Second Round Logo Survey!

***UPDATE: Voting is now closed. We will tally the votes and keep you updated as soon as possible!

 

The time has come for the final votes for Project Create’s logo!!! Thanks again to the fantastic designers.

Remember, this time we will be taking the top 2 designs and working with those designers to choose our ultimate logo. So vote for your favorite and please leave helpful comments for the designers!

Voting is open until 5:00 PM on Friday, March 2.

#1. Makayla Counselman – makayla.m.counselman@gmail.com

#2. T. Marz, tauranceterrell@gmail.com

#3. Pilar Diehl, pilarmdiehl@gmail.com, http://www.wix.com/pilarmdiehl/portfolio

#4. Pilar Diehl, pilarmdiehl@gmail.com, http://www.wix.com/pilarmdiehl/portfolio

#5. Reese Zarreii

Congratulations To The First Round Winners!

Thanks to all of you great art participators, we have narrowed down the search to the Top 5 designs. We had an amazing voter turnout, and I am confident Project Create will end up with a top notch logo.

Here are the Top 5:

#2 – Makayla Counselman – makayla.m.counselman@gmail.com

#4 – T. Marz, tauranceterrell@gmail.com

#9 – Pilar Diehl, pilarmdiehl@gmail.com, http://www.wix.com/pilarmdiehl/portfolio

#10 – Pilar Diehl, pilarmdiehl@gmail.com, www.wix.com/pilarmdiehl/portfolio

#16 – Reese Zarreii

_____________

At this point, Project Create has reached out to the designers of the top 5 designs to discuss possible edits and changes. This is a purely optional stage for the designers, as we just want them to have further opportunity to pick our brains if necessary to get the logo just right.

Updated submissions will be accepted until Midnight on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Check back on next Monday, the 27th, to vote again for the Top 2 logos.

So what do you think of the TOP 5???

First Round Logo Survey!!!

***Update: Voting is now closed. I will be contacting the designers of the top 5 designs to discuss any changes they may want to make. We will have a new vote later this week.

I first want to thank everyone again who participated in our hunt for a logo. Project Create’s first major success was when our first submissions came in and people actually thanked me for giving them the opportunity to do something creative like this just for the heck of it. That is a pretty big win if you ask me.

It is now time to take a look at all of the great submissions and pick our top 5 choices for Project Create’s logo.  A couple of things to keep in mind:

1. You can only vote for one submission, so choose wisely! Voting closes MIDNIGHT (CST) on Wednesday, February 22.
2. After looking at the images, please click on the survey below. Note that the images are numbered, so you can vote for the corresponding number on the survey.
3. Please leave constructive comments below. The artists would love to hear feedback, but only if it is useful and supportive. I will moderate the heck out of any poo-pooers, so please try to play nice. All of these artists did a great job, and they deserve your admiration.
4. If you would like to contact any of these designers that do not have information posted, please send me a note and I will facilitate.

Without further ado, here our one AMAZING entries (name/number, then image):

#1 – Makayla Counselman – makayla.m.counselman@gmail.com

#2 – Makayla Counselman – makayla.m.counselman@gmail.com

#3 – Courtney P.

#4 – T. Marz, tauranceterrell@gmail.com

#5 – Maria Justiniano, http://mariajustiniano.wordpress.com

#6 – Maria Justiniano, http://mariajustiniano.wordpress.com

#7 – Maria Justiniano, http://mariajustiniano.wordpress.com

#8 – Louis P.

#9 – Pilar Diehl, pilarmdiehl@gmail.com, http://www.wix.com/pilarmdiehl/portfolio

#10 – Pilar Diehl, pilarmdiehl@gmail.com, http://www.wix.com/pilarmdiehl/portfolio

#11 – Rachel Unger

#12 – Olin Gallet, olindgallet@gmail.com, http://www.olingallet.com

#13 – Olin Gallet, olindgallet@gmail.com, http://www.olingallet.com

#14 – Olin Gallet, olindgallet@gmail.com, http://www.olingallet.com

#15 – Reese Zarreii

#16 – Reese Zarreii

#17 – Reese Zarreii

#18 – Adam Carlson

#19 – M. Moon

Aren’t these all FANTASTICAL?!?!  Now please cast your votes below. Note, there are two poll forms, please only pick from one!

