SFWDA - Southern Four Wheel Drive Assoc. New Logo Design ( Voting now )

[mbalbritton]

I want to reiterate how valuable your opinion is.

Not trying to be an ass, but no, you're not listening to suggestions. the #1 suggestion is to loose the vehicle branding. Like Ron said, you'll never get a good vote result buy tying a branded icon (Jeep, FJ, Chevy, Ford....). If you do want a logo that's best for SFWDA you need to loose the vehicle, or at least the brand recognizable vehicle at minimum. It SCREAMS that SFWDA is a Jeep club, or an FJ club.

The Subject/Brand of SFWDA and the audience is those that like to get out doors and use 4wd. Not just Jeep or Yota drivers. for that matter, why not put a Subaru or a BMW X5 on it? Those are 4WD. Answer: because not everyone (if anyone) wheels those.

Having a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration, and 20+ Professional years experience in Design, I will tell you this. The guys that are designing these logos have talent, but they need to back up and punt or you're going to end up with a logo that absolutely does not represent SFWDA. I'm not a member of SFWDA, so I have no dog in this fight. But I would like to see your organization represented properly in your branding.

Another reason not to put a vehicle on the logo, believe it or not, it's firepower for the Greenies out there fighting you. Right there in their face is a vehicle, in the outdoors. The place THEY are trying to protect.

Lose the vehicle & simplify the logo.

 

[majic2001]

There have been issues with in southern for some years now which I am stepping up to help resolve. I know that we need to better communicate and this logo re-design is the preliminary steps to re-creating the association which still promotes our core values. We are actually just beginning allot of changes within SFWDA. To make this rebirth more visible it was decided at a board leadership meeting to redesign our logo. We voted and agreed as a club. In addition to that at several of the SFWDA meetings it was decided we are also rebuilding a new website. I am currently leading up this initiative. This logo will create the tone for the web theme. There's a lot of great history behind Southern and we intend to relay all of that through better communication channels. In addition to a new website which has current and up-to-date information about land use, events, meeting topics and more posted for all to see. I are also about to introduce an electronic newsletter to replace the old "Trailmix" publication mailed to members years ago.
There's a lot in store and we're just getting started. Please help to get behind us and support this motive because Southern needs your support. You can still contribute a logo today if you feel like you have a better concept in mind. We are on our time frame dictated by the contest and will be electing six final logos soon. We can remove features and modify the current designs. If you believe we should remove any vehicles tell me which logo you prefer and the specific modifications requested and I will see to it that we have something to present in the final poll as an additional option. Sorry about running on there, I just wanted everyone to know that what were doing these days is with the best intentions of SFWDA, let's unite and make southern our club. Walter

 

[mbalbritton]

You can still contribute a logo today if you feel like you have a better concept in mind. We are on our time frame dictated by the contest and will be electing six final logos soon.

So at risk of improper branding, SFWDA is not willing to cancel or extend the voting? Sounds like Gov't organization.

Really, I'm not trying to flame or be a hater, but if rushing into your branding is any display of the re organization of SFWDA, then are you guys on the right track? Again, Honestly, I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm just trying to show you an outside perspective of what is being portrayed here.

Also, have you checked with Jeep and Toyota to see if you can use their brand to identify yours?

 

[majic2001]

@ mbalbritton , I am not sure why you have such a strong opinion but yet are not a member of SFWDA. Perhaps you were in the past, nonetheless I invite you to join, participate, and contribute during. They are looking for qualified representatives on their board as their is another election coming up soon, and they need enthusiasts to guide the association through this re-birth.
Meanwhile, we have been running this logo design contest since January 22nd. This is sufficient time for the contest to run its course. During this time we have received 120 designs from 24 different designers all following our design brief and the feedback of those who have been voting. I already broadcast this contest to all club board members and club presidents, vice, etc. Soon afterwards we had collected input from several hundred people and as then one thing came clear right away, the members were actually already in unison on a handful of logo designs. Several logos quickly rose to be come the most popular among members. It seemed like many people have their favorite already picked and many made the same comments as seen here. Once again I will reiterate that it is in the soon to come final stages that our 6 selected final logos (which can go on for up to 2 weeks) will be critiqued until the we have the perfect design and choose one ultimate winner. There is still more voting to come, so go talk with your club president of find a local club and join up with Southern Four Wheel Drive Assoc. and contribute if you believe in what we stand for.
Walter

 

[majic2001]

Check out this poll which showcases a few different logos previously in our contest which did not generate as much attention but illustrate the diversity we acquired during the process.

http://99designs.com/logo-design/vote-ohp5s9

 

[J.C.]

