Designologue
A vintage image 
stormshadow
Wow, very cool. I love the color and the small details. I might have even given you a 4 if it were not for the strangeness of the radial starburst with the horizontal format. Would that just end at the borders on the shirt? Great way to kick of the contest.
very familiar! ;) very nice start. it gets too busy in the daredevil bike sphere with the detail in the riders and the mesh, other than that its one helluva start.
BTW are we exchanging PSDs or .ai files since its all going to be vector? this could break new ground for designologues!
Now that I look at it further there are a few details I would like to see changed. Like how the flag on the circus tent in the background gets JUST cut off by the frame. Or how part of the bubbly pattern on the left JUST touches the frame. …how the banner ALMOST touches the globe. Also I would like to see the elephants tail swishing out of the frame to balance it out with the trunk.
This is really a complex design with a lot going on. I like all the elements, but I agree with Rev about the starburst and the elements barely touching one another. The main thing that really bothers me is how the rectangular shape that contains the elephant, etc. really traps space below and above it. There is a lot of tension created that really bothers me.
Rev, yes I was assuming the burst wouldn’t even be present on the shirt, just the center graphic. I completely agree with the tail but the flag and banner I actually like as is. Now the tail is bugging me… Also, I think more detail in the elephant would be better than less detail in the sphere. I was having a tough time making up detail on the organic animal vs. the machine of a motorcycle.
Storm, I’m all about trading the source files.
What a start! Excellent. Isabela is about to plow through here (lights/electricity have been flickering for the past two hours) so I might not be able to add any T: designologues to the participating page this weekend (I’m just online checking on some work stuff). Can’t wait to see where this one goes. Cheers!
Although I agree that the rectangle is a little too close to the edge of the frame, you have to keep in mind that he was probably designing with a t-shirt as the canvas in mind (more vertical than horizontal), rather than the Designobox. I guess he should have been designing for both, but Im not gonna hold it against him.
I love the idea and the visuals, but Id like to see more contrast in the motorcycles. Also, one of your Ds is bigger than the other (you might have to see a doctor about that).
Thanks Aarseth. I explained the reasoning for my vertical format in the first post. I too feel this format would work a lot better on a shirt than the DSNLG horizontal ratio. It’s funny that you’d like more contrast within the sphere completely opposite of Storm and Rev’s request for less detail…
I love this!
I have been tryin to start a T: Logue, but so far it hasn’t materialized. I really wanted to do one with Fashion Victim, but she’s not on the list. So FV, if you want to win a t-shirt with me, UP your anty and we’ll do it.
I definately don’t mind the formatting issues with this image. I think ultimately, if this were the winning design, I would prefer it was just the logo, or center object. I dont like the idea of having a 600x350 box with hard edges on a t-shirt. Altho, it might look cool anyway. But, I’m keeping my mind open for this new format.
I like the cute little saying and the vector work is nice. Great start!
I don’t think the actual shirt needs to have an active area of 600x350. If you want, in addition to your actual designologue image you could post a mockup of the design positioned on the tee (to your own server) and link it up with your image. Just a thought.
I’m definitely in the less detail on the cyclists/more detail on the elephant’s shadows camp. The shadow under the elephant’s head is creating a stripe with the other shadow running up that raised leg. I prefer the articulation of the tail in the latest one though.
Hey, I just plain dig it. Welcome back, randy.
HBO’s take on the carney aesthetic: carnivale. Might offer some future ideas. No sure if the show is good yet, though I hope it’s David Lynch-ian…
BTW: Is that a 3-legged elephant???
HA, I knew you couldn’t resist! With the changes this is reaalll tight. Brings it up a notch.
I am not sure I get what you are talking about with that stripe thing inman?
Where is that fourth leg anyway?
The shadow on the raised leg and the elephant’s chest. The unshadowed space between it. It’s a zebra elephant. I must be driving miss daisy.
Are you guys making fun of Tri-Pod? Hell, everyone’s seen elephants perform dazzling acrobatics at the circus but to do the same with only three legs? Yeah, that’s what I thought…
bharper, I am doing a T: designolgue with the Rev. already. So, unfortunately I think I may already have my hands full with that one and all the thousands of other things I should be doing like getting a job, freelance, etc. I guess I am going to have to pass for now.
But, I would like to do a designologue with you in the future, maybe give me a couple of months?
How many Gigs of MP3s would a triPod hold? 40GB x 3? An elephant never forgets which song you were playing when you last turned it off.
