There has been a lot of interest in designing the ProjectPier logo and website theme and so this forum has been created for an open discussion of these issues. The current logo uses a freely available font called "Moby" and hasn't changed very much since the project's inception in 2007. The project's tagline "easy online collaboration" should also be evaluated to determine if it accurately conveys ProjectPier to those visiting to the website for the first time. We're hoping to receive a lot of community input on these topics. Thanks in advance for your ideas and feedback.
Jon
Here's a design for ProjectPier, please send your feedback! If you like where it's going I'll move on to designing the Drupal Theme.
Thanks, Virgil
I like it, its nice.
I like that the word PIER is under the word PROJECT
I do think however that it needs a bit more color to it. Maybe just a line behind the text (diagonal?) just to get the text jumping out of the background more.
Sure is a nice start!
The catchphrase can be put under the word PIER?
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edit:
I made some mock-up's too, check them please and give some feedback.
I used the moby font, and made my design so it can be version dependant (since it can be usefull for if there are 2 major versions, or one for the stable and one for the dev)
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Ciao
Bert
Hi Bert,
Thanks for sharing the designs, i like the colors :) and some of the ideas, i wanted to share something with you.
Here are some places where you can get some beautiful fonts for logos and designs (already sorted by popularity),
you have added bonus of downloading the @font-face kit which enable you to use them on the browser.
http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/list/mostdownloaded
And i also like the fonts by Font Fabric, my favorite is Age.
http://fontfabric.com/
Age from Font Fabric
http://fontfabric.com/age-free-font/
Jura is a beautiful font.
http://www.tenbytwenty.com/jura.php
Hope this helps :)
This design is awesome. Just saying.. :-)
Thanks Bryzo,
It needs something "more" in my opinion.
A little bit of a spark, so it stands out from just another logo...
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Ciao,
Engelbert
edit: lol, just noticed i replied to bryzo's post but it was not meant for my designs...
This is a really crappy mock-up of something that's in my mind--sorry, I don't have access to any good imaging program where I'm at now.... maybe someone can improve on this concept?
If you're still looking for suggestions, here's an idea for the logo -
It keeps the blue theme, but adds a contrasting color and a new font.
The tagline has been changed as well:
http://www.theemeraldcurtain.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/logo.png
Here's the logo as it appears on the login screen:
http://www.theemeraldcurtain.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/login-page-new-logo.jpg
Hi,
I know I'm very late, but I just thought I'd do one anyways. If you like it I'll prepare the files for you in different formats (ai, eps png and jpg)
Very interesting font, I kind of like this less modern approach, but modern vs calligraphic is a very big decision point.
The idea was to go for simplecity with branding ability and timelessmess. When thinking of logos these are usually the primary attributes that must be considered. ProjectPier needs a corporate identity and not so much a trendy identity. The simplest of designs tents to support corporate identities best and when necessary, a trendy treatment may be applies to it.
The corporate approach is a good thing, but it still is people who work with PP and its people who choose to work with it.
If you check out adobe's logo's and autodesk's and Windows' for instance. You can see they all evolved over time to a more trendy version of themselves. And that is just because people not only want to have a functional software package, they also wont something nice to look at. So we need to combine those.
We have to "follow" the most basic rules in designing (Form Follows Function & Less is more & 1+1 < 2 )
So in my humble opinion; a great product needs to have:
easy/productive interface +
great design (can be super simple, yet inovative)< ProjectPierActually, all of the mentioned company logos were simplified over time for better brand ability. They are not considered trendy. One company you left out which was Apple. They started with the apple with multiple coloured stripes. Now it just a simple single colour or the apple dropouts out of a square with rounded corners.
Your comment was actually in support of my post somewhat. Except there seems to be a confusion as to what is considered as "Trendy". For the most part, I believe you are speaking more about the idea of a simplified logo rather than a simplified logo. In that case, yes. It is trendy to have a simplified logo.
My use of the word trendy was a bit wrong. I have thought of a better word now ;-)
In my native language (Dutch/Flemish) we would say : strak => tight. (as in: modernism)
And i am pro your suggestions as long as it doesn't get boring.
cheers
But here is a Logo I created. Let me know what you think!
Guys,
All logos are nice, personally i really like the one from 4theloveofdesign, is there any possibility to get official feedback ?
because using one of these logos with a web 2.0 kinda startup look page would raise the profile of Project Pier, which is already a word class application.
Can we get feedback on this ? i would love to help.