Thanks you for your service, Walter! I sincerely appreciate every one of the SFWDA members and officers!

We voted and agreed as a club.

You voted and agreed as a board without input from the membership you serve!

In addition to a new website which has current and up-to-date information about land use, events, meeting topics and more posted for all to see.

The last information in the SFWDA News Forum on the website is over a year old! The home page "Latest News" lead article is from July 2013!

let's unite and make southern our club. Walter

SFWDA is not a club! It is an association of many different clubs who come together to promote and support the association's goals.

Meanwhile, we have been running this logo design contest since January 22nd. This is sufficient time for the contest to run its course.

Disagree! There is no mention of a logo change in association website or emails that I know of! For something of this magnitude I would think the MEMBERSHIP would be consulted. A vote taken by a few officers serving at the membership's pleasure is NOT representative of the association!

the members were actually already in unison

Totally untrue because I am a member and I disagree! I have been a member for 20+ years and have served on the Board of Directors. I am a member of one of the charter clubs of SFWDA, Carolina Trail Blazers. I consider myself semi up to date on SFWDA happenings and still try to attend one or more SFWDA meetings a year. Until you posted here on NC4x4 I was totally unaware that a logo change had even begun to be discussed again!

 

[mbalbritton]

@ mbalbritton , I am not sure why you have such a strong opinion but yet are not a member of SFWDA. Perhaps you were in the past, nonetheless I invite you to join, participate, and contribute during. They are looking for qualified representatives on their board as their is another election coming up soon, and they need enthusiasts to guide the association through this re-birth...

In short, I have no interests in clubs/associations of any sort, and unfortunately I have no time to sit on a board and give the time needed to an organization like SFWDA. As much as I would like to.

as far as my strong opinion, I guess it's just my OCD for a good design.

Best of luck.

 

[McCracken]

There have been issues with in southern for some years now which I am stepping up to help resolve. I know that we need to better communicate and this logo re-design is the preliminary steps to re-creating the association which still promotes our core values. We are actually just beginning allot of changes within SFWDA. To make this rebirth more visible it was decided at a board leadership meeting to redesign our logo. We voted and agreed as a club. In addition to that at several of the SFWDA meetings it was decided we are also rebuilding a new website. I am currently leading up this initiative. This logo will create the tone for the web theme. There's a lot of great history behind Southern and we intend to relay all of that through better communication channels. In addition to a new website which has current and up-to-date information about land use, events, meeting topics and more posted for all to see. I are also about to introduce an electronic newsletter to replace the old "Trailmix" publication mailed to members years ago.
There's a lot in store and we're just getting started. Please help to get behind us and support this motive because Southern needs your support. You can still contribute a logo today if you feel like you have a better concept in mind. We are on our time frame dictated by the contest and will be electing six final logos soon. We can remove features and modify the current designs. If you believe we should remove any vehicles tell me which logo you prefer and the specific modifications requested and I will see to it that we have something to present in the final poll as an additional option. Sorry about running on there, I just wanted everyone to know that what were doing these days is with the best intentions of SFWDA, let's unite and make southern our club. Walter

I really hope this is the case Walter. I also hope you had a change in leadership. When I suggested these very ideas years ago I was pegged as some kind of radical. When I called out Roger in the news letter (not openly but I used one of his quotes against him) that was essentially my death knell. I've always wanted the best for Southern but that doesn't mean I'm not going to call a spade a spade. You've taken a heavy load and I wish you the best of luck with it. I agree with Brandon and Shawn. I understand the rebranding thing (I suggested that too). One major gripe I heard from other people was that it didn't include all the states represented in the association (it's still an association, right?). I liked the map and the flag but I'm kinda old school like that.

edit: while I understand the idea of the logo contest, you need to remember that if the top 6 really don't represent the association then you need to make that call. yeah it may hurt some feelings but that's why they pay you the big bucks

 

[trailhugger]

Facebook does not give a good representation of the majority of SFWDA members!

This. Facebook is TERRIBLE for outreach, even to people who "Like" your page. I can't even FIND the SFWDA FB page.