Maybe not but it would lose everything if you set it next to your mouse. Yeah, I went there…
Awesome. If I hadn’t already given you a four for this image I’d hack the system and make it happen.
stormshadow Rid of the restrictions (and accompanying controversy) of the background rectangle. since the type reads “dare the devil” the daredevil aspect is obviously the motorbike riders, so i made the elephant smaller….various other changes. see for yourself.
this doesn’t seem to be too different from the first image, with the exception of a few changes and the elimination of the background.
Also - not sure I like the motorcyclists now - I think the whole “cage of death” thing in the first image worked better.
I do, however, like the text treatment.
Man, there was so much to work with from the first image and I don’t really think you did anything with it. All it seems like is that you changed the first image up a little bit.
It would have been cool to see you really develop the motorcyclists into their own new graphic since that’s what you thought the daredevil aspect was about.
I like the over all shape better in the second one. But I think its a bit tight inside the circle.
I prefer the first one, I think the bursting lines really brought something to the design. I liked the idea of the shape of the original on a t-shirt.
Everyone, keep in mind Storm came up with shape of the first image, I just changed the content within (see my first post in this LOG).
I really like the banner/text and the siloutte treatment of the “circus on the earth.” I have to agree with BHarper and say it’s a bit too tight inside the circle… Maybe removing the elephant and leaving the riders would have been a better choice. Overall it’s pretty sweet and I think it’s better than a lot of logs with higher ratings.
The reason why I gave a low rating is because he didn’t do anything to make the design you created into something different. He didn’t make it his own. So what if the original outer shape was his?
When I score the second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. image I take into account how the person responded to the image before it. That can affect the score quite a bit for me.
I was just making sure people weren’t ignorant of the fact that my design was inspired by another developed by StormShadow. Sometimes people come in half stream and don’t bother to catch up with the start of a conversation. Vote how you will, I completely respect your reason…
i think the T competition has skewed my perception of how dsnlgs normally run. i felt that it was more of a collaboration to achieve a final design for a T, at least that was how i was thinking when i did my first response. however, my perspective has been broadened.
this is why i like the comments section.
why hasnt anyone else joined the competition? looks like randy and i are a shoe-in to win by default.
randy I had fun working this idea. Originally I was going to make a tiger/lion leap through a flaming hoop atop the car but I think this has far more humour. Obviously I kept the color scheme, the text treatment, and the circus. Hope everyone enjoys it. Oh, and like last time here’s a more detailed version, yes, the radial burst will not be on the shirt.
In response to stormshadow’s last post:
“As many designologues can be posted as wanted with each intermediate image eligible to win.”
This is from the rules that Inman posted. I did not get the impression that this was a collaborative effort to come up with a final design for the tshirt. I thought it was just an image from one of the participating designologues has the potential to win.
For example, Rev and I are doing a designolgue for this (we’ll be posting soon!), but if there was a design selected for the tshirt from our designologue, it would be credited to the person who designed that particular image.
Basically, same as other designologues only with the goal of winning a contest for one of your designs.
Hmm, Fashion did I miss something?
That’s only partially true fv. Both designers will be credited with the winning image just as each designer has influence on the collaborative end product. Otherwise you could just post semi-related images straight to the Threadless site. Not that that’s a bad idea. :D
Aah, okay, I get it. Thanks!
it would have been cooler if you threw some horns on that dude coming out of the cannon - sort of the whole “Dare the Devil” thing.
“Look at me! I’m the DEVIL”
Running around with a tail, and a pitchfork.
Ya know, for all the hay that burns up on contact.
randy will get it.
I hate threadless.com.
It is a good thing you sanctioned this thing to happen here. Because all the people who vote for shit on threadless are (expletives I don’t wish to repeat). I submitted four shirts, all typographic masterpieces, everyone came out of the woodwoorks to knock on my shit. One guy acknowledged the fact that the typography was hand rendered, out of 60 some comments. The threadless community is comprised of faceless cowards who couldn’t tell the truth if they still didn’t have a trend to follow. A few people who commented were pretty rude, so I gave them some retorts, nothing even anything like what I have done here. All my submissions got taken down and the site adminstrator sent me an email telling me to stop threatening people. Wait…what? I threatened people over the internet? That sounds sooo scary! I made a comment about how I wasn’t worth it, and so and so should just move on. Sorry bout the rant…been trying to get it off my chest for a week, but mozilla has a problem with the javascript in the submit button down there.
THIS IS WHAT I REALLY THINK ABOUT THREADLESS!
DEL TACOSAURUS WREX EL MUERTE DEL THREADLESS!
