hi Sebastian- this is definitely one of our fav's so far - i very much like how the art is integrated enough that it doesn't take up a lot of additional visual space. The cat itself might be just a ted too "cute" - if that makes sense - but i very much like the overall concept. is there any way we could see a cat image in "profile"...if the cat faced (the viewer's) left, the tail would still fall in the same position...also i'd love to somehow work in the acronym "SIFI" - maybe along the tail somewhere...? thanks for your interest in helping us define our brand! best, elena l. bass SIFI, inc. | a 501c(3) siferalinitiative.org fixing the future
thank you for these - i do like the profile - i think what i feel is missing with the change is that great color variation in the green that you achieved with the feathered leaves in your first four designs...that palette seems so vibrant, whereas when you take that away it seems a little flat by comparison...thoughts would include maybe trying to use a stylized eye in the profile, which would just be a "single" feathered eye...but i realize the space you're dealing with is very small, so that might be difficult...
perhaps the palette could be worked in using the grass...i like the concept of the grass in #12, but feel it's a little too "stiff" and straight-edged...too much like the decibel level measurement on a tuner...maybe fewer, chunkier, wavy-er grass blades which would incorporate the same green palette as the "leaves" in the first round of designs?
other ideas we have are just going with "SIFI", (maybe the "SI" in green, and the "FI" in brown, or vice versa) and trying to do one feathered eye on each side (almost a combination of #'s 1,2 and 3), the ears up top, and then our mantra, "fixing the future", underneath...i am not a graphic designer, so this may look totally ridiculous, of course...
i really think you have the best grasp of our palette, font, and target concept so far. thank you so much for your work on this! elena l. bass SIFI, inc. | a 501c(3) siferalinitiative.org fixing the future
...also...nitpicky, i know...i think we'd like to see the "E" in "FERAL" in the same style as the "F" as opposed to the curved-back (sorry, don"t know the right term)
and sorry...just noticed the font diff...i definitely like the font you used for "INITIATIVE" in #4, #3, and #1 - it has a little more character than does the font used for "INITIATIVE" in the second round of designs THANKS!!!
SIFI stands for Staten Island Feral Initiative, so if using the Acronym "SIFI," the word INITIATIVE is not needed
then it would just read "SIFI" - fixing the future
will be out of touch for the next few hours, but be able to view contest on my blackberry - maybe try the cat in some different positions? standing? stretching?
maybe on the other side with the S forming the tail?
thanks again for your hard work on this - will be in touch later this eve. best, - elena
so #49 is a neat spin on the design...i think i like the greens used in your other designs better though...these seem a little "limey" - maybe that and making the sky some shade of gray or light blue, with stars...trying to figure out a way to bring the "future" aspect into it...
i keep going back to those leaf eyes you came up with - they're just so cool, i hate to give them up - maybe after the contest we could work together a bit too.
one think i would like to see is, on #4, could we try adding some "markings" to the cat's forehead - it would make it a little less "cute" and a little more tribal, i think...if you look at the photos in the album here: https://plus.google.com/photos/105937374131994923001/albums/5728846410160492017?authkey=CN6qnoueorHsdg those are good references for what i mean...it might not work, but it's worth a shot...i'm only having trouble because i like more than one of your workups and i'm still not sure how to just choose one. thanks so much! - elena
as an aside, i think your use of color is one of the main factors that attracted us to your work - i especially like your designs for Venture97, Rosinger Group, Migration Celebration, Faith Academy, Uhling Consulting, and Ganja gourmet
Sorry for the delay in my response, here in Argentina we had a terrible storm and the wind make many disasters...
Here are some new versions :D
I tried to go for the leaf eyes... to improve the design... By the way #65 is my personal favorite of the new versions... It has a tribal feel... I will continue trying things
Hi Sebastian- No problem...that's the rub when working internationally, I understand - I hope you and your are all safe and alright. Here in the US, we are hearing about the latest round of Tsunamis and earthquakes in Indonesia and neighboring lands. Weather is all connected, I believe.
I love these adjustments - I'm wondering if we can work a little more of the brown into the design on the cat's forehead in #63 and #65, and adjust the ears in #63 to be a little more "cat" - more like the pointy version you used in #4. The current ears look more like squirrel ears, I think.
Again, all the best, and I really like the changes you made. More thoughts later today when I can get to my PC. Thank you!
Hi sebastian- oh, these are AWESOME - thank you so much!!! i especially like #73...very cool... my only notes are these:
the leaf eyes are a tad too close to the nose...one looks like it might be touching - maybe shift those outward JUST a tiny bit?
the dark brown is great - for the lighter browns, i prefer some variations of the shade that you used inside the tail in #63...i think that's RGB: 131,114,103 or HEX #837267 - these in #73 ( B49A5A and 7D5329, i think) are a little far up the red scale for me
regarding the lettering - would like to see the "S" beefed up just a little, and smaller on the top than the bottom...and the "E" should be a tiny bit smaller, i think - right now it looks bigger than the "F"
i wanted to make sure to mention that we are also, through this contest, hoping to build longer-term relationships with a few designers that we can look forward to working with in future endeavors...marketing, print, web etc. - is that something you would be open to? This would help us maintain brand image continuity down the line.
Thanks for the precise feedback as always Elena :)
I think I correct every point you mentioned...
