Transportation Energy PartnersLogo Design Contest

Ultimately, I'm not seeing the "Top Three Things to Communicate through our Logo" in the logos. The names there, but the symbols aren't evoking -- for me -- transportation, energy, or American per se. The motion's there (as indicative of partnerships or mobility for transportation) but in such a generic sense that it doesn't hit very hard.
It's not clarified in our content above so please note the following: using the words is fine, but also using the acronym "TEP" is fine, too. Perhaps there is some playspace in using block letters that would enable... let me come up with some examples... a) a fuel drop as the space in the "P", b) a road that turns green in the "T", or even c) putting some alt fuels symbols in the road in the "T".
I would echo the sentiment that simple is better in logo design, but I think there is a happy medium with having a little more in the design while not overdesigning it. The reason we selected so many marks or styles is that we are open to all thinking about what our logo could say, but do want it to either clearly show or evoke the "three things to communicate" through it.

These are better RM_Steve! I see roads and people and some green for cleaner... and people coming together! The fading, colored, divided lines also are changing, interconnected roads (to me); this one to me shows perhaps a little more professionalism, but still has pieces of what we want to convey. These are headed in the right direction.
We appreciate anyone and everyone's submissions! I'll be back to add more comments or rank new entries soon.

A little more clarification and fire for your engines designers...
TEP--and the Clean Cities coalitions we help--focus first and foremost on reducing petroleum consumption and putting American alternative fuels into use. Think natural gas, electricity (for electric vehicles), biodiesel, ethanol and propane. These are the primary alternative fuels. All of these are cleaner and (much) more domestically produced in the U.S. We also work on projects like idle reduction, and getting fleets to use more fuel-efficient vehicles. All these action help reduce oil dependence, including foreign oil dependence.

Just to reiterate, these are the key things we want to see in the logo somehow, even if just evoking or intimating the topic:

1. Transportation
2. Energy
3. Partnership
4. American

It can certainly be hard to include all so just focus on the first 2-3 if you need to. I'm restating this because I don't think #2, energy, is coming through much. If it helps, fuel drops, electric bolts and liquid flames are all images that could be used or incorporated. If you are thinking "energy" just remember it's the transportation side of that. For example, gears may make someone think of mechanical energy, but they don't think of cars or vehicles, ie, transportation. Certainly making some of that symbolism green could easily got you to showing transportation energy, and cleaner.

I like all of the newest ones better designers! I'm starting to see transportation energy and cleaner better. dc - Is it possible to be "driving to greener fuels"? And what is the under part of the drop... I can't tell if it's meant to be something natural or it's a tire (and I don't know if you can communicate with me).
Please keep them coming! Thanks!!

Hey DLab... how about a version that has the acronym letters all green (or blue or red depending on how you are feeling)? Maybe another with another color (all the same), and the first letter of each word in the full name is in that same color?

gfdesigns - the "American" is definitely coming through! I think several that are on our board will enjoy this representation.
(ALL - There will be about 8 board members that will help make the final decision - I'm the lead for managing the effort and coalescing their comments for you.)
DLab - Thanks for the other iterations!!
sen - I like this thinking... I see American fuels and an inkling of a road too!
Designers -- These continue to get better at showing the key concepts! Thank you all! I'm trying to stay on top today of ranking your submissions and leaving comments; I'll be checking in frequently from here on out today!!

Andrei - great addition! It feels American with the red and blue, and the multiple stars could intimate partnering. It clearly indicates liquid (i.e., transportation) fuels and greener ones at that. One request, that is slight - could the whitish reflection on the bottom of the drop be split into two pieces (roughly in the same visible space) that could perhaps make someone think a road (or be seeing a whitish reflection of one)?

These are getting more in-line with what more of our board is liking everyone! Granted there's alot we are trying to relay in one logo, but some are keeping some simplicity to them. I think we will end up liking ones that have the acronym in one color, whether that is green, blue, red or black (likely one of those colors).

Andrei would you try one with the "TEP" all one color (what do you think looks best per our topics?

DLab - Although I think the green drop represents green transportation well, we also work on essential gaseous fuel and elec. vehicle projects. Sometimes you will see alt transportation fuel projects represented by three elements (drop for liquid fuels, flame for gaseous fuels, and elec. bolt for EVs). Is there a way to incorporate the three into the star, as another option?

Jgoverly,

Please know that you can click on the design you like to leave individual feedback and read designer`s comments and opinions.

Sincerely,
Andrei

All - more comments are forthcoming tonight. Note: I'm having to use the "non-interesting" column just to manage the quantity. I'm keeping the more liked versions of what you are producing either in the ranking or in reserve in the "inbox." I'm having to wait on some board feedback, and that's why the reserve. You guys/gals are doing great evolving these! Clearly, we're leaning toward one color in the acronym, but that color can be different depending on what you've created. More coming...

Yikes!! - I just figured out how to read your comments!!
I'll go through and read them all now...

I'm now leaving most of my comments directly to each designer. Sorry all as I didn't figure out how to do this until several days into it.
We appreciate anyone and everyone's submissions! The "three things to communicate," in addition to greener or cleaner, are the chief things we want to feel when seeing the logo.
Thanks - Jonathan

Just remember all that I'm parsing information from multiple board members. I'm working to change the rankings every time I see new submissions. Thank you!

A bit of pre-closing information all...

Our plan right now is to select the top 5 concepts once the contest ends today at about 4pm Eastern Time, and then get input from all of our board members. That will likely take a couple of days, so next Monday or Tuesday I expect to notify the winning design/designer of your selection!

I'm having a discussion with the board President today at 1pm ET, so perhaps before 2pm I may have some other comments posted here or direct communication with some of you.

Thank you all,
Jonathan

We very much appreciate all the designers for their input and efforts! Good luck to all of you in your endeavors.