Cheers,
Creativen
I will discuss this with Jon and see how to approach this. My idea is that this I do not own this topic. If you come up with a great startup page and corresponding theme it will become part of the official release. Currently the big candidate to replace Marine is the Emerald Curtain theme. Is it an idea to get all of us (creativen, Phillip, 4theloveofdesign, phppreak) together in a chat or Skype call and take it from there? I would be happy to organize that.
Count me in on a skype or chat to discuss this. I'm excited that the Emerald Curtain theme is well received and happy to be a part of the project.
My business partner is a graphics designer and he has indicated a strong interest in lending his skills to improving Pier as well.
Our schedule has lessened slightly from "crazy busy" to "extremely busy", so we have some time to dedicate. Let's do it.
Cheers,
Philip
I think it's great i can also do web design so you can count me in for helping a hand for the main page, not sure if my skills are up to scratch with all the professional guys here but i sure would like to help, i love Project Pier and i love that is Open Source, so when people give something for others, i wish to give back to.
I was checking recently other pages of similar software, and their landing pages are really nice, this is the list of the pages i come up with (not distinction whether self hosted or not).
1. Workmate
http://workmateapp.com/en
My quick feel, its a great landing page, good colour scheme and easy to get into, it helps promote the easy going of Project Pier feel.
2. Teamlab, an ASP based solution
http://www.teamlab.com/
It's busier but i like how consistent the other pages relate to the main page, this consistency would help with a possible Project Pier Wiki and Blog and Other pages.
3.Open Atrium (based on Drupal)
http://openatrium.com/
Could be better, not polished but an idea never the less.
4.Rule
https://www.rule.fm/
I like the look and feel and it looks like startup too.
Also worth checking the look:
http://www.freedcamp.com/
The idea basically is to what the new jQuery web design did for the framework, with a bold new site, it could revitalize and put it up there with the big ones, because Project Pier is already good, so by having a great site, alot of self promotion is taken care of.
What you think ?
Alright this is my take on the logo :) i like simple logos (maybe because i can't do better hahah), but have a look too :)
By the way the reasoning is that by having the ligature kind font, it's really easy on the eyes and is similar to what we found online in some trendy web services.
Looks really good actually...
I like the colour scheme. I am not the biggest fan of the font, but a fan none the less! Could you "upmock" another version with another font for me please? I am curious as to how it would look.
4theloveofdesign's entry and your entry are my favourites.
And you telling us it's because you can't do better?!? ;-)
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Ciao
Engelbert
Hi Bert,
Sure, what do you want to be the "Project Pier" and tag line "Easy online collaboration" ?
I also like the 4theloveofdesign logo, its really and i could imagine a nice website that would go along with it.
I am at work now but i will do it later when i get home.
Creativen,
Now the fonts are pretty rounded. (it makes them easy on the eyes)
Maybe you should try something that "pops" a little more.
I cant get my finger on what i would love to see, but i guess you should just try some things and amaze us.
an example of what i really like design wise:
http://modx.com/ (i really like the logo a lot, the site is nice too and fits the MODX-project just right)
http://feelwire.com/ (LOOK, no really , look at the white-space. White-space is soo hard to do right, but the designer truly came through on this one.)
http://aditshukla.com/ (I like this one for the colorsheme, and the funny sidebar solution)
Wow Bert,
Good catch, i had no idea MODX website has been redesign, really really cool design and the logo is really good as well,
the Firewheel is nice and its simple but i still prefer the MODX logo ...
For the Adit website is really nice and he has good logos there.
http://aditshukla.com/portfolio/logos/
His website portfolio is good as well.
I love the look of MODX do you agree too ?
I have submitted some more yesterday but because of the order of the replies, it's hard for me to chase down who replies what ...
Anything you would like to see ?
I agree with Engelbert that I'd like to see another font. Also I think it needs a little more color contrast between background and foreground.
Hi Bert and Jon,
I found one icon online that i like, it's just an idea if it stuck then we could actually do a similar icon from the beginning, here are 3 samples with different fonts, any color preference ?
Any idea you would like to explore ?
Alright, last designs for today :)
Options 4, 5 and 6 hope you guys like it the, the colors can be changed as well as the sizes.
middle and right ones.
i am not so into the ones with the little puppet.
some really simple logo's attached (i am not that good with the whole present your logo in a nice way... so here they are:-) )
Bert the last one is cool i like the contrast, do you want to play together with a logo?
which software are you using ? if it's photoshop i can give you my file and you can play with it and vice versa.
Did you try the fonts from http://www.fontfabric.com ?
I use a combo of Inkscape and Gimp.
I never tried to open PS files with it though. Might work.
Here is the SVG from Inkscape.
