New WGA Logo Referendum, Round 2

[Jeremy]

The second and final referendum to obtain member input on a potential new WGA logo is now active. The three new logo designs that received the most votes in the first round, along with the current WGA logo (as an option for those who do not wish to change the logo at this time), are on the ballot. Go here to cast your vote… votes will be accepted through July 7th.

WGA Referendum Module

When voting, please remember that all design submissions should be considered concepts only, and they may be cleaned up, tweaked, “improved”, or made print-ready before being used as the actual WGA logo.

Thanks to those members who voted for their favorite design in the first referendum. We had great participation with almost 130 members voting on the 15 submitted designs. The Board has chosen to withhold the release of the full results of the first referendum so as not to influence / alter the voting on this referendum. Full results will be released for both referendums after July 7th.

[Da Bloodhound]

Just wondering if the Board has given any thought to allowing a professional graphics artist to make suggestions for the final detail work on whatever logo is chosen.
I think it would be a good idea to get input on this level before “we” finalize.

All the designs are good but all seem like a little sizzle could be added while still being faithful to the original designs.

Thanks,
DB

[furfool]

Any final tally on round two yet?

[Da Bloodhound]

Hey Jeremy,
Do you have any preliminary totals yet? If ya need any extra fingers and toes let me know. hehe
Inquiring minds want to know!
Thanks,
DB
😆

[zuma]

A quick update on the progress of our advisory referendum on logo revision. Cheesehead Dave’s submission of block letters got the most votes. Jeremy will post the vote totals soon, for those interested.

So, for those interested in what happens next, I refer you back to the motion that passed last spring:

Quote++++++++++

Whereas the current logo used by the WGA is felt by some to be dated, and in need of refreshing, the WGA will hold a contest open to all members and friends for the development of new logo.

The contest will be announced immediately following this motion, should it be passed. This motion and the votes by BOD members will also be made public at the same time.

The contest will be advertised in the WGA forums, and proposals will be submitted for a period of 30 days, March 15 thru April 15. The contest is open to all WGA members and friends.

After the 30 day period of accepting proposals, voting will commence and last for 14 days, to narrow the field of proposals to 3 contenders.

After the 14 day period, the 3 proposals that receive the most votes will be voted on, with the fourth option added of leaving the logo as is, without change.

The proposal that receives the most votes in the second period of voting will be forwarded to the next WGA Board of Directors to consider becoming the new WGA logo, with strong advisement that it it be adopted as the new WGA logo, to be used on the WGA website, and all official WGA documents. In the event the new WGA Booard of Directors chooses not to adopt the contest winner as the new logo, the rationale for that decision and the voting shall be made public.

The new log, once adopted will be transitioned into use over a 12 month period.

The designer of the winning logo proposal will be awarded a 2007 Wisconsin geocoin.

++++++++++ Stop quote.

Anyway, we are now at the point described in paragraph 6, where the BOD considers whether we should adopt the winning logo or not. There will be a period of BOD discussion on whether the winning submission should be adopted, and that discussion started today. Once a decision has been made, there will be another announcement. You may note that the referendum was an advisory referendum, with the BOD required to give a rationale if the choice is made not to adopt.

So stay tuned for a final announcement on this.

zuma

zuma

[Da Bloodhound]

Dear BOD and Zuma,

I would hope the discussion process and ultimate decision can be made in a timely manner. Also, I would like to know if the BOD has given any thought to getting input from a professional graphic artist to “polish up” whatever design is finally decided upon.

I personally would like the logo to be as professional looking as possible.

My 2 cents

DB

[zuma]

@Da Bloodhound wrote:

Dear BOD and Zuma,

I would hope the discussion process and ultimate decision can be made in a timely manner. Also, I would like to know if the BOD has given any thought to getting input from a professional graphic artist to “polish up” whatever design is finally decided upon.

I personally would like the logo to be as professional looking as possible.

