[Project Complete] Comedy Production Company logo/biz card to gain fame & ... - $225

[earwood]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 5D622236XL0653544)

Two great projects with DO... so I know that #3 is money.

Company Name: Almost Mediocre
Deadline: October 10, 2005
Prize = $225.00

Project Summary: What text should be included in the main part of the logo? Almost Mediocre

What type of product or service do you offer? Humorous content: short films, blogs, pictures, ramblings, music, 5 bad mofo's

How long have you been in business? Formed recently. Launching a website soon.

What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity? Fame and fortune. Also, world domination.

What are your long term goals? See above. We may also want to open an entertainment production company.

Audience Profile: Please describe your existing audience
Other than Buf's mom and Vince's wife – no one.

Who would you like to add to your audience? That sacred 18-35 demographic. My guess is we'll be a fan favorite with college humor crowd.

Perception/Tone/Guidelines: What type of logo would you like? We're proud of our name, so it should be readable. Other than that, we thought it would be funny, that since our name is a bit self deprecating, our logo should be a bit grandiose.

Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?)
We like blue, but aren't sold on it. So use whatever colors you like.

Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo? Nope

Communication Strategy: What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business? We're funny dudes, but a bit bizarre. Nothing too businesslike.

What is your tagline or slogan? We haven't come up with a slogan yet. (But the previous sentence is in contention.)

What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience? That anything associated with the Almost Mediocre logo is gonna be funny.

Where will your new logo be used? Our webpage, t-shirts, mugs, stickers, business cards, posters, DVDs, the big screen, and the small screen

Competitive Positioning: Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos? National Lampoon (sucks), Broken Lizard(decent), The Onion (nice, but not what we're looking for)

List competitive URLs if possible
www.nationallampoon.com
www.brokenlizard.com
www.theonion.com

What sets you apart from your competitors? We're just a handful of regular dudes, looking to making people laugh – and take their money.

Targeted Message: State a single-minded word or phrase that will appropriately describe your company: Wit

We request the following: Original files in .AI and .PSD.

We must have ALL rights to the design when this contest is complete but the designer may use the logo in his portfolio!

[MOZ]

Well here's a "mediocre" :rolleyes: version of what could be used by you guys. It just came to me

MOZ :confused:

[earwood]

Moz,

Thanks for submitting. We appreciate you starting this project. We think this design is too businesslinke and not quite "fun" enough. We want people to see our logo and think, "Now that's a cool logo." Again, we know that starting the project is never easy and would love to see another try from you.

Thanks,

AM Team

[Aaron]

Gain fame & fortune? Count me in...

[earwood]

Aaron- Glad you're interested. We hope to see a design from you to get this rolling!

AM Team

[Pawel]

Lets start of with this concept:

[earwood]

Hey folks! Thanks for your submissions. The AM Team is very excited about this project.
A couple notes -
We're looking for something a bit grandiose. We're poking fun at ourselves with a name like Almost Mediocre. So we want the logo to look important...imposing...awe-inspiring. Like the emperor's new clothes. Know what we're sayin'?
Also, we'd like to avoid using traditional comedy icons like jesters and laughing faces. Think less "stand-up club" - more "The State" or "Kids in the Hall" attitude.
Thanks again!
The AM Team

[Aaron]

I realize you just clarified the direction you wanted to go as more of a tongue-in-cheek regal look...but I thought since I had been working on this I'd post it anyway.

Thanks,

Aaron

[Aaron]

;)

[earwood]

Aaron,

Thanks so much. Your ideas are great.

We like the ARROW logo a lot. We'd love to have a moniker like the bullseye and arrows. And it does a great job representing the ALMOST part of our name. But when we think of "Almost Mediocre" as a name, we don't think "not quite mediocre." We like to think of it as better than mediocre. A cut above mediocre. We're looking for something a bit more confident.

We enjoyed you're REGAL logo, as well. But we're looking to go bolder than that. This one felt golf course regal. We want Henry the 8th regal (we wouldn't mind getting married 8 times and starting our own church).

