Bitcoin Forum

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The Contest:

Note: I really like the old paper look, for each part of this contest try to capture the look and feel of the examples given, do not make carbon copies, make your work original and use the examples to guide you and be sure to incorporate the Bitcoin logo in your work

Part I - Design a logo based on the following drawing and using the style of the given example


Part II - Design a certificate based on the following examples and incorporating your version of the logo above


The Prize:

$100 Prize not big enough? OK! It is now $200 in BTC and a contract to design The SolarWind Mining Company's (http://solarwindmining.com/) Website Graphics for a total of $1000!

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Please post if you are interested, Thanks!

Good Luck!

James

Prize has been increased!

How many people have registered ? submited their jobs ? may i ask.

No one so far.....  waiting.......      still waiting...............

Please post if you intend to enter this contest.

Thanks,
James

There's quite a lot of work involved with this contest, would take me at least a couple of days put the designs together, doesn't seem worth it for $200.

Here's my submission for the logo, this was how I visualized it as.  It's very rough draft, needs a lot of final touches to it, but just wanted to see your input on it and whether I'm way off from what you were looking for.

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated


https://i.imgur.com/qhyNxE4.jpg (http://imgur.com/qhyNxE4)

The $200 is just the down payment, as stated the winner also gets a contract to design the company website graphics. Consider the contest as your job interview.

**You don't have to submit an entry that would be as high a quality as a production product would be. This contest is meant to discover whether or not you understand what style I am going for, and to see if you have the skill to carry it out. Put in as much effort as you wish, if you can demonstrate your understanding and ability with less you still have a good chance of winning the contract.

Not a bad start. I drew the logo the way it is for a reason, I want to capture the look and feel of the Victorian era. Try to steer your design more towards replicating it (doesn't have to be exactly the same, just try to capture the look and feel of the drawing.)

OK thanks for clarifying, will be uploading a submission soon.

https://i.imgur.com/WrliWhU.jpg (http://imgur.com/WrliWhU)

As each sample entry is entered I will add comments about possible changes and more details about what I am looking for. I'd do this upfront except (as an artist like myself understands) it can be hard to express in words the vision we see in our heads, hence, providing levels of guidance is the best way to improve the work overall (we're kind of doing this open source style.)

Much better!

That's a great example of the direction I want to see this go, but remember that I want to see some original work as well. I want to know that you can copy the style and not just copy-&-paste so let's keep working on this.

I want the site to work both on mobile devices as well as PCs/Macs. The format you show here would be great on a mobile device. I want to see your version of a widescreen presentation.

Additional notes: I chose the Phoenix for the obvious reason that SolarWind is a composition of Solar (fire) and Wind (wings) so it was a perfect (and cool) fit for the logo. I drew the coins that the phoenix is holding in reverse order. The first is a Bitcoin 'BTC', the second is an 'S' for SolarWind. Rather than 'BTC','S' ( ::) yah, I know :-[) I need them switched to 'S','BTC'. I also need to see that you can re-draw the logo to a more appropriate design while keeping to the original drawing as much as possible and with the style in the following examples. (Your submissions do not have to be perfect, just do enough to show that you can do it! :))

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5897/ans9.png

Very well. Here is my first preliminary version of a logo/certificate.

I would like to know: Is there any special text that needs to be written on the certificate? Is it a paper to distribute between shareholders of the Mining Company? Or is it just to provide a visual preview of what the artist can do?

~W-M

The logo and certificate will be separate elements, although the certificate will include the logo (or more likely a variation of it.) There will be different certificates, all with common design elements and styles. The essential idea is that the certificates will be a visual representation of investment and mining contracts (will be printable as well.) They will include customer information, serial numbers, certificate issuer (The SolarWind Mining Company and the President of the company (me)), Total Contract/shares purchased, maturity dates, terms of the contract, etc... The certificates will follow the examples given quite closely.

When is the deadline?
I would like to participate, but I'm a little tight on the time.
(Currently working with my team on 2 websites, but we will be free from those projects in mid January)

There is no deadline per say. There are two factors that will decide when this contest ends, 1. I see a killer design 2. The website is close to being ready for the graphic elements.

