Real Home Worth Logo Design - $100

[jlinds72]

Contest Holder ID: MarketingGuy
Type_Of_Contest: Logo Design
Title: "Real Home Worth" Logo Design (Web & TV)
Deadline: Two weeks after posted on this site.
Prize: $100

Company_Details: Katabat Corporation (www.katabat.com) needs a logo for a web product in development. Real Home Worth (www.realhomeworth.com)will be a site where consumers can request a free estimate of their home's value. Please see our primary competitor's site at housevalues.com for an idea of what the product is. The full name is "Real Home Worth" and the tagline is "Discover your home's true value"

Examples: This logo should be appropriate for web and television (we will likely advertise on cable television). Feel free to explore abstractions of real estate iconography as well as literal real estate references. We'll also want to be sure that we can separate the logo from the name if necessary.

Colors: The color scheme should be striking and ownable (different from our major competitors housevalues.com, homegain.com, & domainia.com).
Style: The brand is: Simple, Easy, Approachable, Mass-market The brand is not: Fancy, Exclusive, Trendy, Hip
Comments: The Real Home Worth brand should appeal to home sellers in the U.S. aged 25-55 (male and female). Illustrations should not be cartoony like the House Values branding.

PLEASE: Post your concepts in the forum so that I don't have to click through to your personal site (I'll provide feedback much faster).
IMPORTANT: We'll require the winner to surrender rights and ownership for the logo (blah, blah, blah)...so you've got to be 18 (or if you're a <18 wunderkid your parents will have to sign too).
BRAGGING RIGHTS: We'll include your name in a press release and provide you a copy of the television commercial when the site & commercial launch. GREAT PORTFOLIO OPPORTUNITY. GOOD LUCK! ASK QUESTIONS!

[cloak]

guess ill go first on this then...

http://www.36-degrees.co.uk/me/rhw.png

cheers - Stuart.

[MarketingGuy]

Thanks for kicking it off Stuart--you're a brave man! I know it's hard to start with just a few paragraphs of info.

I feel that your concept is too basic with the font use and simple house design. We're looking for something with a bigger impact and a little more interest.

[jlinds72]

Here's a few that I put together for you to consider. I was trying to keep the iconic style as simple as possible. Look forward to hearing from you

~Jenn

http://www.graphicscache.com/DC/RHW2.gif

[MarketingGuy]

Jenn,
Overall these are a fantastic start.

I like your direction and feel you have a good balance between the weight of the site name and tagline. I feel that the fonts in version 1 and 3 are strong (I like the lighter/skinnier fonts for a product that has a name this loooonnnnggg). I'm not sure what the icons are in the 3rd choice, but I like how they have a more casual feel since they seem to be just dropped into place...are they door hang tags?

I don't know if it helps, but somehow incorporating the concept of "Discovering" a home's worth might be an idea to explore...people enter their information (often with no idea how much their home is worth) and get a number--many are pleasantly surprised!

[imaze]

Here's my first suggestion. I made quite a few variations
of the same concept - the dollar sign, an arrow pointing
upwards, a simplified house, and the symbol's edges
"measuring" the type - but I will not post them if you
don't like the style. So feedback will be appreciated!

http://www.nic.fi/~sikkek/RealHomeWorth-logo01.gif

[mbleigh]

Here's my shot, comments are always welcome.

[jlinds72]

Jenn,
...I don't know if it helps, but somehow incorporating the concept of "Discovering" a home's worth might be an idea to explore...people enter their information (often with no idea how much their home is worth) and get a number--many are pleasantly surprised!

Thank you for the detailed feedback! I wanted to let you know that I have updated my previous post (#4), keeping the original 2 that you had mentioned in your previous post, and presenting my take on "discovering" the home's worth, as you've described it.

Yes, those were supposed to be hanging door tags, or price tags - just trying to represent the "price" aspect.

Love to know what you think!
~Jenn

[MVA]

Here's a couple from me...

I threw in the tree/swing motif because it connects with me personnaly as a homeowner on the level of "home" versus "house". That "at home feeling". Plus, I simply love the graphic...very nice, IMHO. Maybe it will fit here, maybe not. Either way, it's all gonna be ok.

Feedback is always treasured!

[Frontend]

http://img77.exs.cx/img77/7177/realhomeworth.jpg

[MarketingGuy]

Jenn, Imaze, Michael, Shane, Perry, Frontend, and Creativemeasures,

Thanks for working on this last night...I'm very excited by the effort you are all putting into the contest!


My overall comments:
* We're going down the wrong path by using a "$" sign...it's too much/crass for our needs (I think some of these could be perfect for something like a yellow page ad where the logo determines whether or not someone reads the ad--but in our case the consumer is either trapped in front of the tv or already on our site).
* After seeing some house/rooftop concepts I think that path will be too obvious for our needs...houses/rooftops are fine as part of a larger concept but they shouldn't be the primary visual cue (e.g. Jenn's hang tags are ok, Shane's house is probably too much)
* There might be something about "Discovery" that isn't tied to the $ sign...I don't know--just a thought.