Got webspace that you could put em up on so we could have a look. I like to see what the deal is.
“Let me get this straight, that means John Ashcroft our Attorney General, believes in, THE DEVIL!”
ha ha ha
He also believes that tabbies are harbingers of evil.
meow
they aren’t?
I would like to have seen a little more dynamism in IMG 03. Maybe if the cannon was pointed more the other direction and forshortened. As it is it seems a little static. Nice detail work on the Lincoln though (or is that a caddy?).
and that guy is incredibly skinny in the cannon …
I hope in the next image you shoot his ass out of there!
Rev, you always have the best critiques. A slight angle on the cannon would’ve been great, to tell you the truth it didn’t even occur to me until now. Thanks…
can a tsnlg win by default?
well, if there was only one submission it would - but I believe the contest is for the highest rated image in a t:snlg.
And if you mean if there is just one image that blows everything away, well - I think it would be rated high enough to win.
How come you haven’t started one up Ben? I thought you would have been all over this like a prom date.
I have yet to find a prom date, or a T:SNLG conspirator who’s willing to “do it” with me.
Shit, my prom was like 5 years ago. I guess i can stop looking.
if you pay for the limo, I’ll be your date.
Oh, and I don’t put out - so don’t expect to be getting anything from me.
Limo? More like PINTO!
make it a Chevette and I’m in.
Wow, I’m loving the submissions so far. Must say that IMG03 is my fave so far :)
Okay — I have yet to rate these, and I feel I should in order to help the fairness of the rating system for this competition.
IMG01:
This was so much more than I initially expected to come out of the announcement of this TSNLG competition. The limitations on color (and default use of vector vs. raster) have brought about what seems to be a flourish of new approaches to the DSNLG realm. While I agree with everyone about the tail and the edges of so many things touching (or barely touching) — and yes I have seen the corrected version of the image — I feel this image and composition are so strong. Very compliant with the theme. Just superb.
IMG02:
There’s a lot of good and some not-so-good with this one. I like the multi-tier echoing of the circular elements to give what feels like a rotating landscape….all bundled up in a ribbon. But I’m not too big a fan of the scaling of some of the elements. I just wanna see that elephant pushed a bit further. Everything else was flattened so much that it almost seems out of place now.
IMG03:
This one definitely brings some humor into the TSNLG. While I adore the rendering of the car, it feels like a little more attention should have been paid to the encircling element. Either some kind of color or linework treatment. It just feels TOO flat when contrasted with that car — and the star doesn’t really scream BANG like I feel it should. Remember — that background linework won’t be on the tee, so it’s hard to imagine these without the dynamic effect that the background brings.
All in all, this TSNLG is great. But are we paying attention to the color limitations? I’m counting four colors in this last one…
All three of these images are great, gents - keep em coming!
I would say it’s three colors (if the shirt was that bright orange). That’s still over the limit though, isn’t it?
From the rules: All designs must be 2-3 colors not including the tee color. So I’d say that they’re in bounds. But what do I know? ;D
stormshadow Different colors. i was getting sick of the brown. its a step back towards the original.
I’m digging how you turned the circle into something. Now if only we could do that with those bubbles. Is that one of the shirt colors? For some reason I don’t remember that one.
youre right thats not one of the tee colors. my bad. i think i was just wanting to get away from the brown.
the bubbles dont fit as well. now i have ideas for what it could be, after the fact of course.
Hott. Verry Hut. I don’t know, a pun may or may not have been intended. Glad to see Tripod made it into this revision. I’m digging the new colors. My only complaint (and I’m nitpicking) is the the bubbly smoke at the foot of the globe. It looks a little too much like a bunch of overlapping perfect circles. It may be the size and you might have already done this but a woodcut text would rock it. Other than that I’m loving it.
I likey the simplification of the overall theme and imagery. Makes everything a bit stronger in my mind.
As far as those bubbly circles go…you tend to find them in a lot of graffiti art — as well as on Volume One — find it in the latest iteration of the site Number 24. And shit, you’ll even find the elements on my site.
