Pre Migration Most liked posts in thread: New Site Header Design - Your Thoughts?

I understand your point. And I completely agree about the need to build a brand identity (ergo my comment about using a consistent font). But there is still a very strong subjective element in brand design. That is one reason why Graphic Artists always create 5 different versions of everything so that, in the end, the customer picks "whatever they like" (which is usually none of the initial designs ).

Just FYI Graphics Arts/corporate imaging is not my profession, but it is one of my hobbies (including both art & design classes and a good chunk of my library). I've even produced a few (small) items for pay, and I've been a client innumerable times. As a client, I've worked with both very large well-known firms as well as individuals. In all cases some of what *each firm* came up with was fantastic, and some was terrible (in my opinion, for my needs).

 

I like those ideas!

 

And this is where I remove myself from debates when the comments turn condescending.

.....Les

 

Nathan we appreciate all your hard work (both day & night )

...ok that didn't sound right....

 

And just as an FYI... there is not a need to ridicule someone if you are critiquing their work. I have been a professional designer for over 25 years. I am not in any way attached to the work I did above. I have explained that my photo library for MINI's is pretty meager and that it was all I had to work with, and then got accused of being unprofessional and that my design skills were very dated. Really??? :confused5: Damn.

If you can do better, by all means, have at it. I offered and Nathan said cool. I am working within his specs and came up with something a bit different. If you like it, thanks. If you don't, thanks as well. I am a big boy and have done this a long time. I can take the critique. What I have an issue with is when people with NO design skills start talking smack and hitting below the belt. Lighten up.

 

Hey...... JG
I appreciate your help and contributions at making the site a better place to hang out. Keep up the good work.
You are doing stuff that I can't even come close to touching.

 

Oh, and compliments are ALWAYS welcome!

Thanks, MM! :cornut:

 

Ketchup is a vegetable........:arf:

 

For anyone who wants to throw stuff in, the M|A font is Perpetua

Johngo, didn't realize that was you... thanks for the effort. Nate had said "john" but I didn't realize who.

My quarter is almost over, I'll probably take your idea and render something up with digital models I have made over the years. Not to replace as much as I have my own interests in M|A as "art director" since in a previous life I dabbled a bit.

 

From the first time I saw the header, I assumed it was a work in progress, and not the final product. It does look unfinished--and that's great! That means we get input into the design of the header, and wether our input is used or not, it's still nice to be involved. Name another site where the members opinions are solicited as much as they are here...

As for the "don't put it up until it's 100% finished" argument, well, that totally takes everyone out of the loop, where from constructive discussion, maybe some good ideas will evolve. I could understand that line of thought if large sums of money were involved, but they're not. Someone is donating their time and effort, and the only thing that has bothered me about this whole thing are what I would consider some less than diplomatic comments about the work that went into the banner. It's the internet, where you can't always register tone and there no visual cues, so sometimes what is meant as constructive criticism can come off as personal criticism. It's a fine line; when in doubt error on the side of "constructive" instead of "personal" and all is well...

Anyway, I appreciate the work Johngo, and everyone else, has done and is doing, and, like I said, it's very cool that we get to be involved in the evolution of this thing. In the overall scheme of life, it's just a banner, so hopefully we can make this fun rather than contentious.

As for the badge, IMHO I wouldn't change it either--there's enough people who identify the MA badge with MA that a dramatic change would be counterproductive at this point.

 

I agree.....
How could you ever give up all of the exposure of this.....



And besides.... Changing = Jinx.:cryin:

 

Took me a while to find the M/A sticker :lol:

 

It's back there so the losers can see it.:lol::lol::lol:

 

Don't make fun of that sticker--that car dyno'd 10hp more with a corresponding increase in torque with that badge...

And that was on a hot, humid day on a mustang heartbreaker dyno!

 

I find this a bit humorous, this is assuming a company wants "EVERYONE" in the loop on every level. Sure Nate appreciates feedback. However, that feedback is a relative thing. At the end of the day, I think a proper art director, brand management and a creative person/crew, would, could and should handle it.

Just like with cars. Concept sketches are seen, people can react, but at the end of the day, it's up to the auto company to decide what they release.

 

LOL! Any discussion thread on the internet that doesn't eventually wind up with a comparison of someone to Hitler or the Nazis in general has to be considered a civilized discussion.

That said, the font change on the right to the MA standard font = WIN.

The pic of the stickered-up car reminds me... I need to find some room for the MA badge on Jango (vinyl goes under the bonnet on Jango, usually the intercooler scoop, but I think that's getting full)

 

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, although I think a little of what I wrote was misunderstood. I suspect the communities input on this will probably be relatively small; at the end of the day, it's not a democracy (nor should it be), and it's up to Nate what the final banner will be. What is cool is the communities' opinion as a whole was asked. I used to moderate on a large site, and things like this never would have even been open for discussion. I don't for a minute think that we're all "in the loop" on the vast majority of decisions that go on with this site, nor should we be. A site simply can't function that way; it's a disaster. But something like a header? Well, yeah, that's the type of thing that makes sense to ask input on, especially in a relatively small (but growing) community.

But I think the banner is one of those things you really don't need to get an art director for; IMHO it appears there are enough people here with enough knowledge (obviously not me) to come up with something "home grown", that would be unique to the site, but still professional looking. And that, I think, would be VERY cool...

 

Wow, stickers under the bonnet, is a great idea. I have a ton of them under the lid of my tack trunk, but never thought about the bonnet. Do they hold up with the heat??

Jim