A Babalú Contest (Updated)
Winner gets a Che? Still dead! tshirt.
One of the things I overlooked last year during the Cuba Nostalgia Convention planning was business cards. I had thought about having some printed, but with all the other preparations, they fell through the cracks. And I didnt realize just how needed the cards were until we were actually at the convention and exhibit visitors kept asking for the URL so they could visit the blog from home. We kept having to scribble the URL on pieces of paper for everyone and that just wont do this year.
I am not only swamped with work and preparations, but I completely suck at graphic design and my Photoshopping skills are...um... shall we say somewhat lacking. So here's your chance to help:
You can design the Babalú cards that will be handed out at the Cuba Nostalgia Convention.
Here are the specifics:
- Standard business card size: 2"x3.5", portrait or landscape.
- Two colors maximum. Full color printing gets expensive so I'd prefer to keep the printing at two runs.
- Must say "Babalú" on them and have the URL "www.babalublog.com" prominently displayed.
- I'd prefer the use of the Babalú header font: Impact and should be blood red in color.
- They could say "an island on the net without a bearded dictator" or "fidel castro's internet nemesis" or "a spearhead righteous activism" or "blogging for a free Cuba" or any other phrase you can come up with. (I'm not too thrilled with displaying the words "fidel castro" on the cards.)
- Should have my email address shown as well.
I'll take any other suggestions you all have to offer into account.
We'll decide on the best design and whoever's is used will get a free Che shirt and a free Babalú eyes shirt, not to mention my neverending gratitude.
You can submit entries to val - at - babalublog dot com.
Gracias and buena suerte!
Update: I've received only two designs thus far, let's hear you chime in:
And:
Of course I love the "eyes" (thats your trademark) but visually it doesn't say CUBA to me. I initially thought about a Cuban flag, but that is a bit plain. How about putting a small picture of the Havana Malacon at the bottom of the card? Thus the look would be like the "eyes" are watching / weeping over Cuba? I believe the Havana Malacon is a site that is recognizable worldwide as uniquely Cuban. I am at work now, so I can't submit this, but I am sure plenty of your readers might be able to do this if they like the idea...... Dave
I like the second one.
I am not not creative, so I won't submit an idea. But how can I order one of those shirts?
Val - la tarjeta con los dos ojos - son tan bellos, que seria un crimen solamente tener uno.
I like the two eyes, the one eye sort of freaks me out.
I'm with Marc, how can I get one of them shirts?
I like the second one, very nicely done. Val may the contributing writers get some printed as well? I could have used them last week.
I like both eyes .... you can see better with two. Cool idea.
I would go with the first one just for the fact that it is easier to read. While the eyes definitely have a nostalgic Cuban feel to me, I would also include a small Cuban flag somewhere on the bottom panel, perhaps aligned just to the left of the text or all the way to the left, aligned under "babalu."
Here's another opinion from a designer-wanna-be:
Take the top version, with the two eyes, and add a Cuban flag at the bottom left, to occupy about one-third of the space between the margin and the blog name and e-mail address. No one will ever throw it away, because it will be a beautiful work of art in itself.
Oh, and the line about "an island in the internet..." should be larger, even if you have to break that text into two lines.
Even with all these changes, you still have only two colors: blue and red. Simplicity in itself.
And try, by all means, to try to include the line "Abajo fidel!" --maybe next to the Cuban flag? I know you have reservations about using the name of the beast, but that's my opinion.
Julio
Hey Val, I'll give you a couple ideas tomorrow morning by noon. Its a must for big events. You should also consider bumper stickers--you never know what sort of lefty castro-lover is stuck behind in traffic. I know how it is in Miami...lol