I think the concept of bringing the R in is very unique but not needed. So many other elements to work with. #111 is promising, maybe bring the "curl" on the right hand side to the extreme edge of the triangle and flare the opposite end of the wing elements on the left in the other direction. That might work well!
Thank you for the vote of confidence. :) I will be entering some more ideas towards the end on the first phase. I agree that simplicity is sometime best, so I'll go that route. Having lived 20+ years just 10 minutes from the San Francisco airport, I could easily make out the insignia on the tail and identify what it was and the carrier. I want to recreate a look that identifies the airline in a quick glance and hopefully from a distance. Hopefully something that can be described as that airline with a "so-and-so" rather than that airline with that "thing that might be a so-and-so or maybe it a a ???". Hope that made sense. :D
Perfectly well said, you've hit the nail on the head. Very good examples are particularly Emirates and also British Airways. Delta, I feel made an error, the colours on the tail should have been reversed, very difficult to spot in harsh light as they are now! Look forward to your ideas!
Thank you for the feedback and the comments provided in the general area. Already there is a good buzz amongst the designers. The fact that you are actually involved in your contest is much appreciated. Not all CH's are as involved or communicate their thoughts as well.
I have submitted a few (OK, quite a few,) more versions. I went with some simple, some more abstract and after some more thought and research, I'm also doing a Stanley Crane, (the national bird of South Africa). I figured it might make for a great airline icon a la SA's national rugby team the Springboks. In my opinion the icon lends itself to a very nice image, it represent both flight and South Africa and it makes for a unique and design which would be easily identifiable. As always, I welcome your feedback and insight.
Thanks for your kind words, Marcelo. Indeed many, many hours have gone into this the last few days, it's been very intensive. All of your designs are excellent, your artistic use of gold is wonderful and certainly #383 illustrates masterful integration of the historic elements into the new context. Very well done !
I have a question which I forgot to ask before. Should the gold tone which we are currently using, reflect the way it will print? In other words, I imagined that the gold would be printed in a metallic paint and the reflective gradient are simulations of what it may look like. Should we present options of simulated gold gradients. Of course, it the plane were painted in metallic inks or gold foil, then the highlight will be create by natural light and the original artwork would need to be created as a black and white version.
The other issue to consider is the printed collateral i.e. letterhead, business cards, brochures... if they will be printed, then they will need to be done using gradients for 4-color process unless the plan is to foil stamp everything. Please let me know about this, so if I should be lucky enough to make the Top 5, I'll also present different looks for the gold's reflective look.
You are completely correct in every aspect, however, effects can and sometimes need to be applied on the aircraft itself, see a very good example in British Airways, which in itself simulates a natural lighting effect. Another worthwhile example is Icelandair. Gradients and effects can also be used to simulate or indicate movement. It's all about what you want the viewer to see.
Thanks, this is very good to know. I had not concentrated on too many effect options, rather focusing on the icon first since I was not completely sure. I will work some more reflective variations of the gold effect and make some more variations. Should I submit two of each designs? A left and right side or is that not necessary at this stage?
Pay no real attention to the rankings, they do not reflect my preferences in designs, they did in the first 3 days during the process of intensive work with some designers but on day 4 I chose to display rather my choice of the final 5 designers rather than the designs themselves.
I will not change designers again now.
I think it's not important to worry too much about effects now, just concentrate on the design. It's getting late in the game and time is running short.
If you like, articulate for me the titling you would use for your design.