#97 I think this is a very nice concept! It perhaps looks a litte bit to friendly. Another idea - could the text "new ideas" perhaps be put on the baloon?
If possible make the feeling / text logo a bit more futur-ish?
#106 yes, now it is very future-ish. Too much, I think. Seeing this - I must say that the baloon has prefect curves in #97 - so I that should be kept.
In #106, the baloon is a bit more grey (background) - perhaps you could use some color instead? Another suggestion - use less colors in the baloon. Remove grey and look to find a balanced color scale. Also look for another color on the text logo - purple feels a bit too "friendly" (like a toy company).. Would be nice to see the balllon in more suttle/dull colors as well. For example: http://kuler.adobe.com color theme "martian landscape" or "Ocean sunset" "Citrus Grove" "Modern Retro" Feel free to explore different colors. But I like strong colors - but more bright, a bit less saturation.
Also look for some other modern fresh font for the text logo. Not as sci-fi as the #106, but someting clear and nice.
Like the idea with the baloon lifting the Shifter logo - made me smile. But made me also think about Shifters as Lifters because the baloon lifts it. Do you thing it would be possible to make something graphical of the text "new ideas"? For example a baloon-basket. Perhaps add a flame?
It is more the ideas that are taking off, leaving the ground than the Shifters. Example: http://www.shifters.se/Shifters.se/baloon.html (don't laugh - I'm not a graphical designer ;) Don't look to much as the colors either... Or the font. Your was better.
Or perhaps can the Shifters be the ground, and the baloon + new ideas lifting off it?
#114 is much better than #115. That I only changed color on one part of the baloon whas more of an accident - so your original style in #105 is better (using several colors)- but perhaps with other colors (but similar)
And perhaps also as you did before - the fire might not be needed? Perhaps just to much detail for #114. Thanks for the update!
I really like #117, but when looking at #105 there is something in that shape that is very attractive. I think I can live with not beeing fully real world realistic and skip the connections between the baloon and the "new ideas" basket, and make it more like in #105 but with the new ideas text.
And I'm very thankful that you tried out those different color variations, but I must say that your first instinct was better than mine. A baloon should be colorful - these other colors just feels... wrong.
The new textfont is a bit thin, weak. Would be nice with something a bit more solid.
#117 and #105 Taking the best of there two design and making a new is probably a good approach. And adjusting the colors in #105 (like replace gray color) a bit too.
I have another suggestion... Clouds = high up amoung the clouds. The clouds could be like new ideas! And then - as you did before - the shifters logo can be but below.
The "new idea" text is perhaps to small to read now in small sizes - so this can be a solution!