OfficeBook Identity/Character - $625 - Feb. 6th

[nevadabadgirl]

Contest_Holder: obgregg1

Company_Details: OfficeBook is a startup owned by LightMachinery. LightMachinery makes cool giant lasers, and we think we can make a cool giant web application as well.

Type_Of_Contest: Other

Title: Identity/Character design

Deadline: 6 Feb 2009

Prize: $625

Colors: Blues, Oranges, Yellows (I'm color blind)

Examples:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews...id-goliath.jpg
http://www.frankteam.com.au/images/o...eb%20photo.jpg
http://goldenzen.files.wordpress.com...mpowerment.jpg

Comments: OfficeBook (OB) is(/will be) an online business management application. OB empowers users to manage and generate business by employing a collaborative 'open kimono' approach. Member companies will be able to book sales, generate purchase orders, track inventory, manage projects (and more). Each employee/user within the company will be able to see current sales, the status of quotations, current order backlog, etc. Start up companies with staff spread out across multiple home offices will be able to operate as a cohesive unit. As member companies begin to do business with other member companies, OB will enable collaborative projects, where several companies work together to achieve a goal, and new goals & projects emerge as a result. OB is being developed to be globally relevant - we expect (hope for) strong interest from both the Western world and developing nations. OfficeBook needs an identity. We need a character. We already have the basic elements of a site design thanks to dragonfly (from a previous designcontest.net contest). Now we need something with character, something that users around the globe can relate to. This character element will be built into all of our graphical elements (possibly including a logo rejig).

Goal: We're working on the marketing site design. We need a 'character' element to include in graphics that are used to illustrate features and benefits of OB. The character element could be a stick figure, a dot with arms and legs, a book with arms and legs (just ideas, don't let them constrain you). A dog or a paperclip with giant eyes are probably not a good idea.

Requirements: - Colors should agree with Dragonfly's design

Deliverables -

- Single image of the character (start with this before investing effort in the rest)

- Graphic that expresses the empowerment that OB will provide (roughly at a 688p wide by 191 pixels long aspect ratio). This graphic will be used on the main OB marketing site. Several variants would be appreciated.

- Graphic that is more literal in its depiction of OB's function (dispersed team working towards a common business goal) same rough format as above.

- favicon of the character

- logo rejig (optional) should work with DragonFly's design.

Note: If we end up using the winner's work, the designer selected will almost certainly be called upon for ongoing work on character variations.

[nevadabadgirl]

I am attaching a screenshot of Dragonflys design to assist in this contest. ~V.

[jojomarie]

Hello, Here is the "sketch" of my character. I thought I would show you what I have so far & if you would like me to continue. A lot more detail can be added if requested, as well as anything else that you like, thanks!
http://www.geocities.com/jojo7317/of...k_template.jpg

[onesummer]

Here's mine. He's a personified....rather a "sumo-fied" book

http://www.pauljobson.com/clients/lo...ceBookSumo.jpg

[obgregg1]

Jojo - Thanks very much for getting things started!

I was actually trying to capture the David vs Goliath nature of the Sumo shot. So, while I like the happy sumo idea, I'm not sure if it encapsulates the idea I need to express.

Paul - It doesn't look like your idea actually made it into your post. I don't see anything (sorry). The description sounds interesting.
[EDIT - Okay, I see it now Paul. Cool idea, but I feel bad now for including the Sumo image. The David vs Goliath concept was what I was after. Don't abandon that idea. I'll shop it around the office. But I think we're looking for something less Japanese.]

[onesummer]

oh okay. i thought you were goin for the "power" aspect of a sumo wrestler. i thought the idea was unique, so i jumped on it. kinda reminded me of those terry tate office linebacker commercials. those were the best. I'll see what else I can come up with. thanks.

[onesummer]

2nd entry.

http://www.pauljobson.com/clients/lo...kCoffeeCup.jpg

[KorteX]

Rough sketch of a planner/organizer with 2 pens sticking out of the top. Few expressions aswel.
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/874/sketchsi4.gif

[obgregg1]

Thanks for the entries so far!

Onesummer:
That's a nice concept. The little coffee cup is easy to associate with small business. Could you offer a few variations for consideration. It might be interesting to see him as a her. Or maybe the little cup in a crowd of big mugs.

KorteX:
Thanks very much for providing the expressions. It is helpful to see these possibilities. I have a hard time making a decision with the rough sketch. If you could refine the look, I would appreciate it. Some variations I would appreciate seeing: Normal bound book look (no spiral), and no pens (or pens in a front pocket maybe?)

[KorteX]

KorteX:
Thanks very much for providing the expressions. It is helpful to see these possibilities. I have a hard time making a decision with the rough sketch. If you could refine the look, I would appreciate it. Some variations I would appreciate seeing: Normal bound book look (no spiral), and no pens (or pens in a front pocket maybe?)

Of course, ill have that shortly.

[KorteX]

Refined my sketch, removed the spiral, and added a version with pen in the front. Used "toon" type colors for the draft, i can alter them however you want.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4874/bookguyqb9.gif

[Vovikus]

Hello!
Here is my concept/scetch.
Bumblebee is a symbol that represents diligence. So office is a beehive of activity & new ideas.

http://www.ljplus.ru/img4/a/k/aka_vo...ficebook10.jpg

Have a nice day!
Vovikus

[obgregg1]

Hello again,

Vovikus - Thanks very much for your entry. It took me a while to figure out how I felt about it. I think you are right about bees being associated with hard work and diligence. I just don't think bees embody the pioneering individuallism of the average entrepreneur.

KorteX - Thanks for the revisions. I think the toon style is a little reminicent of Microsoft's Office Assistants (Clippy, etc.). While I like the book thought, we need to find a way to make him look less toonish. We're trying to develop a character that represents empowerment for new/small business owners.

[geek]

Hi, Are you looking for a serious corporate icon/mascot (less clip-art look) that will work as a stand-alone logo as well? Since you mentioned the 'favicon' file, the graphic should work well on that pixel size.

This looks interesting and challenging. Count me in.

Thanks.

[obgregg1]

Geek -

Nice to see your level of enthusiasm. Looking forward to your ideas.

G

[KorteX]

Im going to try another concept, Not sure what to do with the book guy. Ill have it soon.

[Vovikus]

Hello!
Thanks for your feedback. I'm going to take time to cogitate a bit. )))
I'll post my next concept soon.

Best,
Vladimir

[Vovikus]

Hello!

Here is my 2nd concept (idea sketch that I did today).
Hope you like it. Any feedback/critique greatly appreciated.

http://www.ljplus.ru/img4/a/k/aka_vo...ficebook20.jpg

Have a nice day!
Vovikus

[baiskee]

Here's an idea...

[jojomarie]

Hello, I matched the birds color to the site, if you would like to see any changes or anything added just let me know, thanks!
http://www.geocities.com/jojo7317/officebook2_0.jpg