Sudokuland: ANTHEM, LOGO & FLOAT Design Discussion

Jamie & others: Now that you have reviewed the 8 different designs out there. Let's discuss what you like about the various designs and what you do not like. Most of these designs have one thing in common the Sudoku board.

There are several different shapes of the world "globe" presented - is there a preference, or do you want a "globe" at all?

Do you want smilies & avatars on the board?

Should the text be on or off the Sudoku board?

The design should not be over an 8" width x 10" height. Especially if it is done by "Iron-on" - which looks like the best way to go.

If there are any other ideas or designs out there - let us know.

I think Angie's would work well as an iron on. I also like the simplicity of it. So, so far, I vote for Angie's.
Wish I could contribute, but I am totally devoid of ANY artistic talent!

I hadn't checked out MizT's!!
I like that one too. It's also a simple design and I like the globe. Either Angie's or MizT's.

Well, I've been to all of the pages that showed the t-shirts I think, Miz T, Jane, Angie and Eve. Ladies, all of them are just wonderful! What talented folks are here. I like the grid effect the most. I think perhaps the grid done by Jane with the smilies and globe is my fav, but its so hard to choose. My least liked design featured Kym and Gath. I feel it wasn't detailed enough regarding the site. ....I liked the idea that an avatar could be substituted for Gath's picture..Perfered Miz T's globe too. I'd rather just have the front of the shirt decorated, and think there could be several different selections...I'd wear them happily. Oh, and if I used a poem or anthem on the shirt front, I'd simply title it Sudokuland poetry...or something along those lines. I agree that the iron-on method would most likely be the least expensive way to go, unless we have a t-shirt entrepreneur among our enthusiastic viewership....A possible idea for vendors to use, capitalizing on the popularity of the game.... Its an idea....

Eve, I am still looking for a better map, one that shows Australia. has any australian or other member seen one anywhere? the world from Australia's viewpoint?

If we are doing iorn on's, I like the idea of more than one design, and people can choose what they want.

My daughter says that one of our big camera shops will imprint any picture you give them on a tee shirt. I really think this is the way to go. Come up with a sign and distributesa picture, or pictures, and let the members do the rest.

Miz T - If you use a round globe and have Australia “centered” on it. What will be left off is the Western Hemisphere. That is why I tried to find projection maps that include both hemispheres. Take a look at: http://www.progonos.com/furuti/MapProj/Normal/ProjPCyl/projPCyl.html

It has Sinusoidal, Mollweide, Quartic Authalic, Eckert projects on that specific page. On all of them Australia is in the lower right. Further pages will show many other projections including the crazy butterfly & interupted. (using the interuppted maps, I was able to "center" Australia while still showing the world. I kinda like the Sinusoidal - which was on the first design. I do not see a round globe with 1/2 the world missing being useful. bottom of: http://www.progonos.com/furuti/MapProj/Normal/ProjAz/projAz.html

Does it have to be a 'Globe type' Map.. why not a 'Rectangle type' Map.. showing all the countries.
My advice is to keep it simple, not a too 'busy' design. I like Angie's design the best to date.

Rolanda - several people said they wanted to see a globe or something to depict the world connectivity on it. Also originally requested something to depict that the site was more than just Sudoku. I do like Jane's "you've got my number" I agree simpler is better, the question is how simple?

not one to design anything too much myself so I wont add any designs but I do like Angies one. nice and clear and simple to read

or maybe it needs a witch on her broomstick on it
lol

I think ALL of the designs have merit! In some way we need to convey the idea that, because Sudoku is a world-wide phenomenon, this website is the BEST sudoku website in the world and appeals to people from all over. It also needs to be simple and not overly large. We also might want to keep in mind that there are weird people out there who might come up to a person wearing a Sudoku puzzle, pen-in-hand, and try to start solving on the T-shirt. (I know, that's a worst-case scenario.) I also wish there were a way to post all of the possible designs at the top of this page so we could compare them more easily. If it's going to be an iron-on design, I guess we could each choose a favorite (or two), then be pleasantly surprised when we meet up with fellow Sudoku-ers.

I think a reason there have been so many views of this page and not a lot of comments is because people come here to read, then go to someone's page to view their idea, then come back to read some more, then leave to visit another person's page, etc. I know I have been back and forth to this page at least 5 times, but haven't commented each time.

