Site Design/Logo

[Rick Mahn]

Alright all you graphic designers and artistic types, since I'm just an 'ol "IT" techy geek, I didn't get to art school and can't design my way out of a paper bag (what's wrong with brown paper anyway). I'd love to have an "official" logo for SMB-TC!! Something that we can share and use when posting about it or linking to stuff.

Anyone have some ideas? Any suggestions on this site colors and such? There are predefined themes, but there is some freedom to customize some things. Anyone?

[Mike Keliher]

Love it. If we're not going to go with Thomas' from above, I like this one.

[Erica Mauter]

Ooh, I like that one.

[Rick Mahn]

I like the last one Paul - the only thing I'd suggest is to put the cherry on the tip of a spoon like the one in MPLS. Who suggested that first awhile ago? Is a good idea.

[taulpaul]

Employing the spoon in this design would def. make it less versatile. While juxtaposing the spoon with the cherry makes it easier for outsiders to go...yeah that's at the Walker Sculpture garden...it really adds an element that IMHO is not really needed. I say the cherry can stand on it's own stem. :)

[Dave Huston]

I agree. For natives, the cherry should be quickly recognized on its own. For non-natives like myself, they'll have the same reaction I did when the idea first came up: "A giant spoon with a cherry? huh!?"

[Erica Mauter]

I mostly agree. The primary audience is people that live here anyway, right?

[John Sandala]

I agree, plus adding the spoon could be on the lines of infringement.

[lindsi]

I guess I'm still pretty new to the SMB troop (considering next week will be my first attendance), but - I don't think we need the spoon either. However, if the social network is going to grow much beyond us "natives" then I'm a little concerned about the cherry connotation. :-D

However, hopefully outsiders will attribute it to the single "seed" within all of us [social media] and the fact that we grow only in clusters and not on our own.

I'm also sleep deprived from too much Batmaning, so there's a chance I may be over analyzing.

[Rick Mahn]

Good point, but here's my question then. What has a cherry have to do with Minneapolis or Social Media Breakfast? I love the simplicity and look of the design - it just doesn't say "Twin Cities" to me.

The cherry/spoon is a landmark that many know - cherries alone represent... cherries (or Michigan maybe).

I'd like to see something that represents either Minneapolis or St. Paul - something that is recognized elsewhere in the country. People remember "Twin Cities" even if MPLS gets more press. MN is the "land of 10,000 lakes", or the "Northland". There's also the dome, Excel Engergy Center, MOA, or the loon that people can relate to being from MSP.

Hope I don't sound (too) demanding, but we need something that makes people say - "Oh, the Minnesota SMB!"

[Mike Keliher]

You want something to represent Minneapolis and Minnesota? Let's get Roventine to throw together a Paul Bunyon logo! :)

http://flickr.com/people/myklroventine/

[Mykl Roventine]

Cuz' nothing says social media like Paul Bunyan. Love it!

I'm actually working up some (non-Bunyan) logo concepts to pitch at SMB next week. At the very least, having some visuals will help focus the feedback and move the discussion forward.

[Mike Keliher]

We could do a whole branding campaign around it. Paul Bunyon logo, Babe the Blue Blog (note the color theme here...blue -- coincidence? I think not!).