The font is nice and clean. I find the lines very straight/hard. Feel missing ojibwa tone. Please do a Google Image search for 'ojibwa art' or 'ojibwa painting' and you will see a distinctive look, kind of like this:
Thank-you very much for the new entries Elvin. So far you are the only one to submit something with an obvious Ojibwa feel to it. Much appreciated. I prefer no tagline.
I really like the design and color of your sun. Color choice in the logo is great too. The slightly bent trees convey wind in a pleasant way.
Do you think it would work to make the logo roughly approximate the shape of Manitoulin? My suggestion: drop the bottom half and make the top half more pie shaped. Also our geography here is relatively flat, except for an elevated stretch with a flat top. We don't have pointed mountains. Here is a sample of the terrain:
Thanks for the new designs Elvin. I really like your work as it comes closest out of all the other entries to an Ojibwa look and feel. Where I am having trouble is that the designs are quite busy except #74. While I like the art and immediately pick up an indigenous feel, I get lost in looking at the details instead of quickly getting a sense that MWSI is about wind and solar power.
#74 is going in the right direction but the trees look somewhat cactus like, very dry (color choice I think). It is very lush here so that image feels out of place.
I'm not much a designer but I hacked this together based on your design:
It's a little simpler, portrays the wind in the trees and roughly approximates the shape and geography of Manitoulin Island (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Manitoulin_Island.jpg) . Can you clean this up a bit (flatten the mountain top). I think it's probably better to leave animals/people out of the picture as they are distracting. Does that help?
I've got feedback coming in from several people that you are the preferred artist. I feel the same way. I think we are going to have to fumble around a little more to nail down the design once the contest closes be we are getting close.
Do you speak English? Do you want to hop on a Skype call to work out the details or shall I just keep leaving messages here?
On #74, can you: - can you make the trees the same color as you did in #55, #73 & #77 and then make what is currently green, blue (sky). - flatten the branches on the trees but keep them bent - move the sun to the other corner
I'm seeking input from Ojibwa people to make sure we are representing things tastefully and well.
I am very grateful to learn a little about the great art of the Ojibwa people from your contest.
about communication, I thought you just put a message here, because "Logo Tournament" does not allow to make the relationship of Communications in a different way during the contest :)
i will make further changes and shall upload again shortly for you, hopefully I still have enough time from of you.
For #75 tweaks - Can you simplify it? Most people who have seen it like it but felt it is too busy for a logo. I also got feedback today that the circle is an important element in native/ojibwa culture. Any ideas how to represent your work in a circle?
I hope you are ok with going back and forth a little more. We really like your art but it is obviously difficult to wrap so many layers/dimensions into the logo and try and explain here in text.
Does that help? Please ask any questions that would help to clarify the process.
Thanks Elvin. Still looking Ojibwa to me, although I am an under-qualified white guy.
#89. The font wrapping around compliments the round logo. The moon balances the sun in a pleasing way. I think #89 looks the best on its own but I am concerned about how it will reproduce at small scales (letterhead, business cards, etc). Thoughts? I don't have much experienced in print.
I like the font color and face in #85. I definitely prefer sans-serif.
I've been reading about how the four directions are part of the (North American) indigenous belief system: North/South/East/West and four colours human races (Red/Yellow/Black/White).
Elvin, you are an amazing designer. Thank-you for your committed energy to see this through. After the contest closes, let's talk about letterhead as well. We are REALLY close. Only minor changes from here on in. Let's work with #103
1. Please make the small sun the same color as #89 2. Experiment: switch the spirals from the black & red corners to the yellow and white ones 3. Change the yellow sun in the center to the light green you used in #89 4. The only part that needs a little tweaking is the trees you borrowed from my friend. I think her trees look sad with the downturned branches (even though that is how branches are typically oriented). Your original up turned branches looks better (more lively) but not quite right. Here is a suggestion from my friend: http://mwsi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mwsi-new-tree.jpg You don't have to try and make the tree(s) look exactly like hers but this one is closer to what people will recognize around here. I'm not sure if one tree will look too lonely or not. I'll have to see it to be able to decide.
Thank you for your compliment, I glad you already happy with my works, Justin. I'm javanese man who have been given the opportunity to learn another culture. Ojibwa! Thanks again for that.
Okay, I will try to provide th tree as best as I can do
- Can you change the yellow sun behind the tree to a light green, lighter than the green that surrounds the tree - Can you try a dark font color that exists in the logo (brown perhaps)? The blue looked great with your earlier designs that were more blue heavy. (#75, #105) Now the blue color makes the text feel somewhat separate.
More challenging: the tree. You latest version is the getting closer. Do you have trees with needles (no leaves) where you live? With have both deciduous (trees that loose leaves in the winter) and evergreens (no leaves, just needles year round). We are trying to represent an evergreen tree called a pine.
Some subtle changes: - Can you make the bottom of the trunk a little narrower? - Can you make the leaves look more like needles (less down facing)? - Can you reconnect the tentacles from the outer ring to the branches. I hope this will work somehow because those lines convey a feeling of connection with nature and all things which is an important element
Keep: - The trunk bent as this helps convey wind - The grass bent in the same direction as the tree
Question on payment. I feel I've asked you to create an extraordinary number of changes. I believe in fair pay. If you feel I have asked for more work to be done than you will get from Logo Tournament, let's talk after the contest closes and see if we can work something out.
Hello Elvin. I'm wondering if you will have time over the next couple of days to make some final tweaks to the tree? I ask because I need to send the logo to a printer on Monday to prepare materials for a conference that I am attending.
Keep: The green font in #119 is great. The tall tree in #124 Seven tree roots The top of the tree connected to sun like #124
Try: Drop the moon Make the moon white Drop the grass (it looks like claws). Drop the tentacles, just leaving the tree. I know I asked for these but we are finding the interface between the dreamy tentacles with the realistic looking tree somewhat forced. Sorry this piece is so difficult. We might have to experiment a little more here. Again, we can send some more money your way if this back and forth process is beyond what is reasonable for you.
Change: Please make the roots on the left side of the image connect more with the trunk of the tree (like the right side)
Sorry for the delay Elvin. Thank-you for your continued patience and contribution to this process. This has been a difficult logo to create. I asked for help over the last couple days because the central tree was not working. The input I received is that the 'thunder bird', a mythical bird important to the ojibwe culture (like a huge eagle) would work well as a central element, subtly conveying wind and connection to nature and spirit. My artist friend sketched this up:
I know this is incorporating more of her design that your original work - I hope this is not offensive to you. She is very much in touch with the local culture here so she was able to translate my ideas into a working model that kept the local indigenous elements intact. We need you to make it look good on the computer. Can you take care of that? This is where the inspiration came from: http://mwsi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mwsi-thunderbird.jpg
Also one minor change, swap the red and yellow colors. I didn't realize the orientation and direction was important but I learned that they are.
Elvin, I recognize this was a challenging process (largely due to my inexperience leading it). You were so incredibly accommodating and skillful to work with. I am so pleased to be able to select you as winner today.
I may need additional help with letterhead and perhaps website design. Can we connect via email to sort out additional work as it comes up? My work email is justin dot tilson at mwsi dot ca.