I'm always trying to avoid overused/generic elements in my designs, so here are few pro-looking concepts, you might find interesting. #115 and #117, do not include obvious college references, but are more abstract designs, w/ clean forms and subtle symbolism of continuous progress through education. #116, #118, #119 and #120, have more obvious education symbols.
Hope you'll like some of these, and feel free to suggest improvements! Thank you!
...another quick note, in case it is not obvious at first glance: On entries #116 and #118, you'll find actual character, reading a book, carrying books, taking a bow to the viewer. This subtle character is formed by combining letter "G" and graduation hat.
Thank you, I like these designs a lot. I agree with you about the over-use of certain elements. We don't want to have them in a logo just for the sake of having them. But I want somethoing more than just an abstracted design with clean forms and subtle symbolism. I'm looking for some sort of character or symbol to be featured along with the text.
I've put a couple of your ideas in my top 10-12 for now. I've found that it takes me a while to get used to new designs when they come in, so I may move them higher as they grow on me.
Thanks again, and please know that I'm wide-open to considering any new ideas that you might have.
I'm very glad you've instantly recognized potential behind some of the designs I've offered,...even if they don't "sink in" right away, it still speaks about the quality of the concepts.
Since you were this quick to respond, I'll probably come up with few more ideas along those lines you've suggested!
Thank you for constructive feedback so far! Talk soon!
Thanks! I just clicked on your profile to view some of your other designs in other contests. I love the shipping-tree and many others. You are obviously very good at incorporating a pictorial element into a logo. I can't wait to see how you might do more of that with College 500. Owl, glasses, apple, graduation cap, diploma, award, ribbon, star, person, etc... I like bold fonts and bold colors. The blue and green are safe since that's what I've been drawn to thus far, but I'm willing to consider anything.
Another thought: this is a web site that will be primarily be used by 16-18 year olds. (and maybe by their parents) So our target audience might be more attracted to something young and fun and obvious, vs. something that is abstract and subtle.
...on entry #122, character formed on letter "G" is reading a book, and pointing to 500 colleges,...might be interesting and a bit funny concept. On #123, character is spreading his arms across the "E's", in symbolic flying position. #124 is alternative color!
I'll probably come up with some totaly different concept soon! Let me know about these! Thank you!
I like them. Of the three new ones, I like #122 the best. In fact, that's my current favorite of all your ideas so far. I currently have it ranked 5th.
As I look at the four designs I've ranked higher, I ask myself: what it is about those designs that appeal to me more?
That's a hard question to answer. The best I can come up with on short notice is: there is more to them. They have more depth, more complexity, and/or more design elements to them.
I cringe as I write this, because I don't want my logo to become a christmas tree that we dangle ornaments on until it looks better. And I appreciate the complexity and imagery of your characters - I really do. I'm just looking for something to "pop" in a logo. Your ideas look great, but there's no "pop". Or not as much as in the logos I've ranked higher.
But let me continue to look at them along side the others, and maybe they'll grown on me more, or maybe I'll be better able to articulate what I'd like to see differently. Thanks again!
You have a good approach to this contest, and I understand you want to explore options!
You are also right, I do tend to design more clean, contemporary and pro-looking designs, but if you think somethink with more visual appeal, would work better, I can do it. Important thing is that, you don't end up with some illustration, that will have no meanning,...this is always a trap, but I can see, you're well aware of that!
...let me try different approach!,...maybe something emblem style!
...and three more design concepts,...#128, w/ classic wordmark form, #129, w/ potentialy interesting half emblem form, and #130, as full emblem design.
Late night in part of the world,...I have few more ideas, but I'll work on them tomorrow! Let me know about these! Thank you!
...grayscale versions (#140, #141) are usualy used for some printing applications, so it is always good to have an idea how they could look. While exploring this, silver/blue version poped up (entries #142 and #143). Thoughts/suggestions!? Thank you!
I really like the emblems. The ones with the ribbons are too tall: Horizontal orientation is preferred. I'm not thrilled about the design above the word "College", so I'll try to come up with some better feedback for you in the next phase of the contest. Thanks again for these new concepts!
I really do like the overall look. But, I'd be willing to get rid of the book at the bottom of the emblem in order to make the "500" larger. That might make it necessary to re-do the border.
To me, it feels like "College" should be a little bit larger too. Perhaps it could overlap the border in order to become larger and more prominent.
I think I like the silver background better than the gold background, but they're both in play.
For the image at the top, here's just an idea: the upper torso and head of a character, with arms outstretched, wearing a graduation hat, and maybe even holding a diploma. Just a solid-color character. It's probably okay if the character overlaps the border, or extends beyond the emblem's edges. But I'm wide open to any ideas: please feel free to suggest anything else.
You're in my top 5, so we have two more days to see if we can perfect this. Thanks again.
To me, an emblem doesn't have to be perfectly round. It can be any shape, non-symmetrical - just completely enclosed by some sort of border. For example, some picture or character on top, "College" beneath it, and "500" beneath that, with a fun border around everything. Don't limit your thinking! :)
P.S. I like big, bold fonts. And I don't like italics. (I feel that your "500" is slanted a little bit)
..new designs on #174, and probably better, more eye catching version on #175! Good idea, and by having that outer border, it can be printed as stickers and similar forms! I personaly like it the best so far,...also silver version looks better to me! ...let me know if you have some ideas to improve it more.