Let me know if thats Ok
In response of your other question... Yes I am able to work outside LT once the contest is over, I am experise in branding, stationary, web design, banner design, brochure design, book covers, cd covers, etc...
oh - so much better - the color makes a big difference.
the ears should move up on the head a bit and be slightly larger to be realistic (it's a little "horned-owl" right now)...and let's fill in the "notch" in the ear with the lightest brown...it may confuse some people to have the ears notched (long story)
also i think the eyes should be a little smaller and be tilted down a bit...more like your design #3...i know it's a really small difference, but the cat is looking a little cross-eyed, and i think that's why...
do you have an address i could send image files to? it wont be professional quality, but it will give you a better idea than my words can, i think THANKS!
Here are the changes... let me know if I understood everythng ! and tell me if you need any other variation I increase the size of the ears and fill them with the lightest brown and rotate a bit the eyes a bit...
We are not able to give personal contact info untill the contest is over :) then we can make contact for what you need...
hi sebastian- no problem - i thought it might be in the rules somewhere. :)
this looks good...small detail, maybe just bring the dark brown part of the way down the inside line of the ear so it's containing the light brown somewhat...in other words, just a hint of the other side of the ear - and that way you could round off the pointed part just a little...if you look at most of the pics in the album here (pic 13 is a great example), you see that the cat's ears are slightly rounded at the tip... https://plus.google.com/photos/105937374131994923001/albums/5728846410160492017?authkey=CN6qnoueorHsdg
and can we tilt the ears toward each other JUST a little so the tips are pointing closer to sky-ward 9again, see pic 13 in the album)...not an exact 90-degree angle, but about halfway between 90 and whatever they are now...WOW, this forum REALLY pushes you to be precise with your words, huh!
also - i'm probably just missing it...but can you tell me the difference between the latest 4 designs? i'm usually pretty perceptive but i'm just not seeing it for some reason - thanks!
ah - and i just realized partly why the cat looks a little cross-eyed...both pupils are curved/slanted inward, so it looks like both eyes are looking in and downward...maybe try either reversing the pupil on the viewer's right so that the cat looks to the side, OR evening out both pupils a bit so they are more symmetrical...
I will be working on the claws thing but... I think it is going to leave a bit the seriousness :D
My favorite one is still #65 I think its simple and clean, and the eye leaf concept is much more evident... But of course is up to you... but I must give you my designer opinion....
i APPRECIATE your opinion! i'm not easily influenced, so no worries...i want to know what you think - that's the whole idea of communicating...i really like the brown, though, and i'm concerned that in #65, the design looks a little too much like feathers - what do you think of this then? i made this album just for you - so you can see what's in my head
i sent CS a message, but have not heard anything back from them - i let them know you are supposed to be in our top 5...if for any reason this does not get fixed, i will do one of two things...we will either hold another contest so that you can enter, or we will work with you outside LT...you can contact us at any time through our website, www.siferalinitiative.org - i would like to work with you to design a tribal cat that we can print on T-shirts especially.
i hope all is ok for you, and hope to hear from you soon. best, - elena
Sorry... It was a personal desition to retire from this contest... You seems a great person and is not your fault, is the name of the game here, but no one pay us for the hours we spend in contests when you dont "win" after hard working and quick responses... this is a job at least for me and many of us here, and we live from this... Again sorry, and really wish you the best :)
hi- ah - i had a feeling...i do understand - i am saddened, but i understand...please do let us know, though, if you are still willing to work with us...i am not blowing smoke - i really do want to use your designs, but i feel like i cant pick just one to be our "ONE" logo...i don't know how else to explain it.
i would hold another contest, but i suspect you designers do not get the full amount that we pay LT, and i have no idea how much the fees take first. i guess the only advantage here is that LT handles the copyright stuff, but i'm sure you do it all the time so it wouldn't be a problem, no?
please let me know which you would prefer if you ARE willing - and please PLEASE tell me you have saved all the stuff you did! you seem like a great person too, and i do not take it personally, i know it's business. I would say the same. all the best, - elena
I always keep designs I make, because later I re use them or sell them in other sites... If you are going for another design, we can make contact once the contest is over, outside LT if you want... Of course that wont be a problem for me...
i'd like to do 4 designs, all variations on the tribal cat that you created, but in different color-ways, one each for Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring...i want to market them as the "SIFI Seasons" T-shirt series, to raise money for our org. We will create an "about the artist" page for you on our site which will showcase your work for us, and your portfolio, if you choose - or have a link to your own site...whichever you prefer.
the word "Feral" will remain brown, like branches, but the shade of the "SI" and "Initiative" and the colors of the leaves (and so also the eyes) will change to be season-appropriate...Amber in fall, Limey in Spring, Ice blue in Winter, etc...
and on the back of the shirt, we'll say something like "Spay/Neuter is always right for the season" or "TNR is the perfect seasonal accessory" - you get the idea :)
do you have a website? can you give me some idea of what you would charge for a campaign like this? thanks again!
and let me know whether you'd rather me message you privately instead of in the comments, ok?
btw, just so you know i really do understand - i work a regular 50 hr/wk job "in the city", but all the work i do for our non-profit organization is unpaid...probably about 30 hrs/wk plus events, fundraising, workshops, etc. - not trying to compete by any means, just trying to say i understand what it feels like when someone else thinks their life and time is so much more important than yours, and that you're there at their convenience.
i do NOT feel that way, and i deeply appreciate all the work you've put in.
Thanks for your words Elena... I think the same, but when you have personal projects is different... you have an extra motivation... more than the money for living...
I think your idea is very clever... But we could discuss it once the contest here is over, I dont have a website yet, but I do have a contact site...
Just send me a private message when contest is over and we can talk...