Design a graphical symbol

Status: Closed
Prize: $290
Entries Received: 125
Winner: askalice

Winner

Contest Brief

This brief is also available in the attached PDF, with further details and explanation/illustration.

I need an illustration – a graphical symbol – for an important initiative.

The contest is about the idea and the main composition of the symbol. After a winner is selected, there will be a new project for finalizing the symbol (this project will be given to the winner of the contest, or to someone else if the winner does not want to make the finalization work).

Therefore, the submissions do not need to be ready-made symbols. A valid submission can be a good-looking computer-made drawing, but a simple hand-made sketch is also perfectly OK in this step.

The symbol should be of "silhouette type", i.e., only one color.

The symbol should be of a “modern”, simplistic character.

The symbol should, in some way, include or represent each of the following:
1. A linden tree (also called lime or basswood), or a branch or leaf from such a tree
2. A key or a key bit
3. A spike (also called ear) of wheat
4. Movement, speed or change.

The linden tree (or branch/leaf) should be clearly visible and understood. (If using a tree it does not need to look specifically like a linden tree – it could be any tree, really, but a similar tree. E.g, not look like a palm tree.) The other items 2-4 above could be clearly visible, or more implicit, or even difficult to spot, as long as they are there, somehow, and their presence can be explained to the viewer.

If change/movement is illustrated by an arrow of some kind, it needs to point either to the right (east), or up-and-right (northeast).

The symbol should be either of equal height and width, or have landscape shape. It can not have portrait shape. (It does not need to be rectangular.)

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Employer Feedback

“Alice showed very high engagement in the contest, asked the right questions along the way, proved to understand the task perfectly, and solved the task in a great way. A worthy winner.”

waldenwoods, Sweden.

Public Clarification Board

Contest Holder
- 11 years ago
A winning design has now been elected.

There are also other really good designs, and it could be useful for me to have a couple of different alternatives as well, for slightly different use. I do not, however, have the budget to acquire additional designs at the full competition prize value. Therefore, I will offer some of the four-star rated designers to acquire their symbol, with some minor alterations, for another price as a separate one-on-one project. (I have asked Freelancer customer service, and yes, this is doable without breaking any rules.) Because of time restraints on my side, however, it will take some time before I do so. Most likely, this will be in December. So please keep your design files.

Again, thank you all for very good entries, I am very happy with the outcome.
- 11 years ago
Contest Holder
- 11 years ago
Thank you everyone for really good submissions. It is not easy to select a winner. Will let you know as soon as possible.
- 11 years ago
konsfik
- 11 years ago
please check #138 and #139
- 11 years ago
santy99
- 11 years ago
please check #137 . Thanks
- 11 years ago
LucianCreative
- 11 years ago
#134
- 11 years ago
konsfik
- 11 years ago
#128 taking shape...
- 11 years ago
konsfik
- 11 years ago
#127 late entry brainstorming... Please let me know if you see something interesting. I can catch up if you see something you like.
- 11 years ago
LucianCreative
- 11 years ago
Another view, #118
- 11 years ago
LucianCreative
- 11 years ago
#116
- 11 years ago
deztinyawaits
- 11 years ago
Please check #115 with new update. Many thanks.
- 11 years ago
khadkamahesh07
- 11 years ago
Please see entry #107 #108 and give your feedback. Thank you.
- 11 years ago
Contest Holder
- 11 years ago
No, one ear of wheat is enough. Or a half, or whatever, as long as it is visible.
- 11 years ago
eryprihananto
- 11 years ago
whether the amount of wheat should be 3?
- 11 years ago
thientu0689
- 11 years ago
#106 please check ..
- 11 years ago
LucianCreative
- 11 years ago
#105
- 11 years ago
TinaLScott
- 11 years ago
I just submitted a modification of my original design for your review.
- 11 years ago
TheAVashe
- 11 years ago
Kindly leave private feedback by clicking on my name and viewing my entries. Thanks.
- 11 years ago
deztinyawaits
- 11 years ago
Please check #56 update.
- 11 years ago
Contest Holder
- 11 years ago
Looking at the recent submissions it seems like I have not managed to explain my thinking regarding the square-dark-background thinking. My fault, not well explained. I did not mean just inverting a symbol and putting it on a square. What I'm after is a symbol where a square is almost filled with the items, i.e., the shapes of the objects are chosen to fit together well. I have now included an update (page 3) in the PDF brief, as another attempt to explain.

Please note that I am not at all saying that the winning entry must be a square - but I would very much like to see what can be achieved with a such a square.
- 11 years ago
Contest Holder
- 11 years ago
Thank you for the nice comments on the brief.

Due to the nature of this I am unable to tell the exact circumstances, but you are right, it is useful for you to know more. The symbol should illustrate a name - much like a logo actually, but it is not for a company, and the symbol should be able to be used by itself as well as together with the written name (in contrast to a usual logo where the name text is usually an integrated part of the design).

But essentially, the symbol should be possible to use as a logo (e.g., printed on a letterhead, engraved on a metal sign, possible to use on the web in a header or similar). Therefore, it should not be too detailed. It needs to be quite simplistic.
- 11 years ago
View 2 more messages
1. KishuPro
  - 11 years ago
  Hi Sir, I am sorry I made it confusing inadvertently by using the word 'liking', I was not referring to the 'like' function actually, I was just trying to say that as there are highly rated entries already so you must be happy with the designs you are getting. As regards what we can see, this is a sealed competition so we are not able to see the actual designs being submitted, we cant see the likes either, we can only see the ratings you are giving. Hope that helps to understand the overall process here. Regards.
  - 11 years ago
2. Contest Holder
  - 11 years ago
  Thank you for clarification. Very useful for me, as this is the first time I host such a contest.
  - 11 years ago
Contest Holder
- 11 years ago
I have now looked through all the submissions so far, and commented individually on several of them. Thank you all for very relevant suggestions.

One thing that I would like to emphasize is the need for simplicity, and "modern" character. The symbol should not contain a lot of details. If the symbol can be presented as an icon (in the computer environment meaning) and still be recognizable that would be great (however, if some items are not clearly visible in that small scale, that would be OK).

If one of the items is dominating over the others visually, it is preferred that the linden tree/leaf is the dominating item, rather than the spike of wheat.

It would be interesting to see some submissions starting with a dark filled square as background, with the motif in white (or light gray) on that background (or in the light and dark fields interacting with each other). Again, think simplistic, modern style.
- 11 years ago
Contest Holder
- 11 years ago
Jess, this has nothing to do with religion or faith. The symbols are different interpretations (in different languages) of the different parts of the name. The name, by the way, is quite short (6 letters), if that information is of any use.

Let me know if there is anything further I can clarify.
- 11 years ago
jess78861
- 11 years ago
It sounds to me , it has to do with religion or faith.
- 11 years ago
jess78861
- 11 years ago
I agree with others, good brief
- 11 years ago
KishuPro
- 11 years ago
Hi CH, first of all thanks for a very good brief and making a real effort to convey us your requirements. However, if you can tell us the purpose of the whole symbol that would help us compose the elements much more meaningfully. So, if it's not a problem then do let us know the purpose. Thanks.
- 11 years ago
Hayesnch
- 11 years ago
Do you mind to tell the purpose of this illustration? i am unsure where to start
- 11 years ago
TheAVashe
- 11 years ago
That's a nice brief. Good Luck.
- 11 years ago