Also, we'd like to see a more easily read font. We want to make sure both words pop.

A General Note: While AM is a comedy based company, we want to make sure everyone knows we mean witty when we say funny, as opposed to cheesey or corny. (That arrow logo's pretty witty).

Thanks to everyone!

The AM Team

[earwood]

Hello all,

Just thought we'd throw out a few logos that we do like. We like the Comedy Central logo, Warner Bros, Ben-Hur, and Pixar.

Looking forward to some postings! Thanks to everyone.

The AM Team

[MOZ]

Here's another from MOZ. It might help spark an Idea

[earwood]

MOZ!
Thanks for your submission. The red, white, and black make us think - "Viva! La Revolucion!" And since world domination is one of our goals, then revolution is a pretty good idea. "Mediocre" though is tough to read. But you're headed in the right direction. Thanks again.

Everyone else!
We'd love to see your interpretations of what "almost mediocre" means to you. Aaron's arrow/bullseye logo came pretty **** close.
Very excited about where we're headed!

The AM Team

[earwood]

An Important Message from the AM Team:

We'd love to see your interpretations of what "almost mediocre" means to you. Aaron's arrow/bullseye logo came pretty **** close, we're just looking for something a little less comic club, a little more badass.

Buf said, "Like the logo they would use if they brought 'V' back. We're gonna take over the world, man! But not all space nerdy. More like Ben-Hur. Did he take over the world?" Then Kevin said, "No, man. He was crucified." Then Luke said, "Why?" And Kevin said, "Because he led a slave revolution, I think." Luke, "Oh, cool."

Thanks,

The AM Team

[Tonya]

http://homepage.mac.com/tonyagoodnow/graphic_files/mediocre/mediocre1.gif

[earwood]

Tonya -
Thanks for your submission. It'd be great if we were more respectable folk, but as it is we ain't so classy. We think we may have led you astray with the word regal. When we originally said grandiose and awe-ispiring, we meant less respected throne and more BADASS world conquerer. We intend to take the comedy world by storm. Shock and awe, but we're bringing plenty troops. But thanks so much.




***Also we'd still like to explore the avenue Aaron opened up. We love the irony of our name and would love to see more submissions that capture it.

Thanks,

The AM Team

[Fabian]

:)

[earwood]

Okay. We love the concept of Aaron's "arrow" logo above. We love the idea of our logo expressing "just off the mark" or "just a bit off."

Show us some logo's that express that. And as extra motivation, we've decided to make the winner of this contest the Minister of *****in' Logos after we conquer the world!

The AM Team

[Aaron]

I pushed that off-the-mark concept a little bit more... ;)

[earwood]

Aaron-
Thanks for pushing it. Out two concerns with this are:
1. The font is is difficult to read. We want a bolder font. Easier to read from a distance.
2. We love the target/arrow idea, but we're concerned that the target itself is a pretty well protected logo already (you know Target stores and all). Is there any other way to show us just missing the mark. All we could come up with is a missed field goal, but i'm sure you can do better than that.
And thanks for your great work!

EVERYONE ELSE:
We want more of these missing the mark ideas. It looks like we're onto something here! Let's see what great ideas you've got!

Thanks,
The AM Team

[earwood]

We don't think we have exactly what we need for our logo yet. We are going to move back our deadline to Oct 18. Please continue to submit your designs or ask us questions if you need clarification.

Thanks,

The AM Team

[Mark]

:)

[earwood]

Mark,
Thanks for the submission. The font is pretty easily read, and we like that. Not sure what message you were trying to convey with the footprints.

We're looking for other "just a bit off" kinds of logos. Like the arrows just missing the target.

Thanks,
TAMT

[Mark]

picture the foot steps as the bottom of shoes with the letter "C" on top of the person lying down. ;)

[earwood]

Mark,
Okay. I get it now. but we'd prefer that if there's a joke of some kind in the logo, that it be a more clear.

And we're really into the idea of our logo expressing the actual phrase "almost mediocre." as in "not quite there" or "just off the mark" or "not quite".

