Subscribe to our Logo Contest Finals
The logo contest for this site is now over. By popular vote the winner was Design 1 by Paul Lawrence. Congratulations Paul.
Many thanks to Ciprian Palici, Tim Parsons, and A.W. for their outstanding designs, each of which received solid support from web visitors in this contest.
Thanks as well to those who submitted other designs, your contribution to this community site is appreciated.
Finally thanks to all who voted.
The new logo and a new theme will go live on this site soon. For a preview see here: http://www.urltrim.com.
Leave a comment below telling me what you think of the new logo and theme.
Gizmo
Which of the four logo designs below do you like best? Cast your vote by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page.
The requirements:
a. A new logo and banner for the site based on our site's current name "Gizmo's Tech Support Alert" and a second design based on a possible new name for the site "Gizmo's Best"
b. An award graphic based on the site logo, that can be displayed on websites of software products we recommend. The graphic need to be highly recognizable as the award for our site, as for example with the LockerGnome logo.
Preliminary round:
In May, newsletter subscribers and site visitors were asked to submit ideas and the best of these were displayed on this site for about a month to gauge user reaction and comment. We used those comments together with our own judgement to select four finalists who were asked to submit finished designs. The results are on this page.
There were many other entries and it's quite possible you may prefer one of the other designs to these four. If so please let is know your choice by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
Design 1. Submitted by Paul Lawrence
About Paul: "I am a graphics designer currently working for a non-profit foundation in eastern Europe. I have been in the logo design and graphics arts industry for 10 years. As a side project, in the spirit of Web 2.0, I do donation-based logo design. I prefer to work on projects I believe have the spirit of "Helping others help another," especially humanitarian aid foundations, churches, schools, and non or low profit web 2.0 sites. If you have a need for free or low cost professional logo design, I can be contacted by using the email address found at Logoscribe.com"
Click the image below for a full screen view.
Click the image below for a full screen view.
Design 2. Submitted by Ciprian Palici.
About Ciprian: "I currently live in Bucharest, Romania. As you can see, I’m a graphic/web designer.
Most of the skills and knowledge I have are self-taught, however for the past few years I worked in different environments & companies thereby improving my knowledge and background in the web industry. I usually study about Photoshop, Illustrator, typography, advertising, color theory, photography, SEO and building user friendly web sites.
This year I'm graduating college in engineering & robots, which I have realized is not something I necessarily want to do as a career for the rest of my life so I will keep on going with Web & Graphic Design.
Currently, I’m working as a full time web designer, but always looking for a better deal. On my spare time, I like to develop different personal projects, web site interfaces or just themes for some cms or other applications. I'm working as a freelancer too, and for the moment I am trying to make something of my new blog ( www.creativeweek.org ). If you have any questions, or need more information or support, contact me at creativeweek.org."
P.S. I've done this for fun but also because I like your site and I'm passionate about the free and open source idea. Keep up the good work!"
Click the image below for a full screen view.
Click the image below for a full screen view.
Design 3. Submitted by Tim Parsons
About Tim: "I've been a PC techie of one sort or another since the early 1980s. I work for the British National Health Service, doing techie things with Clinical Information Systems and a side-interest in helping to improve the internal extranet site. I may have evolved into a bit of a dinosaur... I don't do design for a living, but have had some training in the black arts and, like most people, I like to think I know what works.
One day, I'll find a reason -- and the time -- to build a website of my own."
Click the image below for a full screen view.
Click the image below for a full screen view.
Design 4. Submitted by A.W.
About A.W: "I'm a 3D artist working in a games company in the UK who regularly reads your newsletter when he should be working :) I thought this would be a good opportunity to give something back to the site as I am grateful for all the useful tool's hints and tips which you provide every month for free ! "
Click the image below for a full screen view.
Click the image below for a full screen view.
A.W. didn't have time to fully develop the award graphic and a final design would probably use "Gizmo's" rather than "Gizmo" and more strongly connect with the colors of the site banner.
That's it guys. Tell us your favorite by leaving a comment below. If you don't like any of the finalist's designs check out these other entries
PS If you have time, also let me know whether you prefer the site name "Gizmo's Best" (www.gizmosbest.com) to "Tech Support Alert" (www.techsupportalert.com).
GIZMO
I feel like I haven't seen the best yet.
Both #1's are my favorites, however in #1 gizmo's tech support alert the "tech support alert" is hard to read. I think #1 gizmo's best would be better if the word "best" was under the "zmo's" of "gizmo's". I think a small squarer logo would be better on other web sites than a longer rectangle.
Jon Maloney
#1 - lively and memorable.
(One marginal concern:
Is the "g" perhaps a bit too similar to the current Google flavicon?)
#1 Tech Support Alert
NEVER use stars as they are over-done these days...
