[REQ-HEADER] polar theme ($50)

[Kate]

Type of Contest: Header

Contest End Date & Time: 30 November 2006 - 12:00 EST
Contest may close early if right design is found.

Prize: $50 via Paypal

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Hello,

This time I need a header for an informational website about Svalbard. The domain name is svalbard.org.
In a nutshell Svalbard is an archipelago lying between Norway and the North Pole. The capital/main town is Longyearbyen. For more details check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard

Size Requirements:
height. approx. between 150 and 200px
width. 780px

Deliverable: header in JPEG format + raw source files

Color Requirements:
The main colors should probably be blue, white (it's a polar theme after all).

Design guidelines
The best emblem of Svalbard must be the polar bears (they actually outnumber humans) so it would be nice to have one as part of the design.
Other local peculiarities include the walruses, reindeers, the midnight sun, the mining industry, the Russian settlements and the northernmost statue of Lenin.
I think it's best to keep it simple so the right header should be a nice-looking landscape (snow, glaciers, waterfront) with a polar bear in the foreground facing visitors as if wishing welcome (waving paw perhaps).

Also I would like to see the following text at the bottom left of the header with a font like Arial: Welcome to Svalbard
Similar to: http://www.svalbard.net/index.asp?Lang=UK

I have packaged some pictures that may be useful: http://www.parknames.net/projects/svalbard.zip – zip file approx 10 Mb.
You may have to look for better artwork though.

My favorites pictures in the lot are:
- bear-ice2.jpg
- bear3.jpg
- glacier7279603-6b550.jpg
- ice.jpg
- ice2.jpg
- Longyearbyen-ice.JPG
- swimming polar bear.jpg

Remember that I will require the raw source files of your work (Photoshop or other).

Well that's it
Questions or need clarifications feel free to post or PM.
As usual don't forget to watermark your work.

Thanks and good luck to all

Kate

 

[Janine]

will submit an entry later. ^_^

 

[shelly1]

Heres a go !

 

[Kate]

Thank you for this first submission
Some quick remarks that will be useful for the others too.
Landscape is nice, the polar bear in the foreground is nice too.
The design is a bit cluttered IMO so certain elements like the warning sign or the walruses can be removed.

No need to repeat 'Svalbard'. Just 'Welcome to Svalbard' at the bottom or top left will do (maybe use white font to constrast with background).
It may be a good idea to show the colored roofs which are peculiar to the area of Longyearbyen.
(for an example check Longyearbyen.jpg.jpeg in the enclosed .zip file)

 

[Thomas Karlsen]

Wow, I've acctually been there

Anyways, here's my first attempt. Feedback would be great!

 

[Kate]

Thank you this submission :blink:
My remarks: the layout is too greyish I think, a touch of blue would be welcome (even the sky is grey).
Also I would see the bear smaller so that it fits within the picture (as per 1st sample above).
I think the height/width ratio (780/175) is good
If you have nice pictures of your own you can use them too, it is not mandatory to use the pictures I enclosed

 

[Janine]

here's my 1st try.

comments/suggestions pls..

 

[Kate]

Janine,
I would say same as above, the header should be a bit more colorful I guess.
I know it's an Arctic landscape but it's too grey and dull for me :imho:
Perhaps a blue sky would cut the dominating grey.
First sample was more colorful in comparison.

 

[chirag2211]

Feedback plz.

 

[Abu Gabby]

Allow me to throw my hat in the ring.

 

[Albino]

^^ that picture is amazing

I might enter this as well

 

[Abu Gabby]

Thanks! Its actually three pics merged into one...the iceberg, the ocean and the polar bear are from three separate pics. I am working on another version now that I think is very nice.

 

[Kate]

chirag2211:
Not bad. The 2nd sample is better IMO.
I would prefer the bear on the right and Svalbard on the left.

Abu Gabby:
Very nice. I like the glacier with blue sky in the background.
Is there any way to make the bear bigger/closer/more apparent like in this one: http://www.namepros.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9045 ?

 

[Abu Gabby]

Here are two more options:

Here is a rough implementation of your suggestion...if you choose this image I will recreate it in a much clearer version.

 

[shelly1]

Thanks for your comments, heres another go

 

[chirag2211]

Made changes. Feedback plz.

 

[blue-rain]

hello, here are two entries, feeback always welcomed, thank you!

 

[Kate]

blue-rain: interesting concept but the colors are too light IMO

Abu Gabby: do you think you can integrate the swimming bear in your 1st or 2nd sample like http://www.namepros.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9054 (closer and bigger)

 

[blue-rain]

thanx for the feedback maybe ill try something else

very, very quick revisions, feeback welcomed! (see you tomorrow, for me time to sleep :D)

 

[Spinsta]

the pic to the right of the bear, I was thinking of changing it to a town shot of the town, the one with the Hill and the houses, if you like the design, I could change it for you.