MLBTR Logo Contest

I had a small firm design the new MLBTR logo.  They presented about a dozen and I chose my favorite.  MLBTR readers were not terribly impressed by the new logo though.  I want to keep an open mind, because I am not an artistic guy.  I received several emails from people who thought they could do better.  One person, Mo Ahmadieh, revised the logo in a way I thought made it better.  Here is a look at that revision (click to enlarge).

I've decided to open this up and have a contest to design the best logo.  The prize is $100 plus your name/design company mentioned in a post.  Here's what I'm looking for.

• It should be an original design - doesn't have to look like the new blue logo or the current black and white one.
• It has to beat the logo shown in this post.  I may still go with this one; I like it.  In that case there would be no winner.
• Needs some kind of color.  I like the blue used for this one, but I am open to other colors.  Red, white, and blue together is not going to work though.
• Can't use copyrighted photos (ie, MLB players).
• Needs a transparent background.
• Needs to have the full tagline.
• Size: 800x110 pixels.
• Email your entry to mlbtraderumors2008@gmail.com and enter as many as you'd like.  Please get them in by end of day Friday.  This should be fun.

Comments

[messerbh]

About the tagline:

Why do you have to repeat "Today's Hottest Baseball rumors"...isn't that part sort of inferred in the actual title of the website? I would prefer the simpler:

MLB Trade Rumors
If it's whispered, we hear it.

[morandjp]

I agree with messerbh. And if anyone designing logos is reading this, if you're going to go with a guy swinging a bat, make him a bit less scrawny than the stick figure above.

[Tim Dierkes]

I see your point, but I think a person coming to the site for the first time would better understand the purpose with the full tagline in there. But maybe.

[tehasguard]

I have to agree with messerbh as well

mlb trade rumors .com says enough, even for new people who accidently got here

"if it's whispered, we hear it."... is perfect

You could make 1 large pic with "...hottest baseball rumors...." included for the top of the Homepage

and a smaller pic ( signature type of format with) with only the "if its whispered....." , which could be used anywhere anytime for a variety of purposes (dividing stories, links, etc...)

[Land-Man]

It's implied, not inferred.

This'll be fun, I'll get to work.

[studio179]

The baseball figure and 'swoosh' in the swing looks too much like the Nike logo on it's side and upside down. Maybe no biggy, but might be pushing it. I would tweak it to make sure it is safe.

[HouseThatKirbyBuilt]

That logo is cool.

Why can you not have players now but you could have players in the current logo? Isn't one of them Edmonds?

[kosmo99]

"If we hear it, we spread it."

"Informing and confusing fans since 200X"

:)

[Tim Dierkes]

Honestly can't remember if it's Edmonds. But if it is it shouldn't be. The others are amateur players as far as I can remember.

Not saying it can't have players, but it can't have MLB players.

[Bank Street Grounds]

Tim, I know you said no MLB players but isn't it ok to have a picture of them as long as you(the maker) took it or have been given specific permission to use it by the person who did?

[coryjwilson]

My advice to whoever does the design would be to avoid using a logo style that will almost instantly date itself. Not that the above design is horrible, but it looks rather generic and a tad bit like so many of the nutritional supplement or health club logos that are floating about.

[kosmo99]

MLB has intellectual property rights for the logos - they cannot be used for commercial purposes without consent. This is why you see airbrushed logos on some off-brand baseball cards (esp from the 80s and 90s).

MLBPA (player's association) has similar rights to the actual images of the players.

Can you take a picture, blow it up to 16 X 20 and hang it on your wall (private, non-commercial use)? Yes. Can you use it on a site where you are generating ad revenue? No.

[brianrein]

Gotta say, that proposed logo makes me think of an amateur blog site. I mean, I know this is pretty much a blog, but it currently has the serious feel of a news source. And I like that. :)

[AdropOFvenom]

That one isn't too bad, but whoever made it needs to lose the damn Drop Shadow on it. It's terrible.

[Pete]

Not to stir up any trouble here, but $100 and a one-time plug is a slap in the face to anyone who does logo design for a living - like myself.

For a site with traffic as high as this one, I'd say that commission should be *at least* 5 or 6 times what you're offering.

[crudbucket36]

I think the original log looked better without the shading. And also, if you think $100 and a plug is a slap in the face then don't enter anything into the contest. Tim isn't forcing anyone to submit anything.

[Tim Dierkes]

This is a contest Pete. It is far from a slap in the face; for many designers it'd be wise to do it for $0 given the value of possible new business from all the traffic. If I was searching for a design firm to lock myself in with on a logo, that would be something completely different. I'm baffled why you'd even write that comment, to be honest. Nobody is obligated to participate.