There have been issues with in southern for some years now which I am stepping up to help resolve. I know that we need to better communicate and this logo re-design is the preliminary steps to re-creating the association which still promotes our core values. We are actually just beginning allot of changes within SFWDA. To make this rebirth more visible it was decided at a board leadership meeting to redesign our logo. We voted and agreed as a club. In addition to that at several of the SFWDA meetings it was decided we are also rebuilding a new website. I am currently leading up this initiative. This logo will create the tone for the web theme. There's a lot of great history behind Southern and we intend to relay all of that through better communication channels. In addition to a new website which has current and up-to-date information about land use, events, meeting topics and more posted for all to see. I are also about to introduce an electronic newsletter to replace the old "Trailmix" publication mailed to members years ago.
There's a lot in store and we're just getting started. Please help to get behind us and support this motive because Southern needs your support. You can still contribute a logo today if you feel like you have a better concept in mind. We are on our time frame dictated by the contest and will be electing six final logos soon. We can remove features and modify the current designs. If you believe we should remove any vehicles tell me which logo you prefer and the specific modifications requested and I will see to it that we have something to present in the final poll as an additional option. Sorry about running on there, I just wanted everyone to know that what were doing these days is with the best intentions of SFWDA, let's unite and make southern our club. Walter

As a personal and business member of SFWDA, I feel like not enough effort was made to communicate this initiative or its goals. Although I'm not, personally, sad to see the old logo change, I strongly feel that choosing a new logo by popularity contest is a poor start to recreating the tone of the website, much less a "rebirth" of an organization and its branding.

That being said... I voted for one of them. I hope the "winning" logo is used as inspiration for whatever becomes the new direction and that all the comments are taken into consideration regarding leaving out branded vehicles and using mountains and trees that are actually found in the region!

 

[mbalbritton]

edit: while I understand the idea of the logo contest, you need to remember that if the top 6 really don't represent the association then you need to make that call. yeah it may hurt some feelings but that's why they pay you the big bucks

NAILED IT

 

[majic2001]

Its good to see more people getting involved. This is my whole goal. I have been trying to reach everyone but its not an easy task. In that consideration is why I am scouring the web and forums trying to find all the stragglers who have gone astray from SFWDA and let them know what were up to. Unfortunately with every project there are goals and deadlines so in the interest of moving forward we will continue the logo contest as designed and hope that you will all come and vote on your favorite logo which represents our association. I have just an email newsletter campaign and if you want to receive these types of notification please follow the Facebook group age (https://www.facebook.com/groups/294352885531/ ) and enroll in our newsletter .
The website it soon going through a total overhaul as well. Like I said there is allot of change in store and will take allot of work but we need your support. If you want things to change go out and make them happen. I'm doing everything I can myself. It took me 3 years to convince board members to scratch their old website and start over, but they finally agreed which is what I'm about to start. I could really use help, so again please be patient and optimistic. Through a democratic process we should achieve these goals.

 

[J.C.]

A democratic process would allow for EACH SFWDA member to have a vote as to whether they would like a new logo or not!

 

[shawn]

We voted and agreed as a club.

Southern isn't a club.

In addition to that at several of the SFWDA meetings it was decided we are also rebuilding a new website.

That sounds like a waste of valuable time and energy. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the website. Brit built it. It looks nice. It's running on Wordpress, so it's easy to add information and keep things up to date.

The primary problem is that no one is keeping it up to date. Maybe you should start here: http://sfwda.org/login/

 

[shawn]

As a personal and business member of SFWDA

Have we ever gotten a renewal notice?

 

[trailhugger]

Have we ever gotten a renewal notice?

No, we have not.

 

[Lorenzo816]

I quit facebook. So you can't reach me there.
I'm a CTB member and thus a SFWDA member. You should reach out to us via the obvious 'membership' channels of communication not a segmented social media channel.
You have our info. Basic CRM 101.

I rated the logo choices available but would rather remove my ratings all together. The choices being given I rated what was available.
I agree with what Shawn, brit and JC said here.
I can understand you may think the club needs rebranding but real movement should happen behind informing the members of the associations efforts and the outcomes of their tasks and responsibilities via the charter to preserve 'off road' Recreation in the 'South'.

I also attempted to approach the association a few years ago with a plan to overhaul the site and provide an easy CMS similar to wordpress but got snubbed.
I'm not fed up with SFWDA but perhaps to make change we should overhaul the board and put some motivated members in the conductor seat.

 

[McCracken]

Its good to see more people getting involved. This is my whole goal. I have been trying to reach everyone but its not an easy task. In that consideration is why I am scouring the web and forums trying to find all the stragglers who have gone astray from SFWDA and let them know what were up to. Unfortunately with every project there are goals and deadlines so in the interest of moving forward we will continue the logo contest as designed and hope that you will all come and vote on your favorite logo which represents our association. I have just an email newsletter campaign and if you want to receive these types of notification please follow the Facebook group age (https://www.facebook.com/groups/294352885531/ ) and enroll in our newsletter .
The website it soon going through a total overhaul as well. Like I said there is allot of change in store and will take allot of work but we need your support. If you want things to change go out and make them happen. I'm doing everything I can myself. It took me 3 years to convince board members to scratch their old website and start over, but they finally agreed which is what I'm about to start. I could really use help, so again please be patient and optimistic. Through a democratic process we should achieve these goals.