They always seem a little unrelated to any design (except for graffiti work where I think they originated)…maybe try substituting them with a repeatable/layerable/scalable carnival element? I always like those elements, so I’m not complaining…but it may bring the design together more by finding another element to use…
I think the bubbles completely fit. Have you guys ever been to a carnival? There’s imagery of that sort all over the place. In my mind it could represent popcorn, balloons, water, etc…
I still think I would like it better if it looked more like smoke.
the latest seems to look the most like it belongs on a shirt. the design is done well,making it look clean, simple, and consistent. that said, I like the others more because they don’t look as much like ‘t-shirt designs’ but as designs that would look cool on a tee. a little stranger and more eye-catching. ya follow? me neither. I do like the labeling at the bottom, though.
randy Well, I managed to squeeze some time in and get through this idea before the Nov. 1st deadline. If you look hard enough you’ll notice that this image shares a lot of the elements of the previous 4. Here’s a bigger version.
I really like this design, but how does this really relate to the earlier images? just want some explanation about your train of thought.
also, there should me more contrast throughout the whole thing. the peachish color and gray don’t really punch enough.
hmm, i would like to see this worked with for sure. i have about a thousand ideas of where this could go. it has a lot of potential.
Hello all :)
In my opinion a circus (any kind of circus) is like a lot of wonder people doing amaizing things. So maybe you can add some elements in second stage like clowns, girls running standed over runing horses, lions, some trapeze artist, and childs. I miss the (variant) familiar side of the circus, that goes in the same packet than daring.
Xavi. How does a HUGE woman picking up a car not fit the “wonder people doing amazing things” bill? Also, if you look at the circus below there’s quite a few elements that are close to your suggestions: Motorcross rider in steel cage, elephant, human cannon, ferris wheel, tents, etc…
FV, my answer to your first question is, how does this NOT relate to the earlier images? Circus’ and carnivals have “wonder people doing amazing things”, this fits that quite well in my mind. Not to mention it uses nearly all the major elements of the previous 4 images. My train of thought was to develop another element in mine and Storms circus. This element being the 50 ft. woman, sort of a freakshow thing. I made everything BUT the woman low contrast on purpose. I didn’t want everything to “punch”, I wanted the viewers eyes to be drawn from the womans face to the text.
I try and ignore the scoring but how did this get a 2? I have no idea why someone would rate this image so poorly. The man is keeping me down!!
is this a last ditch effort to cash in on the cash cow of hot women that our other contenders have already taken such full advantage of?
Hell yeah!
I’ll vote this a 4 if you take her top off.
There’s nothing like 50 ft tall breasteseses … .
Ooooo … I just, I just wanna lay in her hair.
Moto-cross riders in cages: check Elephants doing tricks: check Clowns getting shot out of cannons: check The 50 foot women wandering through a circus and smashing cars???
Uh…
Can’t remember the last time I saw that at a circus. A freak show is one thing, and science-fiction is completely different. I am still not convinced as to the relation here. Seems like a departure from theme to me, which is ok if that is what you meant to do.
Her hand reaching down looks a little off. The way you treated the motorcycle riders cage is interesting, but I don’t think it communicates what it is so well. The way you fit the cannon in there seems a little forced as well. Doesn’t seem to “fit,” the compostition. I am not sure what you could do with that.
How do you know she’s crushing the car? She could very well be transporting her average sized friends to the circus.
Everyone seems to be getting caught up on some seperation between the circus and the woman. Seeing some of the wierd things surrounding carnival freaks, circus performers, etc… I don’t think it’s that far of a stretch to have some enormous woman as a performer in an imaginary online circus. Here’s a question for you, if I made a tiny pin sized woman would anyone complain?
As far as the “forced” composition, well that was 100% intentional. It’s a circus. Circus’ are not roomy, there tight restrictive events and I conveyed that.
Crushing, transporting… whatever. Doesn’t really matter what she is doing.
Everything else in this series is completely realistic imagery. A 50 foot woman is complete fantasy (and yes a tiny pin-sized woman would be equally fantastical as well). Thus the reason why it is a conceptual break from the rest of the series. It’s ok to break into entirely new ideas in a series, but you better be prepared to have people ask you to explain your reasoning (and saying simply that “it is not a break,” is not an explaination and just not true).
It’s not the cramped composition thing that bugs me, I like the placement of the elephant and moto-dude. The cannon is not so much forced as it looks slapped on there. It just juts out into nowhere and doesn’t interact with any of the other elements. Maybe if it stayed within the tent area instead of sticking out into blackness it would look more comfortable to me.
It’s not a break… If you think it is that’s fine. But I don’t and that’s my opinion/explanation (and I don’t need to be “prepared” for anything, it’s a frigin’ online design community!). I’m sorry you feel put off by the crossing from “circus reality” to “fantasy.” I obviously feel those paths are more intertwined in this case than you do. I guess I can see your point because I wouldn’t feel that dragons, wizards, and so forth would fit but again, a massive woman doesn’t strike me as that far from circus imagery.
