The Fstoppers Logo contest has ended and after over 1500 submissions I can say that I believe all possible avenues have been explored. Both Patrick and I went through every single logo one by one separately and we narrowed them down to our favorite 17. Check out the full post to see our best options and vote on your favorites.
Try to look at each of the logos before with fresh eyes. If you truly believe that number 18 (our current logo) is the best, I want to know, but please don't vote for it just because you recognize it. I have my list of favorites already but I don't want to reveal them at this point. I want to hear what you guys think.
To keep the comments below organized please only reply to my comments below, do not create your own thread.
The reason we want to change the logo is because Lee drafted that up in like 5 mins. We just needed something to launch the site with and neither of us was happy. With us both being horrible designers, it's crazy how many people love this logo so much.
Patrick - the thing is: no one cares if it took 5 minutes or 15 days to create that logo. the important thing is the final result. And this is by far the best logo design here, and the best logo for FS. The fact it took 5 minutes should not be a factor in the decision making
You guys have already built a brand out of it. And it works. Do not change!
Don't make the mistake Tropicana did! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/business/media/23adcol.html?_r=2&
Have you considered keeping and just slightly updating your current design? Maybe try and take a stab with playing with a stroke and no fill? maybe increasing the width of the lines by a couple points? Just saying its never a bad thing to keep whats been workin for you. See: Coca-Cola, Apple, Nike
Stick with what you have! None of these other logos look like they will be worth the re-branding strategy. The original FS logo works. You may be tired of it, but we -- your readers -- like it as it is! Clean and simple.
I'd say stick with 18. The rest of the logos look like they belong on a sports guernsey or look too much like a sporting brand. The current logo is simple and clean :)
Reply to this comment to make a general comment
I'm not too crazy about any of them. Most of them seem very tech-y and 90's feel. Bulky. Not at all what fstoppers should be. #4 is the best of these, in my opinion. Just seems that it will be hard to make any of these work as a logo and especially with different backgrounds. And the last one is almost the same as your current logo. :)
I agree with you to an extent and I am a fan of 4 myself. I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic but number 18 is our current logo.
LOL did not hit me until I posted that it was the old logo! Hah, been a long day....
The last one is the current logo.
The last one is the current logo. Voting for it is kinda saying "Don't change..."
Oops, wrong reply. I like the current one best of all these really, most of them are hard to read as FS imo and none particularly convey what the site is about too well (although the name F-stoppers probably does kinda give someone an idea of the theme lol)
I enjoy most of the content of this site, but It's really disappointing to see that you have such a bad taste, no offense. Most of the logos you chose are totally unprofessional, and I don't speak only about the idea and the concept (which is absent most of the time), but about the execution: proportions, composition, balance between the white space and the filled space, harmony between the elements of the logo, between the mark and the text etc etc etc. If these are the best 17 from 1500... Just my professional designer 2 cents, I hope you'll take it as a constructive advice.
I like my submision, but is not listed. You can see mine here: http://www.behance.net/gallery/FSTOPPERScom/9279613
Robert, I hate you feel that way about the ones we've picked. If you think you can provide one that deviates from these and might be worth considering, I will extend the deadline for your submission. We've seen a lot of entries but if you have a specific vision I'd be all ears (or eyes). Please post it to this comment though since the contest is officially over.
I think perhaps the general consensus im getting by all the comments is that none of these submissions really fit/embody what fstoppers is. for instance: 1 looks like adobe, 2 looks like a tire company, 3 looks like an I.T. company, and so on. there are even a few rip offs in there. Perhaps you could open another contest with a few more specic things you're looking for? (im really just asking cause I missed the first one and now I finally have an idea haha)
Couldn't you say this about every logo in the world? Coke a Cola looks like a calligraphy company. Dell looks like an investment firm. Apple is clearly a sustainable food company. I think a good logo needs to be memorable and easily reproduced (black and white, mono tone, no shading, printable in a newspaper, etc). I think if you looked at most famous logos you wouldn't be able to identify the product they are selling.
Patrick, you have a great point...the success of the company depends on the product created. The logo will automatically be associated with product delivered...thanks for your insight!
That's a great point. but again, im just going on the genereal consensus I've seen by all the comments today. I love FStoppers and what you guys have done for the photographic community and would love to see it have not just a good logo but a great one.
Well if you guys are looking for something that's simpler, why not just remove the gradient from your current logo (since at the time that I'm writing this post, Lee's original logo is the fan favourite) and make it more straight forward, black and white and printable, etc..
While I'm at it I feel like it ought to note that most of the selected submissions look dated to me already. At first glance the most of them are italic and look like race car companies who are just trying too hard to be cool. I'd stick with Lee's original logo, myself.
Think I broke disqus.. going to try posting this again, sorry if it's duplicated and I simply don't see it. I now can't delete the original reply because it's there as "guest" and not mine. The things we do to keep things organized. Any who ...
