This #33 is absolutely stunning. I like how its intricacy calls to mind craft (without resorting to a picture of a needle and thread :>)). You managed to use all of my favorite colors, and the print brings in Africa in a way that is not cliched. It also gives me many ideas for how to style the website. This is the kind of logo that will bring out the best in our company.
Looking to my budget, which is quite small, i wonder how this could be adapted to B&W (for biz cards)? Could you convert this easily to B&W for a less expensive print alternative?
I love #82, which brings the ladies who make the beautiful things into the design and says handwork in a different way. It's extremely unusual, yet with the reference to henna painting reflects Kenya and especially Mombasa very well in a way that I've not seen explored in other local logos. Parts of it could be pulled out for hangtags, little elements on the website, etc.Truly outstanding! (Would it adapt for B&W?)
#83 is also very attractive and festive. I will have to consider the merits of its simplicity alongside #82.
#75 is also very exciting, but I don't feel it really references Africa,and you've done that so well and subtly in the other designs.
Hi,just winding down for the day and have a questions for you:Have you ever done any packaging design? The hand designs have got the wheels turning....
Hi, thanks for being patient during the last few days and thank you for all of your new contributions.
thanks for #125-#132 and also #140. Colour is such a big part of your designs, it is hard to think of using them in B&W. Fortunately, you've showed me that they still look pretty amazing using only 2 colours, which gives us good options for the budget.
Your variations #136-#139 are also delightful. I am a little confused now about whether I like the hands reaching in or reaching out. The brown colouring on the hands is a little more inviting than the black and grey, and i like the touch of the zebra and the little bit of green. Also the butterflies are charming. I have been sitting here wondering how to perhaps combine these elements differently. I will look at them again tomorrow and give it some more thought.
Although I haven't mentioned it in a while, I do still feel really attracted to your first concept (#33) and feel really torn between your two main ideas.
It's been a really interesting week. thank you for everything you've done.
Hi, am just starting to review the ranked entries and suggest some finetuning. First let me say how difficult it is for me to choose my favorite of your entries. Your first concept was fairly conventional but so beautifully executed. I still take time to look at it whenever I go to the contest page.
Your second concept is quite original and lends itself to many variations. I like that it is so stimulating to look at, and the colours are lively. It is really difficult to settle on a favorite version. One of the things I am pondering is the "open hands" versions #138, 139, 131 (lively, inviting) versus the "closed hands" versions #82, 136, 140 (comforting, restful). Aside from the two messages they communicate, I think the open hands bother me a little because I end up thinking a little bit about where the hands are coming from (growing out of the letters), whereas on the closed versions, the hands just fade gently into the surrounding background colour. I think that this kind of distraction is not a good thing in a logo.
My husband really likes #75 but has concerns about how it could work in B/W. I think it might work better than the #82 series.
BTW, how would #33 translate into B/W? I think it might be quite handsome.
I do still like #83, although you are so good with pattern, its simplicity perhaps does not do justice to your talents.
If you have any ideas regarding the above, I would like to see/hear from you.
Hi Ilkay, you are a very hardworking lady! I am amazed by the quality and variety of your designs.
I put #212 at the top because it is just so different than everything else that has been submitted while still very beautiful. I will think about and comment on it more in the morning as it is late and I have just seen it.
All of the variations on #33 are beautiful, like the sans serif font in #207, 208 since it gives us more of the pattern and more COLOUR. Could you try the Accessories line in slightly larger pt size, as in #33? Since the main typeface is bolder, I feel the small size is a bit lost in #207, 208.
I feel #213 is improved on the white background, more uplifting, and allows the black stripes on the type to show, which gives it more strength.
#210 is very nice, love the typeface--your creation? Am not sure how I feel about the dragonfly. Will look again in the morning.
The wonderful B/W and 1-colour variations for #33 and #207 show again just how strong and versatile a design this is. . . .
My sincere thanks for your inspired efforts. . . .
Ilkay, your designs are just so . . . eloquent. I think I will not comment on the new entries until the judging phase starts, but it has been a pleasure seeing watching how you develop your ideas and how one thing leads to another. I wish you were not so far away, it would be really nice to sit down and have a chat with you! thank you for your new entries, there's lots to discuss!
Hi Ilkay, have just been looking at your designs with my entrepreneurial friend Carla. She agrees with my selection of #267 for 1st place, but can see my point that it may make customers expect very traditional looking African products, which you know mine aren't. Her second choice then is #82, which I had in 1st place for a long time. I still really like it. Do you think it would be too busy if you added some zebra stripes (as in #137)? I do like #268 a lot but worry that it won't work in black and white. And of course I am still really drawn to the variations on your first entry, #208, #265, etc, which DO look fantastic in B/W and other one-colour layouts.