Nice addition, lets keep them coming!

https://i.imgur.com/0bG9Ue8.jpg

Hope you like it

The artistic style of the Phoenix is correct, did you draw this yourself? It should be noted that to win the contest, entrants will have to demonstrate their ability to replicate my drawing in the same style as is demonstrated in this image, no copy-&-paste submissions will be considered as I can easily do that myself. It is fine to copy-&-paste if you are just wanting to ask me if what you're working on is close to what I am looking for. Like I said, your work doesn't have to be perfect but it does have to show that you can do it. Although some improvements can be made and some variation is acceptable, it is important to keep your images closely in line with my original drawing. I was careful about how I designed the logo, it has a specific meaning and that needs to be preserved.

Perhaps if I tell you what the design contract is worth, it will motivate some of you to join in and put some serious effort towards this design. The full contract including the $200 prize will be $1000, that's serious money so I do expect to see some top notch examples of what you can do for this design.

Thanks!

No, I did not draw the phoenix myself but I do work as a graphic designer and I do care about the origin of my designs.
In this particular case the phoenix illustration is from public domain which means that can be used as derivative with no royalty fee and what I did was to blend it with the bitcoin logo and replicate the vintage style into the bitcoin logo as well as lightly edit the illustration in order to fit on top of the circle. I thought this style was what you were asking for with the examples on your first post and the drawing of a raising phoenix with a sun behind.
I can't help but to feel a little attacked by your comment. I'm sorry, Design and art are two different things. I designed a logo for you, I didn't draw it.
The process of design is gather resources, compose, refine and showcase. And the first one is one of the most time consuming process.

source of the phoenix illustration:
Linked through here (http://allthingsprecious.deviantart.com/art/Mythical-Creatures-Brushes-392650553)
Sourced from here (http://vintageprintable.com/wordpress/vintage-printable-animal/animal-insect-butterfly-mostly/Butterfly)
which sourced the illustration from the book (Westwood, J.O. The Cabinet of Oriental Entomology. 1858)
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if you want to keep an exact copy of your illustration, I can refine the drawing and make it a logo with the same ink shading style of the one I submitted, but it will take me some more time than just a couple hours.

Excellent!


Correct but maybe I was not clear enough (my bad.) I do want the style as indicated for the Certificate design, not as a redesign of the logo. As for the logo, it needs to be cleaned up and finalized. Enhancements and variations are acceptable (even desired) so long as the final image remains true to the core of the original piece.


Certainly not intended, so forgive me, I was only trying to be clear about what I am looking for.


This was understood by me already, again, maybe I was not clear enough. Although I do want the logo to remain true to my original art, the rest of the work (the certificate and the coming web graphics) needs to be designed. I do have very specific goals for the design so it is not entirely open ended but there is plenty of latitude for creative design work. What I am hoping to see in the winning entry is an understanding of the design approach that I want this to resemble and the creative flair that sets the designer/artist apart from the rest. Because that is what The Solar Wind Mining Company was designed to be, that is to be set apart from the rest.



As previously stated, an EXACT copy is not what I require. Refinement, yes. Modified into a more appropriate form suited for a logo with the given examples ink and shading style, yes. I really like my illustration, but it is missing something other than just not being quite finished, it needs to convey the regal power associated with the Phoenix. Its eyes need more of the stern focus of an eagle and its presence needs to convey the unwavering confidence of a dragon. That, my friend, will require some modification to the piece and necessitates a bit of artistic talent.

As this contest progresses, we will go through the process of gathering resources, composing, refining and showcasing the resulting products, which is what I intended. Something I also stated previously, is that it can be difficult to put into words the vision (both in concept and imagery) one has in mind. So I will be guiding the process and will offer direction towards my goal and will illustrate with a few examples.

I wasn't trying to be critical (in the negative sense), only trying to steer things in the right direction.

Thanks,
James

Points taken, give me a couple of days and I'll refine your logo.
I'm right with the vintage style right? Most companies of modern technologies like bitcoin usually go for the minimalist/metro/web 2.0  style.
I'm guessing that for the web design you want something more outside of the box. Implementing that vintage style into a website can be a little more challenging and it is not common, but it is possible.
This Saturday I'll grab my tablet and refine it, I hope that's fine with you.
I apologize too, I took your comment a little on the defensive side which was not proper.

To the later, no worries. To the former, sounds great! On the bias, you got it!

Thanks!

Hi
When are you looking to make a decision by?
I'm sketching out some design ideas based on your samples.

I have a good idea of the theme you're looking for.

I believe the concept you want: involves antique paper, filigree, symbolism of the Phoenix, and the name of the company itself?

Please let me know and thanks:)

I'm sorry I said I was going to start on this today, but I'm having a really busy day. I'll try to put a logo tomorrow.

