REQ-OTHER Getting a new office sign - need help with design! [$40]

[Scotland]

The designers here have helped me out so much in the past, I know you will be able to help me out with another project. I manage a childcare agency in Edinburgh and we have just moved to a new office. The office is at basement level and we are allowed to fix a sign to the railings at street level so people know where we are! The company that are making the signs are very good at making signs, but we were not very happy with the designs they have come up with and so I turn to you for help! I am running a competition which will end at midnight on Boxing day* for $40. The sign itself will be digitally printed on an Aluminium dibond white background size 80omm x 400mm. Our website is www.supermums.co.uk and you can see our logo and the font we write 'Super Mums' in (a font called girlsarewierd!) which has a baby blue u for the 'u' in Super and baby pink 'u' in Mums.

*Just to confirm - End date is 26th December at Midnight!

In terms of design, we are looking for something that incorporates the logo, the name, and the fact that we are located at the basement! Sounds easy huh! I hope so - but I should mention that it is a fairly corporate area, and we cannot be too crazy with the design! Eye-catching and welcoming are the main things!

I should also mention that I will be back here often to give feedback, which I will give for everything you create! All thats left is for me to say Good Luck! and thanks again for helping me out!

 

[Sobi]

 

[Scotland]

Sobi

Thanks so much for being the first person to reply! Feedbackwise - I am not sure that I have explained my requirements clearly enough. The Contest is not for a new logo design, it is to design a sign which would incorporate an existing logo (see example 1 and 2 attached that I just grabbed from a google search). The sign is 400mm high and 800mm wide and the Logo (My avitar! - also on the home page of the website) would need to be included, as well as the name "Super Mums" in the style at the top of the page. I know the writing does not look very good against the pink background of the website - it does look good against a white background (See attachment). Some indication that the office access is down some stairs would be good too.

The main reason we need a new sign is because our new office is on a basement level and you have to go down some stairs to see our front door!

If you have any questions - please let me know!

 

[jtoms]

can you provide a hi-res of your logo? the logo is so small.. this might pixelized on 400x800 printing..

 

[jtoms]

 

[Scotland]

Jtoms

Thanks for the entry (I have attached another file with the logo - not sure if it is much better resolution, however I cant seem to find the vector files I thought I had.... I will keep looking!). You certainly understand what we are looking for and first impressions are really good! I think we would have to keep a mainly white background, but other than that it is a really lovely design. If I was to give you a couple of things to think about which may or may not improve the sign; Having the phone number is fine, but I dont think we would want the mobile number on the sign. The tagline is a good idea in case people did not know what we do (A pet hate of mine when companies spend loads on lovely signage and you still have no idea what service they offer!) although probably not necessary to repeat 'super mums' in the tag line. Great idea with the arrow pointing in the direction of the stairs down to the office!

 

[jtoms]

 

[Sobi]

another try ..

Thanks,

 

[sheryonline]

Here is mine :

Thanks
Shery

 

[jtoms]

 

[Scotland]

Thanks for the entries; here is the feedback!

jtoms

Great to see your two updates. The first one with the white background is a definite improvement for your design. The baby pink and blue are definitely a subltle running theme through a lot of our marketing - so it is good to see that you have incorporated this with the top and bottom border - and it might be nich to see this idea being explored further. In the past we have used a baby blue and baby pink pinstripe border which has looked quite nice, or you could try something more graduated. The only other thing to concider is that with the strong border at the top and bottom, the logo and comapny name begin to get slightly lost. Also - the background to the phone number does seem to dull the information and makes it harder to read.

Second entry - Nice, bold logo and company name. Not sure about the light blue wash background, or the pointy hand as it seems a little out of place with the rest of the design. Perhaps a different style of hand (A bit more cartoony!) might fit better if you would like to try the hand idea again! I should also mention that the last 'S' in Super Mums should be a black colour and not pink!

