Rule of thumb: Don't ask for opinions unless you're ready to hear whatever comes back! The blur totally doesn't work for me either. I think the blur is much too abrupt. I suggest a gradually increasing blur to the end of "country", then fade into a solid color starting from that point. The photo isn't wide enough to support a blur stretching across half the page. Another suggestion is to make the photo "wider" by enlarging it. Let the closest car get cropped off at top and bottom. MotoringFile does this a lot with photos in their header, with good dramatic effect. While I'm in a critical mood, I'll also say that I think the Motoring Alliance logo is so stiff and formal. If you show it to someone and ask what brand of car it represents, MINI would probably be the last they'd think of. I like the motoring|underground logo for capturing the offbeat, rebel nature of the car.
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).
There is no need for a new logo. I proved that at MITM and MTTS. When many MINI owners were handed a card and I introduced myself I heard many "I've seen that before" comments. A lot of work has been done to get the logo design and make it known. There are badges, stickers, cards, shirts, avatars, banners and the like out all over the interwebz and beyond. I'm not about to toss all the work aside and start over. In fact in my missive to johngo when we discussed header design I stipulated the logo and text had to stay. This is still my plan. The logo that tüls and Rally designed stays. Believe you me, it went through many many iterations before becoming what it is today. Months were spent going over ideas and concepts. The idea here is to freshen up the left side of the header. OK, this current idea didn't pan out. No big deal, we will go back to the drawing board and try again. I don't expect perfection the 1st time out, it is an iterative process that will take time. We both have quite busy "day jobs". That's not to say that johngo, or tüls or Rally are the only ones that can design for M/A. If you have the chops and understand the design theme of the site then please feel free to contact me. I'll get you all the needed specs. You shall be rewarded for your effort.
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.
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:
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...