Couple quick points before your next round of concepts and variations:
We're small potatoes here and will often have to use the logo in B&W so you should design away from complex gradations and subtle colors. Bold text and geometric shapes and solid colors will be best for us in the long run.
Also, I think the name and tag need to take the visual lead with an incorporated (relevant and intuitive) graphic being subordinate.
Cool interpretation of waves, and following a waterway from point to point ... or at least that was my takeaway! [smile]
I also like how you showed me how it will look in B&W (#106).
#105 would work but I hate to get into the blue and blue rut that a lot of our marine brethren have fallen into. And the gold goes kind of desert-y on me.
Maybe some reds and oranges of sunsets and sky over the blue water and waves?
I'd like to be eye-catching without taking the cheap visual shot and being gaudy ... if you know what I mean?
Really great going. Can I see some variations on this concept?
And another concept if you have the time. I really like you ideas and thinking.
I really don't know how this "ranking" and "not interested" metaphor is supposed to work.
But, unfortunately, I think it may mislead someone (and that someone could be you or me) into believing a concept is still alive if it's really not. That and Diana and I are trying not to hurt anyone's feelings. So we're probably leaving too much in the "ranked" column.
Remember, this is all new to us so please forgive our blundering.
Here's what I'd like to do and how you should interpret the next round of sorting:
1. If it's ranked, it's still alive and I assume you are working and improving that design along the lines of what we've either publicly or privately commented. I also assume you are generating new concepts because, so far, NO ONE IS WINNING. We are not satisfied with even the leaders (high rankings) ... otherwise we would have ended the contest earlier versus extending it. Make sense?
2. Otherwise, it's in the "not interested" column. Earlier, crcdesigns explained to me how to re-order everything at the end of the contest so as many people as possible get credits, and the leading designs all get ranked in the appropriate order (see above post). Never fear, I will absolutely do that at the END of the contest.
3. But for now anyway, the ranked entries are too clogged and they also aren't putting enough fire into either of us. Me, to drill down and focus on designs that could win the contest, and you to abandon concepts that shouldn't really be ranked and not competitive ... when bringing forth a new concept would serve you better.
So please do not be insulted when some concepts go quickly into the not interested column. Let's both communicate and focus on the potential winners!
And by the way, thanks once again everyone for all of the hard work and patience you're demonstrating,
I like 394's continuation of your bold style! But don't think this exact instantiation because it looks too much like targets and bulls eyes ... but I do like the way the type is getting arced, the visual impact, etc.
I'll rank it a bit high assuming you're going to play around with it.
And please keep working variations of #105 to make it even more exciting. Not sure we like the orange chosen, red may be too much, but hate to live with blue and blue (a little hackneyed and kind of bland).
Best, mark
P.S. You were getting some copycats on #105 and I quietly shooed them off. [wink]
Boy, it's like Coca-Cola, eh? Nothing compares to the original. [smile]
When they tried to change the flavor, people went nuts ... it just didn't work at all.
Diana and I really like your original design (#105).
When you move the "THE" down, or move the words off the wave, it just doesn't work as well does it?
And when we run the R off the bottom of the block, well the eye certainly goes with it!
Still like to see some color variations on the original (#105) ... please see the posts I put up last night and this morning on the contest main page (especially the color comment).