I'm sorry to dig up the past guys, but whatever firm you chose from the get-go robbed you. Looking at that concept is telling me three things: They didn't care, you didn't communicate your needs well, or they're simply not professional designers (A humanist font with a geometric mark, really?). It could've been all three.
While I don't agree with spec work (I am a designer by profession), this is your business and you can do as you want. However, your results are still less than ideal. Look at your initial post, more than half your inspirations are marks with shape and interpreted meaning, yet you demand submissions have FS involved. If you're not in a rush to rebrand, don't. Pay the "contest" winner and consider it a nice way of you giving back to one lucky, loyal reader.
I've only been visiting this site for a few months now, and think it's fantastic. I would hate to see you pick a lack-luster design just because. Funny, actually. From the options, I like Lee's the most.
My 2 cent's and I did not submit any logo and I don't have nothing to do with graphic disign.
I think the most important in a logo it's to be perceptible and readable.
I read in replays about coca-cola logo and Apple, Nike all of this
logos when you look them in 1 second understand the logo. If you have to
think and look careful to see what's there in my opinion it's not a
great logo. In my opinion that's the difference
between a good logo and a bad logo. With your actual logo you have that
and in my opinion you don't have that on the logos you guys pick.
Here are the logos that I submitted that did not get choses. Just thought I'd share!
Here it is on white!
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSM2Nl2gbORv-Jg8swY...
Far away the best of all I've seen before for this blog.
They have choosen the worst logo to my taste...what a pity.
FStoppers still remain an awesome blog, but again with a ugly logo :(
thought I'd share mine!
I want feedback.....annnnnnnnnd go! The "point" is supposed to represent the 1point4 or 2point8 from actual f-stop readings.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. I didn't like most and when 18 came up I was overcome with joy as a gentle breeze of delight and a surge of peace rushed over me. Right there, I knew all is well with the universe.
Very open to new logo but I personally don't think someone has done one better than the current logo.
Whoever designed logo 15 is getting robbed. You skipped it.
None of the new logos have implemented the 'identity' of this website. 5 looks like a racing team logo, 6 would make perfect sence for the PlayStation 5. number 7 would do great as a clan logo in Call of Duty.
Before Call of Duty made their logo, wouldn't you say that it didn't represent their brand and looked like something else too? I don't think it's fair to say one logo looks like something else....the current FS logo is so simple that it reminded me of Stationary company or printing press.....maybe we are a printing press though :/
Fail. #7 is Revision Military APEL approved glasses company logo, blatant copy minus font.
Current FS logo is the best, it's not like you guys are selling stuff so with what purpose does it serve to change the look of your logo? Why not change the look of the page layout then too if you want 'rebranding'
You didn't choose mine!...:(
I'm sorry to dig up the past guys, but whatever firm you chose from the get-go robbed you. Looking at that concept is telling me three things: They didn't care, you didn't communicate your needs well, or they're simply not professional designers (A humanist font with a geometric mark, really?). It could've been all three.
While I don't agree with spec work (I am a designer by profession), this is your business and you can do as you want. However, your results are still less than ideal. Look at your initial post, more than half your inspirations are marks with shape and interpreted meaning, yet you demand submissions have FS involved. If you're not in a rush to rebrand, don't. Pay the "contest" winner and consider it a nice way of you giving back to one lucky, loyal reader.
I've only been visiting this site for a few months now, and think it's fantastic. I would hate to see you pick a lack-luster design just because. Funny, actually. From the options, I like Lee's the most.
Sorry, I did not see the note about leaving comments only in Lee's threads. Reposting this in the "general comments" thread.
Hey I agree with you. I'm a graphic designer too. And these logos are not good to me.
I wish they had chosen a better one for this awesome blog.
I've been a professional graphic designer for sometime now. I'm not the best, but I think I am good enough to say that all this logos look like student work at best. Typography and letter design are very difficult to master, just like pro photography.
Why have I never heard of this contest? Damn. Would have been fun to join.
A lot of these looks like airline logos.
No disrespect to the participants (except the ones that stole their work) but perhaps you should extend the contest deadline? These logo's are awful, sorry.
Agreed, only like 3 worth a damn and 1 of those 3 is the original design.
I'll post my designs, just to feel I was shortlisted.
that's pretty boss. Just sayin. Very magazine-esque and forward thinking. Love the intentional offset it has.
Thank you very much man.
Damn dude you were ripped off! Those are some smooth looking designs. A few of those in the voting look all too similar with each other. Your first and second are tops. I'd vote for those.
Thanks a lot man.
how about an 'f' in a hexigon - seems simple, clear and clean
The issue is so many people refer to us as "FS" and removing the S from the logo I think would be a branding mistake. Same goes with a generic shape like the Nike Swoosh. It would be cool but again so many people know us as FS