The reason I made the relation to the pin sized lady was because of the movie Big Top Pee-wee. There was a pin sized lady in that circus. Fantasy? Yes. But fitting? I think so but in your eyes obviously a big NO.
I can respect your opinion on the cannon. I should have spent a bit more time on placement for that particular item but eh, whatya gonna do?
I don’t feel “put off,” I could hardly care less. I’m just giving critique friend, don’t get so defensive. And when you switch the focus of imagery in your dsnlg, people are going to ask for your reasoning. Thats what we do here, remember?
Why you gotta be a hater?
Fuck.
Don’t try and turn this into a “don’t be defensive” thing. Come on Rev, you know I love your critiques! But that wasn’t a “I think you should lose this element, move this, etc. . ” opinion It was more of a “my idea of what represents what triumps any other” opinion. And I was disappointed by it. Considering this woman as whatever you or anyone else for that matter considers her is an opinion. To express that to me is fine. To then swat my opinion/explanation down simply because you feel “it’s just not true” is bull. I’m entitled to think a 50 foot woman is circus imagery…
I didn’t want to go here but I have something to add, this might clear this whole debate up… My Great-Grandmother was a 48’ 5” woman. She worked in Blampy and Blumpy’s Circus-O-Geeks for 35 years. That fact was kept quiet by my family for reasons such as this. People just don’t seem to understand the trials a family must endure when costantly being associated with a freakshow. It’s hardships like this that make me sensitive to issues surrounding circus imagery.
Ok, so obviously your wrong and I’m right. Debate over. It was fun. Can I pick up my trophy at a later date? I don’t think it’ll fit in my clown car (already got my 36 brothers riding shotgun).
WTF??!!
Hater? Wtf you talking bout jeromius?!?
Synopsis: “From the Golden Age of science-fiction (the fifties!). This one is high camp, as a wealthy women grows to a height of 50 feet after an encounter with aliens. With her new found size she decides to get revenge on her two-timing husband, his mistress and others that have annoyed her.”
Where is the circus reference there??? Sure, you are entitled to think whatever you like. But I have yet to hear you back up your thought process with anything more than “well, that’s just what I think.” So why do you think a 50 foot women is circus imagery?!? I was trying to get you to explain your thought process, not say that you are wrong. If you don’t want to answer the question then that kinda defeats the purpose of posting a design on an open forum for discussing design.
And all of this IS critique. I am analyzing your concept.
(This might be the dumbest argument in dsnlg history lol)
I heard that once she got her revenge, she joined the circus. Because there wasn’t any place for a freak like her in society. So she was forced to the fringe and lived amongst the freaks that traveled the circus road.
what about that shit?
I thought she died?!? But hey if that is true then that’s the kind of reasoning I was looking for. If you just made that up it is a bit of a stretch, but one I could accept.
I am not set against this 50 foot woman or anything. I am not sure why you (randy) got so upset when you were questioned about it’s relevance though.
Man, didn’t we already do this over in seX appeal? I think the hand here looks suspect and the face could look a little less chiseled but come on—the other word in this theme name is variant. That seems like carte blanche to do whatever you want with the theme to me.
Bing Bing Bing… We have a winner!!! Thanks Inman! Rev, I explained my thought process, reasoning, etc… I said I thought it would be fitting to have a freakshow element in the circus. Before this image there wasn’t anything representing the freaks!! Explaining why I thought a 50’ woman fit this is simple, she’s 50 feet tall, that’s pretty damn freaky if you ask me!
It’s rather funny that on my first visit to Designologue, and my first peice I look at, I bump into a Detroit native that plays shows at my favorite bar…..only on the net and only in the design community.
Hey, I just noticed this comment. What’s your favorite bar Valrkye?
When you guys gonna play the Bouzouki Club?
More importantly, when is this shite going to be finish.
This logue is phuckin nice, i wanna see some more images :P
P.S: go the bouzouki!!! (cant help feel proud of my hellenic heritage)
these would make some nice t-shirts or posters!
All of them - brilliant…
They look just like the “old-stylie” film posters and circus flyers.
Inspiring!
Job well done on so many levels!
I apologize up front for the dimensions. I started designing for the DSNLG horizontal scheme but was so inspired by a recent show poster StormShadow did for my band that I couldn’t resist taking a vertical approach. The theme Circus Variant was also inspired by that same poster seen here. I’m pretty sure this marks the first submission towards the t-shirt contest! Neato!! If you’d like to see a bit more detail go here.