Wisdump Logo Contest – The entries are in!
As mentioned previously, Wisdump needs a new logo. The following entries have been received and the choice is down to you.
Whilst the designs vary in quality (in my opinion), each and every design submitted is here.
Cast your vote for your favorite in the comments below. The design with the most votes received by the end of Wednesday will be the winner. Please ignore colors as these will be changed to suit the new design anyway.
01 – Submitted by ‘Stalker B.’ :
02 – Submitted by ‘DDAG’ :
03 – Submitted by John Proctor :
04 – Submitted by Bartus F. Teipel (www.bybartus.circuscircus.com.br) :
05 – Submitted by Chris Moyer :
06 – Submitted by James Smart :
07 – Submitted by John Stansbury :
08 – Submitted by Jernej G. :
09 – Submitted by Krystian – Sunlust (ignore the typo!) :
10 – Submitted by Dan Burke :
Note: Only one submission included a URL to the designers website. If your design is listed above and you would like a link to your site, drop me an email.
None of them really jump out to me, but I guess I’d choose #3 out of those.
By Connor Wilson on June 9, 2007 9:29 am
I think that none of them are of the same standard as the current logo.
Why are you changing it again?
I can’t vote for any of these submissions, none of them look right.
By Natalie on June 9, 2007 10:10 am
#3 or #1 without the underline.
By Keith on June 9, 2007 10:11 am
I’m with Connor. None of them say “This blog rocks,” but three is the best out of all of them. I’m sure if the green would match your blog very much though, unless a redesign is going to accompany the new logo.
By Steven Campbell on June 9, 2007 10:13 am
@Natalie – The reason for the change is because Scrivs uses the general concept behind it in his own sites, with slight variation. Under the new ownership, Wisdump needs an identity of it’s own.
@Steven – Yes, there is a redesign coming very soon (final concept has just been approved). Colors shown above will not necessarily be the ones used, regardless of the chosen design.
It may be that if the general consensus shown in the above comments is common, we’ll go with whichever ‘concept’ that can be worked on and then hand that over to a firm for the final work.
By Lee on June 9, 2007 10:40 am
I would say that #03 is the best, though the green color could be changed
By kik on June 9, 2007 10:57 am
#2 or #3
By Arthus Erea on June 9, 2007 11:24 am
#3 looks to be the most professionally-designed one. But looks like a logo for detergent or something.
but overall, meh.
@Lee: I am sure that a design firm would just _love_ to be handed a concept drawn up by a blog reader and told to “implement” it. A contest like this is a great way to encourage audience participation, but if you are willing to pay a designer to execute, why not pay them to develop a concept as well?
By Josh B. on June 9, 2007 11:41 am
I’d go for #1 without the line.
By nemetral on June 9, 2007 11:48 am
Number three is the best out of all of those.
By Cody Fisher on June 9, 2007 12:25 pm
@Josh – I covered that in my comments to the original contest post. The reason for not going directly to a designer from the outset was two-fold:
1) There are a lot of designers out there with great portfolios, but whether those portfolios are there own work is often up for debate.
2) I wanted to give some fresh designers the opportunity to showcase their work outside of the ‘$125 Sitepoint Contests’.
As things have worked out, the response hasn’t been great – but I don’t regret giving it a shot. If necessary, I’ll go with the other plan and hire a firm – but I’ll stand by my original commitment to pay the winner of this contest.
By Lee on June 9, 2007 12:39 pm
#3 is pretty good, but I agree with what Josh B says about laundry detergent.
I thing #1 is the best of the batch, but like others who have commented I think that this is kind of a competition to see which is the least worst.
By John B on June 9, 2007 12:42 pm
I should maybe add that I think #8 is not so bad, and would be good if the emphasis could be removed from the word “dump.”
Right now “dump” just jumps out at me and I think of another room in the house.
By John B on June 9, 2007 12:44 pm
#03
By Werner on June 9, 2007 1:15 pm
So, you’ve got a new website nearly ready to launch before the brand has even been identified? That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of!
Amateurish submissions, the lot of them. Good luck with that.