Saw your portfolio: enjoyed your lawn tek and fire cracker logos.

TAMT

[Mark]

another idea :)

[earwood]

Mark-
I see what you're doing, and i like the concept. Main concern is that the "ocre" is hard to read. we want to make sure it's readable from afar.
And maybe some more color.
Thanks a lot.
TAMT

[Aaron]

Something else...

[earwood]

Hello All!

We've got a new idea, we'd like to explore (if you don't like/get our ideas from before).

We have adopted a mascot for AM. It is the brass duck/goose (exactly which kind of fowl he is is still under debate) we've been using as our avatar. His name is Norman.

We'd like to see some logos using him in a creative way. Our initial thought was using him and some big, stone Ben-Hur type letters. Big and epic. Yes! Epic!

Give it a shot. The minister position is still up for grabs!

Thanks,

TAMT

[earwood]

Aaron-

thanks for all your great posts!

like the font on this one, but confused as to what the object in the logo is. a green band-aid? a pill? i like the overall look and feel though.

would still love to see the arrow logo with an easier to read, less-goofy, bolder font.

also, would love to see what you can do with Norman (our duck/goose) avatar.

Thanks!
TAMT

[Aaron]

Ha ha! I was going more for one bubble off center than green band-aid... let me see what I can do.

Thanks,

Aaron

[earwood]

Aaron,
Okay! I get it! And I think it's funny. Maybe if it looked more like a level. But you've definitely got your head in the right space. Nice!
TAMT

[Bill]

Almost...

[earwood]

Bill-
Love the look of the logo. But want the logo to say we're just a little bit off - just a bit out of step. This feels like it brings our expectations of ourselves down a bit too far (or maybe it's because we originally hail from rural areas of the country and don't want to be associated with anything too huck finn).
But it's got a fun and original look and we like that a lot. We'd love to see you give it another shot.
Thanks a lot,
TAMT

[earwood]

Aaron,
Okay. We came up with an idea. We’d love to see what it would look like if you took the messy type font from Version 3 and used it for Version 1. Then we got to thinking – archery’s not really us, but darts! Dart is us! So what if instead of arrows and a bullseye, it was darts and a dartboard. Our only concern is that traditional dartboards are red and green – and we’d rather not have the same colors as Christmas. But that’s out idea and we’d love to see what you could do with it. Thanks.

And we’re still really interested to see what you can do with that level.

And we’d still like to see other ideas…keep them coming!

Thanks,
TAMT

[Aaron]

You got it...I'll need some time to noodle on it.

Thanks,

a.t.

[earwood]

Aaron,

We look forward to seeing it.

Everyone else- remember the deadline has been extended... you have until next week to submit your design. So, bring 'em on and don't hesitate to use our avatar in the logo.

Thanks,

TAMT

[Bill]

Norman playing darts...

[earwood]

Bill- thanks for the design. We didn't like the cartoon version of Norman (our avatar). We discussed your logo and decided the only way we want to use the avatar is to use it exactly like it is and not a cartoon version. The use of Norman is an inside joke and we now realize that asking someone to design with Norman, is very restrictive. Sorry for this. If you can't use the avatar as is (or without the shadow), we don't want it used.

We really should have said this upfront and we're sorry we didn't.

Other than the cartoon duck... we like the strong font, but we want it to be more fun.

Thanks,

TAMT

[nhr]

:)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/_DO/AlmostMediocre_DO.png

Thank you.

[earwood]

nrh-
we really dig the layout of the your logo, but we'd like the letters to look more like they were chisled out of stone - maybe with more hard edges. also not sure about the sun. could we see it without the sun? but really like the layout.
thanks,
tamt

[Mark]

One more idea :)

[nhr]

Thank you very much, tamt :)

Requested changes with sun:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/_DO/AlmostMediocre11_DO.png

[nhr]

...and without sun:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/_DO/AlmostMediocre12_DO.png

:)

[earwood]

Mark,
We like version 3. Creative use of Norman. It has a bit of an old Russian propaganda look. Could you crank that up a bit? Make it a bit more imposing? We like the propaganda idea. Also, could we see a brighter red?
Thanks!

nhr,
Nice! It's definitely a step in the right direction. Any way to make it look a little less cartoony? Make it a bit more imposing?
Thanks!

