Ed@IMN needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 76 designs submitted by 20 freelance designers.
Yoderbilt Greenhouses
Grow, Connect, Live
Think "Pinterest" users when thinking about our clients. We build greenhouses that are both beautiful and functional. Customers love them because they see it as their personal "space" to make their own and pursue their love of growing and caring for plants. They frequently decorate them, add furniture, have pet beds, lighting, frequent flea markets to pick up unique shelves or containers to pot plants in. The greenhouses are made from wood which gives them natural beauty and a warmth that is lacking in steel and aluminum designs. They enhance landscape rather than detract. They provide a highly unique space for people to grow and care for plants. Our clients include both women and men but more women than men make the purchase decision. We have both commercial and personal users but more individuals for personal use than commercial growers. The first thing people notice is the beauty but they are also built well and highly functional. They are more durable than most kit-built greenhouses but far more attractive. They have many options (color of stain, color of metal trim, length, width, shelving, workbench, ventilation, heating, windows, etc.) so people can make them their own. They are delivered fully assembled and ready-to-use and are often the centerpiece of landscape design for a yard or garden space. Our primary buyers are individuals for their homes but our second most frequent buyer is schools. Greenhouses appeal to people who are "earthy" or "natural" or "green" or "nature" or "healthy". People who like to be outdoors. People who like to nurture things. People who care about their health. People grow vegetables, flowers, pollinators, butterfly host plants, houseplants, succulents, etc. People who would likely choose a Volvo or Subaru or hybrid car. People who frequent botanical gardens. People who belong to gardening clubs like Master Gardeners. People who enjoy the outdoors. People who have disposable income. People who would tend to have a few acres rather than a very small lot. Not necessarily "country-club" types but people of means who have enough money to buy luxury items. People who value non-GMO and buy organic food. People who shop at Whole Foods or health food stores. Intelligent and educated people. Think "back to nature" or "farm-to-table". People who would select a farm-to-table restaurant and who would try growing their own food are ideal candidates. Probably more suburban and rural than urban. People who would choose to live outside big cities because they want more green space than concrete.
Just keep it in the "earthy" or "natural" range. Something that is real, appealing to outdoors types, plant lovers, nature lovers, people who are drawn to traditional, to antiques, to the natural beauty of stone or wood.
Overall this should have the vibe or feel of a tranquil space for people to spend time and enjoy simple things like growing and caring for plants. We are going for a "natural lifestyle" approach. Our goal is to form a community of users, to be a place where people share photos of what they have grown, tips with other growers, seek advice, etc. Some of our buyers in states where marijuana has been legalized are buying to grow their own pot. Others are growing flowers, vegetables, herbs, houseplants, etc. Some grow to sell. Some grow to give as gifts. Some grow to use themselves. The vibe should be natural, warm, eco-friendly, earth friendly. We like greens but not a "John Deere" or the typical bright green you see for greenhouse logos. More pastels. More muted. Warmer rather than bold. Deeper greens. Earth tones. We want the logo to print well on hats or shirts. We want it to look good on videos and in print. So we prefer larger, bolder fonts over thin or wispy fonts. But we still want something that is artsy and beautiful rather than industrial. We also like browns or stone colors. Things that look natural. Probably a 2-color logo with white or off-white font so a total of 3 colors. You can see the greenhouses by googling yoderbilt greenhouses but the website is being redesigned as soon as we have the new logo and colors. We need to know the exact colors used and the font used on the winning design. Don't go too much by the existing website. You can also look at the Yoderbilt Greenhouse YouTube channel and you will see some changes in style in the graphics on the videos. We want something more aligned with that but are not "married" to the colors on the latest videos. Just something along those lines. We would want a transparent background outside the main logo shape so it can be put over videos - in other words not a big blocky square that extends beyond the actual logo shape. We are fine with incorporating the shape of a greenhouse but it isn't a requirement. We are fine with incorporating things like plants or leaves but it isn't a requirement. If not a greenhouse shape maybe a covering or sheltering type shape. Keep in mind we want it to communicate - this is your space, a place for you to enjoy, to get away from technology, to be at peace, in harmony with life and nature. Thus the tagline - grow, connect, live. We see growing as therapeutic, soothing to the spirit, good for the mind and body. Grow something, connect with life and other people, live more fully yourself as a result. So think about Grow Connect Live when you are designing the logo. Think about the kind of people who would invest in a greenhouse. What are their other interests? Their passions? What appeals to them visually? Intellectually? What colors would draw them? Finally we intend for this to just be the start. We should have many more projects related to this initial design. But the logo will set the style and colors. When we are ready those brand elements will go into website design, social media template design, letterhead design, business card design. We want the logo to set the tone which is why we are focused just on a logo at the moment. But the winning designer will get more business as we move forward.
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