Remember to vote by MIDNIGHT (CST) on Wednesday, February 22!!!

 

Thanks for all of the great submissions!

A big thank you to all of the participants in our logo design contest. The entry time is now over, and we will soon post all of the entries and conduct our poll. Stay tuned!

Want a Free One Year Membership to Project Create? Help Project Create Find A Logo!

***Update (2/13/2012): Due to feedback from you awesome readers, Project Create has updated some of the guidelines for this event – all of which has made it better! Remember, volunteering is COOL. Stay creative!

Well friends, I know I have willingly taken it upon myself to do much of this journey on my own. However, I have recently discovered that I know absolutely nothing about designing a logo or even what computer programs I would need to do so.

Because Project Create intends to encourage creativity, I figured out how to accomplish this task: asking for help!!!  Project Create is now holding its first volunteering drive and is looking for artists who want to be creative because they just plain love to be creative (professionals, newbies, and hobby bobbies like myself) to come up with suggestions for our logo.

Why is this even more awesome then it first seems? Well, first of all anybody who decides to help gets to do something awesome: PARTICIPATE IN ART!!! Because that is the only purpose of Project Create, this will be our first success! Second, Project Create will actually use one of your designs as the official logo for the company!

Please understand that at this time, Project Create cannot offer monetary compensation. However, this request for help is based on the idea that volunteering and donating is AWESOME and has inherent value. Please only participate in this contest if you are willing to do something valuable for the benefit of others (think of all the students and children that will get to create art for FREE!!!). Also, we can sweeten the pot with one free year membership to use all of Project Create’s resources if your design is chosen. That is pretty dang sweet.

So here is what Project Create is asking from all of you FANTASTIC VOLUNTEERS:

1. Create an original logo design for Project Create. Our specs are as follows: Our name is Project Create. We would like those words, or the letters “PC”, used. Anything else you can come up with is GREAT. Remember, Project Create exists to make more people creative just for the sake of being creative – so go wild with this! Art should be fun, so have fun!!!
2. You may make multiple submissions.
3. Read this disclaimer.
4. Submit your design either as an image in the comments section or in an email to projectcreatenola@gmail.com. (Please use jpeg).
5. Project Create will post your submission on its blog and give you full credit for your design (meaning some sweet advertising space for your skills!). Please include any information you want posted with your submission (i.e. name, email, website, etc.).
6. Submission deadline is Friday, February 17th by 5:00 pm (CST).
7. Rejoice, because you just did something for the greater good!
8. Project Create will have a public poll to help decide which logo to use (yay for more art participation!). Project Create will contact the designers of the top 5 designs with the most votes and communicate with those designers to further elaborate on our needs. Those designers will be given time to resubmit a logo.
9. Project Create will hold another poll from among the top 5 and choose the top 2. Once again, Project Create will collaborate with the top 2 designers. The top 2 may resubmit a logo.
10. Project Create will choose from among the top 2 and announce the new logo!!!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask (and check the FAQ section below). I hope you are as excited about this opportunity as I am. Please send this along to anyone you know who would be interested.

Thanks for your help!

FAQs

What is Project Create looking for in a logo?

• Great question. We want something recognizable and accessible to all ages. A symbol is preferable, along with the use of the words “Project Create” and/or “PC”. Colors are neat, and you should be cognizant of the fact that we are located in New Orleans (but that doesn’t mean obvious colors will make you a winner). Other than that, we are open to anything you can come up with!

Can I submit a portfolio of previous work in lieu of creating a new design?

• While Project Create would love to look at your previous work, we are really looking for new creative efforts for our logo. If you are concerned about producing unneccessary work, then I suggest you take a look through this blog’s posts. Project Create doesn’t consider any time spent being creative as a waste. Consider this an exercise in creating art because you want to – not because you have to!

Is there compensation for submitted artwork?