TAMT

[earwood]

Hello All -
We thought of another idea for the "just a bit off" concept on the logo.
A slot machine that has come up JACKPOT ($), JACKPOT ($), and maybe a picture of Norman (our duck). As in an almost jackpot.
Huh? What do you think? Any takers?
Thanks,
TAMT

[Aaron]

I wanted to finish this before I started on another concept...

Thanks!

[earwood]

Aaron-
Version 4 is a step in the right direction, but we still feel like the levels not as recognizable as we'd like. Maybe if the bubble part was smaller. Not sure. But definately an improvement.
Thanks a lot. And we're really looking forward to your other designs!
TAMT

[earwood]

Hey Aaron,
We wanted to give you a better idea of what we'd like the level logo to look like. For the most part, we'd like a normal, traditional, recognizable level.
Found a couple levels we like. We'd love to see your version of one of these.
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/378589/2/istockphoto_378589_on_the_level.jpg

http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/Workshop/CarpentryTools/Measuring/Levels/0575328_160_SC_2694.JPG

Thanks, dude.

Also we're REALLY excited about seeing the dart board logo!

Thanks,
TAMT

[earwood]

Designers - If anyone is still interested, we are very anxious to move forward with a design. Please post a quick reply if you are still working on something or have a concept coming.

Moderators - any ideas on how to spur some movement?

Thanks,

TAMT

[Aaron]

Sorry my responses are so far between... just really swamped here.

This is a different font version of the arrow concept. As for the bubble off center idea, I think the bubble/level idea may be too much, as it would require the use of the full level to tell what it is. My concern is that the artwork would be indiscernable at smaller sizes. What do you think?

[earwood]

Jon- Can't wait to see your design and glad that you have something original.

Aaron- We agree. the level just may not work. thanks for trying it out. As for this design, we're not sure if you saw our other post about changing to the dartboard theme with darts rather than the arrow and target. And using that messy type font from the level logo. Did you see that one? If not. we'd like to hear your thoughts on it.

Everyone else - We're still interested in seeing your designs. Maybe someone would like to take a stab at our jackpot concept. See Here (http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showpost.php?p=178788&postcount=48)

We are very anxious and excited about seeing your designs. Keep em coming or ask us questions.


Thanks,
TAMT

[nhr]

:D

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/_DO/AlmostMediocre2_DO.png

Thanks.

[MOZ]

MOZ is going to make an attempt at your SLOTS idea!

[earwood]

nhr-
Very interesting design. We like it. Would like to see a regular T in with the design...to make it easier to read. And maybe use some bolder colors? We like a bold red, black, and white. Or really any colors like those (think Russian propaganda). But this is a fun design.

Moz-
Can't wait, dude!

Thanks,
TAMT

[nhr]

Revision:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/_DO/AlmostMediocre21_DO.png

Thank you very much :D

[MOZ]

Here's the slot idea... :rolleyes:

[earwood]

nhr-
dig the colors. But i think i miscommunicated what we wanted to see. we liked the upside-down "t" as a podium. could we see it that way, but with an added "t" in the same font as the rest of the letters? Thanks so much.

MOZ-
that definitely the idea we were thinking of, but i think we'd like to see more of an actual picture of a slot machine with "almost mediocre" written somewhere out side of the area where the duck comes up. But thanks for getting that concept rolling!

Can't wait to see what everyone's got!

Thanks,
TAMT

[MOZ]

I'm glad it might help. I'll try to pump it up some. NOTE to all other designers...PLEASE FEEL FREE to take the slot idea and run with!!!!!!!!!

MOZ

[earwood]

Thanks MOZ! We really appreciate it!

[nhr]

That is that, I hope:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/_DO/AlmostMediocre22_DO.png

Thank you.

