - if you don't have it try something else.
2. Remove horizonal line under logo
3. Make tagline under logo purple
4. Make "YOU" a little smaller and "Success!" a little larger. I like the justification... don't change that.
5. Move "We're Here to..." down slightly lower.
6. The last 3 lines... "Banner courtesy of... etc." - Move down and make larger.
7. Color: I'd like to see an accent of Fuschia added... maybe for Since 1984 and www.narts.org unless you have a better idea.
8. I don't like the contrast of the stripes above & below the logo. It needs "something" there but I'm not sure what. I liked the way you switched colors better on your first version... but I do want the purple (or shades of) to remain on the bottom and be the predominant color.

Thanks, Adele

[crazyfresh]

Hi,

Those sound like some good suggestions. I will incorporate this afternoon.

Thank you

[crazyfresh]

Hi,

Here are 2 revisions based on your comments. With fuschia on the text, I felt it needed to be somewhere else too. What do you think?

Thanks

[Adele]

<b>Crazyfresh:</b> We like Option A the best. Just not quite there yet. Wish I could tell you exactly what we want but this has proven more difficult than we expected.

Let's try:
1. Make the logo slightly larger, so the "N" is about as close to the left border as the "Swoosh" is to the right.
2. The fushcia needs to be pinker... more like Pantone Magenta.
3. I don't think you made the "YOU" smaller and the "Succeed!" larger and that entire statement could be moved down slightly.
4. "Banner Courtesty of:" and "Corporation" don't look like they show up well.
5. It looks SO purple. Is the purple in our logo really that dark? I don't want to lose the watermark but open to new ideas.

I think we're getting close... just something to make it zing! Thanks so much for all your efforts. Adele

PS. Maybe it needs a light shade of the green from our logo used for one of the elements. Something to break up the purple.

[crazyfresh]

Hi,

I would like to answer some of your questions, see below:

1. I will try that.
2. It is actually Pantone Magenta. The colors might look slightly off due to the monitor you are viewing them on or the web. This brings me to my next question, do you have Pantone colors for your purple and green? The colors you gave were web colors (also the file is in RGB, so there are no Pantone tags there either). I translated them to their CMYK equivalents, but processing out the real Pantones would be preferable for reproducing your banner.
3. I did make "YOU" a bit smaller and increased "Succeed!", but do you want them to be more or less equal with "YOU" still being the largest?
4. "Banner...." and "Corporation" are about 1 inch tall at full size. Is there a height you want to hit? I can make them larger. They may look hard to see since it is a small lores jpg. The logo is a fake and may not look that good. Do you have the real one, I can place it instead?
5. The best thing would be to get the original Pantone purple, so no matter what it looks like on screen you can be assured it will turn out right when printed.

ps. I would suggest the green at the top with the Welcome area or make a bottom panel green/shade of green just above the Dismar logo to the bottom of banner. What do you think?

I hope that covers everything, let me know your comments and then I will make the revisions.

Thanks so much!

[Adele]

Sorry, I thought I included the Pantone colors in my specs, but see that I didn't. Purple = Pantone Violet & Green = Pantone 3275

I do want the "YOU" smaller and the "Succeed" larger than it is now, but don't want them the same size. I was thinking maybe they could be the same width with the 'YOU" kerned a little more and slightly taller than "Succeed!"

"Banner...." and "Corporation" --- I"ll contact them again and see if I can get the logo file I requested. If not an inch is high enough. I'm sure it will be fine in print.

I'm open to green at the top or maybe replacing the fuschia above/below the logo. Not sure about adding green at the bottom, don't want a color change near the bottom so we can be flexible as to how much of the banner we retract.

Hope that helped. Thanks so much, Adele

[crazyfresh]

Thanks, that is very helpful. I will make up some more versions.

[crazyfresh]

Hi,

I have 4 versions for you to review. Take a close look at the logo and tagline area, they vary. I found when I increased the logo as suggested the tagline placement became an issue. (It was centered under NARTS, but looked off if kept in the same place.)

