Linda CraftLogo Design Contest

Linda - Welcome! Small world...I'm just down I-40 in Wilmington!
#50 - A nice clean house being held captive.

I like the clean look of this one but, would like to see the message Don't Be A House Hostage written under it. Also wonder if a graphic of a ball and chain may visually que that they are stuck in a house. Thanks

Thanks for the feedback.
#53 | With tagline as requested.
#54 | Very clean, and tells the message in a none busy way. I like the uncluttered feel of this one.

...One thing to keep in mind from a design standpoint, Is distance readability.

In other words, a more cluttered high graphics design becomes blurry from a distance and the mind does not compute it as quickly as it does a cleaner design. This is a principal rule in Logo design, and is why I mentioned the cleanliness issue in my previous comment. Also sharper colors and fewer gradients can make it easier to view as well.

The simpler the design, the more memorable it becomes as well (Nike, Apple, etc..)

Hi,

Is there any way to add a lock under the house and line? So that the chain connects to a padlock of some sort?

Thanks!

Absolutely! Here ya go: #59 | #60

Hi,

We really like the one that we ranked number 1. Can you add the words - Don't be a house hostage somehow?

Thanks!

#61 and #62 - With tagline. Thanks again!

Would you be able to add a stack of cash into the lock area somehow?

Instead of the lock, or in addition to it?

Wherever you think it is best

We are thinking to the left of the lock. Would also like to see the font changed to a sans serif and the radiance toned down some on the letters and lock.

Thanks!

I'm a little confused. The fonts that I have used are Sans serif. Do you mean that you want a serif font?

Yes, more like a Times New Roman font. We are getting feedback that the current font looks like a cartoon font.

I'm out of my office until this evening, but will gladly change the font tonight and forward those to you.

Latest request from Linda:

The cash should be on the roof, under the chain. And it should look like cash not play money.

She also likes the cash graphic that was used here: http://www.kcmblog.com/2012/11/29/why-are-the-letters-cfpb-and-qrm-so-important/

That is a clip art photograph. Logo design and illustrated photography are two different genres. We can not use clip art because of the trademark issues she would face with the logo. And digitally illustrating that detailed of a drawing would take hours. The payout for this project is already at the minimum. I'm not sure how to get the currency to such a detailed state under the circumstances. I think their maybe some confusion. Logos are generally simple, clear designs. What she is requesting is a detailed illustration, which is much more expensive.

Feedback from Linda this morning:
__________________
I know but, it still isn't right. They have the pile of cash hidden neatly at the bottom. I want it to look like real money not a cartoon graphic. And I want it under the chain, angled on the roof. The eye will go to the money first and then the rest of the image. It will make more sense to see in this order: money, house, lock and chain. Now the eye sees the a house first, then chain and lock. Without the money capturing the eye/brain first the image looks like we are selling a new burglar safety system. The money tells the story because selling a house and buying a house is all about money. We need real money in the graphic

Linda Craft

Real money is the issue:

Making anything look "real" is a very time-consuming area of graphic design. Logos seldom ever look real. She is requesting an illustration which is a much more expensive side to graphic design. Logos are very simple. Because complexity hurts a logo.

Again I feel she is misunderstanding what we do here.

This contest is into it's 3rd week....and iw well beyond the normal timetable....She has requested the minimum payout.

....and now wants complete redesign? That is several hours over digital layout work.

My in house bill for a local client for the time already spent would be triple what she is paying here on an outsource site. I just don't think she understands.

I can't make money look real in a digital .eps file format that a proper logo...and this site... requires.

There is also an issue with copying the appearance of American currency, which is actually illegal and can not be trademarked under federal law.

I'm not sure what else I can do other than just rearrange the existing elements. Making the currency look "real" is not worth the amount of time it would require. I truly am sorry. I simply have invested my limit into a minimum payout project.

Please provide direction as to what I should do here.

Hi,

LInda has thought through what you have written and still wants to have her idea implemented. She wants to know how much you would charge to complete the project to her specific requests. She believes that you can find a money graphic on istockphoto or a similar site that would work.

Thanks

Yes, I can find an iStockphoto, and add it. It just can not be done here at Logo Tournament. It would have to be done post contest. We are not permitted to use them...The cost would be minimal being that I would not have to illustrate the graphic. She will have already paid for the main part of the logo here. It would just be some layout costs plus any cost for the graphic (depends on the site the graphic is chosen from.) If she does not need the main elements of the logo redesigned (House, Lock, chain) I imagine the costs would be less than $100 (Providing an inexpensive graphic can be found. ...So that may be the solution. If the house and chain graphic are OK, she could select it as the winner, and we would simply add the iStock after the fact. She does need to keep in mind the trademark issues that can come with iStock. Many graphics are not for commercial use. I can add a graphic after the fact. She could chose one, and purchase it/select it for me to add to it.

As a designer and member here I have to be very careful for my protection and hers as to what stockart is legally used.

I cant do that until she has selected the winner here though. That is a strict part of what keeps this community afloat. No outside work can be done for clients here, while the current contest is ongoing.

I hope this helps,
Paul

Hello again, I have spoken with the side admin Ivan, and we definitely cannot do the iStock through this site. It is just a major copyright/legal risk.

Living just down the road in Wilmington, I am aware of Linda's vigorous marketing. I understand how important it is to keep her brand strong.

Does she intend to trademark the logo in any way? If so she would need to move past the money idea. You simply cannot trademark anything that looks so much like United States currency.

If she does not intend to trademark the logo, than we could possibly add a selected piece of clipart to the existing logo.

We are up against a few problems. 1) The contest is concluded. It is 21 days past due, and the site can select a winner at any time at this point. 2) The many hours of digital work that have already gone into the logo.

My professional advice is of course for her to reconsider the currency part of the logo. The chains and lock tell her story in a simple concise way. If she does require the currency she will need to select me the winner so that I can proceed with the iStock request.

I have a million projects in front of me, and simply must proceed beyond this. Generally I spend a few hours at the most on a project on an outsource site.

Please provide direction on how she wishes to proceed.

Hi,

She is thinking through your comments. Thank you for your patience.

We are ready to proceed and will not proceed with any further changes. Please get the final files ready for us.

Thank you!