[earwood]

nhr-
looks great. that's definitely what we meant. give us some time to mull it over, but it's a good lookin' design.

thanks,
tamt

[Kassi]

Hello TAMT,

I've been wanting to enter your contest but haven't been able to think of a solid idea . . . until now.

If it's not too late, I'll have a couple of ideas to enter soon too.

Kassi :)

[earwood]

Kassi,

Bring 'em on. Glad you're joining us.

Thanks,

TAMT

[Kassi]

Here's one, kind of inspired by a presidential type seal. Also, I hope you don't mind but I gave Norman a little crown to wear (it can always be removed). What do you think?

Kassi

[earwood]

Kassi-

That's great! Can we see it without the crown?

Thanks,

TAMT

[Kassi]

Crown removed. :)

Kassi

[MOZ]

COOL IDEA! with the round logo you could "CASH IN" (pun intended) on the whole poker fad that's going on right now! Good job Kassi!! :yes:

[earwood]

Kassi-
That looks awesome! Thanks so much. Great look! We shall discuss.
TAMT

[earwood]

Kassi-
Some concerns that this logo has too much of a military look. Could you throw in some navy blue or something to give it more of a presidential look?
Thanks!
-TAMT

[Kassi]

Here are some variations with navy blue added. I also brightened up the gold/yellow colour too.

Kassi :)


P.S. Thanks for the compliment MOZ :blush:

[Kassi]

And here are a couple more colour variations with navy blue and "1f" with the addition of red. Please feel free to request any other changes.

Kassi :)

[earwood]

Kassi-
Those look great!
Thanks!
TAMT

[earwood]

Kassi-
These are great. We like 1e and 1f the most. Would it be possible to add some detail to them?

Like some foliage?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/graphics-manual/images/black-seal.gif&imgrefurl=http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/graphics-manual/official_seal.asp&h=194&w=203&sz=8&tbnid=tiJnQ0HLYM4J:&tbnh=94&tbnw=99&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dofficial%2Bseal%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3De n%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

Or a shield?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nal.usda.gov/speccoll/collect/history/usda3.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.nal.usda.gov/speccoll/collect/history/seal.htm&h=211&w=212&sz=34&tbnid=h1r-DQ-bWoIJ:&tbnh=100&tbnw=101&hl=en&start=16&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dofficial%2Bseal%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3De n%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

Thank you much,
TAMT

[Kassi]

Will do! I'll have some versions with more details as suggested to show you tomorrow.

Thanks,

Kassi :)

[Kassi]

Here are a few different ideas for added details. Open to other suggestions as well, let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Kassi :)

[Kassi]

Another border . . .

:)

[Kassi]

And another . . .

:)

[earwood]

Kassi-
Thanks. Designs looking good. We had a couple ideas we'd like to try. We're concerned that it may be too difficult to read "Almost Mediocre," but we like the design. Could you put our name in large, horizontal font - with the logo in between the two words or maybe as one of O's.
And on the logo, we like the foliage, but is it possible to tone it down? Maybe put it on the inside of the logo, begind the duck? We also still like the idea of the shield. And if that's too much stuff inside the logo, you could even change the full Almost Mediocre on the inside of the logo to just "A.M."
Hope this makes sense to you. Feel free to ask us questions if it doesn't.
Thanks so much.
TAMT

[Aaron]

Sorry this is taking so long...the perspective was giving me problems. ;)

[earwood]

Aaron,
Love the design. Well worth the wait. But as always we have a few requests. We like the two color version the best. We'd like the "m" and the "s" to not be covered by the dart board - maybe different spacing, maybe a little larger letters, but we really want the name to be as easily read as possible.
On the dart board, maybe if it could be slightly smaller (like 10% maybe), and is it possible for it to be a bit simpler in design.
We dig the font and the colors on the second one (just the red and black). It's a really great design.
Also, could we see it with out the shadows on the darts or the board?
Thanks so much,
TAMT

[Aaron]

I'll simplify these and repost today.

Thanks!

