A Gift to Steve for his New Blog Design

[Andreas]

Hi Steve!

In case you didn't see my comment on Google+, I really like the idea of your new header. Putting in the TLP pyramid is a great touch, but as I graphic designer I also feel this header is much darker and muddier than the old one. (The gold color is the reason for this as it's extremely difficult to create clean looking gold type in the context of a blue background.) But the main reason I HAD to share this was because I was struck by inspiration for what symbol should symbolize truth! It's much cleaner than a book graphic, and I'm very happy with how it turned out.

So, in that light, I took a few hours to create some mockups for a header that was powerful and very clear. (Just like the posts themselves!)

These took a while to make (more time than I'd like to admit), but I'm giving these to you completely uncopyrighted as a thank you for the powerful way this site has positively changed my life.

The previews below show how the header would look in context. And I'm certainly open to feedback & adjustments. Once we finalize the design, I'll upload just the header.jpg


Love,
Andreas


It comes in 2 flavors, "Light" & "Color":






(You may recognize the TLP pyramid colors from this thread.)

[Fred Tracy]

Wow haha, your headers look great.

I hope Steve still checks the forum so we can see this. If not, someone should get in touch with him and make sure he does.

Also, if you just go to Steve Pavlina.com and not the blog, no header shows up at all!

[Andreas]

Thanks for the kind words, Fred. I'm pretty happy with it so far. It's odd that you're not seeing a graphic at the main .com page. I am. Must be a browser glitch.

Anyway, I've commented to Steve on G+ with a link to this thread. I also know he checks the forum from time to time.

I wonder how he might see this from a subjective reality standpoint...

[trevorturtle]

Ou lah lah!! I like yours much better.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Nice job. They look better, especially the first one. Gold on blue isn't exactly the best combo, so this will probably look better. I wonder why Steve wanted to change his header in the first place.

[Dimitri]

Those look much crisper.

It was always blue and white with Steve, not blue and gold. The navbar speaks for itself.

Still not sure about the triangle. Oh well, if Steve thinks he needs to brand his website with a symbol, then so be it. Personally, I think he should realize that his no-logo, no-nonsense header was a brand in itself.

[designer]

**raises hand and waves** Fellow graphic designer here! Andreas, I think you did a wonderful job. These look great!

[Agota]

Those headers are MUCH better than the current one!

They look great! Well done!

[SireneB]

Very nice. I prefer the monochrome, less distracting.

[Andrew Gubb]

I like those better. They look less like that illuminati symbol.

[Andreas]

Thanks Trevor, Andrew, Dimitri, designer, Agota, Sirene, and Andrew!

I've decided to post the finished header graphics here (not just screenshots of the page) in their finished, ready-to-use form below.






I've also created new Workshop page graphics, as well as a CSW logo. (There are two Register Now buttons because one has a light blue background for the main workshop page with the blue boxes.) And I'm learning more and more how well Depeche Mode goes well with graphic design.









Anyway, today I realized that I may have just designed the very button I'll be clicking when I register for CSW in December. Irony!


Again, I'm glad you all are so enthusiastic about these new graphics. Here's hoping Steve will hop on this thread after the workshop and be open to accepting them for use. As I said before, I'm open to changes & suggestions on any of these graphics. (Otherwise, I think I agree with Sirene that the white pyramid is less distracting.)

[Andrew Gubb]

Maybe you can send him a snail mail letter to bring his attention to this if he doesn't notice it soon. Steve puts up blocks to make it harder for the undetermined people, but keep trying to get through to him, I think this is worth his time.

[Andrew Gubb]

Hi guys!

Inspired by the power of online petitions I'd like to propose this campaign -

I've made a comment on Google+ in the conversation about the header change. The text is simply "+1 this if you vote for Steve to use Andarin's version "

Check out the thread and click the +1 to help show our overwhelming favour for this change!

https://plus.google.com/102549623343...ts/R3eMMC91ah5

[Andreas]

That's super nice of you, Andrew; but I think, primarily, Steve is going to make this choice based on his own intuition and taste.