Adropofvenom, I like the drop shadow.

In general I can't see how the blog could look much more amateur than it already does. The entire design is just a template.

BankStreet, kosmo answered your question - no MLB player photos even if you took them.

[Win1forRonny]

i like the new logo that was posted.

pete, shut up... its generous of him to offer a reward when he really doesn't have to.

[Win1forRonny]

just a suggestion for the new layout that i forgot to put in the survey... try not to putt too much writing and stuff all over the page and keep it narrow as it is now... i like the layout, it could just use a touch up, new logo, and change of colors.

[basemonkey]

I can work on a logo here.

[CarniifeX]

Just e-mailed you one, hope you like it.

[msfarrel]

Would you consider doing the same type of competition for the new site design?

[Tim Dierkes]

Msfarrel, I have a guy I like for the site design and I have a good idea what I will do with it. To me that's less about art and more about navigation. But, once we roll out the new look I'll probably be open to suggestions for jazzing it up.

[Jesse]

Oh... please DO NOT use the logo with the drop shadow. I have been reading MLBTR for several years, and never posted... but I registered an account just to reply to this post.

I do some graphic/web design on the side, but I am by no means an expert... the only thing I can say is stay away from something that's Web 2.0-ish and choose something a little more timeless.

Love the site, by the way, and I'm excited about the redesign.

[Tim Dierkes]

What's wrong with drop shadows? They're web 2.0ish?

[Tim Dierkes]

Actually I can kinda see how no drop shadow might be better, when I look at them side by side.

[Jukee]

The one in the post looks a bit pixelated; I think there are some far better concepts out there. I'm a photo major, but I will give this a shot. Good luck to everyone submitting!

[Land-Man]

"What's wrong with drop shadows? They're web 2.0ish?"

Nothing says 'amateur designer' more than drop shadows. That, and the use of gradients.

[barracus79]

Here's an idea I like alot:

Panoramic, close-up shot of the chalk base line, with the site name on the image in a ragged Courier font (I actually love the current font). a photo similar to this:
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3283105/2/istockphoto_3283105_first_base_line.jpg
but making the shot horizontal and more close-up.

I like dropping the "today's hottest baseball rumors" part as previously mentioned and keeping the "if it's whispered, we hear it."

[barracus79]

I also do not favor the proposed logo, Tim. It looks too much like ClipArt.

The design of the site now is nice, I can bring the page up at work and it has that low-key, unassuming look that isn't going to draw attention to my computer screen.

[twinstapir]

Some hint of the color scheme of the rest of the new site would be useful...

[Tim Dierkes]

Vast majority of people say the current look draws more attention at work than a normal black on white text would.

Color scheme would follow the logo, but right now I'm intending for it to be the blue color you see above.

[Pete]

>> for many designers it'd be wise to do it for $0 given the value of possible new business from all the traffic. >>

Unless there's a permanent link on the site to the designer's home page, it's just not worth the effort. Stories get added so quickly to the site that a one-time mention would be bumped to the 3rd or 4th page by the end of the week.

What good does that do?

You'll get what you pay for, site admin. Good luck.

[Pete]

>> pete, shut up... its generous of him to offer a reward when he really doesn't have to. >>

A 'reward'...? Logo design is a JOB, not some prize to be had. If you want something done right, you're going to have to pay the appropriate amount.

>> And also, if you think $100 and a plug is a slap in the face then don't enter anything into the contest. Tim isn't forcing anyone to submit anything. >>

I'm not, because it wouldn't be worth any serious designer's time or effort for $100.

[coryjwilson]

Pete. You might be a "professional" designer, but if that's the case you remind me of a "professional" baseball player who shows up at a t-ball game just to yell at the kids for hitting the T and running to the wrong base. You're missing the point. I do hope that all of your verbose backslapping talk is doing you some good though.

While your points might be valid. You are grossly missing the point of this contest. Tim could STILL hire this done, but he's giving the users an opportunity to be part of the process. Heaven forbid that some internet hillbilly...uneducated in the ways of formal design actually win a contest and hurt the feelings of the trained design community. How will you cope?

Pete, you need to go get laid and get a grip.

[Pete]

>> You're missing the point. >>

Nope, sorry.

>> Pete, you need to go get laid and get a grip. >>

Seriously, do your parents know you're using the computer?

[Gavin]

I would like to submit a logo. Now it is not within the specs you mentioned but I'm sure we can work something out if you end up liking it. Let me know what you think. I'm also a "professional designer" but I think I'd rather have a 100 bucks than a slap on the face :)

http://www.tsizzle.com/mlb.jpg