My 2 cents

DB

Yes, this will be considered, and I would expect the discussion to not take too long, but it is vacation season, so it may not be possible for people on the board to have immediate feedback.

zuma

[seldom|seen]

A strong logo needs to stand on it’s own and not look significantly similar to an existing logo, particularly one that represents a like company or group of individuals, which it certainly does here.

Not to throw a wet blanket on the fire here, but let us also keep in mind what the logo winner himself had to say about his submission.

The WGA board would be wise to keep this in mind when coming to thier final decision.

@Cheesehead Dave wrote:

About my submitted logo:

I got a PM regarding this, and although I have already mentioned this in a different thread, I’ll mention it again here:

When I was reading a web page on logo design, one of the styles was the “knockout” lettering like what I did with mine. After I put it together, I realized that it looked a lot like this existing logo:

Mine for reference:

I won’t be offended if people want to shy away from mine if they think it looks too similar.

I also fully support the idea of using the 99designs site for a logo.

A little too late, but considering the current status and top pick I can’t help but think we went about this the wrong way. This is what the WGA would have gotten had they decided to go another route and source logos from a professional firm. This sample is a single round of concepts for initail presentation that we did for an commercial real estate group.

ROUND ONE: http://seldom-seen.andysnet.net/pepper_round1.pdf

We’re into round 4 and 5 now…

[greyhounder]

Please keep in mind that a winner has not yet been chosen. Information has been gathered as to what the membership prefers, and from there the board will further decide. Professional “help” has been discussed.

Bec

[Da Bloodhound]

Maybe Cheesehead Dave could get permission from the Packers to use their colors – then we could make the “G” and the outlined state Packer Gold – Yea that’s the ticket. Washington doesn’t have spit to compare to that!
DB

[Cheesehead Dave]

To stir the pot a little more, I’ll come out and say that I didn’t even vote for mine and was rooting for the stylized “g” logo, mainly for the reason I mentioned in the quoted post above: it looks too much like the WSGA logo.

@greyhounder wrote:

Professional “help” has been discussed.

Yeah, that sounds about right… 😆

[Johnny Cache]

After reading another sensitive topic currently in the forums, I suppose some will claim the WGA has a hidden agenda if the stylized “g” was chosen.

I guess the old one isn’t that bad after all.

[kbraband]

@Cheesehead Dave wrote:

To stir the pot a little more, I’ll come out and say that I didn’t even vote for mine and was rooting for the stylized “g” logo, mainly for the reason I mentioned in the quoted post above: it looks too much like the WSGA logo.

@greyhounder wrote:

Professional “help” has been discussed.

Yeah, that sounds about right… 😆

I didn’t want to say anything, but since Cheesehead Dave raised the issue himself, I have to agree. It’s a very nice design — for Washington.

[seldom|seen]

I didn’t vote for mine either in the first go around, though I was surprised to not see it make the first cut.

The similarity between the gospel “g” and the stylized “g” is only based on the shape. The similarities between the Washington logo and cheesehead dave’s are far more similar and “look” intentional, although I believe they are merely coincidental.

The stylized “g” has a huge amount of potential and certainly would not have to look as close to a “g” as it does presently, a little separation of the descender and the beam would help. The mind is pretty quick to make the connection, even if it isn’t physically there.

Of course it is up to the board to decide in the end. Just know that I am offering “professional” design services to get the “g” option to a final polished logo if it is chosen. I don’t think dave’s option needs any more work and could stand as it is.

[Jeremy]

After some heated discussion, the Board has chosen a “stylized g” logo that we think all Wisconsin geocachers will be satisfied with. As an added bonus, merchandise featuring this logo is readily available in stores and some geocachers may already own it (some people, like green&gold, have more than others :)). And there is a good chance you can pick up something with the new WGA logo (and a French verb starting with F meaning “to waffle”) on clearance or at a garage sale in the near future.

[Author]

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