By Anton on June 9, 2007 1:30 pm
#02
None of them really work for this blog though…
By Andre on June 9, 2007 2:43 pm
None of these improve on the current logo. Then again, it’s all down to preference. Give Wolff Olins a call, they’ll tell you all about it.
By Gaz Shaw on June 9, 2007 3:06 pm
Too be honest, none of the submissions works. None of them capture the feel and tone of what Wisdump is all about. No their fault really, but they probably don’t read Wisdump on a regular basis and haven’t gone back through the Archives to see just what Wisdump is all about.
Scrivs original vision for Wisdump was a no-frills, no-flash, no-gimmicks blog that was all about getting straight to the point and giving the reader information, thoughts and ideas that they could walk away with and build upon. In all honesty, if you truly understood that, then you would have given the submitters clear direction on where you wanted to go in terms of a new logo or logotype.
What all of these guys submitted are works that are the complete opposite of what this blog is all about. And I agree with the previous commenter: How can you sign off on a new design and you don’t even have your new brand completed yet? Both go hand in hand and show that you are truly putting in time and effort to maintain what Scrivs has built, but are still investing in this blogs future.
The idea of wanting to involve the community is an admirable one, but in doing so you have to set direction and tone for the type of work that you want received and that only comes from really knowing and understanding what this blog has been about.
If I were you, I’d scrap redesigning and rebranding the site for now. Concentrate on the writing. That’s what this blog has been about, the writing. You want to keep the readers that Scrivs has built? Get a solid foundation on the writing, THEN worry about redesigns and branding. When it’s time to take the blog to the next level as far as that goes, you’ll know. And when you do, you can either give better direction as to the type of work that you want submitted OR you can get with someone like Jon Hicks, Bryan Veloso or Broken Kode to redesign and brand the blog the right way.
By Frank 'viperteq' Young on June 9, 2007 5:52 pm
@Frank – I agree, the contest was probably a bad idea. On the other hand, I dare say not doing it that way would have equally caused complaints.
I have been working flat out to try getting new writers on board to join those I’ve already brought in. The writing is of course the most important part – and I fully acknowledge that is not my strength.
In terms of the redesign and branding, it’s a necessary step to get out of the ‘this was once scrivs site’ mindset. If I’m going to take this forward, I can only do it under it’s own steam, not on the back of what it used to be.
You’ll be pleased to hear that the site redesign *is* being done professionally, and I would hope that will show once it goes live.
In many of the things I’ve tried to do with Wisdump, I’ve been faced with a ‘damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t’ scenario.
I would like to point a few things out though;
- I purchased this site for a considerable amount ($xx,xxx)
- I fund the cost of bloggers, coding and designs personally, with additional costs already in excess of $5,000.
- This is not a ‘for profit’ venture. Indeed, it will cost me a significant amount each month just to keep it running. That’s on top of the costs incurred so far.
I’m not running Wisdump as a business, it’s not part of a ‘master plan’ to become a new blog network or anything like that. I simply have a desire to create a community from an industry I earn my living from.
By Lee on June 9, 2007 6:07 pm
Lee,
First off, apologies to you if the tone of my comment put you off a little. That was not my intention. I think the “Scrivs Mindset” that you speak of will be something that you’ll have to deal with for the moment. Paul has a strong, yet cool personality that comes across really well in his writing. Plus, he doesn’t give a damn (to an extent). It was this style that allowed him to excel as a blogger and build up his audience.
I think that while many of the readers aren’t neccesarily looking for someone to duplicate his style, they do want someone that is going to continue to write with the same verve, passion and grace that Paul exhibited. IMHO, that has been and should always be the key to the success of Wisdump.
I think it’s great that you want to help foster community. I also admire when goes all in with his/her own money to try to accomplish something. So don’t think that we are taking for granted what you’re trying to do. It’s just that you’ve got some mighty big shoes to fill. I know it doesn’t sound fair, but that’s the way of the world.