#174 = YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU EXCEEDED MY WILDEST EXPECTATIONS!!!!!! Thank you! :)
We're on to the Top 5 Phase.
I was leaning away from an emblem logo until I saw #174, and you've almost completely changed my mind. I've got this ranked in 2nd place right now, but it could easily be my new 1st place.
I definitely like the "500" better now. Your infinity idea was very clever, but I do like it better the way it is in #174.
Are you using Pantone colors? I'm not even sure what that means. Should I be concerned about that? Why or why not? Thank you.
This logo emblem is really good and you've just made this an extremely difficult decision for me. Thanks again.
Haha,...you're expressing actual feel of this logo! I think our communication payed off,...this is very good outcome,...I agree.Character with diploma and hands up, is the thing that makes this emblem look so good, with positive vibe!
I'm using RGB color mode, that can easy be translated into Pantone, or CMYK printing color mode! No worries there!
How can we perfect this. (maybe it is already perfect?)
Possible ideas:
(1) Should we play around some more with colors? (although I'm very pleased with the colors already used in #174)
(2) Could we make the font for the word "College" taller, so that it becomes slightly more prominent? It almost looks a little "squished" (compressed) to me. That would also require us to increase the height of the ribbon which contains the word "College", which would partially cover/overlap the belly of the character - but I think that's okay - there doesn't need to be a gap between the ribbon and the character like it is now. The two stars to the left and right of the character could be moved up a tiny bit to maintain symmetry. (note: this is just an idea - I might not like it once I see it)
Whether we make the font taller or not, I might still suggest moving up the ribbon so that the word "College" is vertically centered in the circle - it might already be centered, but, because the ends curve down, it looks like it is slightly below center. That would allow us to make the "500" slightly larger as well, and/or move that up slightly from where it is currently positioned.
I keep using the word "slightly" because I only want to make minor adjustments - I don't want to over do it and go to far!
Important thing is that general concept is set for this design,...I'll make few versions, having in mind tweeks you've suggested. It'll take a bit more time, since it is a bit more complicated design with a lot of elements. Be back probably within next 6 - 8 hours! Thank you for great feedback so far,...as you can see it was very constructive!
Understood. I think we have a winner here. It's just a matter of tweaking it over the next 2 days to try to make it even more perfect than it already is.
Thanks,...it is in my best interest as well to deliver you the best design possible,...and to have another great design in my personal portfolio. This looks like one of those! :)
This would be good time to choose color option to focus on, so here are few options on modified design (#186, #187, #188), and look of the grayscale version on #189! Suggested modifications look better! Let me know about color, so we can explore more! Thanks!
Haha,...it is actually hard to choose,...when I work on design I'm totaly in it, and now when I take step back and see them side by side, it is hard to decide. I would probably go with orange, or green, because light blue combo is kinda monochromatic, and you need that "WOW" effect. Green would be my 1st pick,...it is modern/contemporary color, related to clean/eco-friendly,...many of the phone companies, in example use it as phone skin color to attract young people. Also, light green is on its symbolic level releted to mind, spirituality, thinking,...yes, green as accent color would be my 1st choice!
Another alternative would be to use blue/green as a basic color, and since it is same design, use orange, light blue, etc. as alternative colors included within some advertising strategies,...I have no problem delivering them all!
There was a bit blurry spot on the hand holding the diploma, so I've fixed that part on #190, and some more tweaks on text part on entries #191 and #192! #191 might look interesting, but basic version is still the best in my opinion!
I think this looks great, but let me know if you have some other ideas!
Agreed. I like #190 the best. No need for the bullets/stars on the sides of "College". I am so excited about this and I can't believe this concept didn't emerge until the very end. I was ready to settle for something I wasn't totally thrilled with until you produced this. Thanks again.
The only thing that I can think of at this point is where the belly/torso/waist of the person touches the ribbon with the word "College". The torso curves in on each side before it reaches the ribbon. To me, that makes it look like the ribbon and the word "College" is positioned beneath the mid-point.
I'm not convinced that the torso-curves need to be there: the body could just extend straight down to the ribbon without curving. And/or the ribbon could be moved higher (again?). And/or the text of the word "College" can be made taller (again?).
These are not requests. I trust your judgement on this more than my own. If it all looks perfect to you, then I'm satisfied. Or if you think I might be on to something, feel free to play around with the arrangement some more. Thanks.
I've tried that green diploma idea, and it doesn't look good, because of the lighter background and it looks too "heavy" on design creating more diverse detail! Here's version (#193), with torso connected to the ribbon,...not sure, looks good as well.
Let me try to jump in! :) #193 gives it more static feel, toning the "happy" graduation feel a bit down. #190 on the other hand, looks like it is emerging from the background, and has more dynamic feel. I would go with #190! Hope this helps!
Great! ...if this is your final pick, I'm ready to create final logo source files, when ever you are! Thanks for fantastic cooperation on this,...I'm very satisfied how it turned out,...deffinitely portfolio material!
You are the winner. I promised another designer I would wait for them to submit some more ideas, but I can't believe anyone can surpass you at this point. The judging period will be less than one day.
Of course, you'll get all the files you need! Usualy LogoTournament alows only .EPS and .JPEG files to be uploaded through their upload engine (not sure why), but I can send you .PNG directly,...I'll just need some kind of email, when time comes to send the files.
High res .PNG format is very useful and instantly applicable, and I can send you those other color options as well.