I used Pantone Violet and Pantone Green. Violet is really purple looking, I think the purple color of NARTS doesn't look so purple because of the 3-D highlights. It looks more like Pantone 513 or 258. A-3's main body is violet at 70%.

p.s. I will be going out of town tomorrow afternoon through Memorial Day weekend and I won't have direct access to the internet, but will be able to get to access once or twice a day. Let me know if your deadline to print is approaching. I will check in before I go.

Thank you

[Adele]

<b>Crazyfresh:</b> I don't like the green on top... bad idea on MY part. I like the larger logo in A-3 but it still doesn't say "That's It" to me. This is about our 9th or 10th contest and I've never had this problem. Usually one design just hits us. So...we're deciding what to do. Enjoy your vacation. Thanks SO much for all your work. We'll get back to this when you return. Adele

[crazyfresh]

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know if inspiration hits and you want to post your idea I will be checking in and can work something up for you. Sometimes if I get stuck on something I look back at other related materials I liked for inspiration. I looked through your other postings to try to help, maybe (if appropriate) taking elements/color scheme from the book cover would work? If it does, I could reference that or you may just want the book cover designer to do the banner since they already have all the art. If you have anything else for inspiration you would like to post I would be glad to help.

Thanks

[Adele]

We love the book cover but please don't take any color or graphic ideas from it. We specifically used colors that were completely different from our logo/brand colors and the graphics are specific to what it is... a "financial survey" which has no bearing on the banner.

Did you look at our last Misc. project for an Ezine template. We love the header that Pixel designed for us but I realize that what works on the Web doesn't always translate well to print.

I'm as frustrated at myself as you probably are with me. I can't tell you how much we appreciate your efforts to keep going forward with this. I've searched past projects for ideas but there isn't much that resembles what we're looking for... I've even looked in the display company catalogs.

I'm going to post some updated specs and an extended deadline ASAP. Thanks again, Adele

[Adele]

<b>Designers:</b> We just increased the prize to $125 - extended the deadline to June 2nd <b>AND updated the specs.</b> I hope you'll take a look at this contest again. Thanks, Adele

[Michael]

Project title updated

[barbie]

Hi Adele, I have another try...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/lauchii/banner1.gif

[Carl]

Adele,

I am working on an entry for your project. There are a couple things that are needed.

1. A vector image of your logo. Based on the current file size of the .PSD, the logo will be an allowable 12" wide on the banner. This is because of the print resolution requirements of Dismar. The PSD in it's current format is 300dpi at 12" wide. To make it bigger, the resolution will drop below the requirement.

2. A vector image of the DISMAR logo.

3. The Ezine project you speak of has broken links to the artwork that won. Could you post a sample of the artwork for viewing.

Thanks!
Carl...

[Adele]

<b>Hi Barbie:</b> Wow... now we're getting somewhere! I like the first two. There are a few minor changes to text I'd like to see but I'll wait to see which one our staff likes best before I ask for the revision. I'll get back to you tomorrow. Thanks for giving it another try! Adele

[Adele]

Adele,

I am working on an entry for your project. There are a couple things that are needed.

1. A vector image of your logo. Based on the current file size of the .PSD, the logo will be an allowable 12" wide on the banner. This is because of the print resolution requirements of Dismar. The PSD in it's current format is 300dpi at 12" wide. To make it bigger, the resolution will drop below the requirement.

2. A vector image of the DISMAR logo.

3. The Ezine project you speak of has broken links to the artwork that won. Could you post a sample of the artwork for viewing.

Thanks!
Carl...

<b>Hi Carl:</b>

1. I do not have a vector of our logo. Mark designed the logo (our very 1st DO contest). He said he created it in Macromedia Fireworks and was not able to export it as a vector file while maintaining the bevels and shadowing. Said it would export as an illustrator (vector) but for some reason it made everything solid.