Before Paul sold Wisdump, I suggested that he bring on additional writers and I offered to fill one of the writer positions. That offer still stands. At the moment, I’m having server issues with my current blog, but you can sample my writing style at:
http://viperteq.wordpress.com
It’s a repository of all of my old blog entries when I used to use Google’s Blogger service. I mainly write about Technology and Web Development, but I also write alot about being an African-African here in the US of A. If you’d like to discuss things further, feel free to email me at:
viperteq.info [at] gmail.com
By Frank 'viperteq' Young on June 9, 2007 7:17 pm
@Frank – Sorry if my last comment came across as being directed at you, it wasn’t. Since I took ownership of the site, I’ve had a significant number of emails – some positive, most insulting.
I guess after so long, having invested hours upon hours of time, and not an insignificant amount of money (and it’s worth pointing out that I’m not a wealthy person, contrary to popular belief!), there comes a point when you start to think to yourself ‘why bother?’.
As mentioned, I have no desire to make this a business, I want to make it a community. I admire Paul’s style, and to an extent it’s something I would like to see continue here – though perhaps on a slightly different level. I like controversy, and people that think outside of the box – that’s the kind of style I hope to see more of here.
That said, the readers effectively own the site – if the writing is boring, the readers will leave. I’m always listening to what people have to say, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative.
It’s 1am here now, so I will drop you an email tomorrow – theres a bottle of wine with my name on it right now ;-)
By Lee on June 9, 2007 8:01 pm
i didn’t read all the comments, so i am sure someone might have said this before. #3 is probably the best because it offers something unique. But more importantly than a logo, is the concept of what wisdump is to you. What are you trying to accomplish w/the site?
What makes it unique? Maybe you need something emphasizing “wisdom” part of the name. if someone didn’t know they could read it “wizz – dump” i.e. peeing and well you know.
this site to me has always been more about the ideas than the design anyway, since it was mostly bereft of ornamentation.
By Brian Breslin on June 9, 2007 9:56 pm
You’ve got to be kidding.
This is painful.
Any design project – contest, spec or not – is a complete waste of time without a brief. As witnessed here. Not even one sentence. And “I tend to prefer text-based logos,” is not a brief.
A brief would define the goals and the meaning of what should be conveyed.
What is this site about? What do you want the logotype to say? What defines success on the project? Simple questions that would produce – not necessarily better quality results – but more meaningful ones.
I vote for neither.
And while I am in the no-spec camp and I can’t make you hire some one or pay everyone for their entries – I say start over and provide some context.
- Bone
By Bone on June 10, 2007 12:14 am
I vote you extend the contest. I just caught up on my feeds and missed the opportunity.
By Paul on June 10, 2007 1:46 am
#3.
By syed on June 10, 2007 10:13 pm
Oh let’s not overreact now, Lee.
If by “people like me” you mean “people giving feedback”, which it sounds like you do, then noted. I won’t bother. Do elaborate if that’s not what you meant though.
As I understand it, leaders of large community-driven blogs like this are supposed to take a decidedly more diplomatic approach to criticism. (Scrivs was always good at that.) I’m guessing you’re new to the game though, so I’ll overlook it for now.
But gosh, if I’m going to be insulted for sharing my opinion, maybe I should go and read something else.
And while most of what I commented could be open to debate, I’m sticking to my guns on my final point – the guy deserves a link.
By Rich on June 11, 2007 6:47 am
Oh you deleted my comments instead. Good job CoComment has them still. Just in case I forget.
By Rich on June 11, 2007 6:48 am
@Rich – I also deleted my own comment, because on reflection I did go too far.
I accept that I should expect criticism, but to be totally honest there’s just been too much of it. What you see in the comments here is only the tip of the iceberg.
I’ve said it time and again, constructive criticism is more than welcome. Plain insults however, are not.
I’ve tried to keep Wisdump from becoming a link directory. I’ve invested my own time and money, and realized from the outset that content is not my strength. I’ve brought other writers on board (and I don’t believe they have been ‘boring’ as you put it).
I have made a career out of the web, and a very successful one at that. However, I’m a programmer – not a writer, PR guru or the like. My involvement here has purely been to build and keep a community going, I have not done this to make money.