I will decider on the winner when:

1. A killer submission is made.
2. The time is nigh for the finalizing of the website and an adequate submission has been made.
3. No more than two months time has past.

You have most of the details correct, except I am not just looking for the symbolism of the Phoenix. The logo should stick fairly closely to the original illustration that I posted. It would be a good idea to read all the previous posts since I have covered a great deal of the design specifications.

Thanks!

Take your time, no need to rush it, there is plenty of time and the holidays are approaching!

Thanks!

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Here is a few more examples to help inspire you:

Right now I'm sketching the phoenix.
Is it ok for me to deviate a little ? Or do you want it to stay 100% true to your drawing?

Here is my current sketch.
Do you want it to have a twisted long neck like in your drawing ?
https://i.imgur.com/q5NES7t.jpg

I do want the basic form of my illustration to remain intact, so think along the lines of improvements rather than changing it. Although, variation is fine. Just remember, this contest is for you to display what you're capable of and not about replicating my illustration precisely. Your submission is not likely to be the final product, it's just to show me what you can do. Refer to my previous post on this topic for a clearer understanding of what I am looking for.

no no, what I'm asking basically is:
Was it fine for me to change the shape of the wings and if you want to keep the long neck in a loop?
This is a sketch that I'll use a guide for my linework afterwards.
Even more if this is not going to be the final product, I would really appreciate if you could give input like stating what do you think is going right, what do you think is going wrong with the approach I'm taking, before committing into a full drawing.That way I'll be able to provide you with an illustration you like faster than completing the drawing and then having to delete and change mayor things.

The long neck in a loop, well, I like it but the point was a long neck and I ran out of space when I originally drew it and that was my solution. I want the original illustration to remain true to form, so the wings turned inward and the V-shaped tail feathers should remain. Rather than a redesign of the logo, I'm looking for a cleanup and enhancement to the original. I will add several examples later of the type of enhancements that I am looking for, so you might hold off on the logo and maybe work on the certificate portion of the contest.

Thanks,
James

Oh, I see. I didn't have that clear. I though you wanted a redesign similar to your illustration.
I'll hold on the logo then as you suggest and I'll put up a certificate example after holydays.

-Merry Christmas

Sounds Great!

Very Nice Work! It's not the style I'm looking for but it looks great.

Here's what I've got so far.  This is just a rough draft to see what your thoughts are.

https://i.imgur.com/xb0DI0K.png

I'm having trouble seeing how that sun-bird thing will integrate into this style.  It could work on the certificate, where the circle is, but that engraving style takes MUCH work.
Here are some examples of that engraving style that I've done.  It's not the type of work I do on spec though.  I'd have to have a guarantee to spend the time on it.

https://i.imgur.com/NxV05Ib.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ac3baI0.png

Let me know if you're interested in seeing more.

This is my idea, hope you like it.

http://oi42.tinypic.com/b9anbm.jpg

I'm web  designer/programer too i made coincard.tuars.com a simple but usefull site in 2 hours. I know HTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT, PHP & MYSQL.

Sorry for the delay, holidays kept me very busy.

https://i.imgur.com/G4eJq3j.jpg

I made it just with a provisional image, can be easily changed for the company's logo afterwards.

This last one is very good, this is essenctiolly what I am looking for in the styling for the logo. GREAT WORK!

Looks great!

That's what I'm talk'n about, that's very close to the styling I am wanting for the certificate, Good Job!

that last one looks great

I'm glad you like it, I'll start refining your logo then and I'll try to keep it as close as your design as possible.

Sounds great!

I just like to watch these awesome submissions :D
I'm sure you will get a logo that exceeds your expectations from this forum :D
Going to invest in your company when it is ready , just to see a killer certificate with my name on it.

Hi, here's my submission for the certificate. I've put a placeholder for the logo for now, should have it done by tomorrow hopefully:

I'll have my logo submission done by this weekend, sorry for the delay.
edit:
Sorry I didn't get the time to start with the logo, but I'll find time to do it this week.
I think I did tell you I work with a small team doing web design and we are currently on 2 big projects. We got delayed because of some changes a client wanted us to make and I have been working on that, so I didn't really get the time to start on this. I'm sorry, but those works are contract jobs. I hope you understand that I have to give priority to those over the contest.

Looks good! This is the look I'm going for.

NP, take your time. The contest will be open for at least 1 or 2 more months.

Is this contest still going OP?

thanks

Yes, just waiting for entrants.

Thanks,
James