• Yes. Primarily, you can count the satisfaction of being a part of something important as amazing compensation. But also, the one year membership for the chosen design is probably even better. Classes, supplies, and studio space for a year!!!

Then why would I submit my work?

• Why not??? Regardless of results, submitting your work to Project Create is a chance to expose more people to your art. Moreover, donating you efforts to a charity feels great. Even more moreover, why not be creative with a purpose?

What about copyrights?

• Did you read the disclaimer? I know it’s a lot of legal mumbo jumbo, but it is important. By submitting a logo in this contest, you are transferring the copyrights to Project Create. Project Create will have the right to use your logo as its own. But that isn’t a bad thing. It means your art will go everywhere Project Create does! (Imagine the possibilities…)

Today’s thought………………………….

Some inspiring words to start off the day (courtesy of pangealtd)

PANGAEA LTD by fairapplecelt

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Daily Art Project: Doodle A Day

If Project Create hopes to accomplish anything, its to show you that anyone can be artistic at any time. Check out this inspiring idea from the creative mind over at Mindless Babble:

I recently saw this thing called the 365 project in which someone is suppose to take one picture a day for a whole year.  I got interested in this project but me not being one for taking pictures I decided to do my own version of the project.

Instead of taking one picture a day I will produce one doodle a day.  I’m not the greatest artist in the world, it’s just something I used to do a lot as a kid that I want to reconnect with. I’m also interested to see if my art will improve at all at the end of these 365 days.

Since I will be drawing something new each day I need a subject matter, and what better subject to use other than my favorite video game series Mega Man.  So for the next 365 days I’ll be drawing a new character from the classic Mega Man series and once that’s done I’ll most likely move on to other video game related things.

So let the doodles begin!!!

So how about it? Think you can doodle once a day for an entire year? If you work in an office, you probably do it already, so you might as well make a game of it. So grab a pen and a piece of paper and doodle away!

Please feel free to share your doodles with Project Create. We would love to see what you come up with.

Does Nonprofit Mean No Profit?

I have had a lot of people asking me why I am starting a nonprofit organization rather than a for-profit. The most common questions have something to do with how nonprofits stay in business, and more importantly, how  I will pay my student loans, which are depressing to say the least. These are great questions, and ones I have definitely had to consider myself.

While everyone knows nonprofits exist, there are a lot of misconceptions about what they do and how they operate. The biggest misunderstanding is that “nonprofit” means “no profit”. To shed a little light on what a nonprofit actually is, here are a few differences between nonprofits and regular businesses from nonprofit.about.com:

• When you start a business, it is for the financial benefit of its owners and/or shareholders. Profit is the goal and the business pays taxes on that profit.
•  A nonprofit entity has a mission that benefits the “greater good” of the community, society, or the world. It does not pay taxes, but it also cannot use its funds for anything other than the mission for which it was formed.
• Nonprofit organizations can and do make a profit, but it must be used solely for the operation of the organization or, in the case of a foundation, granted to other nonprofit organizations.
•  When a for-profit organization goes out of business, its assets can be liquidated and the proceeds distributed to the owners or the shareholders. When a nonprofit goes out of business, its remaining assets must be given to another nonprofit.

There are many ways that nonprofits operate just like a regular corporation. For example, a nonprofit is also controlled by a board of directors. It is the board’s responsibility to ensure the nonprofit is fulfilling its mission, whether this is through direct action or supervision over an executive director.  

Another important similarity is that nonprofits can, and commonly do, have paid employees.  I won’t go into the politics of how much (or little) salaries should be, but they generally vary based on location, mission, and operating budget. For example, in an art nonprofit with an annual budget of $100,000, it would not be proper for a salary of $50,000/year. Also, while the major benefit of 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is that the company itself is not taxed on income, paid employees pay income taxes just like everybody else.

I know this is only a brief explanation, but I hope this helps clear up any confusions about how a nonprofit operates. My friends (and parents) can now rest assured that I am not signing up for a life of servitude without recourse. I don’t plan on becoming a millionaire through Project Create, but I certainly plan on being able to eat!