I guess I feel as though being the only person that actually stood up and paid for this place to keep going, and invest in it further, I deserve a little bit of slack and encouragement from people. Quite frankly, I’ve reached a point now where I simply don’t care – the ‘for sale’ sign is back up.
By Lee on June 11, 2007 6:59 am
I guess I’m supposed to “back off” or “step back” or something at this point, but I wouldn’t be me if I did.
If you’re as successful as you say you are, how can you not expect crticism? Not just a bit, a lot. You’ve taken over a hugely popular blog — until you’ve established your identity and focus here, you’re doing well to get as much praise as you already have.
A good business man doesn’t give up that easily. Suck it up.
You said yourself you have faith in your writers. Prove it.
Criticism is encouragement. If no one gave a rat’s ass, they wouldn’t bother. All those throwing criticism at you are encouraging you.
By Rich on June 11, 2007 7:12 am
And for the record — since my comment no longer exists — I said nothing that was intended as insult, nor anything that could be construed as one.
By Rich on June 11, 2007 7:13 am
As 1 who submitted I agree with bone. If you want a logo that that conveys what this blog is about we need more to work with than prefer text logo. We had no concept of what you want the logo to represent, no idea of what your new design cocept will be. So that is what you got from me in design #5. A basic text logo that could go with most any concept. But being that it could not be very representive of any message. I go along with the suggestion of extending your contest with a better guide as to what you want in your logo.
By Dancam on June 11, 2007 7:14 am
@Lee- I am not in the community per se,but I do enjoy reading the blog. Over the last year and a half I have come to realize the web can be very critical of those they LOve. Paul has often been the brunt of this love hate relationship. It seems you have taken unecessary and sometimes harsh criticism since taking over Wisdump. Stick to your guns and follow through on your plans. I wasn’t sure Paul selling this was the best thing, but he no longer had the time to put into it and felt you had the best plan for it. No matter what you do people will be critical,but so what.
By Jane on June 11, 2007 8:54 am
I’d aggree, not the best selection. Is it too late to submit a logo design?
By Derek Organ on June 11, 2007 12:24 pm
I don’t recall scrivs ever censoring comments that weren’t straight up spam. He had the balls to take it. You’re going to have to suck it up if you want the site to retain the respect it was given in the past. And that includes not chickening out and pulling posts you put up earlier (the payments you were offering in that post, btw, are absolute peanuts compared to what the original editors of ForeverGeek received when they posted. You’re encouraging quantity over quality. Give them 50% of the google adsense profits on any stories they post plus a small per-post fee and you’ll probably both benefit far more.)
The logo submissions are crap. Did you happen to notice that one of them says “wisdum*B*” perchance? But you didn’t give any guidance, not even a hint at the new design, so what can you expect?
I’m all for what you’re doing… Scrivs promised me he wasn’t going to sell Wisdump to someone who’d fuck it up like the dipshit he sold ForeverGeek to, and I’ll take his word that you have what it takes to bear the torch and make this site worth reading. But you’re not going to keep that promise for him if you start deleting everyone who doesn’t agree with you and getting into flamewars in the comments.
By JC on June 11, 2007 3:37 pm
They all stink, and like this site has become… have no personality. Scrivs is sitting somewhere smiling that you actually paid good money for a blog with no direction, no real purpose, and no personality.
Sorry if that all seems a bit harsh but this place has become a yawn fest.
By pawl on June 12, 2007 12:21 am
#2
My first instinct was for #3, but I changed my mind on it, mostly because that style of logo is the “in” fad right now, and it won’t be too long before it’s “out”.
By David Mulder on June 12, 2007 10:33 am
Omg, I so buggered up with that typo, wasn’t intentioned…
My vote goes to #04, I think it’s suitable as a part of a new design for whole blog, I wanted to vote for #03 but I just don’t like green.
I would vote for my entry but because of that typo I won’t.
Good luck #04 ! :)
By Sunlust on June 13, 2007 12:48 am
All logos are crap. Those kids dunno how to do it apparently.