Cleaned up my original Sudokuland test logo - it is the Sinusoidal Map with only on the Board. Sudokuland & Sudoku.com.au have been moved off board making it an 8x10 print - rather than 8x8. The icons have been minimized to 4. Welcome Smilie, U-tube and Chat Room Avatars/Smilies - to let people know that it is more than the puzzles & King Gath - to denote are leader.

Eve, going for the clean/simple look, then? I like it.

Eve, I too like your latest version of the shirt. Dorthea has presented an interesting method of having the shirts done that may be viable once we come up with of selections...this methods will allow us to choose several different ones.

Eve, I like the flat map of the world (in a brighter color though). I'll make the same suggestion to you that I made to Angie. How about the words "Have fun playing at Sudokuland"? You don't need any smiles, etc. as that might make it too busy in my mind. I'd wear both your design and Angie's design.

CG: When you say you like the flat map are you refering to the one on my page or on flicker?

The one on flicker is of lands only & the oceans have been erased so that the Sudoku Board shows through. The Land Masses can be recolored from the dark green to a Rose/Red (or various colours for the continents) - all Icons can be elimanted & the wording "Have fun playing at" could be above the board and "Sudokuland" & "Sudoku.com.au" on the board (along with numbers). Or Jane's text of "You've got my number" below the board with the two Sudoku texts switched on board placement.

I can play with various ideas in Photo Shop. I have the basic 9x9 board, several different maps (including a flat map that more or less has Australia in the center (green). On the Sinusoidal map - I currently have it angled - it can be enlarged, angled, oceans deleted, colour of continents changed,etc. Text Fonts & Colours are all optional. If this was a screen print, I would suggest minimal use of colors.

I just left a message for Jane on her page that applies to the T-shirt ideas. It is more grammatically correct to say, "Sudokuland has my number," rather than, "Sudokuland has got my number." Perhaps a flat/rectangular "map" showing only land masses (transparent water areas) could then be placed across the Sudoku grid?

Julie: in my Photo Gallery is a flat map with transparent water areas over Sudoku 9x9 Grid - brighten up the Green of the land masses. Left off all smilies/avatars. Put in "You've got my number" in addition to Sudokuland & Sudoku.com.au on an 8x8" design.

Hi all
been a little busy here, so havn't really kept up with whats been happining.
I did have 1/2 hour just now, so played around and came up with a few more options. You can view them in my gallery.

It looks like we've got some great designs! I have a couple of questions, though. Is the purpose of the T-shirt to have something fun to wear at get-togethers, or is it intended to be an advertising vehicle for the site (or both)?

Jane: The original idea was from Shaz. That Sudokulanders wear their T-shirts to a prominent site or landmark of their state/country and up-load the pic, as a way of taking this site out to see the world...

If one did that - at the same time it would be taking Sudokuland out for the world to see.

Yes, it would also be good for wearing at Sudoku meet-ups.

So is it advertising - yes and no. Not intentional, but a by-product. Does that make sense?

Hi, All! I like Rayrays choice on Easy today - very diplomatic!

I can't believe how talented our members are! Each design has some very positive aspects! But, if I had to choose some favorite, I think I have 3 favorites right now. I like Angie's "Bring the World Together" shirt, Eve's with "Sudokuland" above the puzzle and "SUDOKU.COM.AU" below with the sinusoidal map, and Eve's with the "butterfly" map. Again, it would be SO MUCH EASIER if we could see all designs next to each other on one page!

I also really like Jane's "What is Sudokuland?" design! I like the people joining hands around the world in that design! I just worry that all the text would be difficult to reproduce well on a T-shirt!

As I've said before, all of the designs are neat. I still like the simple designs that Angie has presented (guess I'm simple-minded), and I agree Julie, the "bring the world together" is a nice catch-phrase for Sudokuland.

Julie agree with you, I believe that "What is Sudokuland" while nice would be difficult to reproduce on a T-shirt. And I think it is commonly agreed that the Kym & Gath design is off the table because it does not really represent what the site is about.

It sounds as if the general view is to have a simple design - clean and clear.

I believe that there is pretty much agreement that the design should be based on a sudoku board. Also, that some form of a "world map" be in the design to express the global nature of the site. If I am incorrect please let me know.

I have taken one of Angie's designs and made some adjustments to it and have posted it in my photo gallery. People have been asking for a side by side comparison. This gives you an idea of a side by side with the one of Angie's most commented upon.

