your opinion please: a new look for the blog

Yesterday I got an out-of-the-blue email from Cameron Thomas, a Montreat College buddy. In it he suggested that this blog’s banner “needs some help.” I couldn’t agree more. The current banner is something I came up with very quickly with my very limited skills when this blog went live back in April, 2007. Over the past few months I’ve wondered about changing it out, but haven’t had the time or know-how to come up with something better.

Cameron is a designer and graciously included 5 new banners in his email, explaining that they were correctly sized and that I was free to use any of them should I want to.

Here’s where you come in. I like each of the 5 options- some slightly better than others- and would be happy with any of them on this blog. Could you please leave a comment with your top 2 choices? I’ll give it a couple of days and then debut the new banner.

If you like these banners, you ought to check out Cameron’s website.

David Swanson

July 8, 2009

uncategorized

cameron thomas

31 responses to “your opinion please: a new look for the blog”

Ben

July 8, 2009 at 6:26 pm

I like number 3 a lot. I can’t really pick a second one. They’re all about the same to me.

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Dad

July 8, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Numeros uno y tres.

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Christensen

July 8, 2009 at 6:41 pm

3 and 5

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jas dye

July 8, 2009 at 6:58 pm

what about the birds on the wire from the Pixar short? these ones, no offense Cameron, give me the Alfred Hitchwillies.

nevertheless, both #1 & 3 seem the most optimistic, morning-ese.

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jas dye

July 8, 2009 at 7:00 pm

and out of those two, i’m leaning toward #1, especially if you’re doing this long-term.

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Chuck H

July 8, 2009 at 7:25 pm

3 and then 1

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AM

July 8, 2009 at 7:46 pm

I honestly love the original banner that you have now. I love the black and white. I love how the one bird that is flying stands out on his own.

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laura

July 8, 2009 at 7:59 pm

i like 3 and 5 also… 🙂

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mitch

July 8, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Number two.

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jujbird

July 8, 2009 at 9:03 pm

I like 1 and 3.

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OtakuDad

July 8, 2009 at 9:34 pm

4 and then two, for me… I like 2’s bird right above the I in life, and I like the height of the lower wire (sans edge fading) in 4 a lot.

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Linda

July 8, 2009 at 9:54 pm

I like the one you have now best, than 1 and 2…

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Jeff

July 8, 2009 at 9:55 pm

I like 3 and 1

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ek

July 9, 2009 at 2:25 am

nice job by your friend.. #1 looks the most balanced graphically. but maybe remove the ellipses?

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Maggie

July 9, 2009 at 7:54 am

I vote for #2.

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Susan Richmond

July 9, 2009 at 9:31 am

I’ve always loved the name of your blog and your images. I do think I like the bluer sky better, so my pick would be number one and thinking about AM’s comment, what if you just took out the two smaller birds and left the one lone bird. Same symbolism, but with the blue sky and morning-type light.

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cameron thomas

July 9, 2009 at 10:13 am

hey dave. i was matching the look that you have going (obviously). if you owould like something else lemme know… i aim to please! and yes this was a bit out of the blue… i have been reading your blog for sometime… sorry if i startled ya! 🙂

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cameron thomas

July 9, 2009 at 10:14 am

also… those can be changed around if say you like the photo from one, but the text layout from another. choices!

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jessica

July 9, 2009 at 11:08 am

i’m gonna go with #2. the shading and placement of your name is quite nice.

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Scott T.

July 9, 2009 at 7:17 pm

Definitely # 1, then 2

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thom

July 10, 2009 at 9:27 am

I like 2 and 3, although I think the text should be moved up a bit on both versions, 2 to the top and 3 just slightly. On 2 the spread of the shadow makes the sky a little too hazy. I think this could be adjusted using the distance and size within the structure of the shadow.

What I really like about Cameron’s design suggestions is the name change and layout. I think “David Swanson’s…SIGNS OF LIFE” is much more personal and inviting.

That being said, I do, however, like the subtext of the original image. The idea of a lone bird flying back as if returning with a “Sign of Life” to a flock that looks anxious for the news.

I’ll bet Cameron wasn’t expecting this when he emailed Mr. Swanson 😉

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David Swanson

July 10, 2009 at 3:01 pm

Thanks for the comments folks. I’ll make a decision early next week, so the voting booth remains open.

And thanks again to Cameron.

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Josh

July 13, 2009 at 8:06 pm

all look great, but in order of preference…

1, then 4.

I like the color scheme in 3, but feels a little too “busy”..

yeah, who was to think these would get publicly voted on!?! 😉

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David

July 13, 2009 at 8:43 pm

Here is the tally thus far:
#1 8
#2 6
#3 9
#4 2
#5 2

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Linda

July 13, 2009 at 9:02 pm

Oh, please not #3! It looks way to symmetrical and busy….

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Emily Karas

July 13, 2009 at 9:03 pm

3 or 5….thats a hard decision

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cathy

July 14, 2009 at 8:51 am

I like #1, but not the glow around the text.

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cathy

July 14, 2009 at 8:52 am

I like #2 as well, but the text is too close to the bird wire, and unfortunately not a fan of glowing text 😀

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Susan Richmond

July 14, 2009 at 9:50 am

David, you have a lot of fans with great eyes and ideas! What a variety of favorites.

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Katie

July 14, 2009 at 4:53 pm

#3 (i like the pole) and then #4. #5 looks stormy. i don’t think you are stormy.

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David

July 16, 2009 at 9:12 pm

The votes are all in and the winner is… #3. Except that I have chosen the runner-up (just 2 votes behind), #1. Actually, I asked Cameron to make a few tweaks on #1 for some continuity with the original banner. Thanks to all who voted. Hope you like the new look. And thanks, once again, to Cameron for the great design.

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