By Stu on June 21, 2007 11:13 am
The shape of #3 mixed with the colours and gradient of #1
By NI-LIMITS on June 27, 2007 5:11 pm
Number 3 is the only one worth any merit.
By David Airey :: Creative Design :: on June 28, 2007 2:31 pm
These are all TERRIBLE. Stop now, and reasses the situation, because you are making a severe mistake. The circle with the Officina W is SUPERIOR to ALL of these.
By Jesse on June 28, 2007 10:51 pm
I agree with Jesse.
I definitely wouldn’t change from what you have to any of these.
By David Airey :: Creative Design :: on July 6, 2007 4:29 am
[...] the Wisdump logo contest for example. There are more than 3,500 daily subscribers to the site, so the contest had some [...]
By Logo design contests bad for business : David Airey :: Creative Design :: on July 6, 2007 5:59 am
[...] exemplo, o concurso da Wisdump. Eles têm mais de 3,500 visitas únicas diárias, então o concurso recebeu várias [...]
By Digital Paper » Arquivos » Por que logos resultantes de concursos não prestam - Revista online de design gráfico - Publicação a cada 14 dias on July 8, 2007 7:00 pm
I think all suck i might give a credit to the second one.
Too bad for them.
No one should win anything . Check this portfolio to see what i mean. professional logo design
By logo design on July 10, 2007 11:11 am
Personally I think the current logo (W in a circle) is far superior to all of these. It’s clean, timeless, and memorable…
That said, number 3 with a little tweeking around the “P” could be nice and 4 is also ok.
By Steve on July 29, 2007 11:41 pm
Who is the winner?
By elanor on August 6, 2007 7:22 am
I’m new to this whole blogging thing but for the first time, I feel compelled to add my thoughts. I don’t mean to insult anyone personally. Just my views on this subject.
—————-
I think it’s one thing when a client doesn’t offer a proper direction or brief, as most clients wouldn’t know the process and that’s understable .. however it’s a whole other thing when designers don’t ask questions in order to find the information that will lead them to the best possible answer.
I’m not sure if the people submitting the logos are designers or graphic artists, but professional and experienced designers, graphic artists or any other experienced person should know better.
Imagine if you went to a carpenter or a boat builder and commissioned a cabinet or a boat to be made and said to them: The brief was ” I don’t like those modern type looking boats” or “I like funky looking boats”. …. and then the boat guy just goes off and makes you a boat with that in mind. Result: you get this really cool, well crafted, super uber one of kind thing that’s massive and encrusted in diamonds and laid in gold, with purple velvet walls and mirrored ceilings and rotating beds (getting carried away here). however, funky right? (funky expensive too) But the point is that the skies the limit when that’s the only direction you provide (if you call it a direction). The artist can practically do anything. But is that what your business is? Is your business is anything as long as it follows that one vague suggestion of your personal style preference?
Furthermore, would you except a solution or advice from a lawyer, solicitor, accountant, business consultant, chiropractor, doctor, friend or whomever if they didn’t ask you what the basis or direction was and accepted their advice without them knowing what you needed the advice for?
Sure, the final results of a logo needs to be stylised, but a logo is not a clothing or fashion item that you can simply buy as though you were in a fashion store. So why do some people purchase or request logos as if they were? Your business can’t just change logos like you change your t-shirt everyday.
You can’t ask for a logo and say the brief is: “I like word based logos”. It’s not about you. It’s a about your business. Your business is not YOU! Your business will outlive you if you direct it properly.
I can say that I hate all the logos coz I don’t like green, or word based logos or whatever I personally like or dislike, but that’s wrong as none of these points can truly mean anything as there is nothing in which to judge these logos against (like say a proper brief!).
The true answer lies in the fact that none of the submitted logos have direction or meet a desired business need, as their was no brief to determine the needs, and therefore should be forfeited.
By Lovechops on May 7, 2009 10:12 pm
better leave this design stuff to the pro. none of these are good.
By jeprie on January 6, 2010 10:12 pm