[earwood]

That's great! Thanks a lot, Aaron.
TAMT

[Aaron]

I'd like to think it's still Friday someplace... :weep:

[earwood]

Aaron,
That looks amazing. You made our weekend.
Thanks,
TAMT

[earwood]

Aaron,
We love the logo, but could we see it with a couple more adjustments? Could you put the shadows back on the darts only and move the lower two dart more to the outside? We're afraid those two make it a bit difficult to read "mediocre."
Thanks dude,
TAMT

[Aaron]

No problem...

[earwood]

Aaron,
This looks incredible. Don't want to be a pain in the ***, but could we see it with the bottom two arrows taken out? Hopefully that;s just a quick change.
Thanks so much,
TAMT

[Aaron]

No problem!

[Kassi]

Here are a few ideas based on your last requests.

Kassi :)

[version 3a, 3b, 3c]

[Kassi]

:)

[version 4a, 4b]

[Kassi]

:)

[version 5a]

[earwood]

Thanks for everyone for submitting your designs. We loved seeing the creative ideas and your talent was impressive. That being said, we have decided to choose Aaron's design #92. Aaron you are named Minister of *****in' Logos.

Everyone- be sure to check out the other project Todd has going on with More Than Derby (http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9108).

Moderators - please move us to the revisions forum.

Thanks,
TAMT

[Aaron]

Sweet title!

In the title thread this is for a business card too...do you have a list of names you want me to use or should i just dummy one up?

Thanks again,

Aaron

[Mark]

Moved to Revisions Forum.
Congrats Arron!

[earwood]

Hey Aaron,
Just wanted so say again how much we love the logo you came up with. Could you you just dummy up a card for us using the name, "Scooter Libby?" Also, I believe we decided we'd like to use 2 darts on the logo. And both we'd like to see pretty close to the dart board.
Thanks a lot and congrats again,
TAMT

[Aaron]

Alrighty... I added in another arrow, closer to the target. I also threw in an equally disturbing business card design.

Thoughts?

[earwood]

Aaron-
Love the logo. Love the card. Would like to see the address and email text leveled out. Clean it up a little so the whole things not all over the place. But it looks great.
Thanks for all your work,
TAMT

[earwood]

Aaron,
Could we also possibly see this bis card in a vertical layout?
Thanks dude,
TAMT

[Aaron]

Here you go...

[earwood]

Aaron,
Thanks. These look great. We'll get back to you quickly.
TAMT

[earwood]

Aaron-
Sorry it's taken a bit to get back to you. we like the horizontal card the best. one more request and i think we're about done.
right now our only "product" is our website, so we'd like to highlight the web address more. also, could we do a back to the card the REALLY highlights the web address. Like maybe just a large adress with the bullseye for the "O". but you're the man with this stuff, so feel free to do whatever you feel is best.
Thanks,
TAMT

[Aaron]

There's a couple of ways we could do the back of this thing. Of course, the most in-yer-face is the one I lean towards. You could flood the back with that red, and then just have the web site on there. On the second one, rather than insert the dart board into the "almost," I made into the dot in dot com. The drawback here is that the thing is too small to see online. It prints out pretty cool, though.

Thoughts?

[earwood]

i love that!

[earwood]

aaron,
hell yeah! that looks great. we'll get right back to you.
k

[Aaron]

Cool. I'll be here.

[earwood]

Aaron,
We love it. I believe our time here is done. We're very excited about all you've done for us and grateful as well. We're going with the back of the card that doesn't have the dart board. Everything else is great.
Could you please send us the Original files in .PSD and .EPS format?
Thanks for everything Aaron. I'm sure we'll be in touch.
Please send the files to: kevinalowe@gmail.com
The Almost Mediocre Team

[Aaron]

Thanks TAMT. I'll bundle the files and send them over. The original files are done in Illustrator, so EPS will be no problem. I'll post here again once the files are sent.

Thanks again,

Aaron

[Aaron]

Files were just emailed... EPS files of the business cards (front and back), and color and black and white versions of the logos in EPS, JPEG, GIF and PNG formats.

Please let me know if they give you any problems.

Thanks for the opportunity,

Aaron