Columbia Heights Library Card Re-Design

[Nagol]

So I'm back at it for another class, this time I'm presenting to an actual client. A non-profit client (as that is what schools usually work with). The Columbia Heights Library needed their library cards redesigned with a few things in mind. NO WHITE. No gender specifics. Open to many races (no discriminatory images) as lots of ethnicities go there. And somehow work in a red wagon (it is how the library was started). A small group of women went around with red wagons and collected books to start the library back in 1928. This is what I have come up with for the front and back. The box at the top of the back is where a scan sticker goes, the other 2 lines are for the names (signed, and printed). Minimal text, although any suggestions on placement would be great. I set the card with a green background, but any color on the brighter side would work just fine. I incorporated a tree with a child reading a book for nostagic purposes as that is what the library felt to portray to me, not a lot of contemporary design. The tree obviously represents growth and a strong foundation, with the wagon at the base representing the "roots" of the whole library. That's just a little bit of the concept behind it. Let me know, I love the feedback and crit.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h123/IInagolII/LibraryCardFinalLarge.jpg

[Kgraphics]

Hi, I love the front side, one thing I am not feeling is where you placed the website, it feels out of place. The back side, The black thing at the top maybe meant to be part of the tree doesn't seem right, and the kid looks to be missing hands for some strange reason. Other than that cool design :D

[Nagol]

I'm not sure what "black thing at the top" you are talking about? The MELSA logo has to be on the back of the card, and the other black box (as stated earlier) is where the scan sticker will go after the card has been printed. The child is reading a book on his lap, no real way to realistically add hands. I do agree that the website is in an odd spot, taking any suggestions for new placement as I moved it around the card for 30 minutes and nothing really looked right either. Thanks for the feedback.

[Kgraphics]

Try placing the website under the address, I am not sure but it might work better.

[CkretAjint]

Try placing the website under the address.

Yes please....

Also, since they are pretty set on the wagon instead of having the person on the back, why not the wagon there? I barely even noticed it on the front until I had read about it and looked for it. The person works, but everyone knows people go to the library. So why not spice it up?

[Ben Kessler]

I may be alone in this, but I wouldn't have even noticed the book had it not been pointed out by the designer. Maybe the book should be held up a little bit?

I like the green background with the silhouettes.

[Broacher]

I've worked with quite a few library clients and I'll throw this in: don't rely on the book as 'the' symbol of resources. Libraries are very sensitive about the stereotypical 'a place for books to collect' definition many people instantly attach to them. They are, of course, so much more-- especially these days. What I'm saying is that you would no doubt be asked to include some reference to these other services and resources if you are using representational imagery. And then you'd probably lose the whole 'tranquil simplicity' of the graphic. But it might explain why many new library identity solutions do not include someone reading a book.

A side note: is that a 'little red wagon on the opposite side of the tree on the hill? Just and old illustration nitpicking habit, I know, but wouldn't that thing be rolling away at that angle?

[Jackimalyn]

A side note: is that a 'little red wagon on the opposite side of the tree on the hill? Just and old illustration nitpicking habit, I know, but wouldn't that thing be rolling away at that angle?

I was just going to say this.

[jimking]

You all can't see the rock jamming the wheel? :D

[chongo]

You say they want a red wagon? Do you need some red it there?

[Nagol]

The color of the wagon wasn't important to them, just the iconic use of it. Plus, with them wanting to use a colored plastic for the card, I couldn't put much in terms of color. Anyways, we presented them and it was one of the 2 out of 9 or so that is being taken into consideration for the new card design. I was happy with it, I made a few adjustments that I did not post (wagon's angle, a bit with the text on the bottom). All in all it met all of the clients needs fairly well for the short amount of time we had to complete the project.

[Ben Kessler]

Nagol, congratulations! Keep us posted!