Sobi

Thanks for your new entry. I really like the way that you have chosen a really appropriate background, however I worry that the imprtant information may be 'lost' in the picture. Generally the logo and the font we write "Super Mums" in looks best on a white background, and this is probably a good idea. Thanks for clearly thinking ablut the project, and if you can focus on keeping a little more of a corporate feel, whilst maintaining the fun feeling your design has - I am sure you will come up with something great!

sheryonline

Hi - and I really appreciate you taking the time to submit a design for us. I like that the logo is clear and dominant along with the name of the company and what we do. The pink and blue top and bottom is in keeping with our colours. I dont think that the circle aroung the logo works at the moment, and I am not sure about the pink circles on the left (although I understand you have put these here to balance the design). Finally, I like that you have clearly thought about how you will convey the info that the office is in the basement, and a speech bubble like this might be an awsome idea, but I dont think it quite works with the image that you have used. Perhaps if it was just the face and shoulders of the 'Super Mum' rather than having her hanging off the edge of the design!

I hope the feedback has been useful and I hope you try again! Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like me to provide you with more info / pics / help!

 

[jtoms]

 

[Eric Lyon]

@ Contest Holder: Please update your contest with an end date. (Note: Boxing Day may not be clear for those in countries not familiar with it)

Thanks

 

[frikusha]

here are my entries, feedback appreciated:

 

[Sobi]

 

[Scotland]

Some more updates! And I would advise any potantial designers to have a quick skim through the comments that I have left for others as. hopefully, the comments will be useful while thinking of any designs or changes you may make.

jtoms

Another great entry - thanks! It has all the information and is nice and bold. I worry that it may be getting a little busy with the big bold elements crouding each other a little. You must understand that we are strugging to find any critasisms - but we feel it is important to give you things to look at to see if they can be tweeked! I think that the "Super" and "Mums" should not be split and look better and are more identifiable if they are together! The font for "Childcare Agency" doesnt quite work - perhaps it is too chunky, or the wrong colour, but it seems to fade in to the background a little. Prefer the new hand though! Hope this helps!

frikusha

Thanks for the 2 designs. The first one is eye-catching, simple and effective - however it does not really convey what we do and with the stitching effect around the logo, looks like a childrens seamstress! It is clear that you are a great designer, but the first one does not quite work. The second design, however, is much closer to what we are looking for.Simple and effective. It covers all the main points and leaves the potential customers in no doubt as to what we do and where we are. If you are looking to redesign either, I would look at your second design as it is right on the money in terms of the brief.

Sobi

Thanks for the re-design Sobi. It is a better concept than the previous on, however there are a few things I would mention if you are thinking of submitting another concept. The company name is "Super Mums" not "Supper Mums" (Sounds like an eating club!). The background hearts would be great for many applications, however as this is going to be an office sign in a fairly corporate area of town - I think we would have to avoid these in this instance. I like your style, however the things that I would remember is that the sign will be 80cm wide by 40cm high and ideally we would like all the information to be clear from 10 meters away whilst being eye-catching and attractive. I hope that you can take these points and come up with something special!

 

[Sobi]

 

[sheryonline]

Thanks for the entries; here is the feedback!

sheryonline

Hi - and I really appreciate you taking the time to submit a design for us. I like that the logo is clear and dominant along with the name of the company and what we do. The pink and blue top and bottom is in keeping with our colours. I dont think that the circle aroung the logo works at the moment, and I am not sure about the pink circles on the left (although I understand you have put these here to balance the design). Finally, I like that you have clearly thought about how you will convey the info that the office is in the basement, and a speech bubble like this might be an awsome idea, but I dont think it quite works with the image that you have used. Perhaps if it was just the face and shoulders of the 'Super Mum' rather than having her hanging off the edge of the design!

Here is another try, i hope you will like it now :

Thanks
Shery

 

[jtoms]

 

[sheryonline]

Update :

Thanks
Shery