There are several decisions to be made in the direction the design should go. The next few posts will deal with these issues:

1) MAP TYPE

2) TEXT

3) OTHER OPTIONS FOR FINAL LOGO DESIGN

4) ANTHEM OR POEM ON THE BACK OF THE T-SHIRT?

5) IRON ON - OR OTHER MODE OF DISPERSAL.

(1)
As I said above (or somewhere) a "globe" does not give a total perspective of the world - as shown on the perspective I posted of on my page of the Kiwi's perspective of the world. (it is all in the perspective) - and no round globe can show all of the continents at one time.

Right now, we have 4 depictions of the world map:

Square Flat Map (mercator/compressed to a square with blue oceans).

Transparent Flat Map (mercator - adjusted to have Australia near center & oceans erased for transparency to board)

Sinusoidal Map (expanded globe - bright blue oceans & florescent green continents) On my designs it is tilted. It could be straightened in final design if desire. It is bold & striking at a distance.

Butterfly Map - while this may be artistic, I do not believe most people would recognize it as a map. However, we do have a lot of artistry on this site - photo & poetic. Do we want to be different? At a distance it is nice looking. I have moved parts around so that Australia is center on bottom portion. However, I have my doubts about being able to change the continental coloration to a single colour. Without doing that, I do not know how well this design will print up on a T-shirt.

All 4 of these map forms can be found on my page. The square flat map that Angie used in her design has been adjusted to have Australia centered.

This is the next decision that needs to be made.

(2)
Once the decision is made on the two major components: Sudoku board & Map type. The next question to be asked is do we want "Sudokuland" AND "Sudoku.com.au" included in the design - or just one (which one if not both)?

There are several catch phrases that have been offered up in addition to "Sudokuland" & "sudoku.com.au":

MizT: "World of Sharing"

Jane: "You've Got My Number"

CG: "Have Fun Playing at ..."

Angie: "Bringing the World Together"

Following that decision - do we want any of the "Catch phrases" included on the design? If so - which one (or two)?

Do we need to use space above or below the board making it an 8"x10" design - rather than an 8"x8"? This decision may be needed even if no "Catch Phrase" is used. The Sudoku phrases may look better being off the board (above & below).

(3)
Originally thoughts went to smilies/avatars to define that Sudokuland was more than just the puzzle. A large number of these seem like clutter in the design. I've left these designs up on my page - though I do not feel they are realistic.

A couple of the designs on my page also have a minimal number of smilies/avatars. If the idea is to be reconsidered in the final design - they will give you a perspective for review.

Some may want to go with Smilies/Avatars - rather than or in addition to "Catch Phrases". Other ideas may come forward in the process and should be discussed before design finalized.

(4)
Decisions on whether we want anything on the back or not, may be based upon cost and manner of dispersion. Iron-on, printed up sold on site/E-bay - etc.

If we do want an anthem/poem - we have a start with CG's offerings.

(5)
Last but not least - how do we get them out and distributed. How many people will order them, wear them - have their picture taken at different places in the world for posting on their site.

My question now is - who will do the research on this. It would be nice to have the entire process design, and ready for distribution by the end of February.

Eve, Again you have summed up what need s to be done to make this project become a reality. I've expressed my hopes that this comes to fruition, and your time table sounds good. In response to a couple of your questions, I would order and wear, as well as having my picture taken in the shirts when I am in Paris and London....I'll respond to the other questions after I come back from walking jazz.

Eve,
I posted on easy, in regard to you using my designs, no problem there at all.
However, I must point out that should this "t-shirt" concept go ahead, we will need to be very careful with our wording. Unfortuntaly "sudokuland" is not just here in sudoku.com.au. It is being used on other sites and I'm not sure if it has been registered already.
Also, I believe Rose made a good point, I think we do need to contact Gath and ask him for his thoughts on all of this, after all we are also using his "company" as such.

Angie's right. I just googled "Sudokuland", and there are other sites that use this term.

If there is a problem with the term Sudokuland, could we change it to Sudokuhood? This term can have two meanings: 1) a brother/sister-hood of sudoku enthusists. 2) the term "The hood" - refers to a groups neighborhood. The world is our neighborhood and we share a brother/sisterhood on the site.

To me, Sudokuhood has a negative connotation - as in hoodlum. Of course we ARE all addicts, so maybe it fits!