This was a fun explore – I envisioned this logo being pretty subdued, clean, minimal and playing more of a supporting role to the site and all of the great work that is posted here. Some are more like a masthead than a logo per se…. Here they are:
Concept 1:
This could easily swap out for different “trades” beyond Design and still maintain a consistent look, or perhaps they could be featured altogether (in a huge long masthead – maybe it expands when you roll over it on the site or something ):
Or Stacked:
Concept 1A: Alternate font (this one comes from woodblock type letterforms – dig it).
Concept 1B: And another.
Concept 2: The next couple concepts are about the merging and overlapping of people, concepts, backgrounds, areas of expertise that make the site fascinating. I think there could be some cool icon that speaks to this, but I haven’t explored that avenue yet. So here it is with type:
Concept 2B: Stacked up
Concept 3
Concept 3B
pattern made from the above:
Concept 4: There’s something interesting about this one, though I wish I had a brilliant explanation for it. It’s kind of a variation of John’s concept, though I didn’t really realize it until after the fact. His button direction was subconsciously influencing me….
The variable stacking/expanding concept is really cool. It’s application would be really key here because others have done it, most prominently The New Museum (newmuseum.org). If it expanded only on rollover or something equally as subtle then it’d be a really cool little find for the user.
yes I was thinking the horizontal execution gets away from the new museum identity a little. The stacked version is maybe too close for comfort. But I like the idea of it expanding/animating. Maybe color & font alternatives could help separate it more.
I think I like the last concept and first concept best. Perhaps moving away from the grayscale color scheme would help with the connection to The New Museum. I think the first one would be hilarious to find as you scrolled over the name. Especially if it expanded to the full, really long name.
I can’t put my finger on it, but the last one is really cool and interesting.