You say you're open to ideas but, yet again, here you are saying what you're doing (without outside input) much like the days of old. Are you really that open to other ideas? Seems like you're plowing ahead regardless the outcome or what others think.

 

[Ron]

@majic2001

Meanwhile, we have been running this logo design contest since January 22nd. This is sufficient time for the contest to run its course.

Says who? You have been running a contest for 2 weeks that it appears a majority of your members were unaware of. Sounds like old school politics, a quiet election, a private vote and then a post mortem declaration that anyone could have voted...

During this time we have received 120 designs from 24 different designers all following our design brief and the feedback of those who have been voting. I already broadcast this contest to all club board members and club presidents, vice, etc. Soon afterwards we had collected input from several hundred people and as then one thing came clear right away, the members were actually already in unison on a handful of logo designs. Several logos quickly rose to be come the most popular among members. It seemed like many people have their favorite already picked and many made the same comments as seen here.

Walter, I applaud you for what you are trying to accomplish but this segment right here proves that you are either not listening or that alternately Shawn, Brit, JC and I are all doing a poor job of explaining ourselves.

Let me try again. A Logo is not a popularity contest. Frankly it does not matter if the members like the logo, to the contrary it is actually more important if it attracts NON-MEMBERS to investigate and ultimately join our ranks. This is not my opinion, this is not debatable, this is a fact of business. If this is not understood by whomever is steering this ship then we have the wrong captains at the helm.

What I hear when I read the above is "The cool kids that are already here like what we are doing so we don't care what you non cool kids think."

Well guess what, make sure the membership you currently have can finance all your future plans because you will NEVER attract new members with that attitude.

Once again I will reiterate that it is in the soon to come final stages that our 6 selected final logos (which can go on for up to 2 weeks) will be critiqued until the we have the perfect design and choose one ultimate winner. There is still more voting to come, so go talk with your club president of find a local club and join up with Southern Four Wheel Drive Assoc. and contribute if you believe in what we stand for.
Walter

A logo/brand change is a major decision for any corporation and when necessary should always be viewed as permanent. This logo needs to survive 50+years. If a time frame of days is more important to you than getting it right at all costs...then the endeavor is doomed.

This shouldnt be about a winner. It should be about the PERFECT image to represent the entire VISION of the club. Not what the club currently is, but what it ideals to be.


I wish you luck, but based exclusively on this thread and interaction I am not optimistic in anything but the same old same old for SFWDA...its why I quit my membership and why I will not likely rejoin.

I can not tell you if I believe in what you stand for. I do not know what you stand for anymore.

 

[Ron]

Also, have you checked with Jeep and Toyota to see if you can use their brand to identify yours?

And btw a major dose of this...

Would be a shame to see SFWDA be shut down by Fiat NA or Toyota Corp for copyright infringement....and you can bet Jeep will come swingly quickly with their grill bar design they are notoriously litigious over it.

 

[RedX]

Not trying to be an ass, but no, you're not listening to suggestions. the #1 suggestion is to loose the vehicle branding. Like Ron said, you'll never get a good vote result buy tying a branded icon (Jeep, FJ, Chevy, Ford....). If you do want a logo that's best for SFWDA you need to loose the vehicle, or at least the brand recognizable vehicle at minimum. It SCREAMS that SFWDA is a Jeep club, or an FJ club.

The Subject/Brand of SFWDA and the audience is those that like to get out doors and use 4wd. Not just Jeep or Yota drivers. for that matter, why not put a Subaru or a BMW X5 on it? Those are 4WD. Answer: because not everyone (if anyone) wheels those.

Having a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration, and 20+ Professional years experience in Design, I will tell you this. The guys that are designing these logos have talent, but they need to back up and punt or you're going to end up with a logo that absolutely does not represent SFWDA. I'm not a member of SFWDA, so I have no dog in this fight. But I would like to see your organization represented properly in your branding.

Another reason not to put a vehicle on the logo, believe it or not, it's firepower for the Greenies out there fighting you. Right there in their face is a vehicle, in the outdoors. The place THEY are trying to protect.

Lose the vehicle & simplify the logo.

I don't have a pony in this race, but given what I do on a daily basis, I agree with all this ^

The way I lean when working on branding is very different than what you are looking at as your final options. But I would emphasize concentrating on a simplified icon for what you are wanting to represent. And I am not thinking of anything even remotely stereotypically illustrative as those ideas you have presented. I am thinking far more abstract, yet with repeated usage and exposure, far more memorable and unique.

And I will leave all the politicking to you guys to discuss as to whether it needs changing or was handled correctly.