Specific Comments---thanks again for your efforts:
* Jenn: I like the picetag concept best of your suggestions and wonder if there is a way to emphasize a little more that that is what they are (without adding $ signs)? The door/dollar sign does reinforce the idea of discovery but it's too blatant for our needs.

* Imaze: Thanks for joining in. I think that the rooftop and dollar sign are both too much for us. But the use of skinny fonts is right on.


* Michael: I led you into the same trap as Imaze with the cash and rooftop symbols...I should've kept my mouth shut. I'd like to go another direction. Also, I prefer not to use the shaded fonts b/c I've recently started feeling they seem dated. Thanks for joining in though. Also, I love your personal logo!

*Shane: Again, I don't want us to go down a literal rooftop path as the primarly visual cue. But I do like your idea of word emphasis in the tagline...the tough part is choose the words to emphasize. I think that either Discover or Value are the key words. Thanks for joining in.

* Perry: I like your font choice, though I think the up/down nature makes it to tough to read (mostly because our dang product name is so long, it'd be perfect for "Segwey"). Also, I love your idea of the tree...and I don't know why; but I think you should abandon it because in the end it will probably be too close to our competitor "Lending Tree"...bums me out b/c I like it but I don't think I could get past the competitor thing (maybe there's a way to make the tree a secondary part of the icon?). Again, the rooftop and cash idea are not the way to go and I'm sorry for steering folks down that path.

[MarketingGuy]

* Frontend: I like the 3d nature of your concept but want to move away from the $ sign. I also applaud you for trying the web address instead of the tagline, but I'd like to stick with the tagline for now (love your email address).

* Creativemeasures: Got to admit I was sucked in by the in sitio use of the guy in front of the tv! You're a natural salesman. I think that your use of the rooftop is ok because it isn't dominant in the logo. I'm afraid of using a mag. glass through because it's become shorthand for "search" online instead of "discover". If you've read my other comments, you'll know that I'll say drop the "$" too...Overall nice start. Thanks.

---Chris/MarketingGuy

[jlinds72]

Chris -

Thanks again for the great feedback! I've reworked the "pricetags", while still trying to keep it simple. Of course all colors/fonts can be altered as desired, these are just used as an example.

~Jenn

http://www.graphicscache.com/DC/RHW4.gif

[MVA]

Chris,

I certainly understand your comments on the tree...it will be right for someone, someday. Maybe I should adopt it myself. Anyway, tree version is history...going with a window motif for now...

Also, I'm giving the font one more opportunity - I've raised the drop caps.

Feedback is treasured!

[MVA]

Another one from me...I like this one alot!

[imaze]

Here's something different. At least it's not too obvious

http://www.nic.fi/~sikkek/RealHomeWorth-logo02.gif


(Thanks to MVA for the inspiration! )

[MarketingGuy]

Jenn, Shane, Perry, and Imaze,

Thanks for posting new work yesterday. I'm going to try to post comments each morning so we don't all burn ourselves out (ok, so I don't burn myself out). Just a reminder that this is a two week contest ending Sept 14 so don't feel obligated to turn things around immediately!

Some General Comments:
* I'm not really worried about color choices--that's something that we can change after a winner is announced. Don't get too hung up on colors (I don't think anyone really is, just making sure)
* I'm looking more at font and icons
* The concepts of "Discover" and "Worth" are hard to incorporate, but please avoid making money the central focus of the design (it's great as secondary element)

And Specific Comments:
* Jenn: I like the addition of the strings and think that makes them more clearly price tags. One small change is that you may want to flip the house logo so that it faces inward toward the name--it's up to you. I think this concept is done!

* Perry: Concept 1: I like your font change. One small idea may be to add some type of distinction among the words Real Home Worth so they don't run together as much. Otherwise I'd consider this concept complete. Concept 2: I like how you've created an entirely different concept--the mark of a true designer! I really like the 3D nature of the house but feel that the gold coins are probably a little much for us. Is there some way to tone down the coins/make it a little more subtle?

Shane: I think these ideas are improvements and would continue to explore the version with the roofline. Perhaps taking the font fill/interest out of the words and adding some embellishment to the outline would create a bigger impact?

Imaze: I'm impressed that you can come up with an entirely new direction…thanks. I think this is interesting and appreciate that you're going down a more abstract route. My concern is that the logo will probably be seen for just a few seconds on the commercial and that it may be too abstract to register. Perhaps there is a way to make it a bit more literal?

Thanks again everyone.
Chris--MarketingGuy

[cookman]

http://www.projectmac.com/real.jpg

[ShaneLinkcom]

I explored the version with the roofline. One logo the roofline is reflected horizontal from the other. Taking the font fill/interest out of the words and adding some embellishment to the outline did create a bigger impact. I changed the fonts so that the tagline doen't interfer with the logo, and tried the stacked type look. Still maintaining the simple, effective and modern look. Less is More.

http://shanelink.com/designcontest/r...eworthlogo.jpg

[browncat]

http://www.cityclicker.net/designs/R...eWorthLogo.gif

I made the shape to be viewed either as a hangtag with a hole on the left or a boxy building with a door on the left side. I was inspired by the simple logos of Home Depot and Best Buy, two companies with a similar target audience.