<b>We LOVE our logo</b> . . . and so far the designers have had no problem with the PSD, but we've never printed anything this large. Should I contact Mark - or maybe he'll read this first - to see if he can provide a larger PSD? Would that help you? I have all the original files he sent me.

2. DISMAR is supposed to send me their vector tomorrow.

3. You'll find the Ezine on our Website: http://www.narts.org/details/issue_spring2005.htm

I'm so glad to hear you are entering. I just saw the postcard you designed for the "Stork" contest and it really caught my eye. Thanks, Adele

[Carl]

My entry...

I know you had indicated a desire for a script "Welcome", but with the design I did, I tried to keep it clean and modern. Mixing text types complicates a design and takes away the modern simple approach, so I kept with the same text treatment throughout.

Also, the dots at the 2' mark on the bottom are part of the design. It breaks up the large color space slightly and also allows whoever may be using the unit to know exactly where a 6 foot banner should stop.


Carl...

[Fran]

Hi Adele, here's my revision.
Regards
Fran
http://img21.echo.cx/img21/2101/conventionbannerrev40mb.jpg

[Carl]

Adele,

If Mark could supply you with a logo PSD file set at 24" wide at 300 dpi, that would be great.

Carl...

[Adele]

<b>Carl: WOW... what a striking design! </b>

Do I see fushcia around the letters beginning with "We're here to..." It looks so and I like it, but difficult to tell on the monitor and wanted to verify. Also, will the green in our logo swoosh and recycle symbol show up well enough against the green background when it's printed?

The only revisions I'd like to see are:
1. Delete the background box under Since 1984, etc. - I just don't happen to care for it. If you had a particular reason behind it maybe you could try something different.

2. Move the dotted line down much closer to "Banner sponsored by:" --- having it on the 6' mark isn't important to us as sometimes it may be open to 7' - but I DO like the dotted line idea to separate the sponsor acknowledgement.

I sent Mark a PM about the logo file.

I really like the top arrow you used and love the color blocks separated by white. We looked at the design a few times before any of us noticed that you used all caps for the body text...it's very suitable to your design. Thank you, Adele

[Adele]

<b>Barbie & Fran:</b> I thank you both for your revisions/new designs. I like your entries, they are great work, but to be honest Carl's design just really caught our eye. I'd rather be honest with you than waste any more of your time on revisions. If you have new ideas, we'd certainly like to see them. The contest is open until Thursday. Thanks for all your work, Adele

[Adele]

<b>Carl:</b> Mark sent me the file already. DO designers are SO responsive! He did a 24" 300 dip PSD as you requested.

Couldn't get it to attach, so I uploaded the ZIP to our server.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.narts.org/DO/narts-xlrg.zip">NARTS Logo</a>

[Carl]

Adele,

Here are the revisions. You are also correct. I used the fuscia as a background color for the body text. A closeup has been attached so you can see the effect. As far as the logo, the way the logo is designed, it will be very visbile sitting on the green background. The bevels and gradients make it stand out.

Carl...

[Carl]

Closeup...

[Adele]

<b>Carl:</b> Thanks for the close up... it looks great! Just got the DISMAR logo EPS but they don't want it attached in a public forum, I'll send it to the winner via PM. Thanks, Adele

[Adele]

<b>Carl is the winner! Once again Design Outpost has more than exceeded our expectatons!

Our thanks to all the designers who entered and so patiently posted revisions in our quest to find what we were looking for. We'll be back again... Adele :blush:

[Carl]

Great News, Adele, I am glad you like the banner.

I will PM you with details on how to get me the DISMAR logo and get your files done for you.

Carl...

[Adele]

Carl... already sent you a PM with link to the logo file.

[Carl]

Revised per your PM...

[Carl]

Adele,

Link to files sent via PM.

Carl...

[Adele]

Files received... project can be closed. Thanks, Adele