That's why I'm looking forward to hearing his feedback and making any adjustments he feels are necessary.

For instance, I wonder what he thinks of Truth being symbolized as a magnifying glass...

[Sarek@Vulcan]

Steve, please change the current header, it's terrible.

[Andreas]

Hello again Steve!

Did you get a chance to look at my revised blog graphics yet? I could try making them more golden, if you really want, but I think the white/blue comes across a lot clearer and cleaner.

What about the CSW graphics? I feel they're much cleaner and professional than the ones you have now, and it looks like I'm not alone.

In fact, I wasn't expecting such a positive response on the thread so quickly. So, in light of that, I hope you at least try them out. And if you don't them at all, that's totally up to you; but if you feel they're close, please let me know what changes you would like to make and I'll be happy to oblige. I'm giving these to you completely uncopyrighted as a thank you for what you've freely given. It's the least I can do.

Anyway, I sent you a private message.

[Andreas]

Thanks for your input via PM, Steve. I'm glad you're open to doing something new for the header. I agree with you that the magnifying glass implies "search" too strongly, so I've created a book icon to replace it.

I have two variations, the only difference being the typeface. Both of these have already been carefully-compressed and ready to use. Either would work well, but it's up to you:

[Alice Hive]

@Andreas: I like your design way better than the current one! Looks nicely clean and clear. Great job!

[Johnny Metal]

I remember reading that Steve likes the shirts that have lots of intricate details that can only be seen when you come closer, the proposed header is just the opposite for me. To me it looks washed-out and bland, makes me think of a logo for a laundry detergent. I like the header that Steve made better.

[inverse Paranoid]

Originally Posted by Andreas

Thanks for your input via PM, Steve. I'm glad you're open to doing something new for the header. I agree with you that the magnifying glass implies "search" too strongly, so I've created a book icon to replace it.

The magnifying glass seemed "off" to me too. What I like about the open book is the implicit symbolism it adds to the virtue of Truth: being an open book.

[Andreas]

On second thought, it needs more color, more memorableness. Perhaps this resonates more...
♫ "Silver and gold, silver and gold..." ♫







Happy 11/11/11 everyone

[Andrew Gubb]

Ooh, I like the second. That really resonates, especially for Steve.

[Andreas]

I was practically STRUCK by inspiration this morning and I've updated the graphics in the post just before this one. (post #21)

I think I've finally nailed what polished gold letters would actually look like.

So reload your browser on this thread. Actually, to be safe, reload it twice. (I've also removed the outdated graphics so this thread will load faster.)

Update: I've also updated all of the workshop graphics to be a lovely gold. You can find those farther up this thread at post #11. (If they still look green, reload a couple times.)

[yossarian]

Red usually represents power

Green love

Blue truth

So you got your colors wrong, esoterically speaking

[Andreas]

Yossarian, that depends on who you ask.

After some reflection, I've went ahead and experimented with making the pyramid gold, as well. So now we have two candidates:

Colorful pyramid:


GOLDEN pyramid:


Either of these resonate with you more, Steve?

As I said before, feel free to try them out and let me know if there's anything I could do to make the design resonate more with you.

[Andrew Gubb]

I like the gold one. Goes with the gold letters. I did love the coloured one but it doesn't seem to fit with the gold letters.

[Andreas]

Did a little experiment. Turns out a slightly darker blue helps the gold text pop out. In retrospect, this should have been obvious. (Also improved the color on the pyramid.)

Thoughts?



And here's just the header alone:

[Andrew Gubb]

I think it looks awesome.

Feedback: Maybe you need a blockier, more yang, less seriffed font. Steve is very "yang".

[Andrew Gubb]

Actually if you look at the font he uses in the rest of his blog the difference is obvious.

[ksirminoh]

Love them, especially the golden one! Here's hope Steve will use it on the blog!