Get a Word in EdgewiseLogo Design Contest

Just to be clear, you are not limited to the colors in the template; the logo just needs to match those colors reasonably.

The committee looked at the first two and are now willing to change the colors of the template. The colors in the brief now seem too feminine to them in the logos; they've requested something brighter.

Also part of the branding is technology. Therefore, they want to stay away from designs that involve pens and quills. They want to focus on the "edge" in edgewise, creating a double entendre with the concept of "cutting edge."

One committee member suggested the use of metallics.

The tagline does not need to be included; if a designer chooses not to use it, that is fine.

We've reviewed the concepts posted, and they've really helped us define what we're going for. We've generated some ideas this morning based on what we've seen. If you like anything I post here, feel free to run with it. We are aware that some are rather intricate and would take some time, so if you want to post something rough to give us a feel for the concept without spending a lot of time fleshing it out, that's fine with us.

Considering what we're looking for, we'll be raising the prize amount.

A note on designs: We like some of the word form designs, but we think we definitely want some kind of symbol to go with the cool word form. I'll edit the brief to reflect that.

Also, we definitely want to stay away from generic symbols, such as spheres. A spherical design would be okay as long as it has some tie to a higher message.

We want a more technology-centered brand, and if possible, we want to reflect the cerebral nature of our work.

We also prefer designs that are on a white background.

Ideas:

1. I personally like trees, and I like the idea that trees are essentially tessellations. Here is an example of a tree that shows its tessellational nature: http://www.camtech.ntu.edu.sg/cag/images/tree2.jpg

2. Mosaics. An example:

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/259882/259882,1307541240,2/stock-vector-abstract-vector-background-of-rainbow-colored-mosaic-eps-78826363.jpg

3. Mesh. Examples:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FwUaqDPLmoU/Tgo23NvZ3rI/AAAAAAAAAn8/d0UrpDO2ZiI/s1600/treepolys.png

http://www.creativebush.com/tutorials/images/IllustratorScreenSnapz022.jpg
(This last one is mesh over a face. We wouldn't want it over a face; we're discussing what we could put it over.)

4. Tessellations

This image shows a leaf as a tessellation:
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/79/77/58/7977580adba5bf91be647e9851836910.jpg

And here is another leaf tessellation. We like the colors of this. Of course, this is a famous tessellation example, but it caught the eye of several of us.

http://i1.cpcache.com/product_zoom/333558317/celtic_leaf_tesselation_zip_hoodie.jpg?height=250&width=250&padToSquare=true

5. An illustration of a synapse. Here is an example what what that might look like:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IdE-xwjB1Kc/S6SYuH1oqPI/AAAAAAAAGNg/t67NcvWeb-s/s1600-h/Memristor-A-Device-That-Mimics-Brains-Synaptic-Action.jpg

and another: http://www.nansenneuro.net/images/synapse_brain_connections.jpg

6. The brain

This image of the brain sort of looks like there is a tree in it. I like the colors (though we wouldn't want a dark background):

http://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/files/utoday/styles/utoday_general_photo/public/mni_mesh_brain_and_fibres_300dpi_0.jpg?itok=HPGTFIIQ

The following is sort of a mosaic / mesh of the brain:
http://software.incf.org/software/iso2mesh/a-complex-human-brain-mesh-generated-by-iso2mesh-1/image_preview


7. Something with the blowout effect

Like this:
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9b/3f/f5/9b3ff52e00082005450fd77dad46550b.jpg
but maybe with a brain or a sound wave or something else?

If you read all of that, thank you for your consideration and review. We hope this is helpful.

Here is another brain / mesh image that's kind of cool: http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/image/stock-illustration-brain-polygon-with-business-icon/469081815/popup?sq=undefined

This is a bit too cartoonish, but it has a good feel:
http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/image/stock-illustration-creative-light-bulb-sign-idea-concept/484812961/popup?sq=undefined

This is a bit too cartoonish, but it has a good feel:
http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/image/stock-illustration-creative-light-bulb-sign-idea-concept/484812961/popup?sq=undefined

Here is an origami brain (albeit small) with good colouring:
http://www.edinburghneuroscience.ed.ac.uk/publicengagement/ChristmasLecture/2013/2013imagesmall.gif

Here is a mosaic brain that could be an inspiration. Don't care for the colors, and it incorporates too much swirly effects, but it's an idea anyway: http://kikibenzon.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/brain-mosaoc.jpg

Our newsletter is called "Echelon." That's a hard concept to illustrate without looking like we're a cell phone company, but this is an origami image that has an echelon feel:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dQ5e8NQ8gow/TIa11MadrwI/AAAAAAAAAGA/gdjzlYv2_a8/s1600/Eric+Gjerde+Spread+Hexagon+Tessellation+2.JPG

Could we see something where maybe the word "Word" or "Edgewise" is in some kind of script, but the rest in all-caps sans serif (like something similar to Helvetica)?

Could we see something that is based on a science concept, like a sine wave, molecule, or something like that? We want to explore options that don't involve the image of a brain. Thanks!

We'd also like to see something with in gold, if possible. Thank you!

FYI, we've requested an extension to the open phase.

If there was a way to illustrate streams of data (like maybe in some kind of river), that would be interesting.

So many excellent entries! Thanks to everyone who contributed. We are going to meet tomorrow morning to discuss our top 5 ranking. All in the top 25 or so are going to be discussed, as well as some that are not yet ranked. You'll be hearing from us about any edits.

Our final vote is in the morning. We're going to consider the first 10. Thank you for all the great entries.

awesome!