Bert, Inkscape is really nice ... lots good stuff on that application :)
I think it can be compatible with Illustrator.
By the way i have been an Adobe user for ages, but just to point out that if you are using Windows,
you can get the 30 days trial for Photoshop and Adobe stuff, or like i did.
I work in a university so i can get an education discount so it costs around 150~200 usd for the whole Design Premium,
which brings Photoshop, Illustrator,Flash, Dreamweaver, Acrobat, Indesign, etc ... i think it was worth getting it and the license says it can be used for commercial work too.
Buy Inkscape is very good. Gimp i tried many times never can get used to the Interface ...
I do not use them often enough to buy them, and i can't get a discount...
Looking at all of the logos on the five links creativen provided, the one thing that struck me as a common thread was the simplicity of the designs.
Yes and many logos actually work quite well just by being letter based, although Basecamp, Campfire, Highrise and 37signals offerings usually have an icon, but that is about taste and product identification.
But one thing they really have in common is they are easy to the eye and the website usually simple.
Here are some resources on the technique called "Call to Action", which is used by 37 Signals.
Summary:
Basically a call to action page, is a product page or a page that is simple and effective at communicating what it is,
and it has a clear objective which is to to induce the user to take action.
http://boagworld.com/design/10-techniques-for-an-effective-call-to-action/
In Project Pier case, that wold be try a demo or download the application, in Firefox that is download the browsers, etc
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/10/dos-and-donts-of-call-to-action-pages/
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/call-to-action-buttons-guidelines-best-practices-and-examples/
These readings explains some of the thinking behind those popular sites.
Sure I could create you a mock up! If you have skype Please message me go4theloveofdesign is the username!!!
I think I like this one the best because it's simpler than alot of the others, although the colors are festive I'd like to see other color combinations for comparison. I don't know that that type of background is called - where it fades to a different color in the center - although that is a nice effect, I think a logo needs to be able to stand alone and not rely on a large background so that it can be used in different situations and sizes.
It's called a Radial background, Can be done in Photoshop with the Gradient Tool (G) or you can achieve for website in CSS3 here:
http://www.zenelements.com/blog/css3-gradients/
http://www.impressivewebs.com/css3-radial-gradient-syntax/
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/CSS/radial-gradient
All these designs look great! I think we need something like a gallery within PP from which user can select a logo / theme.
EDIT: The gallery is here: http://2share.com/pporg/ It will select a background depending on the last digit of the seconds. Refresh to see a new one.
Pretty neat sites indeed!
If i can help with sometihing just ask.
I'm going to work on a few designs this weekend. I'm not quite familiar as yet with the theme files, but may be I will be able create one from my designs.
Try try ... i want to see what we all come together with :) maybe from this effort we can get one more theme or a cool logo :)
There are a lot of good designs so far and I've commented on a few individual ones. It's so great to have so much input and feedback. Keep the ideas and the art flowing and I'm sure we'll get to a design everyone falls in love with soon.
I have found the MOTHERLOAD of all logos and logotypes, check it out!
http://browse.deviantart.com/designs/logos/
Also some more to add to the mix ...
http://www.logopond.com :)
So has their been a decision on the logo choice or would you still like collab on the project?
If you are still willing to help us out 4theloveofdesign with the designing/overhauling of the PP website, contact me via my contactform.
Cheers
engelbert
No idea, it seems nobody is available.
I am subscribed to this thread, if things move forward i will help too.
It has been a while .... But we are back :)
I have made another mock-up design and I am hoping to get this thing started again!
A year has passed since jon asked us, the community, to get this thing rolling. I plan on not getting this rolling but flying!
So without furter ado, here is my last design.
I would really apreciate some feedback from yall :)
Cheers
Engelbert
ps: uploading files on the new server is a breeze! I like it!
Bert,
Would you like to work together with me on a proposal for a new website?
I would like to help as well but i would need help as i don't have a lot of time, daily work and commitments at all,
so 2 people or more working on a project would be nice.
What do you say ? I don't want any money for this.
Of course this is open source style for everyone involved, with love for Project Pier project.
Let me know Bert, you can contact me at marco at creativen dot net
If we can get the ball rolling and get something new that would be cool.
Hi creativen,
I would love to work on a proposal for the new website! :)
I shall start an account for you on the PP community site.
Contact me via my contact form here on the website If you need more info on the community site.
Cheers,
Bert.
This is the best I've seen so far Engelbert! Are the font and gear icon freely available (no copyright)? What software are you working in? I'm curious how easy it will be for others to re-create the logo if different backgrounds or colors, sizes, etc. need to be done in the future.