BTW, you mentioned that printing is inexpensive in Turkey. What would business cards cost in 4-colours, 5,000 and 1,000?
#305 is also beautiful but doesn't work so well as a unit with the text. Don't want to make more work for you though--you have been incredibly prolific in this contest--maybe you always are, but I am amazed.
# 295, #296, #297 are nice variations and give another option for website composition. also instant hangtags! I do still like the henna hands very much. Very coastal. Reminds me of my first time to visit Kenya and my first time to see henna painting. I was enchanted. . ..
Hi Ilkay, please don't remove your designs from this page. I only put some in the not interested column because there are so many now it is hard to concentrate. For some reason, some designers have started sending new entries. But there may be some detail that we need to refer back to. Anyway, they are all so beautiful I like to look at them!
Hi Ilkay, sorry I havent replied to your email, but I will soon. I have been working on an order of samples to send to Japan this week. They will ship Monday, then I can concentrate on the final details of the contest.
When you hvae a moment, could I please see #265 stacked:
Zi Zi
Just to give an idea of a different orientation.
I think I like the type you used for the Accessories line on #33 but would not mind seeing it larger.
Hi Ilkay, Thanks for the new entries. I like the dragonfly but am really trying to keep things a little bit simple so I will have to think about this a little. I think it could make a really beautiful animation or element in the website, even if it is not an official part of the website. I have a couple more ideas along those lines that I will discuss with you.
You have put so much work into this, but would you mind trying to show me the #265 stacked (like the layout in #294?). Just want to consider the various possibilities before making a final selection.
I think I will have power tomorrow, so hope to end things on time, but it is hard to know as the rationing schedule in the newspaper never seems to be what happens. If not I will petition LT for a 1-day extension to come up with a final layout for the winning selection.
Hi Ilkay, am trying to finalize everything today for the winning design. At least we have electricity.
As my cousin the marketing manager pointed out, white background will be more versatile in terms of using the logo on the web, etc. So I will say that my final selection is going to be a version of #320.
however, I noticed taht there is something different about the way you have treated the lettering in #326, which makes the logo look 3-D--embossing or something. Am curious how this looks on #320 with the white background.
I think the "Designs" in 320 also needs to be grey (same colour as "accessories") or else it will not read if I use in on a dark background on the web.
Just so you have a feel for what I may do with the design on the web, I am considering two templates:
Initially, i will have a wholesale site with a link to another site in UK for retail sales. Later I will convert to a full-service web shop. There are still some complications in Kenya with taking credit card orders, etc.
Anyway, just wanted you to know the context in case you have any other designs. will look forward to seeing just these two small tweaks and then I will declare the winner.
As I wrote to my cousin, Laurel, I really loved this design and its variations from the start. Also, somehow, it's "me". but then you came up with so many more fantastic and really beautiful designs. The decision was very hard. I really can't thank you too much or too often for sharing your tremendous talent.
Sorry, I didnt mean to write "any more designs", just "ideas". I hope I didn't mislead you! I am really quite happy with what you have done, it's just those two small things I was wondering about.
Hi Ilkay,just trying to finalize. If I go with #332 as my winner, could you also prepare #200 as the B/W version, with same treatment of "Designs" and "Accesories". Also the orientation of the dots over the letter i. Also #206/#203.
What does #332 look like on a black background? Thinking of the web again. ...
Hi Ilkay, the files look very good. Just want to check something out with a local graphics company and then I'll approve.
Could we also reach an agreement on #336 and/or #344? Or shall I just wait and contact you if the need arises. The colour version is so beautiful, I'm pretty sure I'll come up with the budget to use it :>). Just a fallback plan....
Am very, very pleased with the logo and have approved files. However, looking at the contract, it seems I should request any additional variations now. Would you mind please also providing #332 with a black background, #344 and #201 (if it can have the 3-D effect, that would be great).
I am not very conversant with digital printing but you probably are. If I wanted to produce a digitally printed banner (for promotional use--not billboard size but suitable for display at a craft fair or other event), do I need a vector file?
Would appreciate your advice on this, as well as the additional files.
I'm terribly sorry, but I just noticed that #336 has a slightly heavier/bolder type for the "Accessories" line. I think that this type should be in all of the final files. If you look at #332 & variations, the type is a little lighter weight and kind of "breaks up". I am especially concerned if it is used on a black background--think I mentioned this before--it may "disappear."