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[edit] Text not Legible at small sizes

Interesting idea, but two things are (to me) immediately apparent: the text is too small, and the second compass rose in the 'o' of the text is way too small and redundant. You need to find someway to superimpose or integrate the text and rose. I also like the color version better than the line art. Jpatokal 10:34, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

Thanks for the response! I hope you don't mind that I've moved it over here; I just think it will be tidier to talk about it over here where we can do the usual discussion thing. -- Mark 10:58, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

Now to answer your question, the second compas in the a was just for fun, as were the other fonts. I really don't mean for anything at this point to be anything more than an jumping off place for collaboration. I just through it in there because there *are* situations (t-shirts, letterhead) where we might want to reverse the relationship between the text and the shape, and the a in Wikitravel gives us an opportunity to do that. The above example tries to make that more clear. I think the star will have to be darker, and have thicker outlines to really make it work though.

As for reading the text at small sizes, I would actually just leave the text off for anything less than 100px. At really small sizes Wikipedia leaves it off, but there is a W on the puzzle peice in the center of the WikiPedia globe, and at really small sizes they just superimpose a W. These tricks are pretty common in the logo biz. I'll make an example of that too.

I like the color one two, but I think there are situations where we'll need an outline one as well, so I want to keep making outline version as well as color versions running through the iterations.

Thanks again for the feedback. I really appreciate your views. -- Mark 11:07, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

I agree with Jpatokal - the second compass rose in the 'o' of the text is redundant and too small to be easily recognized. It gets even harder to recognize what I assume are the fleur de lys and the Union Jack (I think that's the name) of the French and British versions. I wouldn't bother putting anything in the 'o'. I also prefer the color version.

I don't expect to enter the contest, so I'll offer this suggestion...if the logo is going to be localized for different versions of Wikitravel, I would suggest putting the country logo either singly in the lower right corner as a counterbalance to the word 'Wikitravel', or centered above the Wikitravel word. I also think that sans serif fonts would work better for a logo concept like this. What do you think? -- Mikito 11:13, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

Yes, I think both of you are right about the second star in the "a". I also don't seriously propose to use the "Participant" fonts. I'm just trying stuff, and sharing the results.

I think putting language version symbols in the lower right is a fantastic idea!

I am starting to wonder about the wisdom of calling this process a "contest" if it means that people who are "entering" aren't going to want to collaborate. I get the idea that that's the impression you got from our calling it that, am I wrong? -- Mark 11:32, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

Oh yeah, I do think that san-serif fonts are generally better for this kind of thing, although it's worth playing around with serif fonts too, to see if something might click. -- Mark 11:39, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

I'm glad you like my idea about where to put language version symbols. Of course, this brings up the question of what symbols are appropriate and recognizable. The fleur de lys, for example, makes me think of Quebec (see their province flag) before France, though it applies to both. A German version...maybe a black eagle or whatever bird it is? For a Japanese version, maybe a sun dot, but it would have to be in red. I'm having a hard time thinking of good symbols.

As for the whole contest thing, while on one hand it would be great for someone to come up with a good logo on his/her own, a collaboration on the logo would epitomize what Wikitravel is all about, don't you think? -- Mikito 17:35, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

[edit] Text/logo integration idea

I was thinking about what Jpatokal said about superimposing or integrating the text with the compass, and I had an idea. I tried to sketch it on my computer, but I'm not familiar enough with the program I have to make anything that looks good. So, I'll just try to describe it in words.

Take your puzzle/compass star idea. Now superimpose the word "Wikitravel" over it in white letters, taking care to use the "t" as the center of the compass star. Now to make sure that the text is fully legible, have a black or blue outline around each letter.

I know that there are fonts out there which trace the outline of each character while leaving the interior white or transparent.

Does this make any sense? -- Mikito 20:24, 23 Jun 2005 (EDT)

[edit] You might want to post your submission

I already posted mine, even though it is still being revised. I think more people might be encouraged to participate in the contest if they see that people are actually submitting. It also might bring more poeple to your talk page to suggest revisions.

Plus, it's good logo, you shouldn't get to keep it to yourself :). --Comrade009 19:24, 26 Jun 2005 (EDT)