Of course most would THINK that design #1 is without a doubt the best of the lot, however, design #2 and design #4 are 100% clear and easy to understand immediately upon viewing. Design #1 takes a second or two to figure out exactly what it is, hence, poor design.
ooooh tough decision...
after almost a minute of delibberation i'm gonna have to go with numer ...
ONE!!!!!!! Great design, simple but soooo cool!!
prefer techsupport alert!! :)
Design 1 - simple & gets the message across without being "gimicky"
I like #1. The only reason I like #1 more than #2 is because #2 reminds me of Mike from the movie Monsters, Inc. Although I really like the award graphics on #2.
Design 2. Submitted by Ciprian Palici
is my preferate.
And about "Gizmo's Best" or "Tech Support", I really prefer the "Tech Support" name. Nickname are not appealling, do not appear serious, look "local" and often purely affective, suggest a teenager's web site.
"Tech Support" serve us well in the past and should continue.
Gast
Design #1...
Very good work from all designers anyway !
Jeff
#2
#1 Stands out the most for me I Love the Awards logo has a lot more character than other mainstream ones.
And Tech Support Definitely
# 2. And prefer techsupport alert. Keep up the good work.
My choice. No 1, closely followed by No3.
The name "Tech Support Alert" is cherished by your original faithfull disciples.
But it does not stir the same nostalgic emotions amongst your ever growing band of new followers.
So with a smal tear in the eye I have to vote for the future and the title "Gizmo's Best"
Oh, about the Award Logo
Whatever you decide, please don't use "stars" or "cups" or "shields"
- It's déjà vu, they are all over the place & they mean nothing.
The logo Paul Lawrence (#1) did is different & stands out without any bling. Therefore it'd be noticeable and yet remain sober!
I think this Logo is much better than Lockergnome's, and I like his a lot!!
And it should stay Square. Have you noticed there are very few square Awards? Yap, been looking for the past couple of hours, only found 4... Maybe they are hiding? ;-) See what I mean here:
http://www.winsoftmagic.com/ajc_awards.html
Also, find a way to add a discreet •year• to the Award somewhere, bc a best pick in 2006 could be the worst in 2008, right?
Ok, run along now, enough rambling .... :*)
As a long time subscriber, LUV all the changes you've been doing to the site. It's a lot of work, you are doing a magnificent job.
And most importantly: We do Trust you!!
Peace, M. (again)
Hello, all 4 designs are nice.
But Design #1 is friendly & identifiable, the easiest to remember!
1-Very nice use of colour. It won't get dated.
2-Using the upside down Genie lamp as a "hat" was engenious! Very Gizmo like :D
3-Giving him a hand opens up the possibilities
C'est très très sympathique!!
It's dynamic, fresh, young, without being cartoonish or too "cute".
Are you keeping the current "G" as favicon?
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
Have mixed feelings about the names:
"Tech Support Alert" is already so well known, and I like it.
On the other hand "Gizmo's Best" points more directly to the Wiki. And we never say I'm going to see what Tech Alert has to say about that program, we *always* say Gizmo!
Why don't you keep both? Gizmo for the wiki, software, tutorials, etc, and TechSupport for the Newsletter? Each site would have a link, button or whatever, to connect to the other.
Anyway now, they seem to be behaving more as if they are two separate entities. Don't know if that's what you intended, separate them more?
Peace, M.
Personally, I like the cheekiness of Design 1, but am also a little drawn (every pun intended) to design 7. And thanx Gizmo for all the great tips, freeware etc. I have enjoyed your newsletter, (admittedly the free one) for quite a while now, so thanx again. frodoleg@hotmail.com
that Google "g" from #1 is not that good as #2
#2 shows that you have an eye for Freeware
Design 1. Submitted by Paul Lawrence
#1
Quite simply, I like this one the best.
#2, By a long way...Then #1 followed by #4.
Design 2
Design 1
My vote goes to design #1
Nice I like Design 1
Design 2 by Ciprian Palici and "Gizmo's Best" get my vote ;)
My vote does to the design 2, submitted by Ciprian Palici.
Design 1. Submitted by Paul Lawrence looks the best
number one
#1
Number 1 all the way
#1!
i like number two
Count me in on #1.
Number 1(the BEST !) spoils it for the rest & "GIZMOS BEST " looks execellent to me. ;-)
Thanks-- rs72640
Of course it's number 1!
It's self evident!
Everybody else... run along now...
;-)
Gotta go with number one.
No 1
Ill vote for #2, probably overall best , but I think #4 could good if a little more time was spent on it.
#2 is beautiful
#1 is best in my opinion.
Number 2
Number 1 is great
Number 1 is very well constructed. I vote for it!
Number 1 is the best!
I like Number 1
Number 1 for me
# 2 for the logo, and as for the site name: my vote is for "Gizmo's Best"
I'll vote for #1 as winner and #2 as a great second.
But they all have done good work.
I vote for Number 1 but you are all good.
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